Win Some Lose Some

 The forecasted rains held off to the afternoon so I was able to meet Dennis Brizzi and Hal O'Dell out at Goffinsville for a day of fishing this morning.  We ran south on the Nassau River and fished a large marsh run out - the first time I had fished it- but only managed a high flying Ladyfish. After crossing the river to Pumpkin Hill we fished the edge with float rigs and live shrimp and even though we saw some good bait action, we had no luck. After motoring down to Broward Island, switching to jigs, we finally had a decent fish when Dennis hooked up and successfully fought to the net a feisty Redfish. After fishing the other end of the island for  just a bit, we moved on. 

Our next stop was back at some docks at Nassauville, tide going out, pitching jigs and shrimp and here it payed off. The two anglers began to hookup and land Mangrove Snapper with about 5 of them being of keeper size. We moved on down the way, fished some more dock pilings and here things heated up even more. We caught Mangrove Snappers, tossing back a good handful, but keeping more to reach the limit and then Hal tangled with some feisty Black Drum. He put a couple in the boat, but had one big one throw the hook. Dennis on the other hand, hooked up with two big fish, fought them valiantly, but had them break off on the barnacle encrusted dock pilings. He did put one keeper sized Drum in the boat. 

We had our limit of Mangrove Snapper in the box, had tangled with some big fish only to lose them but it was a great day out on the water so we counted it as a Win!

Making Memories With Rain, Minnows, Manatee, and Big Fish

 MANY MEN GO FISHING ALL OF THEIR LIVES WITHOUT KNOWING THAT IT IS NOT FISH THEY ARE AFTER -  Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes the fish don't cooperate on some of our fishing trips but when a young couple with a young angler get a chance to get out on the water and experience some of our "salt life", memories are made none-the-less.  Today I had Caleb and Callie Berryhill and their young daughter Molly meet me at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a 24% chance of rain but we felt sure we could get out and get some fishing in.

After a quick run up the Nassau we stopped and fished a handful of marsh run outs on an outgoing tide but had no real luck, other than a high flying Ladyfish that Callie hooked up and landed. We fished some docks at Nassauville and caught one or two or three small Mangrove Snapper, then we made a run to Broward Island, only to pull up short at Pumpkin Hill as a rain storm passed us by. But it didn't pass us and came right over the top of us, soaking Caleb and I as Callie and Molly attempted to shelter under a rain jacket a beach towel. After it passed, we ran down to Broward, fished it for a good bit, but had no real luck. But Caleb did spot a Manatee hanging out beside a submerged stump which is always pretty cool to see.

Molly had been playing with the mud minnows for most of the day and having a good time at it but the sun had come back out and was wearing on all of us. We backed up to some dock pilings at our last stop and played cat and mouse with Mangrove Snapper then finally, Caleb had the strong bite and, Big Fish On!  He applied the pressure and kept the fish away from the pilings, worked it out to deeper water, then patiently played it to the net - a Big 25.75" Slot Redfish, and boy was it thick!

We had had an eventful day, ended up with a big fish, saw a Manatee, so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

We Thought Flounder Were the Highlight

 I fished with the Williams family today, John and Mary Margaret and their young kids Hadden and Ruth, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. We ran up the intercoastal and dipped into Jackstaff and began fishing the bank with jigs and live shrimp on a tide that still had a couple of more hours to hit bottom.  Trolling along eh bank, the anglers were making excellent casts, working the bottom, and even though we were seeing bait getting busted along the shore, we had no bites.

We buzzed thru Horsehead and headed back east to Spanish Drop and set up parallel to the bank. We had only fished a few minutes when John had a BUMP, and fish on!  He brought it patiently to the net and landed a nice 17" keeper sized Flounder. We worked that bank then moved up to another marsh runout. Fishing that, BUMP, and John had another keeper sized Flounder. We moved up to another marsh runout and, BUMP, John put another keeper Flounder in the boat.  He added one more that was just undersized, then caught a Seatrout before we moved on. 

Our next stop was at some docks in Nassauville, pitching to the pilings. Both Ruth and Hadden had bites, then after Mary Margaret had pitched up between some pilings, BAM, Big Fish On! Mary Margarte was cranking and the fish was digging deep , trying to get to the pilings but Mary Margaret kept the pressure on, worked it out to safety, then patiently played it to the net and landed a big 25.25" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish. We also put a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat. 

