Wildlife Spotting's Top The Morning

I wrapped my week up yesterday fishing with David Barnett and his son Brahm, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early with plans to fish the last of an outgoing tide. We made a run over to Soap Creek and set up along some exposed oyster beds and began pitching jigs and live shrimp upcurrent.  Both anglers were making excellent casts but we had no real bites.  As the sun rose we had a beautiful view of a Rosette Spoonbill working the bank. We then moved around to Lanceford Creek and worked some docks. Brahm did "knock the skunk off" when he outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead.

Our next stop was around at  Tiger Island. We had 2 dozen minnows also so we deployed them  and it paid off when Brahm hooked up and landed 3 Flounder, one of which was of keeper size(all fish caught today were released).  Switching back to shrimp he also was able to catch a couple of Black "puppy" Drum to round out a different kind of Amelia Island Back Country Slam - Sheepshead, Flounder and Drum.  It was here that David spotted something swimming in the water - a Salt Marsh Mink. It was making the journey from the island, west to the marsh and was swimming on the top of the water - made me day!



We fished the Jolley River on the first of an incoming tide, picked up a fish or two, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

The Hegler Fishing Team notched an "Amelia Island Backcountry Super Grande Slam" this morning when they boat a Black Drum, Seatrout, Flounder, Sheepshead and Redfish during the trip!  And they added to that catch a whole bunch of other species for a Marine Wildlife education for young Nolan.
We had met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and headed up the Nassau River to make an early stop at Spanish Drop. Although all three anglers were making excellent casts, we didn't have much more than a nibble.

We then ran up to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here things picked up. Robert's first cast produced a drag ripping run  that continued on thru the pilings....and kept going!  Then he and Rob boated a couple of feisty Black "puppy" Drum, then Rob had a hookup that ripped some drag. Luckily the fish stayed between the pilings and although it was on the other side of the dock, Rob worked it out. The fish made some high flying jumps and we both questioned "Black Bass"?  Hah!  No, when Rob worked it to the net we saw that it was a huge Blue Fish, big for the backwaters of Amelia Island. We fished a couple of more docks then made the run down to Broward Island where the tide was still going out.

Things picked up. Rob and Robert teamed up to land a handful of Seatrout, then they caught a keeper sized Flounder, a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper and a feisty Sheepshead.  Robert finally hooked up with something that would "rip some drag". He worked it patiently to the boat and landed a Slot Sized Redfish. Nolan had been patiently fishing, hanging in there for a 7 year old, and it paid off. He was baiting his own hooks and making his own casts and, BOOM! Fish On! Nolan played the fish perfectly and worked it to the boat to land beautiful copper colored Redfish, boy what a fish.  I think the final fish caught for the day was an ugly 'ole Toad Fish, but with a good variety caught, we counted it as another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Jack Crevalle Takes The Big Fish Award

The Richardson's were in town for a break, Mark and his dad Allen and son Braden, and they decided to take in a half day of fishing here at Amelia Island. I met them early down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a short run up the intercoastal and into the Nassau River, stopping at the Spanish Drop area to fish jigs and live shrimp along the expose oysters with a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out.

We had fished just a short time when Mark woke us all up with a shark hookup. He quickly handed it off to his son Braden to do the heavy lifting and Braden was playing it perfectly but the Shark had other plans - it ran fast and deep and BAP! Broke the leader.  That must have gotten Braden in the groove because he later hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout(all fish
caught today were released). Allen added a feisty Redfish to the catch total.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Again, it was Braden with the big hookup. This fish took his bait and ran deep, away from the pilings so we followed it with the trolling motor as Braden took up slack. But then the fish dove deep, went east, went west and took us for a  ride as Braden battled it with the light tackle spin gear, size 1000 reel. The fish turned out to be no match for Braden who eventually subdued it and brought it to the net, a nice 5lb Jack Crevalle.  We went back to the dock where both Mark and Allen caught some Black "puppy" Drum then we had one huge bite that took the line up into the pilings and broke off.

