3 Generations Produce a Big Red

 I wrapped up my week yesterday fishing with the Tilltoson's - Granddad Dan, his son Paul and grandson Jack. I met them up at the Dee Dee Bartels Park boat ramp early and with a plan in mind, made the run up to the Jolley River to ease in and fish the "bank" with jigs and live shrimp. The wind had been kicking my butt all week and was expected to increase again today. That first stretch of bank was ideal, and although all three anglers were making excellent casts, we had no real bites. 

After running up the river to Snook Creek we worked that bank a good stretch and once incentivized, Paul "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Seatrout catch! The game was on!

We moved around the corner and fished the MOA (Mother of All) for a while and although we were seeing some good bait movement we had no luck there. The MOA wasn't very MOA today!  The wind had picked up so we made the run back to Eagans Creek with plans to tuck in between some docks and fish the pilings and the plan paid off.

Jack got on the board with a strong hookup, played it expertly, and landed a nice feisty Redfish that was just a smidge undersized. He took the lead in the "challenge", then his Grandad Dan had a good bite, set the hook, and expertly brought to the boat a keeper sized Seatrout. Even though it was of keeper size, it was still smaller than Jack's Redfish so he kept the lead!

Paul added another keeper sized Seatrout, Dan added a nice Croaker to the box,

then BAM! Paul had went in behind a dock, let it slowly fall and, Big Fish On!  All lines were cleared of the water as the big fish dug deep. When it ran up current, against the drag, we knew it was probably oversized. Then the fish took Paul to the stern, around the engine, back around the engine, up to the bow, around the trolling motor, back around the trolling motor and finally, after a lengthy battle, Paul landed the big 29" Oversized Redfish, boy what a battle and boy what a fish!  This fish moved Paul into 2nd place in the 2022 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament - Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).

We had worked the oysters and the docks and even though the wind had picked up we had a few good fish caught, 3 generations of anglers, so was we headed back to the boat ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Wind Continues to be an Issue

OK! ENOUGH!   All week we've had to contend with the wind and today was no different. I mean, you just can't beat the clear skies, mild temperatures, and a LITTLE bit of wind to knock the bugs off, but the weeklong trend continued today, Very breezy at launch time and increasing to aggravation level by mid morning. The key is trying to find a bank or land mass to get in behind that is not affected by the wind.

I met Henry Ross and his fishing buddy Chick down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early and we ran up the intercoastal and then up the Nassau and made a quick stop along a shell lined bank at Spanish Drop. In retrospect, we should have worked that bank for a mile. We were seeing some movement along the shore and at one point, Chick, on the bow, had cast towards it and sure enough had a good bite and a hookup. He played it patiently and "knocked the skunk off" with a nice Redfish catch.  After fishing that bank we bounced around a duo of anglers drifting the bank towards us and ran up and fished between a couple of docks at Nassauville. The current was swirling and these anglers were getting good casts, but, not a bite.

We fished some dock pilings around at Seymore's Pointe, jigs and shrimp, last of outgoing tide, and did get a few nibbles, and finally a feisty Sheepshead catch.

Our final stop was down at Broward Island and we worked it pretty good. Unfortunately the wind was now coming out of the north and blowing right down the "pipe", which made it tough. We stuck it out, fished south, then north, then in the middle, and finally wrapped things up with one more Redfish catch. 

Although the wind made for some tough fishing, the weather was beautiful otherwise, we were out on the water, so we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

First Ladyfish of the year

 I normally don't look at the weather report but one day at a time, especially when I'm running 6 days of the week, so when I mentioned the wind at the bait shop to another guide the first of this week and he said, "it's going to be like that all week",  I just couldn't believe it. I should have! Once again, today, forecasted winds were above 10mph to begin with (not so bad), but increasing into the teens, which can be a pain. Almost always you can find a spot, maybe two, to get out of it, but if the fish aren't cooperating at that particular spot, then your stuck with either a), some boring fishing, or b) getting out into the wind and doing your best!

I had met Paul O'brien and his fishing buddy Dane down at the Saawpit Creek boat ramp early and with that wind coming out of the east, it was very pleasant, but when we rounded into the mouth of the Nassau River we could tell that we had a bit of a blow. But when we eased up to our first spot at Spanish Drop to fish an exposed shell bank with jigs and shrimp and minnows, the marsh was blocking the wind and the two anglers began to pitch. We worked along that bank with no real bites but finally, after Dane had gone to the bank with an excellent cast, BAM! He had a strong hookup and the fight was on! Dane played it patiently and eventually brought to the boat a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued along that stretch and just minutes later Dane tangled with a fairly large Ladyfish, the first of the year on the Anglers Mark.  He hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout and then another, bigger Ladyfish.

