In my last report I mentioned that the fish bite was on the uptick. But boy was I wrong. We had two really slow days, yesterday and today - I didn't have much to write about yesterday! And today, I fished with the Risko family, Tami and Toby and their two kids Vivian and Simon and it was slow for most of the morning. We met down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and ran up the Nassau and around to Broward Island. The tide had been coming in for about 2 hours but I thought for sure we'd get there in time for a bit of a bite. I was wrong. We worked the bank up and down and had nary a nibble. However, we did get to see a majestic Bald Eagle fly by.
We then fished Pumpkin Hill, both sides of the pointe, with float rigs and live shrimp, to no avail. Our next stop was around at Seymore's Pointe and here perseverance prevailed. Vivian was drifting a float out the back, along a grass line, and had a good nibble that took her Shrimp. She went back to the same area with a good drift and BAM, she had a hookup. Vivian played the fish perfectly to the net and landed a fat hungry Seatrout.
After that she
zeroed in and was ready when she had another bite, and caught another one.
Up on the bow we were drifting the grass when we saw our float slooooowwwllly go under. After tightening the line we had a hookup and, Fish On! This was a big fish - it was ripping drag and heading East. But Simon was on the rod and he kept the pressure up. Simon made his way to the stern and the deck was cleared and the battle ensued. The big fish made a couple of deep runs, ripping the drag as it went, but Simon was up to the task and patiently brought it to the net - a nice 26" Tournament Sized Slot Redfish.
Once we were back to fishing Vivian went back to her "spot" and had another Trout hookup. Her dad Toby jumped in there and caught another one before the bite slowed. We then made the run thru Horsehead, fished one more area, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Another beautiful day with warmer temperatures, both air and water, seem to have helped with the fish bite.
This morning I fished with Mark Richardson and his son Braden, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. We fished Bell River, Soap Creek and Lanceford Creek with float rigs and live shrimp and picked up a Seatrout at each spot on high and rising tide.
Just as the tide started out we had made the run up to Bell River docks and switched to jigs and shrimp and we had a "break out" catch. The father/son duo caught a good handful of Seatrout on the bottom, picked up a handful of small but feisty Sheepshead. They also added a feisty Redfish to the catch. We fished a couple of those docks and picked up more Trout.
This afternoon I fished with Tod Schroeder, his dad Dennis, and his daughter Alana, again meeting them at the Dee Dee Bartels Park. We quickly made the long run up the Bell and it paid off with some nice Seatrout catches on the bottom on jigs and live shrimp. Alana topped the catch with the biggest Seatrout catch of the day - a 16"er. We also had some small but feisty Sheepshead and a feisty Redfish.
We fished a bit in the Jolley River until the tide started back in then ran around and eased in to behind Tiger. Here the trio caught a few more Redfish, two of keeper size and again, Alana pulled out the biggest Redfish.
Both trips caught fish and had some good action which made for another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a beautiful day to come back to work to! I had been off for a few days but had a planned fishing trip this afternoon and boy was it beautiful! I met Shane and Janny Sims and their son Cooper down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the Nassau River with sunny skies, just a slight breeze and temperatures in the low 70's.
We fished Spanish Drop with jigs and live shrimp, tossing to an exposed shell bank and it was Shane who "knocked the skunk off" with a hungry Seatrout catch. He picked up another one deep, then Janny got in on the action and landed one herself. We fished Twin Creeks briefly, then moved on up to Athens Drop, then made the run up to some docks at Seymore's. Although the tide was still going out, the current was running in and the first stop down current produced nothing. But we moved around so that our jigs and shrimp could drift back to the pilings and this did the trick. Cooper had a strong bite and it was Fish On! He patiently worked the fish away from the pilings, battle it to the net, and landed a 18.5" Slot sized 20 Spot
Redfish - enough spots to take home money in our Amelia Island Guides Association Redfish Spot Tournament to be held this November! And moment later he had a stronger bite - Big Fish On! Again Cooper played it perfectly and put a nice 23" Slot Fish in the boat. Shane jumped in there and picked up another Redfish before we moved on. After fishing another dock or two we made a run.
Some of my guests know I "rate" my fishing trips as to the quality of our "fish catch" and so far the day was grading out around a "3" with 0 being the worst and 5 being the best.....
Our next stop was down at Broward Island with the tide still having about 30 minutes to low. Shrimp were jumping at the mouth of a runout but we had no takers until we fished a jig alongside a log and BAM, hookup and Redfish in the boat. We drifted a bit with the current and Shane outsmarted a Sheepshead, hooked it up and landed it to garner and Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Sheepshead.
The tide was coming to a stop so we moved down the way a bit, and began to drift with it. Cooper hooked up and landed a Slot Redfish, then had a bigger one on that threw the hook. Then Janny had a BIG hookup, the drag ripped, the fish went deep, and found a log to wrap around a break off. Double Ouch! But as we eased down the bank we must have gotten into a school because it was a bite on almost every cast. Both Janny and Cooper had hookups - we had a double! and both landed them - both Slot Redfish. Then Cooper had another bite and this one was big! He played it perfectly, worked it slowly, and soon netted an Oversized 27.5" Redfish - boy what a fish!
