Drum or Sheepshead?

I had my annual Fernandina Beach Fighting Pirates football team mate fishing trip this past Saturday - made up of myself, Daniel "Bubba" Rhodes, Tony French and Fred Dotson. We all met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp on a chilly morning, but it was clear and a beautiful day! Tony and I had tallked about it on the way out to the boat ramp - we had the very first of an incoming tide - do we head over to Broward Island and fish the logs, or hit some dock pilings at Seymore's Pointe? We picked the pilings and headed that way - Good Call!

These anglers were making pinpoint casts to the pilings with jigs and live

shrimp, letting it fall, and keeping their lines tight and it wasn't long before Daniel "knocked the skunk off " when he hooked up with a rod-bending, drag ripping fish, Fish On! Daniel, the Michael Jordan of fishing, talked the fish all the way to the net and landed a big 20" Black "puppy" Drum. From then on, it was all gloves off! Daniel added a fish or two then Tony heated up and began to catch one right after the other. After a brief hazing period of keeping Fred up at the bow, we let him back to the stern and he began to hook up too. As the Black Drum bite slowed, Fred hooked up and landed a big 20" Sheepshead.

 

We were getting nibbles but no takers so when the Drum bite slowed we eased up to the dock and anchored to where we could drop some fiddler crabs down along side them. Again, the fish bite heated up until it was on fire! All four of us took a piling  or fished on one side of he other, and pulled out Sheepshead. I had never really done that but it was fun!

As the tide got up the bite slowed so we moved down to Athens Drop and fished jigs and shrimp to the shell beds. Somewhere in there Tony added a keeper sized Seartrout to the mix. We then ran down to Broward Island, fished a bit in the wind, then headed back to the shelter of Nassauville. We wrapped up the day fishing artificials, again catchinig some Trout, one of which was of keeper size. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Ice On The Deck and Smoke on the Water!

 There's nothing like launching the boat in 29 degree weather, but the sun coming up and Smoke on the Water!  I had met Tom Middleton and his fishing buddies Zach and young angler Noah out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and I had to warn them about ice on the deck, but boy what a beautiful day!  We made a quick run around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe. I was expecting some Black Drum to be caught on our jigs and shrimp but when Tom hooked up and landed a Seatrout, that must have set the tone for the day. Young Noah had made an excellent cast to the pilings and in short order had a hookup, and, Fish On! He worked it to the boat and landed the first "keeper" fish of the day!

After fishing that spot for a bit, we moved down the Nassau and fished Twin Creeks, sticking with the jigs and shrimp. Again, Tom found some Trout and landed a couple. We moved down a bit and again, Trout on the bottom, with a subtle bite. Noah switched back and forth from fishing and "coaching" and did an excellent job.

But the wind had picked up a bit so we ran back to Nassauville and fished some rocks. Here, all three anglers picked up some Trout, one of which was keeper size, then Tom had a strong bite, worked it in,a nd landed the first Redfish of the day. Not to be outdone, Noah had a hookup. He played it to the boat and landed the biggest Redfish of the day. Boy what a fish!

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, now fishing float rigs.  Again, we found a couple of Trout. Coach Noah helped out the other anglers by "spotting" their floats when the went under! Somewhere along there we put one more keeper sized Trout in the boat. We fished Broward Island again, back with the jigs, then we called it a day, another great, albeit cold one, to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

New Postcards Revealed!

 Over the years I've had some postcards produced and then I give them out to my customers, on occasion. I know that postcards are old fashioned but I've always thought it was cool that folks who traveled years ago would take the time to buy a postcard, jot a quick note, and send it off to their loved ones. Here's a couple that I had produced over the years:

While on vacation in  North Carolina this past September I found these old vintage 

postcards....

So I commissioned an artist to "Florida-ize" it! He first did a sketch...

Then we finalized it and had some cards printed. Here's the new postcards for 2021. Click on each to expand..

If I forget to give you some after you fish with me, REMIND ME!

Thanksgiving Week Wrap Up

 My final day of fishing for the week was today -  I've done 10 trips in 12 days and I'm ready for an extended break! My next booked trip is Monday November 30th, so check back in then! 

Today I fished with Chuck Benton and his son Tom and boy was it a pretty morning as the sun came up! We met out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and quickly scooted over to Pumpkin Hill to fish some float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 3 hours. The first stretch didn't produce a bite but we came back around a corner and as Chuck drifted  his bait long, BOOM!  He had a hookup. Chuck reeled it in patiently and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island, and as we eased along the tree line we spotted a magnificent Bald Eagle up in a dead pine tree. We set up at a large marsh run out, now pitching jigs and shrimp,  and fairly quickly Tom was on the board with a Seatrout catch. Minutes later he reeled a feisty Redfish. We drifted back a bit, set up off from some stumps. Chuck made an excellent cast, let it go to the bottom and, BAM! Big Fish On! This fish was ripping drag and when it got back into the current it made for a good battle. But Chuck was up to the task, worked it patiently to the boat, and landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish. I think we picked up one more Red before the wind picked up and really started kicking up the water. 

