Broke Net Flounder Lands Bragging Rights

 We fished up north today after I met Gary Elder, his sister Karen and brother in law Jim, up at the Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp. We buzzed over to Tiger and fished the logs for a bit and did pretty good catching fish - but all of them were small - Redfish, Seatrout, and Black "puppy" Drum on jigs and live shrimp.

After pulling out and making the run around and up the Jolley River we set  up along side the flooding marsh grass and switched to float rigs and live shrimp. As we worked along, bow into the current, Jim made a toss that was "guaranteed" and sure enough, BAM! Fish on. He worked it to the boat and landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout. We continued along that bank and when we got to a point of grass where the incoming current was sweeping by, BOOM! Bigger fish on! This fish was pulling deep but Jim kept the pressure on, go it to the boat and as I went in with a quick swoop of the net. BAP! The net broke in half! Landing a big Flounder is always "iffy", even with a net - I grabbed the net portion, (minus the handle) and tried to scoop it - and missed! Luckily Jim was cool, calm and collected and kept that pressure

on and the 2nd or third try I was able to scoop it and get it in the boat. It turned out to be 19 1'/2" and big enough to set the standard as first place in the Angler's Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category. 

Our next stop was around at the docks of Bell River. The rising wind was blocked here and it was absolutely perfect conditions, albeit an incoming tide, but we had no real luck until Jim found another keeper Flounder up behind a floating dock. 

We fished back at Bell River a couple of places and finished up on the outside of Tiger. The wind was up, the skies were cloudy, and we had a broken catch net, but we still counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Trout Gone Wild

 I don't know what it was but we had a Trout explosion this  morning! I had met David Michael and his fishing buddies Cole and Kyle down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and with the tide just have started in we decided to make the long run around and down to Broward Island to catch that incoming tide there. And boy did it pay off! First Cast -BOOM! Cole was on the rod and perfectly played a Slot Redfish to the boat. That 's a good start!

From then on the trio of anglers were picking up Seatrout down deep, many of which were (finally) of keeper size. Some were throw backs, but some were rather large -17"-20". We were tossing 1/4oz jigs up to the bank and letting the current drop the jig down along the river bottom. The bite was subtle and you had to be ready! David ended up putting the biggest in the boat, a 20 1/2" Trout, moving him in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament -Seatrout Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We came back to some docks at Nassauville and this time pitched the jigs up current, let them fall, and then let the current drop them down the river bottom. Yesterday we had got one keeper Trout at this spot but today we got a good handful of keeper sized Trout.

After moving around to some more docks we switched to float rigs and tossed them up shallow. I was just about to leave when Kyle had something engulf his bait and the battle was on! Kyle worked it to the boat and landed another big Trout - this one 19 1/2", which moved Kyle into 2nd place in the Bragging Rights Tournament! We added one more keeper Trout then moved on. 

Our last stop was thru Horsehead, around to the mouth of Jackstaff, drifting float rigs again. We picked up a slimy Catfish but nothing else, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Back to "Work"

 

After a couple of days off I was back to work today, fishing with Brian and Peggy Palmer and meeting them first down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. The tide had been coming in for a couple of hours but we tried the bridge pilings with some jigs and live shrimp for just a bit before we headed north and west up the Nassau River to make our next stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Brian was making excellent casts while Peggy "coached him up" but we had no takers.

We came back to Twin Creeks on the Nassau, switched to float rigs and drifted the mouths - no luck. We moved down to Spanish Drop and worked that bank thoroughly and this paid off when we got to the "hot" spot - Brian hooked up and landed  a couple of hungry Seatrout.

We headed up the Nassau then, made a stop at some docks at Seymore's Pointe and switched back to the jigs. All three of us were tossing baits - Peggy had a good bite - then shortly afterwards Brian hooked  up. This fish was pulling a bit harder but Brian kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 18" Seatrout. A few minutes later he had another one one - it was pulling just as hard but this one threw the hook - Ouch! We were getting these on 1/4 jigs, baited with a live shrimp, tossing them up into 12' of water and letting it fall down the drop off. 

