I wrapped my week up today fishing with John Raker and Kenny King, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early, with the sun just coming up over Amelia Island. We made a short run up the Nassau and set up fishing a point of grass with float rigs and live shrimp on a high and incoming tide...and we had action for about 2 hours! This duo of anglers caught Seatrout and Jacks and Ladyfish and feisty Redfish while big Tarpon busted mullet out in the river behind us!
After moving down a bit Kenny had made an excellent cast up into a "bay" and when his float slowly went under he tightened the line and let the circle hook set and Fish On! This was the big fish Kenny had been waiting for and he made the most of it, playing it perfectly and eventually landing a nice 22.5" Slot Sized Redfish! We moved back around the corner and caught more Jacks, Mangrove Snapper and Seatrout, a few of which were of keeper size.
As the tide hit the top we made a run over to Seymore's Pointe where we picked up another big Mangrove, then we ran back up the river where the tide had started back out. It was getting to be mid day, the sun was getting hot and even though we were at the right spot at the right tide I had reservations that we'd get any more good bites. Boy was I wrong. I didn't even have time to settle in before John had hooked up his drag was ripping! He played it patiently and brought to the net another 22.5" Redfish. But we weren't finished. Just a few drifts later, BAM! Big Fish On! This fish took off, heading north and for a second we thought "shark", but it turned and made for the bank and we knew it was another big Red. John fought it valiantly and eventually landed a big Oversized 28" Redfish, boy what a fish!
Still not finished! We picked up the biggest Trout of the day, this one measured at 19" and was a great way to wrap up a good day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
The Poon boys met me down at Sawpit Creek this morning for a half day of fishing the back waters of Amelia Island. Derek and his sons Zach and Tyler and I ran up the intercoastal, passed a huge flock of Rosette Spoonbills, dipped into Jackstaff and split of into a smaller creek just as the high tide began to move out. We were set up with mud minnows strung up under float rigs. Zach tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, and that was it.
After running thru Horsehead we headed down to Twin Creeks and fished the outgoing tide there, and again tangled with some Ladyfish. Our next stop was over at Back River, fishing a point of grass and here all three anglers got on the board. Tyler went long off the bow with a fine cast and hooked up and landed a feisty Redfish. Zach followed that up with one of his own.
We trolled forward and the drifted back to the point. Derek had made a good cast. let his float drift down alongside a submerged shell bed and then his float slowly went under. I saw Derek smoothly take his slack up, lift his rod, and set the circle hook and Fish On! I was thinking "another feisty Rat Redfish" but then that rod bent over and the drag began to sing and BIG Fish On! And boy was it a battle! Derek couldn't have played it any better though and after a few good rolls, a few good drag ripping runs, Derek brought to the boat a nice Overisized 28.5" Redfish.
After fishing there for a bit, we ran down to Spanish Drop and worked that bank where this trio of Anglers caught a few more Redfish, a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper, and, more Ladyfish. We finished the day out at a dock at Seymore's Pointe where they added a couple of more keeper Mangroves, then we headed back, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
When I meet Bob Blalock out at Goffinsville Park we were checking the weather radar because we could see some ugly thunderstorms out over the ocean, and sure enough, they were creeping our way. So we left the dock, crossed the river, and fished a stretch of flooded shell bed with float rigs and mud minnows. It wasn't long before Bob was putting some small but feisty Redfish in the boat. Those storms were getting closer and wouldn't you know it, Bob hooked up with a bigger fish - one that pulled some drag and, Fish On! Bob played it patiently, saw it roll up a couple of times, then brought it to the net - a slot sized Redfish. (all fish caught today were released). But it was beginning to sprinkle, the air turned cooler, and there were some flashes lighting the sky so we turned and ran!
After a thirty minute break back at Goffinsville, we went back to fishing, hitting the same spot, now with oysters showing, and again caught a handful of feisty Redfish and a couple of Jack Crevalle. Our next stop was down at Spanish Drop where we worked up thru a large drainage, then along some shell beds with only some minor nibbles. But when we reached a corner where I knew there was a "bar" sticking out, Bob got busy again catching Redfish and Jacks.
We hit a couple of more corners of shell beds, then ran to "Dara's Flounder Hole" in hopes to bump her fish from Bragging Rights, but it was to no avail. Bob did catch and land some nice sized Mangrove Snapper so as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I wrapped my week up fishing out of Goffinsville Park this morning where I met Wayne Flanders and two of his adult grandsons, Jacob and Joshua. We made a short run, over to the back river and set up along side some exposed oyster beds on a tide that had been going out for 4-5 hours. As we worked the bank we could see all kinds of bait fish moving about, and once in a while, a bigger fish busting that bait. It didn't take long before all three anglers were getting bites. We had started off with live shrimp and were getting picked on every cast so we switched to some mud minnows and this did the trick. They caught small but feisty Redfish, a couple of Seatrout, and a couple of Catfish. We also had a couple of "big" takes- fish that ripped some drag, but unfortunately they came unplugged.
Our next stop was down the Nassau, fishing the last of an outgoing tide, working thru a large drainage. We caught a small Flounder there and when we got to the far end of a shell bank, it was feisty Redfish on almost every cast. Wayne figured it out and found that there was a submerged shell "reef" that came out from the shore and the fish were laying on the back side of it. We fished that stretch up and back for a good while, catching fish. Before we left we tossed the cast net and got a dozen or so nice finger mullet to replenish our bait.
Both Joshua and Jacob were making excellent casts all day and it payed off. We fished some dock pilings and picked up a couple of keeper sized Mangroves then ran down to Broward Island to fish the first of an incoming tide. To no avail. Not a real bites. After running back to Nassauville, we fished a small drainage with jigs and everything else we had! This trio of anglers added a good handful of keeper sized Mangroves and Jacob wrapped things up with a keeper sized 18" Flounder. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Just as we reached the point and were about to move on, Sam had gone forward with a cast, felt a good hard bump, and set the hook, and, Fish On! Same brought it expertly to the net and landed a nice keeper sized 17" Seatrout.
We ran further up the Jolley, just past Snook Creek, turned again in to the current, and worked back thru the creek mouth. Things were slow for just a but then we had a real good flurry of fish bites - small Redfish, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, then Phil, taking up a spot on the stern, had a "thump". He patiently brought it to the net and landed a keeper sized Flounder. Then Sam went up to the creek mouth -I was watching the cast- and the minute it hit the water, BAM! A good bite and Fish On! Sam played it perfectly and after a good battle brought a big 19" Seatrout to the net.
After running back down the Jolley and around to the outside of Tyger we set up at a big drainage and worked that bank for about 100 yards. Bonnie landed a small Flounder, Sam battled a big 4' Bonnethead Shark, then Phil "the Flounder guy" had another strange bite. He hooked it up and slowly reeled to the boat (where it went crazy) and landed another, even bigger, keeper sized Flounder.
Our final stop was around in Bell River, now drifting float rigs where Sam, Ashlee and Bonnie all caught some hungry Seatrout. The sun was up, it was getting hot, but as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished south again today with the Dees family, Josh and Jen and their two kids Benny and Karlynn. We ran up the intercoastal to Jackstaff and fished a stretch of bank at almost dead low, pitching jigs and live shrimp. The "baitstealers" were out in full force and made it a challenge, but this family was up to the task. Benny hooked up and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and Jen caught a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.
We ran thru Horsehead and around to Spanish Drop on the Nassau and fished a stretch of shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I was expecting fish but we fished a good 30 yards with no real bites. But when the fish started biting, boy did they start! All four family members were catching fish with Jen leading the charge, catching one feisty Redfish after another. They also had Jacks, Ladyfish, and a couple of small Flounder.
After moving back up the Nassau we worked another shell bank. The numbers weren't there but Jen did hook and catch a keeper sized Flounder. Our next stop was over between some docks at Nassauville. Again, things started slow but when the Mangrove Snapper started biting we were hooking regularly. Benny and Karlynn took turns netting fish, mom "coached us up" and Josh filled the box with the Mangrove Snapper. We went thru all our bait then called it a day and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After a weekend break I was back at it today, meeting down at Sawpit Creek Jason Palosaari, his son David, brother in law Patrick Tighe, and father in law Mike Tighe. We ran up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau, and after a short run pulled up at Spanish Drop and began fishing some exposed shell beds on the first of an incoming tide. I think the first "demo" cast I bombed, but the second one, as I handed it off to David, Fish On! And that's how it went for the first 45 minutes or so! David worked that fish in nicely - a feisty "Rat" Red, then all the anglers were fishing and catching fish. Mike hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then Jason hooked up and landed a feisty Red, then David had a strong bite - this was a bigger fish! He and his dad fought it patiently, battled it from bow to stern, and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. We continued to work that stretch and when I saw young David make a cast that landed out deep I was thinking, "not going to get much there", but boy was a I wrong! In just a short time David hooked up and, Fish On! This fish was even bigger and again took him and his dad to the stern where they valiantly battled the fish and after a few strong runs, they brought to the net a 26 3/4" Tournament sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). Boy what a fish!
Patrick had been at the stern this whole time steadfastly casting a fly rod, switching between flies every dozen or so casts. He was taking up the rear but finally he had a hookup, played it perfectly, and landed a hard fighting Jack Crevalle on the fly. We fished on up to a large drainage where Mike caught and landed hungry Flounder.
Our next stop was at some docks at Seymore's Pointe with jigs rods, to no avail, then fished the rocks at Nassauville with float rigs, again to no avail, then we moved down to some more docks and went back to the jigs. That did the trick. Mike, "the flounder guy" hooked up and landed a 17" Flounder and a then a Mangrove Snapper and Jason added an ugly Toadfish to the catch.
After making the run down to Pumpkin Hill we drifted float rigs along a flooding marsh line. The first stretch didn't pan out but the second stretch had Jason catching a big Jack Crevalle and David wrapping things up with two Catfish catches. The sun was up, we had caught a good variety of fish, so as we headed in we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
While my engine was out I was able to work on a few journals and finish them up. You can click on the image to enlarge them. Click Here for more examples.
I wrapped my week up today fishing with John Raker and his friend Kenny King, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early. The tide had been coming in for about two hours but I wanted to try Broward Island, being that we were right there. We ran down there and set up on that incoming tide and the duo of anglers began tossing shrimp and jigs to the bank and letting them fall down the river bottom. We didn't get what I was hoping for - a big bite, but John did hookup and land a Croaker. Ouch.
After making a run down the Nassau we made it down to Spanish Drop and began working a bank that had the shell already covered. Both Kenny and John tangled with some hard fighting Jack Crevalle, found another Croaker and finally John had a strange bite, set the hook, and reeled in a keeper sized Flounder -"skunk" off the boat!
We moved back up the river and switched to float rigs and here Kenny was in for the big battle. Hisfloat disappeared and his drag began to rip and the big fish headed west, then came back to the boat, then dug deep for the battle. But Kenny was up to the challenge, kept the pressure on, and eventually landed a big 4' Bonnethead Shark.
Then it was John's turn to battle the Shark. Both of his we speculated that it might be a big Redfish in that they didn't make the long, drag ripping runs. Maybe they knew it was to no avail? John brought both of the big Shark to the boat for pictures and release.
Back up the river we went, stopping at Pumpkin Hill and drifting floats along a flooded grass bank. They were getting some good nibbles and finally John hooked up and landed a keeper sized Seatrout, and then a small (small) Flounder. Kenny added a nice sized Mangrove Snapper to the box.
We were running low on time but luckily the tide was just changing so we moved back down the river to my new Super Secret Spot! This week alone we had caught 4 Oversized Redfish, in addition to 4 Slot sized Redfish at this spot and I was hoping that today we'd add some more. Both John and Kenny were getting good drifts and some good bites right off the bat, but no takers. I switched them to mud minnows hoping that would help but, no takers. John had went to the live well and picked out the biggest Shrimp left - there were only about a dozen. He made a good cast to the bank - it stuck on a submerged oyster shell, but when he tugged it off it slowly went back under. John tightened up and let the circle hook do it's thing and, Big Fish On! It made such a long, hard, drag ripping run that we were thinking it was another shark - but then we saw it boil up in the shallows and knew that it was a big Redfish. John was patient with the fish, played it perfectly and after a long battle, landed Oversized Redfish #5 - one that measured right at 32", and big enough to move John into first place in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament -Redfish Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
And we weren't finished! We only had a few shrimp left so we kept fishing and were down to the last shrimp and minnow and John had the same thing happen - his bait hung on an oyster, came off and BAM! Fish On! After a good battle John landed a Slot sized 23" Redfish! Five Oversized Reds and Five Slot Reds at the same spot this week. Now that's the way to wrap up a great fishing trip here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I was up north this morning - the first time in quite a while. I met Hope McCall and her two sons Bekk and Knox early, with clear, sunny skies to greet us. We headed north and west and over to Jolly Rive and set up along the "bank" and began to fish float rigs and live shrimp. The trio of anglers landed a Croaker and a couple of hard fighting Jack Crevalle.
We moved further up the river and worked another stretch and here Bekk hooked up and landed a nice Black "puppy" Drum. Knox had a strong bite -his line ripped and BAP, the whole leader was gone! It was a big one! After running back to Tyger Island we fished a stretch and here Bekk hooked up, after drifting long, and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper.
After running thru Tyger and around to Bell River and setting up at a grassy point, it was Knox's turn to get on the board when he caught and landed a hungry Seatrout. We then went up the Lanceford, dipped into Soap. and worked a grass line. We had one float off a grassy point and when it slowly went under, the hook was set and, Fish On! Bekk was on the rod and he worked it in patiently and after a good battle landed a really nice 17" Sheepshead - the biggest of the year, and big enough to top the category in the Anglers Mark 2022 Bragging Rights Tournament(scroll down the right side of the report for standings).
We then fished some docks over at Lanceford and picked up a feisty Redfish (a Grande Slam), then a small Flounder - a Super Grande Slam of Seatrout, Black Drum, Sheepshead, Red Drum and Flounder. It was getting hot and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