Our next stop was up at some docks at Seymore's Pointe, fishing the jigs and shrimp. That east wind was pushing the water and I think it was just too muddy - we had no bites.

After a run down to Broward Island we fished south for a bit until the tide changed then move back to the other end. We had some good "takes', some rods bent, some drag ripped, and had two nice fish come off. But  these two anglers stuck with it and Paul got on the board when he outsmarted a keeper sized Sheapshead and brought it to the net. 

We fished back at Nassauville, picked up a small Flounder,  then ran thru Horsehead and drifted float rigs for the first time of the day. On the final drift the float took off sideways along the grass. After hooking up, Paul was on the rod and worked it in expertly to land a feisty Redfish which made for a perfect way to wrap up a great day of fishing out on the water here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Beating The Wind

 

Although it was forecasted to be a beautiful clear, cool and sunny day, the wind was expected to be already at 13mph when we launched and getting up to 17 as the morning wore on. But I counted 6 fishing guides at the bait store this morning, and I was one of them! I then met Bob Blalock out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp and we made a quick run over to Broward Island thinking we might could beat the wind before it really picked up and fish a first of an incoming tide. 

Bob was tossing jigs and live shrimp, under the Bald Eagles, but we had not takers. We moved down a bit, fished for a good while, and finally Bob had a good bite and, fish on! He played it perfectly and brought to the net a nice 18" Seatrout. We moved down a ways more and again Bob had a good bump, set the hook, and landed an even bigger Seatrout, one right at 18". 

Sure enough, the wind had picked up so we came back to Nassauville rocks and fished between two docks and had some good action in calm and pleasant waters! Bob landed a Seatrout and we picked up a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper (the first of the year). It was so calm in behind the Nassauville land mass we decided to stay in the area and fish the docks. But although we had good conditions, we had no real bitres. Before we left,  though we went back to our original spot and had even better action. Bob was diligent and caught a small Flounder, then another keeper sized Mangrove, then a bigger, keeper sized Flounder. Although we were handicapped by the wind we had a nice box of fish!

We fished Pumpkin Hill for a bit but the wind was pushing the water, then fished Christopher Creek for a minute or two, then called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Super Grande Slam Today

Although the weather forecast predicted fishable wind early today, it called for increasing force into the 20mph range, so all I hoped was it be able to get in an hour or two of fishing before we had to buck the wind, which would make for a small window to catch fish. I met Dan and Kay Jones down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we headed up the intercoastal, cut thru Middle River, and made our way around to Pumpkin Hill and set up along a flooding marsh line on the last few hours of an incoming tide.  Both anglers were getting good drifts but it took a while to get some bites. Truth be told, I was getting a little worried that our "window" may not be very big to catch fish. But, slowly, the duo began to get bites, then hookups, and began to catch fish - hungry Seatrout, with a couple caught of keeper size (all fish caught today were released). Kay even reeled in a hard fighting Catfish that surprised us!

We eventually moved around and fished another bank, had not real bites, then moved down to Broward Island, checked out the Bald Eagle, then set up and fished the very last of the incoming tide. Wouldn't you know it, the first two bites were HUGE! Both Kay and Dan had strong hookups and drag ripping, rod bending fights but it was not to be - both fish threw the hook! Ouch. But these two anglers were not to be deterred and continued to fish, catching feisty Redfish, a keeper sized Sheepshead(to make it a Slam), and a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum(to make it a Grande Slam). We also had a fly-by from the Goodyear blimp!

I could tell out in the river the wind was kicking up so we made the run over to Nassauville and fished some rocks, and again had good action. Both Kay and Dan caught some "almost keeper sized" Mangrove Snapper, another Trout or two, another Catfish, and two Flounder, one of which was of keeper size, but also giving them that "Super Grande Slam" of Seatrout, Redfish, Sheepshead, Black Drum and Flounder.

Yep, the wind was really kicking around the corner, coming out of the north as we headed back, but with the wind at our backs, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Hot Fishing Early Hot Fishing Late

 

We had a bit of overcast skies this morning but it was dead calm at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp - calm enough that the sand gnats almost carried me off as I waited for Jeff and Jinny Key to walk up for the fishing trip! We quickly loaded up and headed up the intercoastal, turned into Middle River, and made our way over to Pumpkin Hill with plans to drift floats along a flooded marsh line on a tide that still had about 1 and half hours of coming in. 

Luckily there was a slight breeze and the gnats weren't a problem up here! Jeff  was on the stern and after casting to the grass line, left his bail open and let his float drift long and sure enough, BAM! Float Gone! Jeff quickly slapped the bail shut, cranked down, lifted his rod and  let the circle hook do its job and, Fish On!  He patiently brought it to the boat and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.  He duplicated that a good handful of times, landing one fat Seatrout after another. Jinny squeezed in off the stern and did the same, letting her float drift long and BAM! She too had a hookup, a good battle, and a keeper sized Seatrout landed!

Eventually the bite slowed so we moved around, fished another edge, then made our way down to Broward Island. Here, fishing under the watchful eye of a Bald Eagle, we switched to jigs and live shriup and fished the bottom, but to no avail. We made our way back to the Seymore's Pointe area and fished a large marsh runout but the tide had dropped a bit too much and we were snagging the oysters. 

I final stop was down at Spanish Drop, sticking with the float rigs, and working along a bank where the shell was just beginning to show. Jinny had set aside her rod and was "coaching up" Jeff, who worked the bank thoroughly as we eased along. Not a bite until we got to a corner then, after Jeff had made an excellent cast and his float drifted around the corner, we saw his float take off, UPCURRENT!  Jeff tightened up and lifted and, Big Fish On!  He had a good battle on his hands, especially after the fish got back into the current. But he was up to the task and soon landed a Slot Sized Redfish.  Minutes later, he was back along the edge with a cast and sure enough, BAM! Another big fish on!  Jeff played it perfectly and soon landed an even bigger Slot Redfish.

We had had a good beginning and two Slot Red's in a row made for a good way to wrap up another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida 

Recipe Of The Month (Top Secret): Redfish Couvillion

Secret Agent (TM007) infiltrated Louisiana last month to fish, visit friends, eat, and then he slipped out under the cover of darkness with a Secret Recipe of  Paul's Louisiana Redfish Couvillion (COO-be-yahn)! What a score!  It took some cajoling, some arm wrenching, and some libations to get that Secret Agent to divulge the recipe but finally, he reached the end of his endurance and gave it up!  Here it is:

1)  Catch some Redfish!  This batch I used two large Redfish filets.

Filet and season the cubed Redfish. "Paul" (not sure if that is his real name)  recommends Tony Chachere's, I used Konricko Creole Seasoning.

Make a dark pecan colored roux - equal parts oil and flour. I used two heaping Tablespoons of bacon grease, and two heaping Tablespoons of flour.

1 Medium onion, chopped

2 bell peppers, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1 teaspoon of crushed garlic

1 Jalapeno pepper, chopped

1 shallot, chopped

1 can diced tomatoes

1/2 -3/4 box of chicken stock

parsley or green onion tops for garnish.

After getting the roux ready, add onions, bell peppers, garlic and celery....cook until onions are clear. I added a little bit of the chicken stock while this was cooking (maybe I should have had more roux?)

Add diced tomatoes....Add jalapeno peppers and the shallots.

Add chicken stock to cover ingredients. Cook on low until there is an oil slick forming and peppers begin to soften (about 20-30 minutes). 

Bring to a boil and add the seasoned fish. Cook until is fish is done - it will go from opaque to white, just when the mixture comes to a light boil. You don't want to overcook it because the fish will breach up (you could still eat it but you want those chunks of Redfish!). 

I served this over some wild rice with some fried green tomatoes on the side. 

Garnish with Parsley or chopped Green Onion tops. 

Editors(that's me). Note: Chief Taste Tester (my wife Carol) commented that "if this is Cajun why isn't there some sausage in here?"  And I replied, "yes, and some shrimp!"  But I got to thinking, those two additions, plus some Okra would make it Gumbo!  This was very good to get those Redfish chunks and  not be overwhelmed or distracted by the other ingredients. Truth be told, I added some Franks Hot Sauce when I warmed it up for lunch as a leftover.

Fishing The High Tide

With the last of an incoming high tide today, my plan was to drift float rigs over a shell bottom with live shrimp for Seatrout. That didn't work, but it paid off with a handful of keeper sized Slot Redfish. I had met Estelle Wolfman and her friend Mike down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we cruised up the intercoastal, dipped into the Middle River and ran around to Pumpkin Hill and set up with those float rigs and live shrimp. The first stretch of bank produced no bites so we eased down another bank, working it close, then fished a grassy island where Mike "knocked the skunk off" with a Seatrout bite right up beside the grass. 