We buzzed back to Nassauville and found shelter out of the wind and fished the jigs to the rocks. It paid
off! Chuck found a honey hole of Trout and caught a good handful, one of which was of keeper size. Tom put a couple of hungry Mangrove Snapper, and a small Sea Bass in the boat, then had a strong hookup. This fish was digging deep but Tom kept the pressure on and worked it to the surface and landed keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. 

Our final stop was around at some docks where Tom topped off the trip with a Stingray catch. The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Super Grande Slam Thanksgiving Week

 This father/daughters team of anglers met me early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - Pete Nolan and  his daughters Tatum and Sydney - with plans to take in the beautiful day - the best so far in over a week!

We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and fished an even smaller creek with float rigs and live shrimp, and got "skunked". We crossed the river and fished a bank of oysters and even though we didn't tear them up, Sidney did put a Seatrout in the boat.

After running thru Horsehead we made a quick stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and here we picked up another Trout, and Pete put a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop, fishing the shell beds and this paid off a bit - Tatum caught and landed a nice Slot Redfish. The trio of anglers landed another Redfish or two before we moved on. They had a Slam.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished a large marsh run out and with Tatum fishing off the stern, she found a Flounder to make it a Grande Slam. As we drifted back, about ready to move, Pete hooked up, fought valiantly, and landed a nice 18" Black Drum.  We moved down the way, about ready to call it day, when the bite really picked up!  They caught another keeper sized Seatrout, another Trout, and then Tatum caught and landed a Sheepshead to make it a Super Grande Slam!

 Then Sidney had a big bite and, Fish On! This one was ripping drag, but Sidney played it perfectly, then OH NO! Pete pointed out a huge submerged limb and sure enough, the big fish found its way around it. We tried to pull the line away from the limb but the boat was caught in the current and....the line came free and...Fish On! Sidney kept the pressure on and worked it to the boat and landed a Slot sized 24" Redfish, boy what a battle! And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

A Big One That Didn't Get Away

Yesterday we had a couple of big fish on but unfortunately they threw the hook. Today was not the case!

I had met Chandler and Phillip Bailey down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning, and under grey skies, we headed north and west with  plans to make our first stop at Spanish Drop and fish jigs and live shrimp with a tide that still had a couple of hours of going out. Both anglers were making excellent casts and even though we had a couple of bites, we had no real takers.

We moved on up to Twin Creeks, fished it a bit, then eased forward to Athens Drop and this paid off with a couple or three of some feisty Redfish catches, then a nice Slot sized Redfish.

The tide was almost at bottom so we ran up to Seymore's Pointe to fish the same dock yesterday where we caught a bunch of Black "puppy" Drum. We worked it pretty good with the jigs and shrimp but had no takers, not a single one! Crazy how that works.  After fishing around the corner (and out of the wind), we made a run.

This time it was down to Broward Island to fish a large marsh run out. The wind and tide was pushing the stern around and that's where Phillip set up. He had only made a cast or two when, BOOM! Big Fish On! I didn't think it was going to be real big(yesterday we caught two "Rats" in the same spot) but when this fish went deep and against the current, ripping drag, we knew it was big!  Phillip kept the pressure on and slowly worked it to the boat and landed a big, oversized 29"+ Redfish, boy what a fish!

Minutes later, he put another Slot fish in the boat. We moved down a bit and picked up two more Reds and a hungry Seatrout. After fishing back at Athens Drop on the incoming tide, to no avail, we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Black Drum Bonanaza

 We were out at Goffinsville this morning as the sun rose and even though we had some cloudy skies and rain showers off in the distance, I had three anglers ready to go fishing, and that we did!  I had met Kenneth McQueen and his fishing buddies Eddie and Bryan (The Coach) early and we made a quick run down to Broward Island to fish a marsh run out on the last hour of an outgoing tide with jigs and live shrimp and....BAM! Fish on the first cast!  Eddie worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Flounder.  Then he and Kenneth teamed up to catch and land two feisty Redfish. We worked that bank for a bit then moved on. 

After a run back to Seymore's Pointe we set up at some dock pilings as the tide started back in. It didn't take long before the Drum Bonanza began! All three anglers began to catch fish, one Black "puppy" Drum, right after another. Eddie hooked up and landed one, then Kenneth, then Bryan got on the board and from then it was "all she wrote". The trio added a couple of small Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size, and caught more Drum until "Coach" got tired of catching!

