Father's Day Fun

The Owensby's were back in town - Tom and his son Kevin and grandson Jake - and we fished the early morning here at Amelia Island. I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and with the tide just starting in, I thought it'd be best to start fishing the logs at Tiger, a perfect tide to fish. Although we did pick up some small fish - Trout, Drum, Flounder, and Reds (a Grande Slam!) the anglers spent most of their time feeding "baitstealers", getting a nibble on almost every cast. After fishing the bank up and down, we moved on.

Our next stop was up at Jolley Bank and after easing along, tossing up current with jigs and live shrimp and working a float rig out the back, we hit a "hot spot". Kevin put a big Seatrout in the boat, Jake added Redfish, then Tom had a strong bite, and Fish On!  He played the big fish patiently and when it ripped drag a few times we know he had a nice fish on. And when rolled we know it was a big Redfish!  After a good battle, Kevin netted the 23" Slot Fish.  We tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, added another Seatrout then moved on up the River.

Fishing Snook Creek, we didn't get a whole lot of bites but when Jake's float slowly went under, he lifted the rod to set the circle hook and caught a nice keeper sized Flounder. We went back to the outside of Tiger and fished the edge of a flooding oyster bed and BAM! Multiple hookups quick. Jake and Kevin landed Seatrout, once of which was of keeper size, Tom battled a Ladyfish, then he had a real battle with a Bonnethead Shark, then, like someone turned a light switch off, the bite was gone.

We made one final stop back at the mouth of Tiger and even though there was a lot of bait movement there wasn't much action, until Tom caught one last fish, a keeper sized Flounder. It took all trip but we slowly put together a "mess" of fish so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Action

I wrapped my week up fishing with David Foster and his friend Tim and Tim's son Mathew, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The tide had been coming in for an hour or so but the oysters were still fully exposed and I though for sure some dock pilings would be holding fish. We ran up the Nassau River and set up current from a dock and began to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the pilings. Guess what - the Croaker are here! We picked up a few, a bait stealing Spot, a slimy Catfish, and had one feisty Redfish to the boat for a "quick release" - but no big fish.

The tide was still somewhat low so we ran down to Broward Island, fished the north end with jigs, then moved down to the south end and fished the logs. Tim had a hookup - dang it - just a Toad Fish - but we kept working the bank, tossing up current, and it paid off. Tim had a strong bite and we knew it was big when the drag began to rip. He played it perfectly and we soon landed a big Seatrout that was just shy of 20" -now that's a nice fish!  And shortly after that David hooked up and he too put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. We did land a small Redfish along the bank.

Our next stop was up at Pumpkin Hill, drifting float rigs and shrimp along the marsh grass. David got hot, landing a Bonnethead Shark and a big Ladyfish - the "poor man's Tarpon". We had another couple of small Reds and a small Seatrout.  We fished Christopher Creek for a bit with jigs -and again, a small Red, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Jigs Got the Bigger Fish

We've been fishing the high and incoming tides this week and it was the same today when I met Justin and Jacqueline Bogle down at the south end ramp early this morning. We headed up the intercoastal and into Jackstaff with the plan to pitch float rigs up current  to the marsh grass. We had a good bite but the fish thru the  hook then later Jacqueline hooked up and landed a hard fighting Ladyfish - her first fish! We worked that bank thoroughly then ran thru Horsehead, over to the Nassau River and down to Pumpkin Hill where we set up along a flooding grass line.

This did the trick! Jacqueline began to get some fish - a couple of hungry Seatrout, a small but feisty Redfish, and even a persistent Blue Crab! Justin added a nice Whiting to the catch.   After moving around the point and switching Justin to a Jig and shrimp combo, he had a strong hookup and, Fish On!  He played it patiently and soon landed a nice 2' Bonnethead Shark.

The tide was up so we ran over to Christopher Creek and both anglers were now tossing the jigs. Again, we had a strong bite, and the drag began to rip. Justin kept the pressure on, worked it in slowly, and put a Slot sized 21" Red in the boat.

Our final stop was at Seymore's Pointe to check for Mangrove Snapper, but they just haven't arrived. What a crazy Spring we had. But we caught some fish earlier so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Nibbl'n Puppy Drum

I had the pleasure of fishing again with Tim Carson -  his birthday trip - and he brought along his step-son Cody and grandson BeBo to enjoy a great day out on the water here at Amelia Island. And a pretty morning it was! We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the Nassau River with the tide still coming in. Our first couple of stops were at some marsh runouts (running in now!) and even though the trio were making excellent casts, we had no real bites.

We buzzed further up the Nassau and to Pumpkin Hill and this did the trick. Tim "knocked the skunk off" when he landed a hungry Seatrout. Then Cody's rod got hot and he caught a couple of Black "puppy" Drum, a feisty Redfish, and a Ladyfish that wasn't so "high flying". Tim fished long and picked up a good keeper sized Seatrout before we moved on.

