Cold Then Hot Then Cold

This crazy weather just can't make up it's mind! We get a nice warm spell and just when you think Spring has sprung, a front comes thru and we're back to cooler temperatures...like today! But we had clear skies and yesterdays 32mph winds were forecasted to be 10-12 so I met Cas Hans, Rick Mowery and Don Smallwood (a "shared" trip) up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The weather dudes were slightly off because it was really ripping out of the north west. I had wanted to fish Tiger Island on the first of an
incoming tide but we thought it'd be too difficult so we made our way around to Egans Creek and fished some nice dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp.

Don "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked and landed a feisty Redfish, then he landed another, then Cas had a big bite, his dragged ripped, and the big fish was in the pilings - to be caught another day.!  But Cas went back in and soon landed a couple of nice Redfish. Both he and Don landed Seatrout - in fact Don seemed to have the "hot hand" most of the morning. 

We worked down the docks, had very few bites, but when we hit an area with some still exposed oysters Don found some more Trout in 6-10' depressions.

Our next stop was over at Bell River where Rick got on the board with a Flounder catch and then a Seatrout catch. The Flounder made it an Amelia Island Back Country Slam for the trio and when we wrapped the day up behind Tiger, Rick landed a Black "puppy" Drum to bump it to a Grande Slam. Rick got hot there at the end and put a good handful of feisty Reds in the boat, and Cas followed suit with a few of his own. The sun was up and had warmed things nicely so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Not Big But a Grande Slam

Another beautiful morning was predicted today when I met Doug Mackle and his longtime friend Kenny up at the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp. We shot across to Tiger and fished the logs and for the second day in a row, no real bites. We came out to the outside and fished the flooded oysters and here Kenny picked up a hungry Seatrout on a float rig.

We fished some oysters at Bell River with no luck then ran over to Lanceford Creek to get out of the increasing wind and here Kenny landed a Black Drum, Doug added a small Flounder, then Kenny hauled in a nice 20" Slot sized Redfish to

make it an Amelia Island Grand Slam. We fished further up Lanceford, tried Soap Creek (somewhere in there we got another Trout or two) and then ended up fishing Egans Creek on the first of an outgoing tide. Although we didn't get a whole lot of fish, we got a handful and while fishing with long time friends, you can always count it as a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Bite Picks Up A Tad

Hopefully the warmer weather will make that water temperature rise a bit and the bite will get better. It was warmer today and we had a little bit better success than yesterday. I had met Brian Cochran, his dad Stan, and his sister Katie down at the Amelia Island Marina but we ran back north with the intent to fish Tiger Island while the tide was still coming in, which we did. Although the three anglers had a few nibbles, we had  no takers.

We cruised back through Tiger and around to
Bell River and set up along side a flooded oyster bed and here both Katie and Stan had some good catches of Seatrout.  We worked the pointe good then made the run over to Lanceford Creek to set up along a small patch of grass. Again, we had a handful of Trout with one of them being of keeper size.

Our last stop was over in Soap Creek and wouldn't you know it, we had our most success there. We were fishing behind a small grass island that had a big oyster bar behind that and then some deep water. As our floats and live shrimp drifted past the bar, BOOM! The Trout would take it. Although we only had one keeper fish, we guestimated that about 15 Trout were caught during the trip and with the beautiful weather, it made for a great day to be out fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Wondering If the Cold Weather Has Affected The Fish Catching

We had a beautiful morning today - clear skies, sunshine and only a slight breeze, but "cool", again, for the 3rd or 4th day in a row. I met Russ and Olga Figman down at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River, making our first stop to fish some rocks along Seymore's Pointe.  We had only fished a short while with float rigs and live shrimp on an incoming tide when Russ's float disappeared and he had a fish on. He played it perfectly and soon landed a nice feisty Redfish.

But we had no bites after that so we continued on to Christopher Creek. The tide was still coming
in and we began tossing jigs and shrimp to some dock pilings. Both anglers were making excellent casts but we didn't have any takers until we got around to some marsh grass. Almost at the same time, Boom! Both had hookups. Olga caught her hungry Trout on a jig while Russ was working a float rig and Russ's fish ended  up being a nice keeper sized fish.  But again, no bites after that.

We fished docks along the Nassau River, docks back at Seymore's Pointe, docks along Black Hammock, the bridge at Sawpit and even Sawpit itself...to no avail.  The fish had just quit biting.
But it was a beautiful day and we did catch a few, so we called it a day, another great one to be fshing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Big Trout a Nice Surprise

The wind has finally subsided and today was an absolutely beautiful day to be out on the water!  I met Murray and Dan Bonitt down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and I thought it would be a great day to try our luck out at the small jetty on the south end of the island with a very light west wind blowing. Didn't work. We ran out and fished it briefly and even though the swells were not too bad, we had not a single bite on jigs and shrimp so we buzzed back around and headed to the backwaters.