After buzzing down to Broward Island and setting up off the logs with the tide still going out we got into some hot action. Braden caught a Slot Redfish, then the trio added a couple of more.  We picked up a couple of small Seatrout then began to work our way down the bank as the tide started back in.  Mark did battle with another huge Jack Crevalle. At the last spot Allen found a "honey hole" and reeled in a couple of Redfish, one of them being in the Slot. Then he had a strange bump, a hookup, and reeled in a nice 16" keeper sized Flounder.  We caught fish at almost every stop so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

 

 

Foggy Morning Start at Amelia Island Fishing

I met Garth Snider and his son Landon down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and as we started up the intercoastal we had to go slow because the fog was socked in. But when I got up to the mouth of the Nassau I was able to see both marshes so we made a short run up to Spanish Drop where we began tossing jigs with live shrimp to the exposed oysters on the last of an outgoing tide.  Both of these anglers were excellent casters and were hitting the edge regularly. It was Garth who "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up with something strong. The fish boiled at the shoreline so we knew it was a nice Redfish. Garth worked it patiently to the boat on the light tackle spinning gear and soon landed a Slot Redfish. We worked along the bank and Garth picked up a keeper sized Seatrout.

We continued on up the Nassau and tried our hand with float rigs along some rocks, hoping for Mangrove Snapper on the
dead low but we had not a nibble. I think all the fresh water that we've had from the rain has moved them on out. We buzzed down to Pumpkin Hill and fished some more oysters with the jigs then continued on down to Broward Island. The first spot only produced a hungry Croaker but after we moved on we had some good hookups. Landon was on the line and reeled in another, even bigger, Slot sized Red then Garth set the hook on a "nibble" and brought to the net a feisty Sheepshead. We added another hungry Seatrout to the catch before we moved on.

Heading back east we made another stop at Spanish Drop, fishing with the float rigs now that the oysters were covered. Just as we were about to leave, BOOM! Garth's float disappeared and his line began to rip across the water. He slowed it down then handed the rod off to Landon for the heavy lifting!  Landon played it like a pro and after a long battle landed a big 4' Bonnethead Shark. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Eventful Day Fishing At Amelia Island

Back to "work" today, fishing with Robert Hegler and his adult son Rob after meeting them up  at the Dee Dee Bartels Park with a tide that had started back in about an hour before we left the ramp. We made the quick run over to Tiger Island under overcast skies and fished the logs with jigs and live shrimp and minnows.  Rob was using the shrimp and Robert was using the minnows and it seemed that Rob was getting more bites. He picked up a feisty Redfish, just undersized, then landed a bigger one that looked and felt like it was going to be a keeper, but it had a trick up its sleeve and "flipped" just as I was beginning to measure it and over it went! Ouch!  But these two anglers were not to be deterred. They picked up a couple of hungry Seatrtout then Robert, still tossing the minnow had a good thump and, Fish On! He slowly worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.

We made the run up to Jolley River and fished the bank, staying with the jigs for a most of it. Rob had a hard bite and
a good battle and put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum into the boat.  The duo had just tallied an Amelia Island Back Country "Grande" Slam of Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and Black Drum.  We fished further up the river, had a few bites with one break off, then as we eased back to the mouth, it began to rain. Luckily, we were all prepared and pulled on rain gear. I had just pulled up to a good looking spot and Rob had made an excellent cast to a grassy island and, BOOM! In three foot of water the battle was on!  Rob worked the fish out over the oysters, got it deep, went from bow to stern, and eventually subdued and landed a big Oversized 28" Redfish. Boy what a fish!
We had another strong break off here before we moved on.

