That's What Friends Are For

Boy what a pretty morning we had today when I met Wade Kirkland and his buddy Greg up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We left the ramp early and made the short trip over to Tiger Island with a plan to fish the downed logs on a tide that had been coming in only about an hour. I was impressed at how good both anglers were casting ( we didn't lose a single jig fishing the logs - probably a record!) But the bites were few and far between until Greg finally hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish.

Our next stop was up the Jolley River, fishing some still exposed oysters with float rigs and live shrimp. Wade was on the bow and Greg was at the stern and shortly after we started our drift Greg had a hookup and it was big enough to pull some drag. Sure enough, after an efficient battle, Greg landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish.

Shortly after that I noticed that Wade was "pulling" his bait. We'd see movement or nervous water and I'd point it out to Wade but when he cast he'd pull it up short and as we drifted by,  Greg would have a shot at it.  I guess that's what friends are for! And just minutes later, Greg had another strong hookup and, Fish On! I knew this was a big fish - it wasn't coming in and was ripping drag at will. But Greg kept the pressure on and after a long battle, landed an oversized 32" brute of a Redfish. This catch put Greg in a tie for 2nd place in the 2019 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

After that I think we landed only one more fish, a small Bluefish. We fished a few more banks, the outside of Tiger, and some docks down at Piney Island, but had no luck. But it was a beautiful day so we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Catching

I wrapped up my week today fishing with Kevin Malinowski and his aunt Joanne, meeting them up at the north end boat ramp on a clear morning with just a slight breeze- a perfect day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida! We made the run up to the outside of Tiger island to make our first stop at a large runout. Both anglers were tossing jigs and live shrimp and bumping them back over a sandy bottom, but we had no bites.

We eased on around to the mouth of the Jolley River and worked the "bank", now tossing float rigs with the live shrimp. Kevin was on the bow casting ahead while Joanne worked the stern. We
had a few bites here and there but no takers until we got to a large runout where Kevin hooked up with a keeper sized Seatrout.  We fished further up the Jolley and found another Trout or two. Then we got into some high flying Ladyfish and boy did they put on a show trying to throw the hook!

The MOA produced one Trout, not quite legal, so we buzzed around to the Bell River and fished some docks, to no avail. We had a little time left so we made the long run back to Tiger Island and worked the downed logs with jigs. Kevin found another big keeper sized Trout and Joanne reeled in a feisty Redfish.

It was a beautiful day and a great day to be fishing here eat Amelia Island, Florida.

The Kind Of Roll You Like To See!

Today was the calm before tomorrow's storm! I met Bob Blalock at out Goffinsville early this morning. We had clear skies and a falling tide that wouldn't start back in until about 10:30am, so I thought it best to hit Broward Island first thing.  Nope.  Bob fished it thoroughly, working his jig and live shrimp up near the downed logs, but we didn't have much action, other than a small Trout and a small Redfish.

But how cool is it to see the baby Bald Eagle chick has left the nest! Its head is still brown and it didn't fly much but it did venture out to one of the dead pine trees to watch his/her parents fish.
To top that, we saw one of the parent eagles dive on a fish out in Nassau River. The fish must have been too big to lift so the eagle "swam" its catch back to the bank. Really neat!

We ran back down the Nassau and set up along some shell banks as the tide started back in (we were closer to the ocean). Bait was running along the shore and when Bob saw a predator fish bust on some bait, he put his jig on the spot. He said he felt it catch on an oyster then BOOM! Big Fish On! It charged down the bank and I thought maybe it was a Jack Crevalle but when it rolled up along the bank we knew it was a big Red. Bob played it perfectly and eventually landed a nice 23" Slot Redfish. We released it and all other Red's caught today.

Continuing on down the bank we picked up another Red or two then Bob made a cast into the mouth of a large runout. It probably wasn't a foot deep and when the big Redfish hit there was an explosion as it came out  and then Bob's drag began to sing. Bigger Fish On!  This was a big fish and it took all of Bob's patience to work it closer and closer to the boat. It rolled up on the bank a time or two, came out deep, made some runs then Bob wore it out and landed a HUGE 36.25" Redfish - the biggest on the Anglers Mark this year which moved Bob into first place of the 2019 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).  We had to take a breather after that one!

But we did manage to catch another Red or two, one of which was slot size, then Bob landed a keeper sized 17" Flounder which ended up going home for the frying pan! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fat Trout and Monster Red

The weather guys were wrong again! I heard on the radio they predicted today would be a "10",  but it was  more like and 11 or 12! Just beautiful! I met Bob Blalock up at the north end ramp and we scooted over to Tiger Island to catch the incoming tide and boy was it perfect. Bob was tossing jigs and live shrimp and making pin point casts as we eased along the bank. When I saw Bob tighten up and set the hook on a good fish I thought, "oh boy, here we go". Bob worked it in and landed a nice feisty Redfish. But try as we might, we could only get nibbles here and there after that.

