The Stars Aligned

 When I talked to Cole Nalor a few months ago, setting up today's trip, we talked about what kind ofoptions we had to take his wife Aly and their very young daughters Wyn(4yo) and Neely(2yo) out on a fishing trip. I usually recommend that they need to be around 7 years old to really "get into" fishing but we thought we could try a bit of fishing, then maybe do some sight seeing and hope the kids could make a half day trip. And to top that off, when we looked at the weather last night, it was forecasting a good chance of rain! But when I got up this morning and looked at the forecast, the rain wasn't expected at all!

I met the Nalor's up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp. The tide had only been coming in for about 45 minutes so we headed over to Tyger Island where Cole  began pitching a jig and live shrimp to the bank while Aly herded the kids. I think we went thru two dozen shrimp feeding "baitstealers" until finally Cole snagged a couple of small Mangrove Snapper. I wasn't feeling a bit down about the spot's production until Cole made an excellent cast to the back side of a log, had a strong bite, and BAM! Big Fish on!  Cole played it perfectly and when it boiled I knew it was a Red. Cole worked it to the boat and we netted a nice 22" Slot Redfish! That woke things up!

We made the run around to the Jolley River, turned in and fished the "bank", now tossing float rigs with shrimp. We hit one stretch where Cole picked up a few hungry Seatrout, and a couple of feisty Redfish. We then buzzed up the river to Snook Creek, again turned into the current and began fishing the marsh line with the oysters almost covered on that incoming tide. Cole picked up a Seatrout out deep and just shortly after he got up real close to the grass. When his float disappeared he called for one of the girls to come help reel but that was before the fish made strong run! That drag started ripping and it was BIG FISH ON!  It wall Cole could do to slow this fish down but he did and turned it then kept the pressure on  until it tired and came to the net - an Oversized 33" Redfish, boy what a fish! This fish moved Cole squarely in to first place in the Anglers Mark 2021 Bragging Rights Tournament-Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We tried our hand at Shark fishing but found a big Catfish, then we got in that tour of Cumberland, Ft. Clinch and Pippi's house before we called it a day, another great one here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Quite a Mess of Fish

 

Fishing south again today, meeting William Vickers, his son Jeff and son-in-law Jacob down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. After a short run up the Nassau we stopped at Spanish Drop and fished the edges of an shell bank at the very bottom of a dead low. The trio of anglers were pitching 1/8oz jigs and mud minnows to the bank and both Jeff and Jacob had hookups of feisty Redfish. We then moved up the river to a marsh run out and threaded the needle between the bank and a crab trap. Again, they picked up a couple of feisty Reds. Then Jeff had a stronger bite and when his drag ripped, we new he had a bigger fish. After a good battle Jeff landed a nice 19" Slot Redfish. Then it was Jacob's turn to fight a tough fish. After his hookup the fish went deep, dug down, and put up a good fight. Jacob worked it patiently to the boat and and landed a Jack Crevalle.

The tide had already turned so we made the run down to Broward Island, switching to 1/4oz jigs to get down a bit deeper, quicker. The strategy paid off. All three anglers began to catch fish. They each put a couple of keeper sized Mangrove Snapper in the boat, Jeff landed three Sheepshead, one of which was of keeper size. Then Jacob had a strong bite and when the fish hugged the bottom we thought, maybe a Flounder. Sure enough, when he brought it to the surface, there was a nice 18" Flounder. William got on a roll and landed fish after fish, teaching lessons as he went. Both  Jeff and Jacob had Big fish on for a while, but the fish found there way back into a sunken tree and broke off. Ouch.

We moved down a bit and fished a large runout. Jeff found a couple of feisty Reds and Jacob picked up another keeper sized Flounder. We finished up the trip fishing a large runout around at Seymore's. They added another couple of Mangroves and then William battled a big Jack Crevalle to the net. After pictures and release, we headed in, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First, Biggest and Most

Boy did the weather folks get today wrong! I looked at the forecast last night AND this morning and therewas only a slight chance of rain forecasted. NOT! I met Tim Carson, his daughter Monica and his grandson Mathew out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp this morning and there were some serious clowds around us and we could see rain storms off in the distance. But this trio of anglers were here to fish so we jumped down the Broward Island to take advantage of a first of an incoming tide.