Our next stop was on the outside of Tiger fishing the now flooded oysters. We worked the bank thoroughly then buzzed thru Tiger to the Bell River and set up on a pointe for the final few minutes. We caught another small Trout and then the final bite of the day was a hard strike on Robert's line. he played it perfectly but it was not to be and threw the hook. With that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Trout Bragging Rights Busted

The Gaslin boys cashed in a gift certificate Teresa had purchased earlier in the year and both of them were celebrating birthdays by fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. I met them out at Goffinsville Park and with a high and incoming tide, we decided to make a short run down to Spanish Drop and fish a bank that still had some oyster shells exposed. The duo were tossing mud minnows under floats and as we worked along the bank, they had numerous bites and nibble, but no takers. Finally, Sam "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up, battled hard, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. Things seemed to heat up after that - Tom had a strong bite and expertly landed a Slot sized Redfish. Then they landed another feisty Red, tangled with a Ladyfish, and caught another Jack.

We then made a pit stop at Seymore's Pointe to test for Mangrove Snapper - none were there or they weren't biting, then we buzzed on down to Pumpkin Hill. We fished  a couple of areas that were looking real good but had no bites. We then eased around a corner and fished a grassy island and, BOOM!, Same had a big fish on. It wasn't make runs like a Redfish but it just kept pulling hard. Sam kept the pressure on and eventually brought it to the net, a big 22" Seatrout - big enough to claim first place n the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We fished some more docks at Seymore's Pointe later then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

 

Recipe of the Month: Redfish Orleans

Up until a year or so ago there was a seafood restaurant in Jacksonville that Carol and I frequented and

on their menu they had a Blackened Flounder with Orleans topping. Boy was it good. When Carol and I caught a couple of Slot Reds the other day we brought the filet's home and I found a recipe at Robert St. Johns, a chef over in Mississippi, Redfish Orleans!  We cooked it the other night and it was as good as I hoped for:

Ingredients:
6                 Redfish Filets
1/2 cup      no-stick Grilling Marinade  for Seafood (New South Grilling) This is a whole 'nother  
                   recipe - I didn't do this, I just browned my filet's in real butter!
1  Tbsp       Kosher Salt
1/4 tsp        Black pepper, freshly ground
1/4 cup       Olive oil
3/4  lb         fresh Florida shrimp, peeled, deveined and washed
2/1/2 cups  mushrooms, sliced
2  tsp          Garlic, minced
3/4 cup       green onions, sliced
1/4 cup       Parsley, chopped, for garnish
1 can          crab meat I added this. You can't beat crab meat!
 1   cup        Creole cream sauce This is some good stuff! See Below:

Make the Creole Cream Sauce first!
2 Cups       Heavy Cream
1 Tbsp        Creole Seasoning I used Konriko
2 Tbsp        Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp        Hot sauce
1 tsp            Paprika

Place all ingredients in a double boiler over medium high heat and reduce by one third, until thickened.


You want to time the rest of this so that it all comes together about the same time.

Brush the fish filets with the marinade and refrigerate 20 minutes. Season fish with the kosher salt and black pepper.

Prepare the grill. Place the fish on direct medium high heat and cook 4-5 minutes. turn fish and cook another 4-5 minuets or until opaque in the center.

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over high heat. Sauté shrimp for 2-3 minutes until they begin to turn pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender. Add garlic and green onion and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.  Add the Creole Cream Sauce and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat, stir in cheese.  Divide evenly and spoon over fish. Garnish with parsley.

Shark Week at Amelia Island

The wind "app" indicated 16mph winds at the boat ramp this morning but
it was sunny and clear so the Woodard family, Mark and Jen and their daughter Lilli were game to go fishing after a long and precocious last couple of months. We launched at Sawpit Creek and headed up the intercoastal to dip into Jackstaff and then moved further into the creek to set up with some float rigs and live shrimp. The tide had just started out and our first cast got a bite. Mark was on the rod, set the hook, and brought to the boat a nice keeper sized Seatrout. That's the way to start a fishing trip!  But after that, no fish!

We ran thru Horsehead, fished some docks at Seymore's. Fished some more docks at Seymore's, then ran down to Spanish Drop. Jen was fishing a jig
and shrimp here and right off, BOOM! Big fish on! Jen was using my size 1000 reel, 10lb braid, on a 6'6" rod and this made for a long and arduous battle. But Jen was up to the task and battled the big fish to the boat, and landed a 4'+ Bonnethead Shark. Boy what a fish fight!  Not to be outdone, Lilli hooked up and had a shark fight of her own. She wore the fish out then handed it over to her dad to finish it off - another nice Shark.

Jen stayed with the jig and shrimp on the bottom and picked up a couple of Whiting that went in the box, then we made the run down to Pumpkin Hill, and then to Broward Island to wrap things up. Although the wind buffeted us all day, we made the most of it and it turned out to be another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Capt. Lawrence Piper is a back country light tackle, fly fishing guide based out of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and specializes in Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. If you’re looking for things to do a fun family outing or a day out with your angler friends,  then plan a Charter on The Anglers Mark.

Everyone Is a Winner With Big Fish at Amelia Island

Brad G. and I were keeping a sharp eye on the weather and when I talked to him last evening we both agreed that we'd probably get wet today with a 45-50% chance of rain throughout the morning. But when I met him and his adult kids Ashley, Jake and Jake's fiancé Sidney up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp, the skies were clear, the sun was coming out, and not a hint of rain!

We took advantage of that and made a run up to the Jolley River, all the way to Snook Creek, and began pitching to the oysters with jigs and mud minnows. We fished along, had a few nibbles, then Ashley had a strong hookup, and, Fish On!  She played it perfectly to the boat and landed a nice
18" Flounder to "knock the skunk off" the boat!  We then eased around to the MOA, again pitching jigs and minnows, and here both Jake and Brad reeled in some fat Trout, Jake's being of keeper size.

After crossing the creek we fished another oyster bank and just as I thought
we were about to run out of oysters, BOOM! Sidney had a strong bite! This fish was ripping some drag but Sidney applied the pressure and BOOM! Brad had a hookup!  Brad worked his to the boat quickly - another keeper Trout - then

Sidney brought hers to the net - a nice Slot sized 21" Redfish.

We dropped back to fish "Jolley Bank" where Brad landed a keeper sized Flounder and Jake reeled in a feisty Redfish that was just shy of the Slot then we made the run back to Tiger Island. Ashley found another small Flounder there then we moved to the outside and tangled with a couple of high flying Ladyfish. Although the day was forecast to have rain, it turned out to be a beautiful day and another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Capt. Lawrence Piper is a back country light tackle, fly fishing guide based out of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and specializes in Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. If you’re looking for things to do a fun family outing or a day out with your angler friends,  then plan a Charter on The Anglers Mark.

Mangrove Snapper Are Back at Amelia Island

We had a beautiful morning today with plans to fish with the Braynard Fishing Team - Scott and his adult kids Sarah and David. I met them down at the south end boat ramp and we headed up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff to begin fishing along the exposed oysters with jigs and live shrimp. All three anglers were making excellent casts, fishing the last of an outgoing tide, but all we had were nibbles. We crossed the creek, fished a sandy pointe, and again, only nibbles.

After running thru Horsehead we pulled at a dock and fished the pilings. Here, David "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up with a ferocious fighting big Jack Crevalle. After a good battle, he landed the fish for pictures and release. We fished a few docks to no avail, then moved on.

Our next stop was around at some rocks at Seymore's Pointe and here things heated up. Now fishing fixed float rigs with live shrimp, this trio of anglers began to get bites then Scott hauled in a fat Mangrove Snapper. It was like a light switch was flipped because we began to get one bite after another. David reeled a few keeper sized fish in, Sarah got the hang of it and caught some, and Scott added a couple to the catch.

We decided to move on and see if we could get some bigger fish so we made the run down to Spanish Drop. After working along the flooded marsh grass Scott, fishing off the stern, had some hookups. he tangled briefly with a high flying Ladyfish, then put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat. Sarah hooked up and landed another Ladyfish to top the day off and with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Capt. Lawrence Piper is a back country light tackle, fly fishing guide based out of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida and specializes in Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. If you’re looking for things to do a fun family outing or a day out with your angler friends,  then plan a Charter on The Anglers Mark.