We made the run out and around to the Jolley River and ran up stream for a bit and set up along some still exposed oysters. Bob switched to a float rig and we worked along the bank, he began

to pick up Seatrout. They were fat and put up a good fight and when we hooked up with a keeper sized one, it put up quite the battle. After landing a 17" Trout, Bob found another one even bigger, this one measuring in at 19.5".  We fished that bank thoroughly and caught a handful of more Trout.

Our next stop was back towards Jolley entrance. Bob had just hauled in a crab claw - the guy sure was aggressive - and in a cast or two we both saw his float ease under. Bob caught up his slack and set the hook, and BIG FISH ON!  At first we thought the drag might just be loose. Bob had worked it out from the bank a bit but then it made a run back to the marsh line and rolled up along the bank. But we got it out deep with Bob keeping the pressure on and after a patient battle, landed a Slot sized 26.789" Redfish, boy what a fish. Afterwards, we commented that we didn't get another fish at that spot!

On the way back in we made a stop on the outside of Tiger and fished a large run out and picked up a couple of more Trout then we called it a day another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Tide Change

I fished with Todd Voelker and his fishing buddy Phil, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning.  The tide had been going out for a few hours and as we eased in to Jackstaff the oysters were already showing along the banks. Todd began tossing a float rig with live shrimp up current and to the bank while Phil flung a fly rod off the stern, first with topwater gurgler pattern, then with an intermediate sinking line and Clouser.  Todd did get a bite or two on the live shrimp but Phil had no hits on the fly.

We buzzed thru Horsehead and fished some docks briefly with both anglers fishing jigs and live shrimp up near the pilings. Again, we had some nibbles but no takers.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island and it was the very last of the outgoing.  Pitching jigs, we began to get some fish. Phil landed a feisty Redfish to knock the skunk off, then Todd put a fat female Trout in the boat (all fish caught today were released). The duo added a couple of more keeper sized Trout, some smaller ones, and a couple of more Reds. The tide had hit rock bottom and the bite slowed but when Todd's line tightened up, he set the hook and, Fish ON!  I advised Todd that this fish could be bigger than what it appeared, and sure enough, I was right! The big fish dug deep and ripped drag, but Todd kept the pressure on. We eased the boat out deep and took our time. Todd patiently worked it to the surface and landed a big, oversized 28.25" Redfish - the third biggest I've had on the boat this year, placing Todd in the 2019 Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We continued to fish the area and shortly after we had a "double hookup" of Redfish, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Walleye Jigs or Tide Change?

We had a great morning that greeted us when I met Ed Johnson and his buddies Rick and Ken down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had just slight overcast but temperatures were mild and it made for a comfortable run up the Nassau River with plans to fish some dock pilings at the very last of an outgoing tide. We had "freshly dead" shrimp to bait our jigs with and while Ed and Rick fished the first dock, Ken unlimbered a fly rod and blind cast to some exposed oysters with some beautiful shrimpy flies that he had tide. Although Rick had one strong bite and both he and Ed had nibbles here and there, we didn't get a single fish at the docks at Seymore's Pointe.

It looked like the tide was about to change so we buzzed down to Broward Island and finally, Ed "knocked the skunk off" when he boated a hungry Seatrout. He then picked up an "almost legal" 8 spot Redfish. The tide changed and started back in and about that time I had broken out some beautifully painted jigs that a Minnesota Walleye guy had made and delivered with some of my Minnesota guests, and the fish began to bite. Both Ed and Rick began to catch a Trout and a Red here and there, then Rick put  keeper sized one in the boat. The duo landed a trio of Flounder, two which were of keeper size, then Ed had a good bite, a hookup, and, FISH ON!

None of us thought that it was going to be much of a fish but as it moved from bank to boat and from bow to stern it got stronger and stronger. BIG FISH ON!  There wasn't a whole lot Ed could do with it other than adjust his drag on the light 1000 Shimano Stradic reel and he played it perfectly. This fish was not coming to the surface but Ed was patient, let it run - we chased it a couple of times -worked it to the boat, and eventually landed a big 30.25" oversized Redfish - boy what a fish!  After a photograph it was released to swim away. This fish puts Ed in second place in the Anglers Mark 2019 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category. Scroll down the right side of this report for standings.

Rick added another Slot Redfish to the box. Ken was making excellent casts with the fly rod but there just weren't any takers for the artificial flies - we tried Ken's shrimp fly's and some Clousers, but to no avail.  The tide got up so we called it  a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fat Trout

I've fished the last few days and boy were they some pretty ones! I had Allen Harris along with two strapping young guys, fishing out of Sawpit Creek on a high and incoming tide. We fished float rigs with live shrimp up close to the flooding grass and did pretty good catching Trout, a nice Slot Redfish, and a keeper sized 17"  Black "puppy" Drum caught over some oysters.