Our first stop was up Christopher Creek and as we fished some docks the two anglers finally began to get some good bites. Dan was the first to strike when he landed a feisty Redfish (most all that were caught today will probably be in the Slot in another month!). He added another then his dad, Murray hooked up and landed. We worked our way around bend and got into a sweet spot when the two anglers caught and landed a handful of Reds, then Dan had a good bite, his drag ripped, and we thought, here's a Slot Red! But after Dan expertly worked it to the net, we found it to be a big 20" Seatrout, caught shallow over a mud flat!  This is the 2nd biggest Trout caught on the Anglers Mark and moves Dan into the 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We caught another fish or two then headed out to fish a flooded grass line along the Nassau River with float rigs and live shrimp. Dan landed one trout before we moved on. Our next stop was around along some of those rocks that line the Nassau River and here, while Dan was fishing a fixed float, Murray switched to slip float and that proved to be the difference. Dan landed a good handful of Reds, fishing about 8' deep along the rocks.

Our final stop was around at Seymore's Pointe and we wrapped up the day, landing a good many Seatrout with two of them being of keeper size, one of which, caught by Murray, was right at 18" - a great fish catch to wrap up another good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Low Pressure High Pressure

I fished with Dwayne Craig and  his buddies Jeff and David two days in a row. They were on a "road trip" down from Illinois and I think they may have brought the latest cold spell with them! Yesterday it wasn't too cold but the wind was increasing from 9mph at start time with a forecast to 23mph (and they were right!)  David had noted that the barometric pressure was dropping which should have made for some great fishing and with overcast skies and  misty rain, we would have thought that the Trout would be on fire.

We fished Bell River, then behind Tiger, then ran back to Bell and
further up the river to fish some docks. Finally, we began to catch some Seatrout on jigs and live shrimp and the Jeff put a keeper sized Sheepshead in the boat. We worked the docks thoroughly and caught a good couple of handfuls of 14" Seatrout. We came back to Lanceford Creek, fished some docks out of the ever increasing wind and somewhere in there Jeff added a keeper sized Weakfish. By the time we got back to the Dee Dee Bartels ramp, the west wind was kicking, enough so that it made it very dangerous to disembark
from the boat, but we made it!

Today I met this crew down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp, with the temperature hovering just above 40. David reported that the barometer was now climbing, not such a good thing.  The tide had just started out so we flew up the Nassau River and dipped in to Christopher Creek and fished the deep bend. We had two good bites and hookups but they threw the hook. Then, as we got around to some docks, Jeff got hot and landed a few 17 3/4" Redfish. But the tide was going out so we got out of there so as not to get stranded.

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe and we fished float rigs over flooded oysters and jigs down at the base of pilings. David kept the skunk off of that spot when he landed a fat Seatrout. We bounced around the corner and fished some rocks. Dwayne got hot with a slip float, fished a little deeper than the other two, and landed 3-4 Reds. 

The final stop was down at Broward Island. The tide was still high and ripping out, not ideal, but we made the most of it and it was David who's perseverance paid off when he caught a big Trout down deep, on the bottom.  The sun was up, the temperature had warmed and even though we had only a few keeper fish, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Slow Start BIG Finish

It was another "Chamber of Commerce" weather day today when I met Pete Nolan, his daughter Tatum and her friend Victor down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We cruised up the Intercoastal on water that was like glass and turned in to Jackstaff to fish a still flooded bank with float rigs and jigs and live shrimp. The three anglers fished the bank thoroughly but we had no takers. After crossing over to fish a sandbar pointe and having no luck, we ran thru Horsehead and over to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe.

It was fairly slow fishing until finally, after Tatum had landed a small Bluefish, she and her dad simultaneously hooked up with two hungry Seatrout. Skunk was off the boat! We hit another dock on the rock side, fished the float rigs exclusively, and Victor go on the board with a nice feisty Redfish catch.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island. It took a while for the fish to begin to bite, but when things got going, the anglers landed a
good handful of them. Both Pete and Victor put "keeper sized" Trout in the boat while Tatum worked on the numbers. Then, just as we were about to wrap up, Victor thought he'd hooked a log but when it began to move an drip drag out, FISH ON!  This was a big fish and stayed deep for a good while. But Victor stayed in the battle and after a long fight, landed a big 29.5" Redfish. Boy what fish to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Spot Tourny Sure Winner

I fished today with Mike Perry and we got an earlier than usual start with the bait shop opening a tad bit early this morning. After getting our live shrimp we launched down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and ran up the Nassau River to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with a few hours to go on an outgoing tide.

