Backwater Bull

I waddled to the truck this morning after a day of turkey and dressing and casserole's and Carrot Cake but it was good to get back to fishing with a day off for giving thanks!  I met Tripp Miller, his fishing buddy Sean, and his nephews Bennett and Nick down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we made a quick run up the Nassau River to the Spanish Drop area, pulled up and into the current of an incoming tide, and began pitching jigs and live shrimp.  We caught a small Trout or two then switched to float rigs
and the live shrimp as we trolled a stretch of flooded oysters and then the bite lit up like a wild fire! Fish On!  The four anglers were tossing their rigs up current and drifting them back and were catching one Seatrout after another, Finally, Sean had a strong bite - one that was big enough to pull some drag - and after a good battle, landed a nice Slot sized Redfish.  We continued to fish it, continued to catch Trout, then it was Tripp's turn to battle a big fish, and boy was it big. It boiled up a few times, not wanting to come in, but Tripp kept the pressure on and worked it slowly to the net. The fish
turned out to be a tad bit over 26", but in the slot! Boy what a fish!

We eventually moved on, making the run over to Middle River and up and around to just past Pumkin Hill. The wind had picked up and was blowing the current really fast so after catching just one or two trout, we moved back to Pumpkin Hill. Again, we caught a handful of Seatrout.

Our next stop was back at the mouth of Christopher Creek. We found that the wind wasn't so bad and that we could get a good drift up by the flooding grass. I think all four anlgers hooked up and landed Trout, and some of them were of keeper size. Both Bennett and Nick were holding their own and nipping at the heals of the older anglers fish count.

We made one final stop around at Seymore's Pointe and again found some Trout biting. We picked up one or two more keeper Trout here, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Trout Mania

Another outstandingly beautiful day today!  I met Todd Johnson and is son Oliver, and nephew Mathew down at the Sawpit Creek Boat ramp early this morning on a incoming tide that had been coming in a few hours.  We made a short run up the middle river and made a stop to fish some flooding grass islands and boy was it looking good. We had just a slight breeze, sunny skies and cool temperatures and these anglers were making excellent casts and I don't think we had a single bite! Crazy!

We continued on around to Pumpkin Hill and fished another grassy island with float rigs and live shrimp and picked up a handful of Seatrout.  With young anglers on the boat, Todd was "teaching lessons" on angling with his catch total and "keeper fish" total", but the young guys caught on fast and kept the competition close! 

We moved around a point of grass and down the Nassau River and continued to catch Trout. We found that most were in the moving water and not up in the pockets.  We'd pick up a keeper here and

there, but we caught umpteen 12-14 7/8" fish.

Our next stop was back at Seymore's Pointe, fishing a pointe of grass and here the Trout bite just exploded on the first of an outgoing tide. The guys found that they could toss there float rigs forward and let it drift thru current and across and oyster bar and, BOOM! Fish On!  We added another good handful of keeper size fish with the biggest being  about 18".   Mathew battled a nice Slot sized Redfish to the boat and Oliver hooked up and landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum.   It was an awesome day of fish catching so we counted it as another great day to be on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Jig'n at a Trout Hole

The beautiful days just keep coming - we had another one this morning when I met Dennis Brizzi and his buddy Hal O'Dell out at Goffinsville Park early. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill and began fishing a flooding marsh line. This was where the young lady yesterday caught her 29" Redfish and it was about the same tide - high and incoming. We caught a Trout fairly fast but didn't have a whole lot of action until Dennis was able to get his float to drift up into a pocket and BOOM! Big Fish On!  Dennis worked him out of the shallow water and once it was out deep it was game on!

Dennis kept the pressure on and slowly worked the fish to the boat and we netted a nice 24" Slot Redfish.

We eased around the corner to a grass patch and picked up a Trout or two, then ran back to the Seymore's Pointe area and set up at a grassy pointe to drift our floats and live shrimp with the now outgoing tide. The duo of anglers picked up a good handful of smaller Trout before we moved on.

The next stop was down at Spanish Drop - the first stretch didn't produce a single bite, but when we moved up a 100 yards and switched to jigs and shrimp, this did the trick! Both anglers found that they could toss their bait up current, let it go to the bottom, and let the current move it out and down the river bottom and BOOM! Trout on!  We caught Trout after Trout after Trout, most were 14"-14 7/8" in length, so we decided to move on.

After buzzing thru Horsehead we fished a sandbar spit and here Hal hooked up and put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat, in addition to another Trout.  We crossed the creek and  fished a stretch and it was Dennis' turn to  haul in a keeper sized Flounder. After working that bank, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Cool but Hot Fishing

We had another "Chamber of Commerce" type day this morning when I met Paul and Laura Amos down at the south end boat ramp. We all were layered up with jackets so when we made the 15 minute run up Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill it was no more than a "wake up" ride! 