That afternoon I fished with William and Dara Blalock on the
falling tide. The bite was somewhat slow for a bit, although we did catch a Trout or two. After making our way down to Broward Island ( and fish with the Eagles) the outgoing tide slowed to a stop and as it started back in, we began to pick up fish - Seatrout - some of them of keeper size (all released) and a good handful of small but "feisty" Redfish.



Yesterday I fished with Steve Buckley, his son-in-law David, and grandson David, meeting them up

at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp.  Again, we had that high and incoming tide, and some breeze to go along with it!  We had a good bite here and there, finally found a couple of Seatrout, but it was somewhat slow fishing. I noticed the rivers and creeks were real muddy.  We did find some shelter for a bit and here Steve landed a big Fat female Seatrout (all fish were released today, also).

I keep waiting for the wind to settle down, the water to clear up, and warm up, and then I think we'll see an uptick in some great fishing here at Amelia Island!

Keeper Fish

I wrapped up my week fishing with Bob Blalock after I had met him out at the Goffinsville Park. Tomorrow's high winds will preclude fishing so today was the day  to catch some fish!  We had the last of an outgoing tide so we made the short run down to Broward Island and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp.  As usual, Bob was making excellent casts but the fish were not cooperating!
I don't think we had a single real bite!

We came back to Seymore's Point and fished one dock with a float rig and it was only a few minutes or so before Bob had a strong bite. When he drag ripped we knew it was a decent fish and it turned out to be a Slot sized Redfish. After pictures we released it. After moving
around the corner and fishing another dock we had another hookup. The  drag ripped and as the fish made for the pilings but Bob kept the pressure up and worked 'em' out of there. After a good battle, he landed a nice 17" Black "puppy" Drum - keeper sized - but released. We also had a nice sized Bluefish caught in that area.

We then worked along the docks, dipping in and out. Bob had made an excellent cast up to some piling and was slowly working it back along side a floating dock  when, BOOM! Big fish on! Man was it ripping some drag!  Bob kept the pressure on but he soon felt the line rubbing on a submerged piling and I thought for sure we were going to lose it. But it eventually came free and when it was out in the open we felt like we'd have it to the net...and we did! The fish was a hefty 25" Redfish. examined the leader afterwards and it was frayed severely! This fish was released, too.

We went back around the corner, drifted some float rigs, and picked up another Slot Red - and this one Bob elected to take home to the frying pan! We caught two more smaller, but feisty Reds before we headed down to Pumpkin Hill to wrap up the day by catching a handful of hungry Seatrout. What a great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Holy Chalupa!

Every once in a while I get a person on the boat that has the "Anglers Mark". Today it was a 4-1/2 year old young angler named Luke.  Last night his dad Steve said he was chomping at the bit to go fishing and that he lived and breathed fishing. I met them and Grandad (Ja Ja) up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and after our brief safety orientation, we headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on the very first of an incoming tide. 

Luke was ready to go and was quickly casting his own spinning gear rigged with jigs and live shrimp and sure enough, he was the one that "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a feisty Black "puppy" Drum.  He then reeled in a hungry Seatrout. We had to deal with
the "baitstealers" and sand gnats for a bit but Luke was able to land one more drum before we  moved on.

Our next stop was up at Jolley Bank. We may have caught a small trout or two but as Luke drifted a float rig along the exposed oysters his rod bent and the drag began to sing, FISH ON!  Luke fought the fish mightily and after a good battle and landed a big 20.5" Seatrout!  I was trying to think of an exclamation when Luke nailed it with "Holy Chalupa"! Boy what a fish!

We fished the outside of Tiger and landed a couple of more Trout then ended up over in Bell River where we had some good bites but no takers. It was an outstanding day to introduce a young angler to the backwaters of Amelia Island.

Flounder Uptick

I've been telling folks we've been getting about one Flounder a week lately, but today, we had two! Hah!  I had met Paul Landahl, his daughter Beth and her partner Heather up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning. The sun was coming up in the east and the "almost full" moon was going down in the west! We made the short run over to Tiger Island and fished the logs and had...not a single real bite. Ouch.

After running thru Tiger and around to Bell River we set up near some flooding oysters and began to pick up some Seatrout. Heather "knocked the skunk" off with the first catch then both she and Beth landed a few more. Paul had decided to enjoy the beautiful day out on the water.

We then ran around to Lanceford Creek, fished between some docks and here Beth  caught a keeper sized Flounder (all fish caught today were released). We fished further down Lanceford and Beth put a nice 18"+ Seatrout in the boat.

Our final stop was down at Piney Island and when Heather had a good hookup that battled to the bottom I though sure she had a feisty Redfish but when it came to the net it was another, even bigger, Flounder. We wrapped things up after that and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.