We were pitching jigs and live shrimp to the bank and in only minutes Mathew had a good bite. He set the hook expertly and reeled in the first fish of the day, a hungry Seatrout. Then Grandpa Tim got in the action. He boated two, hard fighting, keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. We then moved down the way, fished under a Bald Eagle, and here Monica got on the board with a feisty Redfish catch. Mathew went to the same spot and he too caught a feisty Redfish. Tim landed a Stingray that we hoped would be a Flounder and also put an ugly Toad fish in the boat. 

Our next stop was back at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Although we didn't get any big fish, Tim and Mathew both put a Croaker in the boat.  We moved down to Spanish Drop and fished a higher tide with float rigs and shrimp. Monica had managed her float to the mouth of a small creek and when it disappeared she was ready to strike and lifted her rod to set the circle hook and Big Fish On! Monica played it perfectly and after a long battle landed a big 4' Bonnethead Shark.

After running back to Pumpkin Hill we set up again to fish the floats. I think

it was Mathew's first drift when his float disappeared and he set the hook. Mathew expertly worked it to the boat and landed a nice 18.5" Seatrout, giving him the Most Seatrout caught for the day, and the Biggest Seatrout caught for the day. We had a few more bites. picked up one more feisty Red, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Long Lost Hat

 If you've ever boated more than few times then you've probably lost a hat along the way. I had met Frank and Joanne Wytiaz down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we headed up the intercoastal then up the Nassau to our first spot...but along the way Joanne noticed that her brand spanking new hat had blown out. We turned around and cruised back along our wake with all three of us keeping an eye out, but to no avail. Hat Lost.

We then continued on our trip to the first stop at Spanish Drop, turned into an incoming tide that still had a couple of hours of coming in. We eased along pitching float rigs and live shrimp. Frank picked up a small Catfish then a fat but still hungry Seatrout. Then Joanne had a strong bite and fought a pitched battle with a Jack Crevalle.  We moved down the way and fished Twin Creeks for a bit then moved on.

Our next stop was down at Pumpkin Hill, drifting the floats. Frank caught a couple of small but feisty Redfish then it was

Joanne, again, who fought the big fish. This time it was a 4' Bonnethead Shark. She played it perfectly and landed it for pictures and release. We moved  around and fished a small grassy island. Joanne had made an excellent cast to the grass and when her float disappeared she set the hook and Fish On!  This fish was ripping drag but not making the long run like the shark so we felt comfortable it was a big Redfish. Sure enough, Joanne worked it to the boat and landed a nice 22 1/2" Slot Redfish.

The final stop was down at Seymore's Pointe and here I felt comfortable we'd find some keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. But Frank had other plans. He drifted a 3/4 piece of shrimp along the rocks and, BOOM! Float gone!  He worked it patiently to the boat, and after a few drag ripping runs, brought to the net another 22 1/4" Slot Redfish.  Then he and Joanne played cat and mouse with the Mangroves. Joanne figure out she could let them take the bait for a second or two then set the hook and she contributed to the majority of the "keeper" fish in the box. Then Frank found another big fish, this time it was a 21" Slot Redfish!

We headed back feeling good about the fishing trip, with fish in the box and a seafood feast planned but as we got to the mouth of the Nassau River Frank yelled and pointed - Joanne's hat! It was almost unbelievable, but the hat must have drifted for 2 hours coming in with the tide, then drifted back for two hours and was almost in the exact location that it became missing! What a way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Bait Management-Net Princess-Future Biologist

She can take her pick, but young angler Lenora has a bright future ahead of her when it come to fishing! Her mother Marnie Bird and her Uncle Dave met me down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning and we made the run thru Middle River and around to Pumpkin Hill to set up along side some flooding marsh grass. Marnie and Dave began tossing float rigs with live shrimp to the bank and letting it drift with the current.  Lenora was already managing the bait buckets of live shrimp and mud minnows. Marnie "knocked the skunk off" when she hooked up and battled a hard fighting Bonnethead Shark to the boat.  Only minutes later, Dave, who had made an excellent cast to the point of some grass, had a hookup and, Fish On!  He played it perfectly and brought to the net a 21" Slot Redfish (with 8 spots). He followed that up with a big Bonnethead Shark catch of his own. 

We came back to Seymore's Pointe, fished a large outflow and here Marnie put a hungry Seatrout in the boat, and then a small Mangrove Snapper.  After moving around the corner we got into the bigger Mangroves and the duo began to catch one after the other. Lenora reeled in the biggest one of the day, but she spent most of her time netting her Mom's and Uncles fish! She handled most of them and released the smaller ones back into the river.

After running thru Horsehead we fished the mouth of Jackstaff. Dave was fishing a jig and picked up a couple of feisty Redfish. We then headed back to the dock where I cleaned the Slot Red and Mangroves. Lenora was keen on seeing what was in their stomachs so we dissected those that had their belly's full. Most had our shrimp! Bud one had a minnow! We had a good day of fishing so we counted it as another great day to be out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Taking A Bow

 Another beautiful morning greeted us today when I met the Latino family - Pete and Robin and their kids Marin and Jake - down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp.  I haven't fished down there in over a week and was looking forward to seeing how the "bite" was. We made a run up the intercoastal just as the tide was starting out and pulled into Jackstaff to begin fishing a large outflow with float rigs and live shrimp.

First cast -boom! We weren't ready for it - it was the "demo" cast. I think it was a shark and it came rushing right to the boat, turned and BAP! Fish Off. Second cast-BAM! Big fish on, again, another shark. This one Marin fought valiantly and had it up to the boat before again, it made a sharp turn and BAP! Fish off!  We were "0" for two!

But these anglers were up for the game and as we eased along the banks of Jackstaff tossing floats it was Jake who "knocked the skunk off" with nice hookup. He expertly worked it to the boat and landed a nice Redfish that came in just under the 18"

mark.  We fished on and Robin got on the board with a hungry Seatrout catch. Jake was the "Redfish Guy" today and landed another feisty one before we move on. 

The tide was still somewhat high so we made what I thought would be a brief stop at Seymore's Pointe to fish the rocks. I wasn't sure if the Mangroves would be there but it only took a couple of casts to find out! Those floats started disappearing and it was a whole lot of catching going on. Robin was encouraging the family and all three of the others were putting fish on the boat. Marin had taken up the stern and found her own little "honey hole" and put most of the "keepers" in the box, the biggest being right at 12". At the end of the trip she took a bow, knowing she would be feeding the family later!  Both Pete and Jake added some keepers of their own, too. 

Our last stop was down at Spanish Drop, now fishing exposed oysters with jigs and shrimp and minnows. Jake stayed the busiest, catching a feisty Jack, a couple of Reds, and a Stingray. The breeze had kept blowing all morning, we had some clouds to block the sun, and we had some good eating Mangrove Snapper in the box so as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Two Slams

 

After a huge rain storm and long showers last night I was wondering how the fishing would be today. Yesterday we had "coca cola" water and I was interested to see what it'd be like today. I met Josh Dees and his son Benny up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp and boy what a pretty day it was! We headed right over to the Jolley River and up it to Snook Creek where the duo began tossing float rigs with live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for an hour or so. We had a good many bites  and Josh picked up a hungry Seatrout and a fat Croaker. As we eased along the tide dropped a bit and we could see the oysters so we switched to jigs and things heated up!

Benny put a nice feisty Redfish in the boat and then it was "fish on" for a good hour or so. They caught a handful of those feisty Reds, a couple of Trout, a couple of Croaker and some "baitstealers". I gotta say that this young 9yr old is already an "angler" - he baited his own hooks, removed his own fish,  and netted his dad's fish. He was casting and catching like a teenager!

We came back to the mouth of Jolley and fished the "bank" and

again, we caught fish, one after the other. Both Josh and Benny had caught Reds and Trout then it was Benny he hooked up and landed a Flounder to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam. Shortly after that Josh followed that up with one of his own! We actually left fish biting to try another spot in hopes of bigger fish so we made the run back up river to the "MOA" where we set up, the tide still going out. 

Josh found the fish - catching a couple of Reds then he had a strong hookup. This one was pulling a bit more than all of the rest this morning; he handed the rod off to his team mate Benny who expertly brought it to the boat and the net - a keeper sized Seatrout! We fished it a bit more then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Pepsi Or Coca Cola?

 

You may of noticed a lag in reports from last week - the Anglers Mark was in the shop for a week getting it's 100 hour service, but I was back at it today and boy did it sure feel good to be back on the water! I had the Taylor crew - Gordon and Kim and their daughter Savannah and son-in-law Garrett meet me up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and with just a few clouds in the sky and very little breeze..we headed north and west. Our first stop was outside of Tyger Island where we fished some jigs and mud minnows on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours. Not a bite!