After running down to Broward Island with just minutes to spare, and trying to avoid a mutiny from the younger anglers, we fished deep and had one strong bite, a fight, and then the fish found the submerged tree and BAP! Fish Off. But we had a beautiful day and caught some nice fish so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

We Needed One of Those Counter Gadgets

 To kick off Memorial Day weekend (thank you all Veterans), I fished with the Beard boys, Russell and William and their friends Cooper and Luke, meeting them down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early for a half day of fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. We ran up the Nassau and made our first stop at Spanish Drop at dead low and began to pitch jigs and live shrimp to the exposed oysters. I think it was Luke's first cast and he announced, "got one"!  He played it perfectly and reeled in a hungry Flounder. "That's One".  I didn't know it but the boys had made a friendly wager with their dads who were fishing in another boat out at Nassau Sound as to who would catch the most fish. Stay tuned. We worked that bank, then moved up to Athens Drop, fished it, then moved on.

Our next stop was at some docks at Nassauville and here things picked up. Russell had made an excellent cast up between some pilings and it paid off. He had a hookup, a catch, and landed a nice 12" keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We had a couple of more then William had a big bite and, Fish On!  He worked it to the boat and landed a 20" Slot Redfish. Shortly after that Cooper had a similar bite but his fish was smarter and headed immediately for the pilings, wrapped it self, and BAP! Fish Off.  We picked up a few more smaller Mangrove's then another keeper, then we moved on. 

After making the run down to Broward to fish the first of an incoming tide, we

fished it a bit but the wind had picked up and made conditions not ideal. We held a council. I asked the guys if their dads had specified how big the fish had to be to count in the "contest" and, no, it didn't matter. We only had so much bait but I felt pretty sure the Mangroves would be biting back at Nassauville so we went with that strategy - to catch as many as we can, even if we blew through our bait. 

After getting settled at the new spot, the anglers began to fish in earnest. It took a few minutes, more than I expected, but sure enough, when they began to bite they caught one fish after another. Cooper had quietly persevered and it paid off. He put a good handful of keeper Mangroves in the boat and all three of the others added some too. It was sort of difficult to keep up with the "tally" - we had  "double" hookups a few times and between that and netting and measuring we needed one of those counter gadgets to keep up with the count.  But all told, counting the Ladyfish and a Catfish caught, we zeroed in on 28 fish caught for the day, and boy what a great one it was to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Making It With Mangroves

 You just can't beat a day off with beautiful weather, out on the water, and fishing with your son! I had met Steve Locke and his son Justin out at Goffinsville Park early this morning and we had sunshine and just a slight breeze on the very first of an incoming tide. 

We scooted down to Broward Island and set up out side of a large marsh run out and the fish teased us, busting bait up near the shore, but they wouldn't take our shrimp or mud minnows on a jig. After moving down the island a bit we set up just as the tide came to a standstill, still pitching jigs and shrimp, BAM! Steve had a hookup. The fish was ripping drag and staying down and we thought for sure it was a some sort of Drum. Steve worked it up patiently and we netted a nice Slot sized 20" Redfish.

Our next stop was back off of Seymore's Pointe, fishing some oyster lined banks with float rigs. The first stop didn't produce anything, but the 2nd one did. Steve was drifting off the stern

and hooked up and landed another feisty Redfish, then he battled a Jack Crevalle to the boat, then tangled with a Shark that headed to Tallahassee.

After fishing some rocks at Nassauville with floats Justin, who had been holding back, "knocked the skunk" of his rod with a Mangrove Snapper catch, then another of keeper size.  We moved down the way, switched to jigs, and began to haul in Mangrove's one after the other.  Although they''re not very big, we were able to get a good "mess" of keeper sized ones so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Banana Girl

Most of us have heard of the tale of banana's bringing "Bad Luck" on a boat. Well this morning we had a one of our anglers, step on the boat, take her seat, and begin peeling and eating a banana.  I normally don't say anything but knowing these guests were good sports, I reminded them of the tale: Banana's are bad luck.  BUT, we had a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, and a slight breeze to keep the upcoming heat off so we left Oyster Bay docks and headed down Lanceford to our first spot at a marsh run out.