The two anglers began pitching live shrimp under float rigs on a high and incoming tide and almost immediately began to catch Seatrout. Although all fish caught today were released, a few of these fish were of keeper size.  We moved on around the corner and fished a flooding flat

along some marsh grass on the very last of the high tide. I think we picked up another Trout or two but when Laura, fishing from the stern, let her float drift slowly by a small grassy island and when her float turned and started the other way then slowly went under, it was Fish On! This fish was ripping drag, but then it came to the boat so we really didn't know how big it was. But then, it dove under the boat and headed for deep water and the drag began to sing again. Laura worked it around the engine then kept the pressure on and slowly brought it to the boat - a 29" Oversized Redfish - boy what a fish!  After pictures it was released to swim off vigorously.

We fished that spot a bit longer and it was then Paul that had a good hookup. He played it patiently and brought to the net another nice Red, this one in the Slot at 21".

Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe where we fished a now outgoing tide, drifting our floats around a grassy pointe and Boom! Seatrout on!  Then Boom! Seatrout on!  That went on for a good while. For awhile there the two were catching legal sized Seatrout with the biggest measuring at 18".

We made a quick final stop back at Spanish Drop and just as we eased along a marshline, Paul had made an excellent cast to the bank and, BAM! Big Fish On! It was really cool to see this fish boil up along the shoreline then make its way out deep to rip drag along the way. But Paul was up to the challenge and worked it expertly to the boat, landing a nice 25" Slot Redfish. Laura closed it out with another Seatrout catch, then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fearsome Fivesome

Although we had a beautiful morning today, the wind was kicking at 13mph when I met Reid Hanson and his fishing crew up at the north end ramp. The  boat was rocking when we loaded up and headed south west to try and get behind a land mass to get in some Amelia Island back country fishing.

Our first stop was up in Soap Creek - I had fished it yesterday with my buddy Brian Parent and picked up a few fish - but today it was a much better bite.  The anglers landed Seatrout and Redfish and

Seatrout and Redfish with a couple of the Trout being of keeper size. All were caught on live shrimp under floats, or on a jig.

We came out from Soap and made the short run to Eagans Creek to fish some dock pilings and boy was it on fire when we got there! The two young anglers, Conner and Ryen were making excellent casts and it was paying off with hookup after hookup. The adult anglers filled in with catches of their own.

We ended up with 4 Slot sized Redfish with  umpteen smaller "rat" Reds thrown back; we also had 4 keeper sized Seatrout with the biggest right at 18", and umpteen smaller trout thrown back; and we also added to the box 3 hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum, with a couple of smaller ones thrown back.

We didn't fish this spot yesterday with Brian, but he and I had made the long run around to Jolley and fished an outgoing tide with float rigs and really got into the Reds and Trout. We caught 'em there for a good while, then ran further up the Jolley to MOA and picked up some Trout, then made our final stop back at Tiger Island where we "caught 'em till we go bored" - one fish after another, mostly Redfish - we were "culling" smaller Slots for bigger Slots - and some Black "puppy" Drum, and some Trout.

Whenever someone asks when's the best time to fish Amelia Island, I always say, "October or November" and the last two days reinforced that! What a great two days of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Bite From The Start

I think today was the prettiest morning we've had all month! It was cool, clear, and we had just a tad bit of wind when we left the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. I had met Freya and Dan Phillips early and we headed north and west to make our first stop up the Jolley River and after we unlimbered our float rigs, baited them with live shrimp, we began to toss up current and it was Game On! The two anglers began to catch one fish after another - a mix of Seatrout and Redfish with the Reds up near the still covered oysters and the Trout out just a bit.  Although most of them were small, we did get one keeper sized Trout then Ray hooked up, battled, and
landed a nice 22" Slot Redfish.

We moved up to Snook Creek, fished the now exposed oysters, then made the jump around to the MOA and here we caught another good handful of Trout, now fishing with jigs and live Shrimp. Our next stop was around at soime docks in Bell River and it was Freya who found that pitching the jig up current would catch the Trout. I even picked up a rod and all three of us were catching fish.  Freya put the biggest Trout in the boat - a 18" fish, and Ray put a keeper sized Weakfish in the box. We hit two or three docks, added a keeper Flounder, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Batttling the Breeze for the win!

We did an afternoon trip today when I met Mike Baker and his dad Larry up at the north end ramp at 1pm.  There was a NE wind blowing at 13mph, but it was clear skies and just a tad bit cool so we decided we'd take on the challenge.  Our first stop was up Bell River just a ways and the "demo" cast produced a nice Seatrout catch - "where'd the float go"!  We were drifting live shrimp under a float rig on a high and incoming tide - not necessarily my favorite - but we caught a few Trout on either side of grassy pointe.

We then ran around and up into Lanceford Creek
and fished a grass patch. Larry was drifting his float right up to the grass and we both saw it slowly go under, Larry lifted his rod and the circle hook set and, Fish On!  Larry worked it expertly to the boat and landed a nice feisty Redfish. Mike was fishing out beyond the grass and picked up Seatrout. We worked it pretty good and got a good handful of Trout and Reds.

After moving down just a bit we fished a seawall with some grass along the edge and really got into some fish, many which were of "keeper" size. Larry was working the grass and found a honey hole and Mike was fishing up near some tree branches and was catching is share,too.