We fished Pumpkin Hill for a bit but the wind was not cooperating with our drifts, then fished Christopher Creek to wrap up the day. Although it had been a tad bit slow, the weather was perfect, we caught a few fish, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Recipe of the Month: Chocolate Delight

 So you're invited to that fish fry and you're asked to bring a desert. Are you gonna stop by Publix and grab a box of sugar cookies? A fake cake? NO! Mix up this vintage desert. I found this recipe in my mother's recipe box - it's easy and very good!

Chocolate Delight:

Original Crust

1 Cup self rising flour

1 stick butter, melted

½ Cup chopped pecans

1 Tablespoon powdered sugar

 Spray 9x13 dish with PAM;  mix ingredients, spread in dish, bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees  until it begins to brown.

 

Cookie Crust

1 sleeve of Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies, crushed

1 stick butter, melted

½ Cup self rising flour

½ Cup chopped pecans

 

Spray 9x13 dish with PAM; mix ingredients, spread in dish, bake for 15 minutes at 300 degrees

 

Let crust cool!

 

8oz Cream cheese (let soften for a bit)

8oz  Whipped Cream

1 Cup powdered sugar

 

Mix ingredients thoroughly and ladle over crust.

 

2  packages of Instant chocolate pudding

3 Cups of milk

 

Mix ingredients thoroughly and ladle over top.

 

8oz  Whipped Cream, (let soften a bit), spread over top

 

Garnish with some chopped pecans and/or  cherries

We Runned and Gunned

 I had the Barton crew again today, this time meeting Brad, and his friends Blake, and Blake down at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. I had checked the weather and it was going to be a nice sunny day, but the wind was going to pick up later in the trip. Sure enough, it did.  Our first stop was way down at the jetties off of the south end of Amelia Island. We started on the outside, pitching jigs then worked our way around to the inside. Although it was not "rough" there were some serious rollers. All three anglers and myself tried our best to steady ourselves while pitching to the rocks and we did get some fish. I think it was Brad and Blake the younger who put into the boat some Bluefish, then we got a handful of Seatrout, one of which was of keeper size. 

We left the rollers, skirted Bird Island (or what used to be Bird Island) and pulled up into the mouth of Simpsons Creek, switching to float rigs and live shrimp, fishing the last of an incoming tide. We had a nibble or two then Brad had a strong hookup. We could tell it was bigger than a Trout, thought it was a Redfish, but it turned out to be a nice sized Spanish Mackerel.

Our next stop was up at the mouth of the Nassau River, again drifting float rigs and live shrimp, and now on an outgoing tide. We got a handful of Seatrout along that stretch. We continued on up into Jackstaff, fished a large outflow, then worked the creek bank, then headed on around to the Nassau River, stopping at Twin Creeks where we had such a good bite yesterday. Not so today. Although we did get a Trout or two, and a slimey Catfish, it was no where near the action the day before. 

Our final stop was down at Broward Island, fishing under a Bald Eagle, tossing jigs. The tide was still high here - we had a couple of nibbles, but no takers, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Lost a Pound to the Gnats

 Yes, it was another beautiful morning as the sun came up out at Goffinsville Park, but with absolutely no wind  the "no-See-ums" were out to get their pound of flesh!  I had met the better half of the Barton crew - Blake and his son Blake, and Will early and after a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill we were fishing - drifting float rigs and live shrimp down the marsh line on the last of an incoming tide.  Fairly quickly both of the Blakes had hookups and landed Seatrout, then Blake The Younger added another. We worked that area over good then made the run back to Seymore's Pointe as the tide started back out. 

After fishing  a large outflow, some dock pilings, then another marsh line with the floats, we made the run down to Twin Creeks and here the action heated up.  Will and  Blake The Older began to get hookups on Seatrout on the float rigs and young Blake having switched to a jig and shrimp, began to catch them too. Young Blake had been keeping "score" but he soon found that it was futile to keep up - we were catching Trout one after the other.

Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. After fishing some outflows, we eased along a flooded shell bank. Blake the Older had also switched to a jig and shrimp and had made an excellent cast up to the bank and, BOOM! Fish On! Blake played it perfectly and after a good battle, landed a nice Slot sized 20" Redfish. The trio continued on to catch a few more Trout, and Blake The Younger added a Flounder to his catch.  A nice Whiting was added to the box before we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Amelia Island Back Country Super Grande Slam

 I fished with the Owensby crew again today -Kevin and his son Jake, his father in law Doyle, and Doyle's  brother Ron. We met this time up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and on a beautiful morning, headed north and west. Our first stop was on the outside of Tiger and within minutes Jake had "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Bluefish catch. We had another couple of bites and I was thinking, "here we go". But alas, even though conditions were absolutely perfect, we had no more catches. After crossing over and fishing a grass line, and having a big Redfish roll at Kevin's bait,  but no takers.

After running around to Lanceford Creek, we set up outside a nice outflow and got good drifts,  but no takers. We then moved up into Soap Creek, fished it thoroughly, then made a run up to Bell River. Here things finally heated up a bit. 

Ron got on the board early with a nice fat Seatrout catch, then he hauled in a sneaky Sheepshead. The team of anglers added a couple of more Sheepshead, a Black Drum and a Flounder to the mix. We fished along some docks and picked up another Trout or two then moved around to another dock and tried our hand at jigging for some Sheepshead alongside the pilings. 

Our final stop was back towards town and here they added a Redfish catch and a Weadfish catch to round out a type of Amelia Island Super Grande Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead, Black Drum, Redfish and Weakfish. Although we didn't have a  bunch of keepers we had a good variety and a great day out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Keep Your Bait In The Water

 

I fished Monday and Tuesday in beautiful weather and today was more of the same. After meeting Kevin Owensby, his son Jake, his father-in-law Doyle, and Doyle's brother Ronnie down at the Sawpit Creek, we made a long run up and around to Pumpkin Hill with plans to toss float rigs and live shrimp and minnows on the first of an outgoing tide.  Kevin and Ronnie were on the bow, Jake and his grandfather Doyle were at the stern and all were making excellent casts. But it was Doyle who was drifting long with the current who had the first hookup, a hungry Seatrout.  We worked that area pretty good, then eased back and around a point to fish a flooded shell bank.

As we worked along we weren't getting many bites at all but Doyle had put a good cast up near some exposed oysters. We both saw his float dip, then pop up. Then it dipped again and stayed under and as Doyle tightened up the line, Big Fish On! I didn't realize how big it was - it battled up near the bank for a bit then boiled and ran out to deeper water and the fight was on.

But Doyle was up to the task, played it perfectly and soon landed an Oversized 29" Redfish, boy what a fish!

After running back to Seymore's Pointe we fished a large outflow, sticking with the floats, but had no luck. We then ran down to Spanish Drop and here the action picked up. Kevin and Doyle were on the stern and drifting floats and caught a good handful of Seatrout, a couple of which were of keeper size. Doyle added a small Flounder to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder. Then Jake had a hookup, played it perfectly, and landed a nice Trout.

We worked along that bank, hitting 2-3 spots, found one Trout on a jig and shrimp, then fished the docks back at Seymore as the tide had drop. But the sun was up, the tide was hitting bottom, so we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Cat and Mouse

 I thought Spring had sprung! But boy was it cool this morning - 39 degrees as I was launching out at Goffinsville Park to meet William and Dara Blalock on the last few hours of an outgoing tide. But it was clear and the sun was coming up to make for a beautiful day so we headed north to fish some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs and live shrimp. Dara and William are fine casters and were "putting them on the money" but we had no takers for quite a while. It wasn't until we had crossed the river and fished some exposed shell banks that William finally "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch.