And with that, we called it a day - a Four in my book - and another great day to be on the water here at Amelia Island. The next time you're on the web or in need of some fishing shirts or hats check out a young entrepreneur'sFishing Apparel line at Coopers Fishing.
Although the forecast called for (finally) some sunshine today, it also called for winds beginning at 13mph and getting up to 17mph as the day wore on, which can sometimes make for a tough time fishing. And it did! I had met Steve and Lara Bunkowske and their two angler kids Nate and Alex up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and with the wind already whipping, we headed over to Lanceford Creek to fish some dock pilings with jigs and live shrimp. Even though the boat was not cooperating in the wind, these anglers were able to get some good casts and finally it was Nate who outsmarted a wily Sheepshead, hooked it up and brought it to the boat to "knock the skunk off".
We fished another dock to no avail, then headed over to Soap Creek and set upwind from an exposed oyster bed. Steve and Alex were on the stern pitching to the oysters and although we weren't getting many bites, Alex had the big hookup and, Fish On! Alex played it perfectly and worked it to the net to land a nice 21" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!
We later fished Tiger Island logs on the first of an incoming tide, the best time to be there IMO, but it was not to be. The wind was affecting my boat handling and the anglers casts and the fish didn't want what we presented to them. But it was a beautiful sunny day so when we called it day, we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After a couple of days of nasty weather we had a gorgeous day greet us this morning! Sunshine, clear skies and only a slight breeze and right about 50 degrees when I left the Dee Dee Bartels Park dock with Bob and CJ Bengston. We flipped a coin - Tiger Logs or Lanceford Docks? Then we headed over to Tiger Island and began fishing with jigs and live shrimp on the very first of the incoming tide. Both anglers were making excellent casts to the bank and letting their bait slide down the river bottom. We eased along teh bank and Bob had a brief hookup and the drag ripped and, fish off! Ouch. But he went back and minutes later it paid off with a hookup and Fish On! Bob played it perfectly and soon landed a big 26 1/2" "Tournament Sized" Redfish, right on the upper "edge" of being legal.
We continued down the bank and Bob added another Slot Redfish, this one with 7 spots and legal at 18 1/2", just over the bottom "edge" of the Slot -he was playing the edges! As we worked back up the island both he and JC caught and landed a couple of "feisty" Reds, then it was CJ's turn to fight a big one! She had a good bite, set the hook then played it patiently to the boat and net. The fish measured at 23" - a nice Redfish (all but one of these Slot Redfish were released).
After a run around to Lanceford Creek we fished some dock pilings where Bob outsmarted a feisty Sheepshead, then we fished Soap Creek with float rigs and picked up a handfull of hungry Seatrout. After fishing Bell River briefly, we made the run thru Horsehead, toured Cumberland Island and saw some wild horses, then the Fort, then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had another nice morning today, albeit a bit foggy when we started. I had met Zach Peyton, his son Tyler, and his father Bob out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and we crept thru the fog to our first stop over at Pumpkin Hill with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp up near the marsh grass on a flooding tide. The trio of anglers were getting excellent drifts but all we got was a couple of nibbles. We fished further down that marsh line with the same results, then ran down to Broward Island and switched to jigs and shrimp. We fished both ends of the island on the last of an incoming tide but had the same results, no fish.
Our next stop was back at Pumpkin Hill but around the corner, in search of a "honey hole" and it was "Pop" who found it. As he drifted his float by a grassy island his float disappeared and he had a hookup! Fish On! Young Tyler was on the net and did an excellent job scooping up a nice Seatrout. Bob went back to the same area and had another hookup - the "skunk" was definitely off the boat.
We then ran up into Christopher Creek and fished a bit with the jigs, then came back out and ran around to Seymore's Pointe, setting up at the mouth of a bay and drifting the floats. Bob had another hookup and reeled in a Trout ,then Zach got in on the action and caught one too, this one of keeper size (all fish caught today were released). Then Bob hooked up and with Tyler's help, they reeled in another keeper sized Trout. After another hookup, we moved on down a line of docks and fished floats and jigs.
Our last stop was down at Twin Creeks, fishing jigs, and we found one more Seatrout. Young Tyler had helped with driving the boat, operating the trolling motor, netting fish, fetching bait, and releasing fish and he was casting his on spinning rod at the end of the trip. We headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished again with the Soper Team - dad Larry and his sons Garrett and Dustin, but this time meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. Although the skies weren't as clear, the temperature was pleasant and we had a slight breeze that promise to keep the "no-see-ums" off! We headed over to the outside of Tiger and fished float rigs along the flooded marsh line. Little did we know that it was going to be tough fishing today, but that first stop produced no bites. After moving over and fishing Manatee Cove with the floats and getting no bites, we moved on.
Our next stop was over in the Bell River, fishing a pointe of grass, and again, no bites. Then around to Lanceford Creek to fish a seawall and a grassy island to no avail . Finally, after stopping at a dock and trying a jig and shrimp on a tide that had been falling for about an hour, we had a hookup!! Dustin was on the rod and said the big fish slammed it! He played it perfectly, even when the fish got up in the pilings, and he patiently worked out to a waiting net.