Robert Stettner, his friend Henrietta, and her friend Vicki began tossing float rigs with live shrimp but all we got was one bite and no takers.  After fishing Bell River, then the outside of Tyger, then Jolley Bank with no fish,  we began to wonder if the banana curse was open us.

I ran further up the Jolley and fished another flooded bank on
the very last of an incoming tide and finally, finally, Vicki had a hookup. She worked it to the boat as the Ladyfish flew high a couple of times, but we were able to land the fish and "knock the skunk off" - if you can count a Ladyfish. But only moments later, after switching to a Mud Minnow, Henrietta had made an excellent grass to the edge of the grass and, BOOM! Float Gone. Henrietta played it perfectly and after a good battle, landed a big 20" Seatrout, boy what a fish!  We made one more stop in the Jolley but the tide was turning back at Tyger so we headed back.

Sure enough, the tide was coming out and just as we set up Robert was ready to

make his cast - he did, and BAM! He had a hookup and caught a feisty Bluefish. From then on it was pandemonium. The trio of anglers caught Ladyfish, Bluefish and a couple of keeper Trout. Then Vicki and Henrietta had a "double" hookup. Vicki was on the bow and played her fish perfectly and landed a feisty Redfish while Henrietta's was back at the stern. She worked it to the boat and landed a nice Slot Redfish. Robert got in on the "big fish" action hooking up with probably the biggest fish of the day. He played it patiently, worked it to the boat and we saw that it was a 20"+ Black "puppy" Drum, but it made one more lunge in the shallow water and BAP, fish off. Ouch. 

We had started really slow, struggled to get a bite, but we stayed with it and no matter the "banana on the boat" issue, we wrapped up with a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Four Pounds and Four Foot

 Catching the big fish. That was Betty's plan for the morning. I had met John Raker and his mother Betty out at Goffinsville Park and we had the water to ourselves for the most part of the morning. We headed over to Pumpkin Hill on the last of an incoming tide and set up alongside the marsh grass with plans to drift float rigs with live shrimp. It didn't take long to get bites and soon John had a good hookup and while he fought it, Betty had an even bigger hookup, Fish(s) On! John got his to the boat quickly, a feisty Bluefish, but Betty had her hands full. She fought it valiantly, worked it to the boat, and John then netted a big 4lb Jack Crevalle, boy what a battle!

We eased around the corner where John picked up a hungry Seatrout, then fished a grassy island. Both anglers were getting good drifts when all of sudden Betty's float disappeared then it zipped across the water and Betty had another fight on her hands. I was pretty sure it was a Shark because of that initial run and then subsequent runs. Betty worked it to the boat where we saw it was a 4 foot Shark, then John stepped in and helped,

and they eventually wore it out and brought it alongside for me to break the leader. 

We then ran over to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large outflow where the tide had started out. John picked up a couple of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper then Betty tangled with another, bigger, Jack Crevalle. This time it was a piece of cake! Our next stop was around the corner, fishing some rocks with the float rigs and here we got into some Mangrove Snapper and caught 'em until we tired of catching them.  The biggest was right at 12", but they sure are good to eat!

After running down to Spanish Drop we began easing along the bank pitching jigs and shrimp.  John caught one Seatrout that was just a tad bit undersized then he picked up one that was well in the keeper range. We were just about to call it day as John pitched his jig to the shell bank, worked it thru the shells, then BOOM! He had a strong bite and hookup. John played it perfectly, walked to to the stern and from starboard to port then played it patiently to the net - a nice 22" Slot Redfish (with 9 spots!). That was a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Double Slot

 

Boy what a beautiful morning we had today! Sunshine, only slightly cool, and only a tad bit of wind. I had met the Acton family, Matt and Terri and their sons Trevor and Eric up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and we made our way over to Bell River and set up at a grassy point with just minutes to spare on a high and incoming tide. Matt was taking pictures while Terri and the young anglers fished and it was Terri who "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout.

The tide hit its highest, we fished it a bit, then made the run thru Tiger Basin and around to the outside oif Tyger Island and went back to the float rigs. The trio of anglers were getting bites but no real takers then Trever had a hookup and, Fish On!  The fish was big enough to be ripping drag but Trever kept the pressure on then Eric had a hookup and we had a Double!  Trevor landed his fish - a 20" Slot Redfish then it was Eric's turn to battle a fish. We played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed

another Slot Redfish, this one measuring 18 1/2" and having 5 spots.

We fished across the creek for a bit, then ran back the marsh and over to Lanceford Creek. Here, Trevor put a Seatrout in the boat then Matt, having took up a rod, had a big hookup and Big Fish On! This fish was heading back to Nebraska!  Matt played him patiently, worked it to the boat only to have it make multiple runs, worked it back, and we saw that it was a 4' Bonnethead Shark!  It was just out of reaching distance when, BAP, it broke the leader and was gone.

Our next stop was up in Soap Creek but we had no bites, then we came back out and fished some docks and this did the trick.  We ended up getting another Trout, and two Black "puppy" Drum, and numerous bites before making our last run over to Tyger logs where we wrapped the day up and headed in to chalk it up as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

First and Last

 We had a beautiful day that greeted us when I met Dale Bullard, his daughter Autumn and son-in-law Jacob down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We were a little worried about the wind that had been tormenting us for it seems the last few weeks, especially as the morning progress's, but not today.

After running up the intercoastal and dipping in to Flagstaff and then into a smaller creek we set up with float rigs and live shimp, tossed to the marsh grass on a high and outgoing tide. I think it was Autumn's first cast when her float disappeared with a vengeance, and, Fish ON! This fish went zipping across the water taking Autumn from stern to bow and from port to starboard and back to the stern. I was thinking "shark" but as Autumn worked it to the boat I realized that it surely wasn't a shark. Autumn played it patiently and eventually landed a big Jack Crevalle, knocking the skunk off the boat early and kicking off a good day of fishing. 

We fished Jackstaff for a bit and had a couple of good bites, then ran through Horsehead and down to Spanish Drop and again eased along the bank. Jacob put another hard fighting Jack in the boat and they also landed a couple of hungry Seatrout. 

Our next stop was up at some docks at Nassauville and this paid off. Dale caught a huge Toad Fish right off then Jacob, fishing off the lucky stern, caught a keeper sized Seatrout. Dale and Jacob put a couple of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat then the trio teamed up to catch a good handful of smaller ones. Then it was Autumn's turn to wrap up the "big fish catches" when, after tossing a jig and big mud minnow, had a hookup. This fish was pulling good but Autumn kept the pressure on and soon landed a nice 19" Seatrout - she had the first and last big fish of the day!

After fishing down at Broward for a bit we headed in and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

It Was a Big Trout

 

When that line is ripp'n and that big fish is digging deep, the first thing you hope for is to "just be able to see  him"!  We had that happen this morning and when the fish came to the surface briefly near the boat and we saw it was a Huge Trout, we all held our breath, and hoped. 

I had met James Driggers, his brother-in-law David Purcell and his nephew Chase out at the Goffinsville Park this morning with the sun having just cleared Amelia Island off to the west. The forecast called for not much of rain but winds were going to increase from 9mph to 12 to 16 as the trip progressed. Our plan was to fish some just exposed oyster beds over in the Nassau first so we headed that way and deployed the float rigs and live shrimp to the edge. We eased along the bank, had a couple of good bites, then finally, David "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch.

We moved up to a large marsh runout and switched to jigs and shrimp. Just as Chase had a good hookup, David's rod bent over and the drag began to sing. Chase worked  his fish to the boat expertly and landed a feisty Ladyfish but David had his hands full on the stern. I was thinking "Redfish?"  No, probably a Jack Crevalle, but as David worked it patiently to the surface, OH BOY, a huge Gator Trout! Then the fish dove and went under the boat and I think we all realized what we could potentially lose!  But David kept the pressure on, brought it back out, played it around the engine, then brought it to the net to be lifted in and measured to be right at 25" - big enough to move into first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament, Seatrout Category. Boy what a fish! (Scroll down the right side of this report for standings)

Once we gathered our wits, the angles went back to fishing and after James had a made a perfect cast, BOOM! And drag began to sing as the fish ran like a freight train, heading East. But James played him perfectly, stayed with him in a couple of long runs, worked him up off the bottom, and landed a nice 40" Bonnethead Shark-the first Shark we've caught in the back water this year. 

We later fished some docks and got a couple of Mangrove Snapper, fished some more docks and got another couple of Snapper, then finished up down at Broward Island where the trio teamed up to catch a handful of Seatrout and Redfish. The wind had picked up as forecasted but we were able to get some fishing in so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.