Our next stop was down at Athens Drop and although the bite had slowed, both

Eddie and Kenneth put a keeper sized Redfish in the boat.  We fished that stretch down to Twin Creeks, caught a Trout or two, then finished up down at Spanish Drop tossing float rigs and mud minnows. All told, we probably caught 30-35 fish for the day, had a box full for eating,  lost a couple of big ones, threw back a good handful of small ones and as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

 

Super Slam

We were pleasantly surprised to see that the winds had calmed a bit this morning when I met Beckie and Richard down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. After dealing with the  high winds and rain yesterday, it was like a holiday! We ran up the Nassau River to some docks at Seymore's Point and fished the dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Both anglers were making excellent casts and it didn't take long for it to pay off. Beckie "knocked the skunk off" when she had a strong hookup. This fish was pulling hard but Becky kept the pressure on and landed a nice keeper sized 20" Black "puppy" Drum, boy what a fish. After photographs it was released (all fish caught today were released).  Richard got in on the action with a Seatrout catch then Beckie reeled in a feisty Redfish and added a Seatrout to round out an Amelia Island Back Country Slam. After dueling with bait stealing Perch and Grunts, we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Broward Island. We fished the north end first and here Beckie caught and landed a keeper sized 18" Sheepshead to make it a "Grande" Slam then after we moved down the way she picked up a keeper sized 16" Flounder to make it a "Super" Grande Slam! Crazy!

The NE wind had picked up so we moved back to Nassauville, fished some rocks, and Richard put another bulky Redfish in the boat, still fishing the jig and shrimp, and Beckie  reeled in a hungry Mangrove Snapper on a float rig and live shrimp. 

We thought we'd try fishing back out in the open so we ran to Twin Creeks and went with the float rigs. Here, Richard got hot, getting good drifts that paid off with Seatrout catches, one after the other and, Beckie added a few of her own.. The tide had gotten up and we were at midday and as bite slowed, we called it a day,. another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wind Blown

 

We already knew that the forecast called for 12-13mph winds but when we got to the boat ramp this morning it was blowing 15-16 and increasing! But brothers Mark, John, and Kevin Adams were game to get out on the water so we made a plan to hit spots where we would be somewhat sheltered.

The first one was  around at Eagans Creek - Mark and Kevin were tossing jigs and live shrimp up current to the bank and John was fishing a slip float out back. Mark had a couple of good bites and had one "ripping drag" for a bit but it thru the hook. Shortly after that Kevin hooked up and landed a hard fighting Black "puppy" Drum. 

We then ran down to Lanceford Creek and up into Soap and set up fishing fixed floats up near the shore. All three anglers were getting good drifts but with the current and a stiff wind, the fish didn't even have time to think about biting a bait as the float rigs blew by.

Our next stop was around on the back side of Black Rock and after fishing a small grassy island to no avail, and battered by the wind, we moved around into some real shelter, boy was it peaceful! With a change in  conditions we picked up some good fish. Mark landed a nice feisty Redfish and then a Trout while Kevin and John tallied some Trout catches. 

We could see rain coming around the corner and that, coupled with a long ride back right into the wind, prompted us to call it a day, and even though the weather was not so great, it was a good day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Trout

 Finally, a cool  morning that we had today! On the way to the boat ramp I noticed that the temperature
was in the high 40's which would make for a beautiful day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.  I met Clint Davis and his friend Jim and Mary Jo down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made a brisk run up the Nassau River to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp. The tide had been coming in for 3 hours and I hoped that we could get some fish under that dock but the water was already high and I had "thought wrong".  We fished another dock with only a nibble here and there - other than huge Mantis Shrimp that Mary Jo caught, then we moved on.

Our next stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing some float rigs on the high and incoming tide. Jim got a good drift down the marsh line and "knocked the skunk off" when he caught and landed a nice hungry Seatrout. We fished there then moved on down to Spanish Drop and fished a bit with the floats and even the jigs, but to no avail. 

After a brief run down to Pumpkin Hill we set up with the wind to our backs

and were able to get perfect drifts and Rule #4 paid off!  All three anglers began to catch fish. Clint put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and shortly after Mary Jo had a hookup and, Fish On! She worked it to the boat and had a BIG Trout right......at.....the.....stern.....and......Fish Off!  Ouch! That was a nice fish!  Then was Jim's turn - whatever hit his live shrimp was Big. It ripped drag going south, then Jim slowed it down (or it took a rest), then it took off again, ripping drag, and it kept going taking the hook with it. We'll never know but it was surely a big Redfish. It could have been a shark but we haven't caught a shark in months. Redfish.   We moved won a bit and fished a shallower area and again put a good handful of Trout in the boat. 

After fishing up Pumpkin Hill,  over in Christopher Creek, then over in Jackstaff we finally realized that the water was just too high, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida