I did a quick trip this afternoon with Tom Pool and his wife Terri, meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle ramp. We ran over to the outside of Tyger and fished with float rigs on a tide that had been going out for just a bit and it paid off - Tom hooked up and landed Seatrout. We ran up to the Jolley River and fished the "bank" with the float rigs. Tom was getting excellent drifts and again, it paid off -his float slowly went under and he had a hookup!
Tom was playing the fish expertly and I had already grabbed the net when I saw that it was a nice Redfish and just when Tom said, "I gotta get a picture of this"....fish off! Ouch!
But he wasn't to be deterred. We ran on up the Jolley and fished both sides Snook Creek and each side Tom battled a Bonnethead Shark, landing both of them for pictures and release. We tried our hand with the jigs at the MOA, then at a drainage on the outside of Tyger then toured Cumberland Island, Fort Clinch and Old Town before heading back to the ramp and counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
I fished this morning with the Keller group- Tom Keller and his son-in-law Andrew and grandson Bryson. After meeting them up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp we made our longest run up to the Jolley River and all the way up to the MOA where we set up to toss jigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been coming in for about an hour. After Tom put a small Croaker in the boat Bryson had a strong hookup and boy was his drag ripping! I was quite impressed how he handled the big fish, keeping his rod up and working it down as he fought the fish. Bryson battled it from the bow to the stern and from port to starboard and was playing it as patiently as anyone could when....BAP! Fish Off!
We came back a ways to Snook Creek and worked the edge with the jig and here Tom got hot fishing off the stern. He caught and landed hard fighting Jack Crevalle then after a weird bump and setting the hook, Tom brought to the net a keeper sized Flounder. We worked along that bank still and Tom put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and a large Bluefish. Then it was Andrew's turn to battle the big shark. He fought it expertly and let it run and wear itself out and eventually landed a nice Bonnethead Shark
After moving even further back to the mouth of the Jolley we fished the "bank", then moved back to that cut thru Tyger Basin where we set up fishing floats and the live shrimp. Tom caught a Jack and another couple of Trout off the stern then Bryson, who had persevered the whole trip, found a Trout hole and caught and landed a couple of fat Trout.
We came back to the outside of Tyger, ran thru to Bell and fished a couple of spots (Tom got a Jack over here too), then we wrapped up back at the outside of Tyger where Andrew finished off the trip with another Bonnethead Shark catch. We had had some good action and had a couple of fish in the box so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I finished my week up fishing with Howard McClure and his fishing buddy Joe. I met them early this morning down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and even though we had some forecasted winds to get up around 14mph, we were eager to get out into the backwaters and get some fishing done. After making a 15 minute run up the intercoastal, thru Back River on a high and incoming tide, and around to Pumpkin Hill, we set up to drift float rigs. And the first casts paid off! Joe was on the stern and had a good bite, lifted the rod, and set the circle hook. He was playing it to the boat when Howard had a hookup on his first cast! Joe landed his, a hungry Seatrout, and Howard landed his, a feisty Jack Crevalle.
Shortly after that Joe had another hookup. This fish was ripping some drag and fighting somewhat like a Redfish, but then it got out deep and began to shake and when Joe battled it to the surface we netted a big Jack Crevalle. We fished Pumpkin Hill pretty good, moving around a bit, getting a few bites, then we made a run around to Seymore's Pointe.
Again, tossing float rigs, drifting them by a grassy point, the two anglers had a few small bites, but no takers. We ran thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Cut and fished into the wind. We had had not real bites and I was beginning to wonder when Joe, fishing off the stern and up near some flooded marsh grass, had his float slowly go under. I was already thinking "Flounder" and as Joe worked it to the boat It was confirmed, a nice 16" keeper sized Flounder (all fish caught today were released).
We jumped over to Jackstaff and fished a large drainage and here it was Howard's turn to battle a nice Jack Crevalle, which he did expertly. Then he went back with a cast to the grassy point of an island and we both saw something hit his bait with a vengeance and his float disappeared sideways and, Fish On! Howard played the big fish perfectly and after a good battle landed a Slot Sized Redfish to garner this duo of anglers an Amelia Island Back Water Slam.
