Milestone Achieved On The Fly

 I've been catching Mangrove Snapper in the summer for years with live shrimp under a float or on a jig and when the Trout/Redfish/Flounder bite is slow I've been able to turn to the Mangrove's for an almost "guaranteed" bit of an action. Most times you can drift a shrimp by the "hotspot" and BAM!  You have a hookup. Then they tend to go into a frenzy and it's catching one after the other.  So I always wondered, "wouldn't it be neat to catch them on a fly rod?"

I've had multiple times where we were catching the Mangroves with shrimp under a float and have my guest toss a fly in with a fly rod and....nothing. Not a bite. At first I tried some of my sinking Shrimp patterns, but no takes. I tried fishing with some slow sinking Shrimp, but no takes. This was on different trips with multiple casters, many who could put it right in the "honey hole". But not a single Mangrove Snapper caught on the fly.

Today was the day! I had Mike and Jean DuBartell fishing with me early this morning. We had made the long run from Sawpit Creek boat ramp up the Nassau and around to Pumpkin Hill where we set up fishing float rigs along the flooding marsh grass. It wasn't long before Mike had put a hungry Seatrout in the boat.  Then the duo hooked up with a Shark that headed to Tallahassee, and kept going!

We came back and fished an outflow at Nassauville where we did get a couple of bites but nothing more than a slimly Catfish. We were in need of action so we went Mangrove hunting.  Drifting floats and shrimp it didn't take long for them to turn on and then both anglers were catching Snapper. Jean easily got the hang of it and  put one fish in the boat after another. These fish were a tad bit bigger, too, a couple measuring just over 12" - they put up a good fight. 

I had explained the fly fishing for Mangroves to Mike and he was up to the challenge. We went with a small, slow sinking shrimp pattern on a 10' leader. Mike was making an excellent presentation to the hot spot, but had no takers.  We then went with a small BB split shot about 20" up from the fly, made few casts and again, no takers. We then put a small shrimp on to the fly, made the cast and got bit!  Then we broke a big live shrimp in to, and smashed/smeared the juices all over the fly. I think it was Mikes first cast with the stinky fly and, BAM! Mangrove Snapper on! He played it perfectly and landed the first Mangrove on a fly I've ever had! Whooeee! Mike continued the "smash and cast" and hooked up with a number of the  Mangroves. Most of them were over 12" which made for a good fight on the fly rod.

Jean was steadily hauling in fish. We hit one more spot and caught a few of the Mangroveson jig and shrimp then headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Big Fish and A Whole Bunch of Edibles

 We fished down south again today when I met Steve Frost and his wife Carron at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early. There was a big Red tailing right at the  ramp and I was torn between fishing right there or getting the trip started by running up to Pumpkin Hill. In my mind I tossed a coin and decided to go ahead and make the run and it turned out we landed on "heads".  After setting up along the flooding marsh grass the husband and wife duo of anglers began to drift float rigs with the current and in short order Steve had hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout. He went back to the same spot, picked up a small Flounder, went back to the same spot and got a keeper sized Flounder. Then Carron had a strong bite and, Big Fish On!  Her drag was ripping and the fish zipped away, then it came back, stayed fairly shallow and we were thinking, "Big Redfish". But as she worked it patiently to the net we saw that it was a big Jack Crevalle - a beautiful fish, fun to catch, but not so good on a dinner plate.

We fished further down and as we eased up into a cove we

could see some wakes moving around and soon after Steve's float disappeared and he had a big fish too. He played it perfectly, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice 21.5" Slot Redfish with 11 Spots. Later he had an even bigger hookup and battled and landed a 4' Bonnethead Shark.

After fishing around the corner for a bit we came back to Seymore's Pointe, fished  a large outflow, then a marsh line, to no avail, then we moved around and fished some rocks with the floats and immediately began to catch keeper sized Mangrove Snapper - one after the other. I had to keep a running count to make sure we didn't go over our limit. These fish were a tad bit bigger than what we've been getting - some of them were up to 12".  We blew thru most of our shrimp, then move on.

Our final stop was down at Spanish Drop where we switched to jigs and mud minnows. We worked a large outflow then eased along a shell laden bank, pitching up near the shore and working it back slowly. When we reached a corner I was about to pull up and move but Carron had a bite and, Fish On! She played it beautifully, worked it to the boat patiently, and landed a Slot sized 21.75" Redfish - a good fish to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida

Size Matters

 

I wrapped up my week today fishing with Mark Britt and his son Ryan, meeting them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early, and we made the run up to Jolley River to make the "bank" our first stop. Boy were the conditions looking good - just a slight breeze, overcast skies, and a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. But, nope, we struggled early. We worked along the bank tossing float rigs and live shrimp and really didn't get a bite that mattered.

I dropped back around the corner and pulled up to a marsh runout and the duo tossed jigs and mud minnows, to no avail. We then ran up the Jolley and fished Snook Creek, at first with the float rigs, then we switched to jigs and FINALLY, BAM! Mark had a bite, and boy was it a big one! The fish headed north and the braided line almost took Ryan's head off as he was standing on the stern, But he ducked under the line and the battle was on.  Mark came back to the stern and applied the pressure, fought the fish valiantly, and after a long battle, brought it to the surface to be boated, photographed, and released - a big 4 foot Bonnethead Shark.

We fished that bank a bit more, bounced over and fished another, then headed around to Bell River

where we set up current from a dock on the last hour or so of an outgoing tide. Almost immediately, we began to get bites. Ryan reeled in a Spot, then a small Mangrove Snapper then Mark put a keeper sized Mangrove in the boat. Ryan followed that up with a Sheepshead, then Mark caught one, then BOOM! Mark had a big bite. We thought it'd be a nice fish but it turned out to be a Really Nice Fish!  He fought it patiently, worked it to the boat, and we netted a big Oversized 30" Redfish. What a nice fish!

Shortly after that Ryan had the big bite. His fish stayed behind the boat but dug deep. Ryan was up to the task and fought it perectly, letting it run when it wanted to, but working it slowly in. We soon netted a nice 21.75" Sheepshead - the biggest of the year on The Anglers Mark and big enough to set the bench mark as First Place in the 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Sheepshead Category. (scroll down the right column for standings)

We wrapped up fishing some docks at Lanceford Creek on the first of an incoming tide and Mark wrapped it up with a "golden" catch of a Black "puppy" Drum which made for a great way to end a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

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.