The forecast called for increasing winds and with the tide hitting bottom at Nassauville around 9:20, we tried to fish Bubblegum Reef, a spot that had produced some good fish last week, but not today. William did find a hapless Bluefish to boat and release (all fish caught today were released).

We then ran down to Broward Island, passing under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle and fished the shore as the tide got down to

the bottom. The wind picked up and as I struggled with the boat, and William trudged on with his casting, Dara seemed to thrive. She began to pick up Seatrout after Seatrout. The two anglers found that the Trout seemed to be playing "cat and mouse" with the shrimp - bumping it hard, then coming back and taking it. Once they figured that out they put 4-5 keeper sized Trout in the boat.

We had two nice fish take our baits and rip drag. One, a Big one that Dara hooked, ran for a good bit. She had a good battle but the big fish headed straight for a downed tree, wrapped itself, and broke off. William had made a good cast right up along side a log, BOOM! Fish ON! And BAP! Fish Off as it went right over a long. We wrapped it up after that but the sun was out and we had caught some good Trout so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

The Origins of the name Tyger Island

 I was giving  a boat tour the other day and as we passed thru the inlet between the Tiger's my guest, Bill McKenna asked "why was it named Tiger Island?"

Local lore has it that the island has the highest concentration of Rattlesnakes in North America. I'm not sure who took the survey or even if that's an accurate statement but a couple of years ago I had a customer yell, "there's a big fish back there!"  as I  entered Tiger Basin.  I thought he had seen a Porpoise or a Tarpon roll but he said, "NO, it's swimming on the water!"  I turned around and went back and sure enough, there as a huge Rattlesnake swimming from  Little Tiger to Big Tiger. We snapped a couple of pictures as it slithered up onto the mud bank.

My wife found an old map published in November of 1769 that labels the island as Tyger Island(before that Spanish Maps called it Tigre Island)  So at least that far back the island has been called Tigre/Tyger/Tiger Island. I have heard a rumor that someone probably saw some sort of cat - a big Bobcat or maybe a Florida Panther and called it Tiger Island, but my guest Bill sent me some interesting information he found on Wikepedia.

Evidently the Tyger is an imaginary beast used as a charge in heraldy. From Wikepedia, "It is supposed to have its home in Hyrcania in Persia and its swiftness is supposed to have given its name to "tygris", the Persian word for "arrow", and to the swift River Tigris. If pursued by a tyger, it was supposed to be possible to get away from it by leaving a mirror, which would perplex the tyger. As a result, tygers are sometimes depicted looking in a mirror" .  Maybe some aristocrat with Tyger in their coat of arms named it "Tyger"?  Maybe some drunken sailor saw a mythical beast?

Digging deeper I see that the famous English poet William Blake wrote "The Tyger" in 1794, just a few short years after this map was published. Did William Blake ever visit Amelia Island? And as his ship passed between Tyger and Amelia, he was struck with inspiration? Probably not. But he didn't much care for how the English Monarchy was treating America and  maybe he had gotten a glimpse of the map and maybe he was thinking of Rattlesnakes....

I've fished along Tyger Island (I'm gonna spell it like that from now on) and have never seen a cat of any kind. Of mammals, I've seen a huge Buck Deer, a wild Hog, Raccoon, and Salt Marsh Mink And in the water, Porpoise and Manatee. They're all mammals but I don't think any could be confused with a Tiger. Or a Tyger.  UNLESS, there happened to be an extremely drunk sailor who made the sighting. 

While my grandkids were visiting last August we beached on the East side of Tyger, just across from Old Towne and while the kids were beachcombing for shell I walked up onto a little knoll of woods to "explore". I was quite surprised to see an old brick "cistern"  sunk into the ground. I have heard that the island was used as a quarantine area where those with Yellow Fever were sent to recuperate (or die).  But I also see in Amelia Island Museum's archives the mention of a family that lived there and raised oranges. That's another story for historians to sort out. 

There are plenty of old families that still live here at Amelia Island that surely have more information on Tyger Island - hopefully they will chime in and I will add those to this account. You can email me at lwpiper@comcast.net