We finished the day back at Nassauville, out of the wind, and getting some good "Mangrove Snapper Action". Again, all fish were released today but they had probably 6-7 keeper sized Mangroves they could have kept. They're getting bigger as the water warms. We had had some good action and as we headed back to the ramp we co8unted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Today was one of those windy, dreary days when you just hope you catch a fish with the tough conditions considered. I had met Brian Roach and his son Michael and friend Lee down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and as we were running to our first spot the wind was already kicking a bit. But we made our way around to Pumpkin Hill and set up to drift float rigs and live shrimp along the bank. All three anglers had good drifts but we had no real takers. We eased up to a point of grass ad fished the other side and drifted back and it wasn't long before Lee "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up ad landed a nice keeper sized Seatrout
After moving down a to a grassy island that just had the tips of grass showing on a very hide tide, we had few nibbles, but no takers....until Michael had made an excellent cast over to some far marsh grass. When his float disappeared he quickly caught up the slack and let the circle hook set and, Big Fish On! I have to admit I didn't intentionally mean to slur the fish but at first I thought it was a small Shark. Michael kept the pressure on as the big fish took him from the bow up to the stern and around as it ripped drag heading East. He slowly worked it in and when I saw a tail thrash the surface my "guess" of a shark began to look pretty bad. The big fish came to the surface a couple of times and all we could see was a tail and then I became more confident it was a big Redfish! Michael confirmed that when he brought to the net an Oversized 28.5" Redfish, boy what a fish!
We worked along the bank, back to the original point where we had begun the day at and as Brian released his bail to get a longer drift, he had a hookup and brought to the net another keeper sized Seatrout. A short run over to Seymore's Pointe where we fished a large drainage as the tide started out produced nothing but a few nibbles. Then, thru Horsehead we went and around to Poteat Cut, but again, no real bites.
After running thru Horsehead we fished a point at Poteat Cut, than came back to Jackstaff and fished some drainages. Brian had made a good toss to the mouth of one of those drainages and when his float disappear he lifted the rod and let the circle hook set. It was a strong fish but wasn't putting up much of a fight and we found out why when Brian brought to the net a big 20" Flounder! This fish moved Brian into a tie for First Place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
We finished the day fishing some docks with jigs and shrimp and rounded out a good box of "keepers" with Mangrove Snapper catches. And with that, we called it a day, another great one to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished today with Don Bickel and his brother-in-law Doc, meeting them out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp. The tide was still coming in for just a few minutes so we made a quick run over to Pumpkin Hill, "anchored" and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp. My "demo" cast produced a bite that I wasn't ready for but subsequent drifts produced some action. Each angler caught 2 fish - Jacks and Ladyfish and Seatrout They continued for a while to "tally" their catch and they stayed neck and neck the whole day.
We came back to Seymore's Pointe as the tide started out and fished a large drainage with the floats and even though they had a few nibbles, there were no takers. We ran thru Horsehead and around to Jackstaff and fished another drainage and here we had zero nibbles! But these anglers were not to be deterred! After a quick jump over to Poteat Cut we had just set up to fish a pointe and they caught fish. Doc put a keeper sized Seatrout in the boat and followed it up with a Jack Crevalle catch. Then Don had a strong hookup that was tugging hard and ripping some drag. When it "boiled up" I declared it a Redfish but after Don patiently played it to the boat he landed a Big 19" Seatrout, boy what a fish!
After running back thru Horsehead we fished Twin Creeks for a bit and here Doc put another Jack in the boat. We worked the bank forward for about 20 yards and Don had another big bite. He fought it to the net and landed a Slot Sized Redfish (all fish caught today were released). And shortly after that he landed another Jack(we guestimated we had about 6 today)
Our final stop was back at some docks at Nassauville where we added to the catch one more Seatrout. As we headed back to the dock we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After a long weekend off with the Memorial Day holiday I was back at it today when I met Tom Jenkins with his son Braden and friend Steve, with his son Zach. We met early up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, eased out of Eagans Creek, and made our way over to the outside of Tyger on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. That first stop we drifted float rigs and live shrimp and did pick up a couple of small Seatrout.
We then motored on up the way and stopped briefly at a large drainage to toss jigs and mud minnows in hopes of a Flounder, but it was to no avail. Continuing on around to the Jolley, we worked the "Bank" with the float rigs and here Tom found a feisty Redfish (with 5 spots). They caught another small Trout or two and a couple of Croaker.
After running further up the Jolley, we made a stop at Snook Creek and here Braden finally woke up! He hooked and expertly played a nice keeper sized Seatrout to the net, battled a Ladyfish or two, and then battled a surprising Tripletail to the boat!
We continued on up the Jolley and fished an exposed oyster bank, now tossing jigs, and here Tom put another 5 spot Redfish in the boat, slightly undersized, but still fun to catch. With time running out, we hit one more spot, the MOA. Steve had made a good cast with the jig and live shrimp and when his hookuip began to rip some drag we knew it had some size. Steve played it perfectly and soon landed a nice 19.5" slot sized Redfish. Then Steve, fishing a bit deeper, had a good "thump" he played it patiently and brought to the net a big 22" Seatrout, a fish big enough to move him in to 2nd Place in the 2023 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
Zach had been making excellent casts all day long and had a handful of small bites - he got to feel a good battle for just a bit before the fish finally broke off - it just wasn't to be (I wonder now if he had his lucky hat on?) The sun had shown most of the day, we had just a little bit of breeze and as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We've had rain and wind all week and trips had to be cancelled or rescheduled but we were able to squeeze in a trip today before tomorrows expected high winds (again). I met Laura and Alex Winter out at the Goffinsville Park boat ramp early and although it was nice and sunny the NE wind was already picking up a bit. We fished between a couple of docks at Nassauville then ran thru Horsehead and around to Poteat Cut and set up fishing some exposed oyster beds on the last of an outgoing tide. Laura "knocked the skunk off" with a feisty Jack Crevalle catch. But even though both anglers were getting good casts, we had only nibbles after that.
We fished the mouth of Jackstaff for a stretch then made the run back thru Horsehead to settle in at some docks at Seymore's Pointe to fish jigs and live shrimp on the first of the incoming tide. Alex got on the board when he hooked up and landed a fat Mangrove Snapper and just as we netted it Laura had a big hookup. She was fishing from the bow and this fish took her around the stern and was putting a big bow in her rod and as the drag ripped we felt like it was a pretty nice fish. Laura came back to the stern, shifted from port to Starboard and then followed the fish back up to the bow where we eventually netted a big Jack Crevalle, boy what a battle!
After running down to Broward Island we fished it briefly on the incoming tide but that NE wind had picked up and was kicking our butts! We ran further up the Nassau and into a creek where we were sheltered. Laura was making pinpoint casts and it paid off when she caught feisty Redfish. But even though it was outstanding conditions, we had no more luck so we buzzed out of there and made one more stop at the mouth of Pumpkin Hill.
We'd switched to float rigs and live shrimp and were drifting them down a marsh bank and after Alex had gone long his float disappeared. Alex caught up the line, lifted the rod and let the circle hook set and, Fish On! He played it patiently and soon brought to the net a Slot sized Redfish. And only minutes later, we did the same thing - this fish was putting up a good battle and I was thinking "big Trout" but when it came to the surface we saw it was small Bonnethead - fun to catch - but it went back. The wind was really kicking now but we had braved it all morning and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida
I wrapped the week up fishing with my newest "in-laws", Douglas and Cindy Bailey who were down visiting Amelia Island to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary! We met up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp, eased out of Eagans Creek, and made a quick run over to Bell River where we set up fishing a flooded oyster bed with float rigs and live shrimp with a high tide expected about 9:30am. Both anglers were getting good drifts but we had no takers.
We then moved around to Lanceford Creek and were treated to a Manatee sighting. It caused a boil up near the grass - Douglas made a perfect cast to the spot and BOOM! He had a hookup which he fought successfully back to the net - a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. It must have been hanging close to the Manatee. Shortly after that Douglas worked in another Jack Crevalle, then Cindy, fishing off the stern, had a good hookup. She played it patiently and soon landed a keeper sized Seatrout.
We fished further down Lanceford, then even further -fishing a small grass patch then a seawall, then we made the run back to the Bell River, thru Tyger Basin and around to the outside of Tyger where we set up to fish the first of the outgoing tide. It didn't take long before we began to get fish. The duo landed a fat Mangrove Snapper, Cindy put a surprise in the boat - a Spanish Mackerel (Caballa Espanola in Spanish!), then Douglas expertly landed a big Seatrout, then another Jack Crevalle.
After crossing the creek we picked up another couple of Seatrout and battled a 4' Bonnethead Shark to the boat, then made a tour of Beach Creek, the outside of Cumberland, Fort Clinch and Old Town and as we headed back, we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
We had another Bragging Rights entry burst onto the scene today, the 2nd in consecutive days! I had met Don Frank and his fishing partner Paul up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp and after making our way out of Eagans, we made a short run over and up to the Bell River where we set up to toss float rigs and live shrimp The tide still had about an hour or two to come in. Both anglers were getting good casts and good drifts and had a couple of nibbles and then Paul had a Shark bite that headed west, and kept going!
After moving around to the other side of a flooded oyster point and trying our luck there, we made the short run over to Lanceford Creek and fished a small drainage and here things picked up. Don was going up just beyond a point of grass with his cast and it paid off with two keeper sized Seatrout catches. Then Paul had a hookup and this one was pulling a bit harder and sure enough, after expertly playing it, he landed nice 18" Seatrout.
We then ran thru Tyger Basin around to the outside and set up fishing a point of grass as the tide started out. The two anglers had a few nibbles but no takers but then we started seeing some rather large tails flapping at us! I'm pretty sure they were Sheepshead. We got some good casts to them but they just wouldn't eat our shrimp. Then Don made an excellent cast right where they were tailing and when his float slowly went under I knew we had a nice fish. But this fish just stayed deep, didn't thrash much at all, and didn't make any hard runs so I was beginning to wonder and....when it came to the surface we saw that it was a Door Mat Flounder! After netting it and photographs we found that it was right at 20" which move Don securely into First Place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Flounder Category, boy what a fish! (scroll down the right side of this report for standings)
We fished up the Jolley River for a bit, had no real luck, but as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished north again today, meeting Scott Jones and his fishing team - Mathew and Andrew - up at the Old Town Bait and Tackle boat ramp. We eased down Eagans Creek and made our way over to the outside of Tyger Island to set up tossing float rigs with live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide. These anglers had made a good handful of casts and only had some small nibbles and I was beginning to get a bit worried when I heard Scott's reel "rip" and when I turned around and saw his rod bent I knew we hand a nice fish on. Scott said later he thought it was a nice Redfish but after expertly playing it to the net we saw that it was a big 22.25" Seatrout, boy what a fish, and big enough to move him into first place in the Anglers Mark 2023 Bragging Rights Tournament-Seatrout Category (scroll down the right side of this report for standings).
Then Mathew had a strong hookup and this big fish was half way to Georgia before it slowed down! Mathew stayed patient, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, but eventually wore it out and brought it to the boat -a 4' Bonnethead Shark which we photographed and released.
We crossed over the creek and fished a large drainage and here Scott put a couple of Slot sized Redfish in the boat and Mathew added another big Seatrout to the catch total. After running up and around Tyger, we tried our hand with some jigs and minnows at a run out, tangled with a couple of Ladyfish, and moved on. We then worked Jolley "bank" with the float rigs, battled the Ladyfish, and picked up another nice Trout.
On further up, at Snook Creek, Scott went in close to the shore with a float rig and hooked up and landed the biggest Redfish of the day, one that measured right at 22". Andrew woke up and brought a few Ladyfish to the net in quick succession, Scott fought and landed a Bonnethead, then Mathew had a "bump", set the hook and reeled in a Flounder to round round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Flounder. After fishing the MOA for just a bit, we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