After dipping into Christopher Creek we went to jigs and shrimp
and now all three anglers got in to the action. BeBo and Cody teamed up to reel in  the biggest Redfish of the day - a six spotter - then BeBo, after making an excellent cast to the marsh line, hooked up and, Fish On! He worked the fish patiently to the boat and landed a nice Black Drum. 

We fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, then ran thru Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff, but the sun was up, it was getting "warm", so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Good Times Fishing

It's always great to get to fish with old high school friends and today I had the pleasure of fishing with Chuck Lynch, his father Buddy, and his son-in-law Matt. We met early up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and made a quick run over to Bell River to fish the last of an incoming tide with live shrimp under floats. It didn't take long and we were getting hookups - Seatrout that were just a tad bit undersized, but fun to catch. Although we saw Reds tailing up by the grass, we had no takers from them.

After running thru Tiger we pulled in on the outside of the Island
and boy were things hopping! There was a Sheepshead tailing by some sparse grass and on down the line a big 'ole Redfish tail was flopping around. The trio "got to it" and started catching fish! Chuck had a strong hookup - one that was ripping drag - but this fish didn't get big by being dumb! It pulled right under the boat and down into the oysters and BAP! Fish off! But Chuck went back to the grass and pulled out a nice feisty Redfish. Matt stayed on fire the entire trip. He put the first 3-4 "keepers" in the boat. First a big

bull Whiting, then a 17" Flounder. We worked the bank thoroughly and caught a couple of small Reds and Trout.

We made a pit stop at a large marsh run out and pitched some jigs and mud minnows on the now outgoing tide. but had no luck. Our next stop was way up the Jolley River and again Matt came thru when he hooked up and landed a big 22" Slot Redfish. After battling a 4' Shark on light tackle we made our way along the bank. Somewhere along there we caught a Black "puppy" Drum  and another Red or two.

Jolley Bank was looking good so we eased along it. The oysters still were not showing so we stayed with float rigs. Matt put another Slot Red in the boat and Chuck added a keeper sized Seatrout. We had some good bites along the way and landed another couple of feisty Reds.

Our final stop was back at Tiger, fishing the logs, and here Buddy got on the board with a Redfish catch of his own. It was a great day to get out on the water and do some fishing with friends and family here at Amelia Island, Florida.

No Mangrove's Yet

After a good day off I was back to "work" today, meeting Jim Kotopka and his buddy Mike down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We buzzed up the river and made our first stop off a feeder creek of the intercoastal and fished with float rigs and live shrimp. Although we had a small shark irritate our bait, he wouldn't take it. We ran thru the marsh and made a stop over at Seymore's Pointe where Jim "knocked the skunk off" by quickly landing a feisty Redfish.

After fishing that spot a while we moved down
the Nassau River to fish some marsh runouts on the outgoing tide. We had stayed with float rigs but the minute Mike switched to a jig, he picked up a hungry Seatrout!  We had some strong bites that broke the leader at the 2nd runout but it was the 3rd that heated things up. Jim picked up a couple of fish quick - a feisty Redfish then a hard fighting Jack Crevalle then Mike had good bite, his drag began to sing and, Fish On! Mike played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a 22" Slot sized Redfish. Only seconds later they both had hookups - we had a double - and they both reeled in some nice Reds.

The tide had gotten down so we went back to Seymore's to fish some dock pilings and here Jim found a "honey hole" loaded with Black "puppy" Drum.  The fish were only 12-13.5" in size, but were fun to catch. Mike was able to inch over and pick up a few Drum of his own. We moved over one dock and found a keeper sized Flounder out deep, which was a bit unusual.

Our last stop was at my traditional Mangrove Snapper hole but they still haven't made it in yet, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Grande Slam Keepers

We could tell that it was a tad bit cooler this morning (nowhere near cold, just cooler) and with some cloud cover it made for a very pleasant fishing morning. I met Jeff and Penny Parks down at the south end ramp and we ran up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff and then even further up into a creek. Both anglers were tossing float rigs on a high and outgoing tide and even though all three of us spotted a tailing Redfish up near the marsh grass, we had not takers.

After dropping back to fish the mouth of Jackstaff, we worked the bank thoroughly, we

Penny manning the stern and fishing a float rig while Jeff took the bow and tossed a jig and shrimp. Again, no takers. But after we had crossed the creek and fished a submerged sandbar, and after Penny had switched to a jig herself, she had a hookup. She worked the fish patiently to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.

We ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks and set up-current from the pilings. Penny and Jeff were both dropping their jigs up near the pilings and it paid off. First, Jeff had a strong bite and, Fish On!  It was a ripping drag and digging deep but Jeff kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the net, a nice 22" Black "puppy" Drum. Then the duo landed a couple of Redfish, one of them being in the Slot, then Penny reeled in a fat keeper sized Flounder, giving them an Amelia Island Grande Slam of Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum and Flounder.