We were seeing movement here and there along the flooded grass just as the tide

peaked so we worked a bank slowly. I saw Mike's float slooooowlllly ease under - Mike tightened up, lifted his rod and let the circle hook do its work, Big Fish On!  Mike played it expertly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We worked along that bank, turned a corner, and worked along another where Estelle had the same thing happen - Fish On! She played it expertly and brought a nice Redfish to the boat.  Working that flooded grass we picked up another handful of Redfish, two of which were of keeper size. 

Being so close to Broward Island we had to fish it, even though I don't like fishing it on a high tide. We passed under a pair of Bald Eagles, fished a drainage with jigs and Shrimp, and picked up a feisty Redfish up near the bank. Dropping back to fish a pointe, Mike hooked up and landed another feisty Redfish. 

Our final stop was back at some docks at Seymore's Pointe. The duo of anglers tangled with "baitstealers" for a bit, then we headed back to the dock, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Crazy Difference In a Day

 It's crazy how one day you have outstanding fishing (yesterday) and the very next it falls off to be a grind to catch a fish! Today I met Dennis Abercrombie and his dad Jay out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. Again, it was a beautiful day, just a tad bit cool, and not much wind to begin with. We ran around and fished a larger outflow at Seymore's Pointe, and did have one hookup but a "shake off", then no real bites. We buzzed thru Horsehead and fished some pockets of grass on an outgoing tide with float rigs but got nary a nibble. We also fished the bank of Jackstaff for a bit with jigs and live shrimp to no avail. 

We went the short route thru the marsh and then down to Twin Creeks, staying with the jigs. No fish. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop. We had fished about 3/4 of a long shell bank when finally, BAM! Jay was hooked up. He said he felt the fish 'bump" it a couple of times and he set the hook hard, Fish On!  Jay was up for a battle - the first fish of the day, and he played it perfectly. The big fish got behind the boat and into the fast moving current but Jay held fast, stayed patient, and eventually landed a nice 24" Slot sized Redfish, boy what a battle!

Our next stop was up at Nassauville, fishing between two docks. We had caught a good handful of Seatrout here yesterday, but today? Not a bite.  We moved around and fished another dock and here Jay landed a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum and a feisty Redfish. We stopped back by the previous dock to see if the change in tide made a difference and did pick up one more Seatrout. Although the fish caught quantity had been low, the quality had been good so as was we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Made to Order

 

When you have a little guy's first "big boy" fishing trip you have to hope that the weather, bugs, and fish cooperate. And today they did! I had met Scott Williams and his 5 year old Russell, along with grandad Bert down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp early this morning. The tide had been going out about two hours when we left the dock and as we headed up the intercoastal, the water was like glass, the sun was out and the skies were clear. We eased into the mouth of Jackstaff, inched further up a creek, and set up at a large marsh drainage to pitch float rigs and live shrimp. In just a short time we had a hookup and young Russell reeled in the first fish of the day!

We eased along that bank, getting shallower and shallower and we could see big wakes moving in and out of the grass and oysters. Bert had gone in closed, snagged a couple of times, but went back again and BAM! Big Fish On!  Bert played it expertly and soon landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work the bank and BAM! Another nice Slot Redfish! 

After running thru Horsehead and down to the Spanish Drop area we fished some oyster banks anddrainages, picked up a small Flounder, then Russell - he was casting on his own now - hooked up and reeled in a magnificent Catfish. Later, we fished some docks at Seymore's Pointe, then moved down to Nassauville and fished "Russell's Spot" and here things really heated  up. Scott found a "honey hole" and kept going back to it, pulling one Seatrout out after another. There were a good handful that were of keeper size (one we though for sure was a Red the way it was fighting). The trio also caught three more Flounder (12-13").

We finished the day down at Spanish Drop, fishing an exposed shell bed. Just when I thought the fish were on "seista", BAM! Scott had strong bite, and REALLY BIG fish on! He played it perfectly, had all the pressure on, but it was not to be - the hook was thrown. Minutes later, Bert had the same thing happen, BAM! Big fish on, a good battle, and a thrown hook. They did salvage a hungry Seatrout catch during that fight. 

We had beautiful weather, for most part the bugs stayed away, and we had some good action so as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.