We eased around into the Jolley River and began fishing an oyster lined bank

with float rigs. I noticed right off that unlike the "cappuccino" colored water that we had of two weeks ago, the water was clean and looked just like Coca Cola, or is it Pepsi? It must have made a difference because we had a good bite as the tide fell. Gordon really "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and expertly landed a nice 22.5" Slot sized Redfish. Then the whole team was catching fish. Garrett put a Flounder and Seatrout in the boat then Savannah heated up and caught Flounder too, one of which was of keeper size. She also put a feisty Black "puppy" Drum in the boat. We worked along the edge and we had pretty constant action. Kim decided to quit "laying back" and began to catch fish - one of which was another keeper sized Flounder.  I think we totaled 8-9 flounder caught with three of them being of keeper size. We had a good handful of Seatrout caught, two of which were of keeper size, and also caught a few feisty "rat" Red's.

Added to the catch were Ladyfish, a Gar fish, a Cat fish, Croaker, Perch and one Blue crab that was almost to the boat! We had a slight breeze blowing for most of the day, cloudy skies that kept the sun off and as we headed in, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

After The Storm

 I was warned at the bait shop this morning that the rivers were muddy after the storm that passed thru the last couple of days but we had some nice weather today so Drew Tignanelli and I got out for some back country fishing here at Amelia Island. We met up at Dee Dee Bartels and boy was it a packed house with all the Red Snapper anglers getting out for the "mini season". Drew and I made the run around to Bell River and set up on a point of flooding oysters and began to drift float rigs and mud minnows. Drew got a couple of encouraging bites, but not takes, but when his float passed a marshy point and his float disappeared, Drew tightened up, let the circle hook set and, "skunk off the boat" with a nice Seatrout catch.

We moved over to Lanceford Creek and fished a marsh runout (the tide was still coming in) with the float rig. Drew worked the area thoroughly and just as we were about to leave he placed his bait right up against the marsh grass and, BAM! Seatrout caught and to the net. 

I was watching the clock and tide and when it hit high we made the run back thru Tyger and around to the outside of the island and set up just as the tide started out. In short order Drew put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and only minutes later had a strong bite. This one was ripping a bit of drag, but Drew kept the pressure on, worked it to the boat, and landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We fished thru that area, crossed the creek and fished another marsh line, then moved on. 

After fishing further up Tyger with jig rods at a couple of drainages with jigs and the minnows where we had a few bites, but no takers, (we did note that the water was muddy/murkey) we jumped around to the Jolley River and worked the "bank" for a while. With time running out we moved up to a drainage, fished it with floats, then switched to jigs and minnows. The strategy paid off - Drew picked up two small but feisty Redfish, then he had a "strange" bite, hooked it up, and brought to the boat a keeper sized Flounder to round out his Amelia Island Back Country Slam - a great way to end a fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Bringing Home The Bacon

I got to "fun fish" today with my buddy and high school team mate Tony French who had along with him his daughter Katy, recent High School graduate and future Armstrong College Alumni. The two were making a Florida swing before Katy goes off to college and after attending a reunion, that stopped in at Amelia Island for some back country fishing. 

I had picked up some mud minnows yesterday evening so we were able to get out on the water a tad bit earlier, launching at Sawpit Creek boat ramp and heading East for a change - there was very little wind and it was out of the South West, and we had a high tide - so we buzzed around the south end of Amelia and up to the the little jetty that runs parallel to the island.  Unfortunately(or for Katy, fortunately)  the jetty was swarming with porpoises. As the sun was coming up it was a great treat but it didn't help the fish bite one bit.

We then ran up the Nassau River and began fishing Tony's Bank with jigs and the minnows. Katy got out to hot start and "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout catch, then a feisty Redfish catch. She also put hard fighting Jack in the boat. We worked along that bank for a good while, working the bank with jigs and float rigs then moved on. 

After a short run we pulled up at Tony's Dock and fished it with the jigs and here things heated up. We picked up a couple of Mangrove Snapper, then Katy put a another Redfish in the boat. We boated a Shark that chased down a "skint mullet" and then had a brief battle with something big that headed NW, thru the dock pilings and, BAP! Fish off!

Our next stop was down at Tony's Island, fishing the logs. Tony and I each put a small Flounder in the boat then he expertly landed a Slot Sized Red. Later we had another Slot Redfish that we added to the catch. 

Our last stop was back at Tony's Pointe where we wrapped the day up catching our limit of 12" Mangrove Snapper. It was a great day to be out on the water with friends here at Amelia Island, Florida.