Mike was  making excellent casts to the base of some pilings and it didn't take long before he had "bump" on his jig and shrimp and he had a hookup. He neatly landed a nice fat Seatrout. We worked up
and down the docks and both of caught a handful of Trout with two being of keeper size. When things slowed we crossed the river and fished some exposed oyster beds and although we had abite or two, we had no takers.  So we ran further up Nassau and down a ways to fish some rocks along the Nassauville side and here we had multiple Redfish catches  floating a live shrimp along the rocks.

That slowed and after a short trip down to the Broward Island, we were back fishing, jigs and shrimp.
My hotspot was cold but we persevered and worked the bank and began to catch Trout. Then Mike had a strong bite, his drag ripped, and BIG FISH ON!  This was a big one - it ran deep a few times, ripping drag, but Mike kept the pressure on and worked it slowly to the boat. It ran deep again and made its way down current but Mike was up to the task and let the rod do the talking. After a good long battle, Mike landed a Tournament sized 26 1/2" Slot Redfish. And to top it off, it was loaded with spots! We counted a total of 28, a sure winner in most any Redfish Spot Tournament.

The Safe Harbor Boys Home Redfish Spot Tournament is fast approaching, to be held Saturday April 7th. Click Here for more information. Our Amelia Island Guides Association Redfish Spot Tournament is Saturday Sept. 8th and will be held at the Amelia Island Yacht club. Click Here for more information.

We wrapped up the trip catching one Seatrout after the other, most in the 14" range, but we did pick up one more of keeper size. And with that, we called it  day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Baked Oysters from CCA

I saw this recipe come thru from a Coastal Conservation Association email and thought it looked good..
Featured Recipe: Simple Baked Oysters 

Ingredients OYSTERS: 2 dozen fresh, unshucked oysters 3 c rock or ice cream salt FILLING: 1 12 oz package frozen chopped spinach, thawed 4 strips bacon 1 c yellow onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 c celery, diced 1 stick salted butter ½ tsp salt ½ tsp black pepper 1 c panko bread crumbs 1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping Lemon wedges   Directions: OYSTERS: Preheat to 450 degrees F. Fill an ovenproof serving dish large enough for all the oysters with the rock salt. Nestle oysters in it as you shuck them. This will prevent them from tipping and also retains heat after removal from oven.   FILLING: Remove any excess water from the frozen spinach by wringing out with your hands over a strainer in the sink. Set aside. Chop bacon and add to a large skillet on medium heat. Cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels for later use. To same skillet with bacon grease add onion, garlic and celery and saute about 10 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through. Turn heat to low and add butter. Stir until butter is melted then add salt, pepper, panko bread crumbs, grated cheese, spinach and cooked bacon bits. Remove from heat and combine all thoroughly until cheese is melted. Top each raw oyster with about 1 tablespoon of topping, then sprinkle each with grated Parmesan. Place serving dish of oysters in preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes or until topping is golden brown. TO SERVE: Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Big Start Hot Finish

March winds are really aggravating! But Tom Hardy and I had a plan and that was to meet early this morning when the winds were still right at 10mph and buzz over to Tiger Island to fish the first of an incoming tide with jigs and live shrimp. We had only been set up for a short while and with Tom making excellent casts, BOOM! Redfish on. He played the feisty Red perfectly and after pictures, we tossed it back (all fish caught today were released).

Tom continued to fish the pockets, picked up a few fish, then
BOOM! BIG FISH ON! And boy what a fish! Tom had to gamble and "horse" the fish away from the downed limbs but once he got it out to deep water he could take his time, be patient and let the rod bend do all the work The big fish dug deep a good handful of times but Tom was up to the task and eventually landed a....2018....Anglers Mark.....Bragging
Rights.....Leaderboard....Oversized 33.25" Redfish!  Scroll down the right side of this report for standings. This was a huge fish to catch on light tackle spinning gear. It was photographed and

released.

We continued to fish the bank, catching a couple of more Reds, a few Seatrout, and one small Flounder before the west wind picked up and drove us away.  We fished a tad bit in Egans Creek, then ran up to Lanceford Creek and fished some docks, but had no luck at either place. We were protected from the wind in Lancford, but the fish weren't biting, so we ventured back out into the wind, running to Bell River to fish some flooded oyster beds. And things heated up!

The wind was howling but it was come from behind us so all Tom had to do wasto  toss his float rig accurately towards the grass and let the wind take it. He had some good drifts along the grass and it paid off with four more Redfish, a Seatrout and another Flounder, all in quick succession.  It was really blowing but we left the fish biting and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida