Lipstick On A Pig

With the extended downtime from fishing trips I've taken the opportunity to do just about every chore around the house that I've been putting off for years.  But I've also had time to have some major work done on the Anglers Mark so that when all this virus stuff blows over I'll be ready to go with a boat that's in top condition.  The boat is an Angler 2200 Grande Bay and was purchased originally by Mr. Jim Williams. I had been fishing out of a 15' Mitzi Skiff flats boat which allowed me to get extremely shallow, but I could only take one and at the most two people fishing.  I sure miss those days, but I don't know if I could even stay balanced on a poling platform now!

So I purchased the Anglers Mark as a used boat in 2007 and if you remember, it had a 150 Johnson 2-stroke engine that had about 50 hours on it.  Angler didn't make it thru the recession of 2008 but they re-opened as Angler Pro. They're calling the 2200 Grande Bay an Angler Pro 22 Hybrid, but you can tell by the pictures it's the same boat.



As the Virus came on strong and as my trips trickled down to none, I still ran a few chartes with some "local" anglers - those that didn't have to travel from out of state. I had been having issues with my tilt motor working and deducted that the fluid was leaking. I added fluid over a two week span, but eventually left  it at Amelia Island Boat Repair who quickly replaced the seals and had it ready to go in less than a day. These are the same guys that replaced my gas tank in December. That entailed removing the console completely, removing a huge deck plate, then a second deck, removing the old gas tank and replacing with a new one (80 gal), then putting it all back together. I thought the cost to do this was very reasonable.

The last three trips I ran in March, each one of them had the engine just shut down as we were running. I could tell that the engine wasn't getting any gas.   So on a trip to Jacksonville, I dropped the boat off at Atlantic Coast Marine where I had originally purchased the Yamaha 200 engine about 4 years ago. They did a complete "100 hour" service, replacing the engine oil, filters, spark plugs, etc - and serviced a valve that they felt was causing the shut down issue.

West Marine had a sale on GPS/Fish Finders so I purchased and installed a new Garmin EchoMap Plus 94sv that has the traditional sonar, but also a SideVu feature and DownVu feature.  In addition to installing the GPS, I had to install a new transducer and pull a cable to the console.  I had installed a new VHF marine radio a year ago, but it was never linked to the GPS so after joining Boat US, I was able to get a MMSI number, program it into the VHF radio, and link the radio to the GPS. Now, if all else fails, we should be able to hit the "distress" button!

 



The installation of the transducer turned out to be trickier than I expected. I originally installed it where the old one was. On the first run, the sonar picked the bottom up at all speeds, BUT, there was a huge rooster tail being thrown up at high speed and water was being thrown into my engine cowling. After some research, come to find out, you can purchase and install a "spray shield" that eliminates the problem of the rooster tail.

I've always thought that the little storage boxes under the steering wheel were a waste of space.  After the gas tank installation I had thought I'd clean up the wiring in the console, but I wanted to also replace the storage area under the steering wheel and some of the wiring terminals were attached to the back of the storage. So I built a new storage cabinet out of Starboard material that incorporates the fire extinguisher, first aid kit (getting them out of the console area)  and shelves for bug spray and sunscreen, wallets and keys. After it was installed, I was able to remount the wiring terminals on the backside and clean up the wiring.

The gas gauge has never worked properly since I purchased the Anglers Mark. The "sending unit" tends to go bad quickly and it's difficult to get to. So after talking to a neighbor, I purchased and installed a Garmin GFS-10 Fuel Flow Meter  This links via a (who knew?) a NMEA 2000 network that needed to be installed, too. This is in the works - I'm waiting on one more power cable, but when all said and done, once I've entered the gas tank capacity, the Fuel Flow Meter will communicate with the Garmin Echo Map 94sv and I will be able to tell what is the best speed for fuel consumption AND how much fuel I have left in the tank! That Fuel Flow Meter came with its on Fuel Filter, installed, and note the new Water Separator housing and filter.




The 110v plug that I use to recharge my trolling motor batteries had a broken housing which prevented me from tightening the screws - the plug would want to come out when I removed the cord. So it got replaced, an easy fix.
There's no picture, but the automatic Bilge Float Switch had gone bad. When too much water gets in the bilge this switch will "float up" and turn the bilge on automatically.  This was replaced.

Two of the trailer tires were bald! Both were replaced with new, and all four hubs were greased.

So, the Anglers Mark is ready to go! When they open things up, please plan to book your trip and let's go fishing!

Out of the Fog

I picked up Robert Stettner and his friend Henrietta over at the Oyster Bay marina early this morning and we made a brief jump around to some docks on Lanceford Creek to fish some mud minnows on a jig on the first of an incoming tide. It wasn't long before Robert "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. But there wasn't much happening with the minnows (we had some frozen shrimp that we tried but only nibbles) so we made the long run around to Tiger Island, passing thru a thick low lying fog as we went.

The conditions were still good and it paid off -
Robert landed a feisty Redfish, then he had a big bite and, Fish On! Robert played it patiently to the boat as it ripped drag and soon had it boatside and....BAP! Off it came! Robert had done everything right but the fish just must have not been hooked good. Boy what a fish!  We fished down the bank and then came back to the "scene of the crime" and sure enough, Henrietta had a strange bite and landed a nice 16" Flounder - the biggest of the year so far. Robert quickly followed that up with a keeper Flounder of his own.

We eased thru Tiger basin and around to Bell River and set up fishing a flooded shell point and here the action heated up - the two anglers were regularly catching small Trout, with one being of keeper size. We decided to move around the point but by this time the sun was up, the tide was high and the fish quit biting, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Corona Virus and Fishing Update

So far I'm up to 8 cancellations due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but I'm happy that folks are staying put and being safe. I have had a couple of folks fish the last couple of days and for those of you out there that are sitting at home and wishing you were fishing....we've had some really good bites.

The Flounder are beginning to move in - we caught 3 small ones (13") yesterday and about 5 today, with the biggest being around

15".  We've caught a handful of small Reds both days, a handful of small Trout both days, with a keeper here and there, and a Black "puppy" Drum.

Today one of my guests, Brooke, hooked up with a big Redfish, fishing a flooding marsh line at Spanish Drop and boy was it a battle. The big fish got over into the marsh grass eventually and locked down the line. We eased over to the grass and laid the boat up beside it and tried to dig the fish out of the grass, to no avail - the leader broke, OUCH!

But later we had another hookup by Maria and this one too tried to get up shallow. But Maria worked it out, fought it valiantly, and landed a nice 30.5" oversized Redfish which we photographed and released.  Brooke also caught and landed a Spansh Mackeral, all the way up at Pumpkin Hill!

We've had a couple of great days of fishing...ya'll stay safe...and hope to see you when this is all over.

Short Trip, Nice Catch

With the craziness of what's going on with the Virus, I was able to squeeze in a short trip with the Traylor family this afternoon - Mark and Heather and their two sons Hibbs and Smith. I met them this afternoon up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and we jumped across to Tiger Island and even though the wind had picked up just a bit and when we got there, it was like fishing on a pond.

I had a few mud minnow over from the morning trip, and half 'o pound of shrimp that I picked up from Atlantic Seafood last evening so we baited up some jigs and began pitching. Almost

immediately, Mark and Hibbs hooked up and Fish On!  The fought the fish valiantly, played it perfectly, and soon landed a nice Slot Redfish.

Heather was pitching a jig and dead shrimp and hooked up and her and Hibbs worked it in patiently and landed another Redfish.

We worked that bank, up and down, then the duo of Mark and Smith had another strong hookup and, Fish On! It was an epic battle, but they were up for the battle and landed another Slot Redfish.  Later, we moved across the creek and caught a feisty little Stingray.

In just the short time, this fishing family, making memories, caught 5 Redfish (three were in the Slot size) and the Stingray, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Building a Mess 'O Fish

Despite the Virus scare and concerns, I was able to get out on the water with John Fredericks and his fishing partner Dan early this morning, launching from the north end boat ramp on an outgoing tide.
We ran over to Lanceford Creek, fished some docks, and almost immediately hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout on a jig and mudminnow, fished on the bottom.  He picked up one more then we moved down a dock or two, then back, but had no more real bites.