We then ran down past Rayonier and fished "Temptation Cove" and picked up another few Trout of keeper size.  Our last stop was back at Tiger Island, fishing the logs with jigs and here Larry caught our final keeper Trout and then put a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum in the boat.   The sun was heading down and we had some fish to clean so we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big and Bigger at Amelia Island

I fished again with Steve Locke and his fishing buddy Jason, meeting them down at the  south end
ramp on a cool, clear and sunny morning. We made a short run up the Nassau River and made a stop along an exposed shell bed on a tide that was still going out with about 2 hours until it hit bottom.
(Note, there were anglers at the ramp fishing jigs and white grubs with chartreuse tails and they were tearing up the Trout!).  We were pitching jigs and shrimp to the bank and these two were making excellent casts, but we didn't get even a hard bite, which surprised me.

But after running just a couple of hundred yards up the river and hitting the Spot Lock, Jason caught fire, bumping his jig/shrimp down the bottom, and began to catch one Seatrout after another. I followed him in with a grub and jig but didn't have a decent bite. Jason when go back in and pick a fish up. Go figure.

We then ran up to Seymore's Pointe and set up current from some dock pilings. Steve got on the board with a strong hookup and after working the fish patiently to the boat and landed a nice 16" Black 'puppy" Drum. He followed that up

with a keeper sized Seatrout, then Jason reeled in another keeper sized Drum.

Our next stop was even further up the Nassau where we fished some exposed oysters, still on an outgoing tide, and things got busy! Jason landed a Slot sized Redfish then it was Steve's turn on the stern to catch Seatrout. Between the two of them, they put two more keeper Trout in the boat with Jason's being the biggest, measuring at 18".  The wind was picking up but we were so close to Broward Island as the tide began to turn we decided to give it a try and it paid off.  This was where Steve got on the Bragging Rights board with a big oversized Redfish catch last month and sure enough, BOOM! Big fish on again. He fought it to the boat after several "boils" and Jason netted the 28" oversized Red for pictures and release.  After putting a keeper sized Sheepshead in the box, Steve had another strong hookup - another oversized Red we were thinking? But no, after an excellent fight, Steve landed a "Tournament Sized" 26.5" Slot Redfish.

By now the west wind was really howling and the river was white capping so we ran back to the safety of Seymore's Pointe, fished some docks, picked up one more Trout, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

(Grande) Slam Before the Storm

We were luck today to be able to squeeze in a back water fishing trip before the rain and winds hit this afternoon. I had met Jeff and Lori Stuart up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early this morning. We had sunny skies and just a light wind which made for a great morning to get out on the water.

Our first stop was over at the outside of Tiger Island, fishing float rigs and live shrimp and I think it was first cast that we hooked up. Lori reeled in a hungry Seatrout. But we didn't get much after that.  After buzzing thru Tiger and
around to Bell River we set up and again, we picked up a Trout or two, and a Bluefish.

The next stop was at in Lanceford Creek to fish a "grass patch" - Millies Spot to be exact, and again, we caught some small but fun-to-catch Seatrout.  We moved over a seawall, still floating the live shrimp. Jeff was freelining his back around some tree branches and commented that a fish should be there and sure enough, BAM, Fish on!

We moved back to Soap Creek and again, caught a few Trout. Our last stop was back at Eagans Creek, fishing some dock pilings. The oysters were just starting to show on the outgoing tide. We were pitching jigs and shrimp and mud minnows and also drifting a slip float out deeper. A big Trout took that and Lori worked it in to the net -fish in the box! Lori also hooked  up and caught a feisty Redfish. Then Jeff got in on the action after making a perfect cast up between two pilings. His rod bent double and he had a big one on!  Jeff worked it out from the pilings, applied the pressure, and brought to the net a nice keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. He went back to the same spot and pulled out another one, this one even bigger!  Lori added a Drum to her resume then followed that up with a small Sheepshead to round out her Amelia Island Back Country Grande Slam of Seatrout, Red Drum, Black Drum and Sheephead. We fished until we were out of shrimp then we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. EDIT, Lori and Jeff sent this pic of their catch after it was cooked! Sure looks good!

Trout, Trout, and More Trout

I think it was Sue who had purchased a gift certificate last year for her husband Lewis Welch as a gift and today that redeemed it and what a glorious day did they pick! I met them down at the south end ramp and we then made along run up Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill to set up at a grassy island with plans to fish float rigs and live shrimp. The duo began to catch Seatrout and it was Fish On! for quite a while. I was a tad bit surprised as we had a high tide and it was still coming in and flooding the grass.

Sue battled a nice 3' Bonnethead Shark to the net and the couple slowly built up a nice mess o'
keeper Trout in the box.  We fished both sides of a grassy pointe and as the tide came to a standstill, the bite fell off to nothing.

So we buzzed back to Seymore's Pointe where Lewis quickly picked up a Seatrout, then Sue drifted her float back a ways and picked up another couple herself.  That died off so we made the short run down to Spanish Drop and began fishing back thru the current and again, the fish turned on. Sue caught and landed a couple of nice Redfish, one of which was of Slot size and both she and Lewis landed more Trout, and a couple of nice sized Bluefish.  I know thru out the trip we had at least two "double hookups".

The temperatures were just right, the fish catching was almost non-stop, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.