Our next stop was some rocks over at Seymore's Pointe but we had not luck so we ran down to Broward Island and fished the logs on the last of an outgoing tide. We wrapped the trip up catching three small Redfish, another Black Drum and a Seatrout. It was a great way to finish up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Great Fishing Sandwiched In

You just can't beat this "Chamber of Commerce" type morning weather we've been having! Today I met Jeff and Penny Parks up at the north end. The tide had been going out for a few hours so we made a quick run up and around to the outside of Tiger Island with plans to fish a nice marsh run out with jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers started off making excellent casts, fished them slow, but we had not takers.

We bounced around and into the Jolley River, fished some just-exposed oysters with float rigs and live shrimp and boy did things heat
up! Penny got things going when she hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish then both anglers were catching fish, and nice ones at that!  Jeff was fishing the stern and letting his bail stay open, he was able to get a good, long drift along the shoreline and, BOOM! Fish On! A Slot Redfish. Penny was fishing the bow and tossing up current to get her drift and, BOOM! Fish On!  A Slot Redfish. We ended up culling a couple of the smaller ones after we reached our limit.

Then Jeff had another strong bite, a hookup, and he commented that the fish was shaking it's head, a tad bit different feel than the Redfish. Sure
enough, Jeff landed a big 19.5" Seatrout. We caught and released couple of undersized Reds, an undersized Black "puppy" Drum then when the bite fell off, we moved on up into the Jolley. There was plenty of bait action at the MOA, but we had not takers.

The tide had hit bottom back nearer Fernandina so we ran back and fished the logs of Tiger. It was perfect conditions, the right tide, but the sun was up and the heat was on! Penny did hookup with the only Flounder of the day, but true to its nature, it thru the hook right at boatside.

Although the fishing was slow early and late, we had some really good action in between, so we counted as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Slam Time

I had the Thomas boys fishing with me today - Clay and his three sons Carter, Grady and Logan. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and headed up the Nassau River under clear skies, just a slight breeze and with an outgoing tide. The oyster shells were just beginning to show when we made our first stop at Twin Creeks and all four anglers began to toss float rigs baited with live shrimp up current and across the mouths of the outflow, getting good, natural drifts. But it was to no avail. We had no real bites.

We dropped back and fished a stretch of shells and here young
Logan "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and tangled with a "poor man's Tarpon" - a Ladyfish. I normally say it was "high flying" but I don't think it jumped once!  We moved up 75 yards, fished another outflow, then decided to continue west and fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe, and this did the trick.

Everybody was catching fish! I think they all landed at least one Black "puppy" Drum, with Grady leading the way, then Carter had

a strong hookup, his drag ripped, and Fish ON!  He played the big fish patiently and soon landed a big Jack Crevalle. Clay followed that up with another big Jack of his own. All totaled, we had a good handful of the Puppy Drum, but all were just a tad bit undersized.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island and we fished almost the entire stretch. Clay and Carter landed some small Redfish, then Clay and Grady had a double hookup. Each played their fish perfectly and landed them. Clay had a hungry Seatrout and Grady had a Redfish that was just smidgen undersized so both were tossed back.  With the Black Drum, Seatrout, and Redfish, they had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. Finally, Clay had a good hookup and we could tell this was a bigger fish. He worked it to the boat and Grady netted the nice 18" keeper sized Seatrout.

We had a lot of action and it was such a beautiful day, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Saving The Best For Last

The winds died down to almost nothing this morning which made for a great day to get two young anglers out on the Amelia Island back waters. I met Jody Miller and his two young sons Wyatt and William up at the Dee Dee Bartels park boat ramp. After a brief safety orientation, we ran up and around to the backside of Tiger with plans to fish the logs on a first of an incoming tide. It was ideal conditions and these anglers were fishing their jigs and live shrimp expertly, but we had no takers, other than a puny pinfish! Crazy! I would have thought we would have had some nice fish, but that's fishing!

We ran up to the Jolley River, all the way up to Snook Creek, and fished some exposed oyster beds with float rigs and live shrimp and again, no real bites. We dropped back to the mouth of the Jolley, fished a large marsh run out, and I think it was Jody's first cast - his float slowly disappeared and he had a hookup. With the help of his crew, they successfully reeled in a nice 18.5" Flounder, big enough to land them in first place in the Anglers Mark 2018 Bragging Rights Tournament - Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  We fished on up the bank, had  few nibbles, but no takers.

Our next stop was back around at Tiger, thru Tiger basin, and around to Bell River, again fishing with float rigs. Wyatt picked up a feisty Bonnethead Shark here, but other than that, no real bites.

The final stop was back at the outside of Tiger and with 15 minutes to go in the trip, the fish "catching" heated up considerably! Jody  began to hookup with Seatrout, one after the other. His two young anglers jumped in and helped reel a few in, net a few, release a few and we caught fish until we ran out of bait. Although the first handful of Trout were "shorts", they seemed to get bigger as the catching went on with a few making it into the keeper sized range. It was a great way to wrap up a nice fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.