We moved around to Soap Creek and began
pitching float rigs to a large outflow, then moved up the bank and alongside of a now exposed oyster bank and, BOOM!, Dan had a hookup. He played it patiently and landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish.

After making along run around and up the Bell River, we fished some docks, tossing jigs and minnows and jigs and a Mirrolure grub, white with chartreuse tail, and this paid off. The two anglers caught and landed  a handful of Seatrout, and one of those that John caught was right at 20".

We continued on around, thru the Jolley, past the MOA and fished a now exposed oyster bank. We worked along that bank for 30 yards with now bites but when we got to a drainage, BOOM! Fish on! John was on the rod and he played it perfectly, worked it to the net, and landed an nice 25.5" Slot Redfish.  After stopping at Jolley Bank and fishing the whole stretch of oysters, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fresh Air and Sunshine

I'm hoping all of you are hunkered down and doing your best to avoid the virus that affecting us all. I've had a handful of cancellations but I'm still getting out on the water for today and tomorrow. Although the forecast called for a 35% chance of rain, when I hitched the boat up this morning it was only about a 5% chance and that was pretty accurate! I don't advertise it but once in a while I put a "shared trip" together, placing anglers with others to create a trip where they share the fee and today we pulled another one off. Estelle Wolfman was camping at Talbot Island and needed a fishing partner and Jon Slaughter answered the call. We all met up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early this morning. It was so calm the 'ole sand gnats (no-see-ums) were right at home!

We ran up to the Jolley River and began fishing Jolley Bank with float rigs with mud minnows on an outgoing tide. Both anglers were making excellent casts but we had no takers.  We ran on up to "Snook Creek", switched to jigs and minnows and again, no luck. We fished the MOA - no bites there, then crossed over to some exposed oysters and finally, Estelle hooked up and "knocked the  skunk off" when she landed a hungry Seatrout. Jon added a Trout, Estelle caught another, then Jon put another in the boat. Jon had a somewhat stronger bite, hooked up, and landed a feisty Redfish.

We made the run back around to Tiger and fished the logs but all we found was a barely legal Flounder bur it did round out the duo's Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Trout, Redfish and Flounder.

After a short break we headed over to Eagans Creek and set up down current of some dock pilings. Within minutes Jon had a strong bite and, Fish On!  Jon worked it out from the pilings, played it patiently, and soon landed a nice 26" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!  Just minutes later, BOOM! Estelle had a hookup and Fish ON!  She fought it in an Epic battle, worked it to the net, and landed a big Slot Redfish.

We bounced down two docks and BOOM! Big Fish On - but this one got up in the pilings and broke off. BOOM! Big fish on, and again, it ran up into the pilings and broke off. After that, it was like someone turned the light switch off. We hit one more spot then called it a day, another great one fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

We went from almost summertime conditions yesterday to a tad bit cooler, cloudier, and windier today which made all the difference in the "catch" for the day. I met Howard McClure and his son-in-law David up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and we then made the long run out to Bells River to try and stay out of the 13mph wind and fish an outgoing tide. After setting up between two docks the two anglers began tossing jigs and live shrimp - David on the bow fishing up current while Howard took up the stern fishing some dock pilings.  It was David who had the first strike,
hooking up a small but hungry Seatrout. After he caught one or two more, Howard joined him and too began caching Trout.

We moved down the bank to another set of docks and here we caught Trout again, but this time we had a few that were of keeper size (all fish caught today were released). We worked back up thru the docks and picked up a fish or two, all on jigs and shrimp, all on the bottom.

When the bite slowed we continued on, made the turn in Jolley and made a brief stop at the MOA but had no real bites. Our next stop was at Jolley Bank where we tried to fish some exposed oysters but the wind was just too much so we picked up and ran around to the back side of Tiger Island where we had it to ourselves and the wind was blocked, making for some very comfortable fishing. Working the bank, David picked up two more Trout of keeper size while Howard landed a surprise Flounder that could have been kept, too.  Although our options were limited with the wind, we were able to find a couple of areas to fish and it made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Making The Best Of It

Laurin Titus and her sons Charlie and Mac had plans to got to Puerto Rico for Spring Break to target Peacock Bass but with the Corona Virus outbreak, they decided to make just a quick trip to Amelia Island and take in some back country fishing on the Angler's Mark.   I met them down at the Sawpit Creek Boat ramp and we made quick run up the Nassau River and made a stop at the Spanish Drop area with plans to pitch jigs and live mud minnows up to the exposed oysters on a low and outgoing tide.  Mac was on the bow, Charlie was at the stern, and mom was snapping pictures of our beautiful ecosystem here at Amelia Island.