This nice Slot Red turned out to be 25" which added to their catch yesterday of a 23" Red and a 24" Red!
We moved around to Soap Creek where Garrett picked up a hungry Seatrout, then switch back to floats that produced nothing. Larry casually put a "baitstealer" in the boat before we called it a day, a rather slow one, but still a great day to be out on the water at Amelia island.
We had another outstandingly beautiful day today but it started out a bit foggy! I had met Larry Soper and his sons Dustin and Garrett down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and as we headed up the intercoastal and rounded the corner to Jackstaff we hit a wall of fog and had to slow to a crawl. But after easing in to the creek we dropped he trolling motor and began to fish the last of an incoming tide with float rigs and live shrimp. These guys were making excellent casts to the marsh grass but we had no takers. We crossed over to another edge and worked it with jigs and finally Dustin "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch.
We ran thru Horsehead and around to some docks at Seymore's Pointe and set up, again fishing with the float rigs. As they drifted across a shell bed, Larry had a good bite and landed a hungry Seatrout. Then, after Garrett had made an excellent cast to a grassy point, BOOM! Big fish on! The drag was ripping but he played it patiently and soon landed a nice 23" keeper sized Slot Redfish. We fished a dock after that but had no luck then moved down a bit and here the action heated up and all three anglers were in on the action.
Dustin pulled a big Black "puppy" Drum out, then Larry battled a 24" Slot Redfish to the boat, then Garrett added another big Drum to the tally. Larry found a keeper Drum off to the side while we were freeing up a jig. It was good fishing with the sun now out and what a beautiful day!
After fishing the Nassau River docks for a bit, and then Spanish Drop, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a beautiful morning we had today. It was sunshine, warming and just a slight breeze when a met Adam Mizell and his son Witt out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp for a "birthday" trip for Adam set up by his wife Carrie. We made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill and fished a dead high tide with float rigs and live shrimp....and didn't get a bite. We eased around the corner and continued with the float rigs and again....no bites. Ouch.
After making the run to Seymore's Pointe we set up on the outside of an oyster bed where the water was beginning to come out of a bay as the tide started out, drifting the floats, and again, no bites. I eased back to fish some dock pilings where Witt began pitching jigs and shrimp. But Adam had stayed with the float and it paid off when his rod bent and his drag ripped, Fish On! I was thinking a small Redfish they way it was pulling but it turned out to be a nice 17" keeper sized Seatrout. Skunk off the Boat! Then Witt hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. He went back to the dock with an excellent cast and BOOM! Big Fish On! Witt played it perfectly and after a good battle landed a 18" Black "puppy" Drum.
We bounced down a dock or two and fished some more pilings. Witt landed another Drum and Adam doubled up with a feisty Redfish catch. Then Adam had another strong hookup and put a 21" Slot Redfish in the boat. He followed that up with another keeper sized Black Drum. Although we had started slow we had picked up speed fast!
Our next stop was down a Spanish Drop, fishing some exposed shell with the jig and shrimp. As we got to the end of a stretch I commented about the big oversized Red we had caught last week there and not minutes later, BOOM! Adam had a hookup. We knew the fish was big because it stayed deep, ripped drag, boiled once or twice then got back in the current and went long. But Adam was up to the challenge and patiently worked it to the boat where Witt did an expert net job to put it in the boat, boy what a catch - a 28" oversized Redfish, big enough to move Adam into 3rd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
After working another bank where Adam picked up a keeper sized Flounder (and an Amelia Island Back Country Slam), we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
What a weather swing! We went from the low 40's to the 60's in just a day, which made for pleasantweather fishing today, until the wind picked up. I had met Frank Boehm, Jack Severson and their friend Steve down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp this morning and we made a quick run up the Nassau River. The tide still had about 45 minutes of going out so we set up alongside some exposed oysters and began pitching jigs and shrimp up current. We worked along for about 40 feet and after Steve had made a cast up near the shore he said he felt his jig come over an oyster and BOOM! Big Fish On! Steve played it perfectly. He kept the pressure on, let the light rod wear the fish out, then followed it to the stern of the boat as the big fish got deeper and into the current. Then around the engine he went, over to the port side and the fish dug deep. But Steve was up to the challenge and patiently brought to the net an oversized 28.5" Redfish, a fish big enough for Steve to claim 2nd place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). After picking up one more feisty Redfish, we moved on. Just up the shore, Jack put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.
Our next stop was up by docks at Seymore's Pointe as the tide started back in. Although we didn't get a single Drum bite, Frank found a keeper sized Weakfish out deep. (All fish caught today were released). We then ran down to Broward Island and fished it thoroughly. Jack caught another Seatrout but that was about it. We did have a Bald Eagle watching over us for a bit. After we fished Nassauville Rocks(the wind was really racking us here) and up in Christopher Creek we called it day. The sun had come out and it was nice to see some clear skies for a change, so we called it another great day to be out on the water and fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
