We Weathered The Storm

 

After a week of nasty weather as tropical storm Eta crept thru we were finally able to get out today here at Amelia Island. I fished with Rick Cardinal and his son Zac and met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although we had some skies that were still overcast,  the high winds had dissipated to almost nothing. We eased over to outside of Tiger Island and set up fishing float rigs and live shrimp.  Although we had a bite here and there, we had no takers so we moved across the creek and continued our search. Zac put a handful of bait stealers in the boat  but that was it so we moved on.

After a brief stop in Bell River we made the run over to Lanceford Creek. Rick was drifting a minnow with the current and let his bait drift up next to a small grass patch and BOOM! He had a hookup! Rick played it patiently to the boat and landed a nice Slot Redfish. We moved on around to Soap Creek, stuck with the float rigs, and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and a couple of feisty Redfish.

We then made a long run around to and up the Bell River to fish some docks with jigs.  Zac got hot and picked up a couple of Trout, then Rick reeled in a feisty Red and a Mangrove Snapper. But it was Zac who hooked up with the big one. He was fishing fairly deep when he felt a "bump" and set the hook -Fish On! Zac worked it to the boat expertly and landed a nice  22" Slot Redfish.

 After a brief stop in Jolley we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Just Enough To Make it A Day

 I fished the last two days with Georgia fans, down for the big game, and boy did we have to work for the fish! Both days dawned with cloudy skies and a breeze that was forecasted to increase to a blow. Sure enough, the forecast was right!  Wednesday I fished with William Blalock and we launched out of Goffinsville Park. We made our first run over to the Spanish Drop area and began pitching jigs and minnows to the bank. We picked up a couple of Trout doing that and that's how the morning went - a Trout here and there with none over 14 1/2".

Yesterday I fished with Brian Roach, William, and their buddy Mark, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels park boat ramp. We ran over to behind Tiger thinking we'd be out of the breeze and it was slightly blocked. Brain knocked the skunk off with a small Seatrout catch, then William picked up a small Flounder. So the work began!

We made a long run around to Lanceford Creek and fished a dock or two with the jigs and live Shrimp. The shrimp were

getting nibbles, but no takers, until Brian hooked up with something big. He worked to ti the boat and landed a nice 20" Black "puppy" Drum. All keeper sized fish caught today were released.

After moving down the creek and fishing a small grassy patch and a bulkhead with float rigs, to no avail, we moved on. Our next stop was up Soap Creek and boy the wind and current was really kicking. Even with that, these anglers had some good drifts, right thru the "honey hole", but no takers.

As we were passing by Rayonier's retention pond I noticed that the wind was blocked a bit so we stopped and fished and this turned out to be the hottest spot of the day! All three anglers caught those 14" Seatrout then Brian hooked up and landed a nice 17" Flounder, again, photographed and released. 

Our next and final stop was around at Piney Island, anchored out of the wind and fishing between two docks. Brian and William were on the bow fishing jigs to the pilings while Mark and I were fishing the grass edge with float rigs. We were getting pretty good drifts and after a slight "jiggle" of the float something big took the minnow and, BOOM, Fish On!  Mark was on the rod and played it patiently to the net - a big 18 1/2" Seatrout - the best Trout we've had in weeks. Mark went back to the grass and had another quick hookup. This Trout turned out to be another of keeper size which made for a great way to wrap up a Georgia/Florida fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Team Patty

When I talked to Mike Sheffer last night the forecast called for clear skies after a cold front was to blow thru during the night, and winds at around 11mph. But when I reached the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp this morning the wind was whipping at about 16mph. I ended up launching over at Leaders and Sinkers on Eagans Creek and when Mike, his wife Patty, and Mike's brother Rod got there we headed out. 

The plan was to try and find places to fish out of the wind. We first ran over to Lanceford Creek, then up into Soap and set up along the marsh grass as the high tide continued in. The trio of anglers were tossing float rigs and mud minnows and making excellent casts but we didn't have much luck, other than one Perch that Mike hooked up and reeled in. 

We eased around Lanceford and found an area perfectly sheltered from the NW wind, but we had no bites. After fishing

some dock pilings at the next stop, again with no luck, we made the run back down Lanceford, up thru Bell and Tiger Basin and around to the outside of Tiger, and this paid off. 

Patty had made an excellent cast to some sparse grass - she waited patiently and when she saw the float disappear, she tightened her line and set the hook! Patty worked to the net a nice fat Speckled Seatrout. She went back to the same general area with a pinpoint cast and, BOOM! Bigger Fish On! This one was ripping some drag and sure enough, as Patty brought it to the net, we saw that it was a Slot sized Redfish. Team Patty was off to a good start!

Shortly afterwards Rob hauled in a long Needlefish to get on the Board and this was all it took. Our next stop across the creek was where Rob got hot - hooking up with a hungry Seatrout, then a feisty Redfish. When Rob switched to a jig he caught a small Cigar fish. 

Our last stop was further around Tiger where we fished for a few minutes to no avail, then we headed we did a quick tour of Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch then headed in, counting it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida

Jumped On 'Em Early

 We had what it think is going to be the prettiest day of the week today. I had met Sharon and Durant Fleming up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park and we had clear skies and not even a breeze to blow the no-seeums away! We made  short hop over to the outside of Tiger Island and set up fishing with float rigs and mud minnows on a tide was at the very top. It was Sharon who "knocked the skunk off" when she quickly hooked up and landed a fat Seatrout, then she went right back in and hooked up another one - this one of keeper size (all fish caught today were released).

We eased along that same bank and could see some activity up near some sparse grass. Durant had made an excellent cast, had something tug off his minnow then Sharon went in and BOOM! Big Fish ON!

Boy what a fish - A nice 25" Slot sized Redfish, Sharon's first ever!

We crossed the way, picked up a couple of Seatrout, then made the

run around to Jolly River and fished the "bank". Again, we had bites early and the duo added to their Seatrout catch, and Sharon added to her species count with a wayward Bluefish landing. After fishing a couple of spots up the Jolley, we made a run back around and up to Lanceford.

The first spot didn't produce but when we worked our way up into Soap Creek we had some luck. Durant put a good sized Seatrout in the boat - the biggest of the day - then both he and Sharon landed some feisty Redfish. Overall, it was a good day of fishing, a good day of catching, and another great one to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Making It Work

 For those of you that follow this "report", we've had some cranky weather all month - a 'Nor Easter earlyin the month that really blew and for the last few weeks a lot of wind to deal with. On top of that we haven't had any real cold spells so the water temperature as of today was right at 77 degrees up on Lanceford Creek. We're picking up a handful of 14" Seatrout here and there and once in a while a "keeper" fish.

Today I fished with Robert Stetner and his buddy Doug when I picked them up out at the Oyster Bay Marina. We had some clouds in the sky, a sprinkle now and then and a breeze that picked up as the morning went along. Not an ideal weather day but these guys were ready to fish!  While we were in Soap Creek we fished a large marsh run out and quickly knocked the skunk off when Doug put a couple of Seatrout in the boat.

We moved around and fished a spot up Lanceford Creek to no avail, then came back towards Fernandina and fished a grass patch surrounded by submerged oysters. Robert went to the bank with

his first cast and almost immediately his float disappeared and he had a nice hookup. He landed a keeper sized Seatrout. Doug fished the grass patch, letting his float and live shrimp drift up next to it. We both saw the float slowly ease under the surface and Doug had a hookup This fish put up more of a fight than the earlier Trout and sure enough it turned out to be a feisty Redfish. 

After a 10 minute run up the Bell River we fished some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp. Doug put a few Seatrout in the boat, fishing off the bow, while Robert found a feisty Sheepshead and a Trout off the stern. We then buzzed around to the Jolley River and fished Snook Creek and here Robert found the first and only Slot Redfish of the day. 

We had been fishing in a steadily increasing wind and these two anglers were making it work. After fishing briefly on the outside of Tiger for a chance Flounder, we ducked in to behind Tiger and fished the logs. We were out of the wind, the sun was out, but the fish weren't biting! So we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Johnny Slot the Flounder King

Boy what a beautiful sunrise we had today when I met Jon Edwards and his father Dale out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. As the sun came up over Amelia Island we eased away from the dock and made a quick run around Seymore's Pointe with plans to fish some dock pilings with jigs and shrimp. I thought for sure we'd pick up a Black "puppy" Drum or a Redfish, but all we got were a couple of Mangrove Snapper that Dale out foxed and caught. 

We then ran down the Nassau, towards the bridge, and made a stop at Spanish Drop to fish the very last of an outgoing tide. Here, our fortunes changed. We had switched to mud minnows, still pitching jigs, and the duo began to hookup. Jon put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat then both anglers tangled with and landed feisty Redfish. Dale put a small Flounder in the boat then Jon had a strong hookup, the drag ripped, and Fish On!  Jon played it patiently and after a good battle landed a nice Slot sized 21.5" Redfish. He also put a keeper sized Whiting in the

boat. 

Our next stop, after an eight minute run, was down at Broward Island. We passed a Bald Eagle under way and made a stop at a large marsh run out. Jon was on the bow fishing to the run out while Dale was at the stern fishing some logs. Dale had the first hookup - Big Fish On! and he played it expertly to the boat - but then Jon had a big bite. He thought it might be a Drum the way it was hugging the bottom. I netted Dale's Slot 22.5" Redfish then moved forward to net Jon's Big Flounder, one that measured right at 22.25" - boy what a fish.  This fish moved Jon into a tie for 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2020 Bragging Rights Tournament -Flounder Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). After high fives and pictures the duo when back to fishing and only minutes later Jon hooked up again, another big 21.5" Flounder - two in row!

We fished the north end of the island when the tide changed and got one feisty Red, then fished Pumpkin Hill where Jon caught another Trout and  a Mangrove before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Good Cast Nets Big Fish

 With a 50% chance of rain forecast for today my guests and I had decided to take the chance and get out fishing today.  I met Paul Clark and his fishing buddy Steve up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park early and headed over to Tiger Island to fish the logs on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour.  Although we didn't tear them up, we did catch a couple of hungry Seatrout and a few feisty Redfish, a couple of which were right under the Slot size. We were fishing with jigs and live shrimp and minnows - the bait stealers are still here, so we gradually gravitated to the minnows more and more. 

After making the run up to the Jolley River, we eased in and fished the "bank", sticking with the jigs, but had no real bites. We then ran further up the river, just past Snook Creek, and switched to float rigs and minnows. We slowly worked the oysters as the tide came in and just when Steve had a made a perfect cast up near the oysters we both saw his float ease under - Steve took up his slack and lifted the rod firmly to let the circle set and, Fish On! We could tell that this fish was big 

because the drag was ripping and the fish was heading south! But Steve kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the waiting net - a fish that turned out to be a 25.5" upper Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

We came  back around to Tiger, ran thru the marsh, and over to Bell River where we set up on a point of grass with the tide flooding over a big oyster bar. We weren't getting any bites but after one of our minnows drifted into a small pocket, BOOM! Big Fish On!  Unfortunately the fish ran across the bar, around the corner, and is still going! We drifted some marsh after that and Paul hooked up and landed a nice Seatrout. 

Our last stops were over in Lanceford Creek fishing a real high tide. We hit a couple of spots with no real bites then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Windy Window of Opportunity

 After two cancelled days of fishing due to high winds, and after looking at the forecast last night for today, we decided to get out and give it a try this morning. Unfortunately the forecast had changed just a tad and the wind was already at 16mph when I got up this morning. But I thought we could find a spot or two to find shelter so I drove down to Sawpit Creek to meet Dan Giffiths who brought along two of his kids, Daniella and Samuel. 

We wanted to try our hand at some flood tide tailing Redfish later in the  day but we started off with a run up to Seymore's Pointe...and out of the wind.  Dan unlimbered the fly rod and tossed a slow sinking shrimp to the rocks while the young anglers threw spinning gear and mud minnows. On the first cast we had a bite and hookup!  Samuel was on the rod and he expertly reeled in a...Grouper! It's not the first time we've caught Grouper in the back water - they're not real big but always a neat surprise.

Then Daniella got in on the action. She was making pin point casts and it paid off with some good Mangrove Snapper bites. She really had the hang of it and caught a good handful. Even though Dan was putting the fly right where the Mangroves were biting, he had no takers. 

We headed down to Pumpkin Hill to see if we could get something bigger but we were now out in the wind and it made for some real uncomfortable fishing conditions. We worked our way back to Christopher Creek and saw that the grass was flooding. As we eased up to the grass, we were greeted with Redfish tails everywhere!

Dan had been making excellent casts up at Seymore's in some good shelter but here it was at true challenge. Just when you thought Dan had the perfect cast the wind would catch the line and blow it way off course. The times that the wind cooperated and the cast landed in the right spot, the fish didn't see it. 

We moved around the flat a bit and approached it from a different angle. There were some small tails out there and some huge tails out there but are efforts were to no avail. We tried another spot, again the selection was limited to the shelter from the wind but by this time the water was seriously high and we saw no more tails. We were treated to a huge flock of birds - Egrets, Herons, Spoonbills, and Storks which made for a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

HUGE Tripletail Caught In The Backwaters of Amelia Island

 As you can see, as the sun rose over Goffinsville Park we were headed for a beautiful day! I had met Bob and Cindy Hice and Steve and Joy Hastings early and we made a quick jump across the river with plans to fish the far bank with float rigs and mud minnows. That first stop, even though these anglers were getting excellent drifts, produced zero bites. We moved further down the Nassau River and fished past Pumpkin Hill and here we did get some false starts with oyster shell catches, but then some real fish! Steve had a strong hookup and had it boat side when a nice fish threw the hook. But he went back in and pulled out a nice hungry Seatrout. 

We moved around the pointe and fished a flooded grassy island and again Steve picked up a couple of Seatrout. There was a little cove that I advised Steve to pitch to the back of, which he did with an excellent cast, but he had not a nibble. When he switched to the other side of the boat Cindy cast to the area, just shy of some sparse grass, and BOOM! Big fish on!  This fish took off and was ripping drag and heading deep and I thought

for sure, "Big Redfish". Then the fish started back to the marsh grass but Cindy kept the pressure on and worked it expertly to the boat. When I saw it flash to the boat I saw a Huge Tripletail! We netted the fish and measured it at 22.25" and weighed it at 9lbs - a fish tied for the biggest Tripletail ever landed on the Anglers Mark and one of only 7 caught on my boat in 16 years! Boy what a fish!

Seymore's Pointe was our next stop and here Steve, and Cyndi and Bob all tangled with and landed some Mangrove Snapper. We ran through Horsehead and fished the mouth of Jackstaff and picked up another Trout or two, then came back to Spanish Drop and fished jigs on the bottom. Bob added another Trout and both Cindy and Steve added Redfish to the catch. Most of the trip Joy acted as assistant videographer, coach and mentor to the other three anglers. With only one "keeper" in the boat we headed in and after that big 'ole Tripletail was cleaned, it filled up a gallon bag which made for another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

First Redfish and First Hush Puppy

 We had another beautiful morning here at Amelia Island when I met Andrew Perrin and his son Sam down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had clear skies and just a slight breeze as the sun was coming up heading to our first stop up at Pumpkin Hill. We set up with an hour left of an incoming tide and began tossing float rigs and mud minnows to the flooded marsh grass. Both anglers were making excellent casts and getting good drifts. It was kinda slow but then Sam had his float disappear and he had a good strong hookup. Sam was working him to the boat when the fish threw the hook, OUCH!  But Sam went back and within a cast or two he had another hookup - this one he expertly brought to the boat and landed a keeper sized Seatrout, which we photographed and released. 

We fished around the corner for a bit, had a couple of nibbles, then made the run around to Seymore's Pointe to fish the first of an outgoing tide with the float rigs. The bite was slow but Sam did manage to put a feisty Mangrove Snapper in the boat. 

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. The tide was going out and the duo were getting good drifts but we weren't getting any bites so Sam decided to switch to a jig and minnow and that did the trick! He'd only been fishing it for a minute or two when, BOOM! Fish On! Sam played it patiently and worked a nice Redfish to the boat - his first ever. From then on it was like someone flipped a light switch - Sam hooked up and battled to the boat a good handful of Redfish. Andrew had been "laying back" but when he switched to the jig it paid off  BIG!  He had made a good cast to the edge and when he hooked up we know right off this was a big fish. His drag was ripping and the fish was digging deep but Andrew kept the pressure on, fought it to a standstill, the worked the big fish to the boat and waiting net - a 26" Tournament sized slot Redfish!

Sam picked up another Red or two, Andrew added a Seatrout and a Red to his catch total, then Sam finished things off with a hard fighting Jack Crevalle that he boated handily. The father/son fishing team reported that they had Kitchen 251 in the Amelia Island Marina cook their catch and Sam was able to try Hush Puppies for the first time! That's a great way to wrap up a day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.