In just a short moment, Mac hooked up and expertly landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. After pictures it was released as were all fish caught today.  We worked the bank, move up to another marsh runout and fished that to no avail, then moved on.

Our next stop was over at Pumpkin Hill, again fishing the exposed oysters. We didn't have any real bites the first stretch but after moving down the way to a spot vacated by some other anglers, BOOM! Charlie had a good bite and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly and after good battle landed a big 26" "Tournament Size" Redfish, boy what a fish!  We kept fishing that bank and it was Mac's turn to land a nice Slot sized Redfish, which he had patiently worked to the boat.

We then moved on down to Broward Island, cruising past the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle, and set up  outside of some downed logs. We didn't get a whole lot of bites, but Mac did bring in the first Seatrout of the day.

Seymore's Pointe was our next stop where we set up outside of some dock pilings. Here, Charlie had the hot rod and pulled out two feisty Redfish.  After running thru Horsehead, we fished one final stretch of oyster lined bank and again, Charlie found a couple more Redfish, one being in the Slot size. And with that, we called it a day, another great on to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Fish at Every Spot

We fished five different spots today and didn't get skunked at a one of them!  I had met Paul and Laura Amos down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and boy was it a pretty one! Not a cloud in the sky, only slightly cool, and just a slight breeze. We headed up the Nassau River and made the longest run of the morning, up to Pumpkin Hill and found a stretch of exposed oysters to work with jigs and live shrimp and minnows. Paul was on the bow and Laura was on the stern and it didn't take long for them to hookup and land some Redfish. Paul put a feisty fish in the boat to knock the skunk off
then both he and Laura tangled with and landed a Slot sized fish of their own. We added a couple of more Reds then we moved on to Broward Island.

Soon to be renamed Gnat Island, Browed looked really good as worked the logs with jigs but the sand gnats were almost unbearable. But almost simultaneously, both Paul and Laura hooked up with a couple of hungry Seatrout. After both Paul and I inhaled sand gnats, we decided to move on and let them have the island.

Our next stop was back at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Paul started it off with feisty Black "puppy" Drum catch then he and Laura really got into some Redfish. Most of them were right at 16-17" but they were fun to catch and gave us a good amount of action.

We then ran down Spanish Drop, worked the bank with float rigs, and caught another feisty Redfish. Our final stop, after running thru Horsehead, was at the mouth of Jackstaff and here Paul put one more Seatrout in the boat before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Redfish Catch Picks Up

Today was the first non-windy day I've fished in weeks, and boy was it a beautiful day!  I met John Fredericks and his fishing buddy Dan down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made a long run up the Nassau River and around to Pumpkin Hill. The tide still had about an hour of going out so these two anglers were pitching jigs and mud minnows - no shrimp today at the bait shop.  We had fished about 10-15 minutes when Dan, after making an excellent cast, had a strong hookup and, Fish On! Dan played him perfectly as the big fish rolled a half a dozen times and....BAP, fish off! It just came off.  Dang it!  Then not 10 minutes later Dan had another strong bite, a good fight and BAP! Fish off!  This one snapped the leader right at the hook.

But Dan and John were not to be deterred. They continued to pitch the jigs and began to pick up some hungry Seatrout. When the tide turned we fished Broward Island and here John hooked up and reeled in a nice 20" Slot Redfish, then he

hauled in a 24" Slot fish. We landed another Trout or two then made the move back to Seymore's Pointe area. We fished some docks for a bit, but had no takers, then ran back to the Spanish Drop area. We fished the back end of a bend with jigs then switched to float rigs and the minnows, up near the grass and, BOOM! Dan had a strong hookup. He patiently played it to the boat and landed a Slot Redfish, then as we were measuring it John caught  and landed another Slot.  The sun was out, the temperatures had warmed and it was another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida