Flounder Out of Season

 

It stayed dreary all day today - overcast, a bit windy, and somewhat cool. I had met William Blalock out at Goffinsville Park early and with it dark enough still to have the NAV lights on, we eased up river to fish Pumpkin Hill on a high and still incoming tide. I had hoped that we'd pick up some Seatrout - sometimes we do- but we had nary a bite all thru that last bit of tide.

We came back down the river and around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage, now with the tide going out and this did the trick. William was making excellent casts to a point of grass and began to get bites right off. He hooked few up an brought to the boat some fat keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. He found that he could drift a little longer and get Seatrout. The first nice one came off at the boat but William brought the next one to the net, a 17" keeper Trout. He added a few more smaller Trout and a few more Mangroves to get his limit, before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Pointe we drifted the grass and again picked up
Seatrout. Most of them were small but we did get another keeper to add to the box. Back over at Jackstaff "Bank" we found more Seatrout and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle and a feisty Redfish. We than ran back thru Horsehead and down to Back River and fished a bend and here we had some good action. "Hungry" Seatrout, then another of keeper size, another Jack Crevalle, and then, as William drifted his live shrimp close to the grass, he had a hookup. It wasn't fighting like the Redfish or the Trout or the Jack and we both guessed correctly - Flounder!  William expertly eased it to the boat and we netted a nice 18" fish. Unfortunately they are out of season so we photographed and released it. It may have been the next cast, or one or two afterwards when William had the same kind of bite, hooked it up, and brought to the net another big Flounder. 

We fished that spot out, used up all of our bait, then headed back to the ramp and counted it as another (albeit not so pretty) great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Split Trip Success

On occasion I get a group of more than 4 who want to go fishing and one option is to do a "split" trip -we go out with the first group and fish for 3 hours, then come back to the dock, unload, and reload with the 2nd group, and that's what we did today with the Matheney group. I met Greg and his two sons Rip and Warren down at Sawpit Creek on a tide that had hit the top and had just turned out. We ran up the Nassau to Seymore's Pointe and I believe it was the first drift with a float and live shrimp, BOOM! Fish On!  Rip was on the rod and brought it in expertly. From then and about an hour he and his brother

Warren were catching fish. They had a handful of Seatrout with a couple of "keeper" sized fish (all fish caught today were released), and Warren battled a hard fighting Jack Crevalle to the boat. The duo added a fesity Bluefish to their catch total before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point and trying our luck, then back to a small side creek off of Jackstaff and getting no real bites, we ran back thru the Marsh and down to Back River where we set up to fish a pocket. Warren got the fish there, another keeper sized Seatrout.

Our final stop was over at some docks at Nassauville where they tangled with some Mangrove Snapper, and outsmarted a few keeper sized fish. They picked up one more big Seatrout before we made the run back to the dock for the 2nd crew.

After getting Wes Metheney, his son Jack, and mother-in-law Pat on the boat, we ran back up the Nassau and around to Back River. Here, Wes picked up a feisty Redfish. We crossed the river and fished a bend and here it was Jack with the hot rod early. He was getting a feisty Redfish on just about every drift and began to practice his "lift up, reel down". Wes was on the bow and he was getting thoee small Reds too, but when his drag ripped on a long run we knew this one was bigger. That fish ran up current away from us, digging towards

the grass and boiling up in some shallow water. We almost needed to chase it but we were in too shallow of water to move forward!  But Wes kept the pressure on, turned him, and began to take up line. He worked it back ot the boat, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed a nice 24.5", 18 spot Redfish.

After getting few more Reds there we moved across the river and fished some docks at Nassauville and here they caught a couple of handfuls of what could have been keeper Mangrove Snapper. We left them biting though, moved around to Seymore's Pointe and finished the day fishing dock, again getting keeper Mangroves, and a few small ones, and Jack wrapped it up with a Seatrout catch. 

We had had some good action so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

We Got One Big One!

 

It looks like today may be the only day we get out this week (hopefully the winds die down later in the week - we'll see). This morning I meet Ed Birkett and his fishing partners Paul and Gary down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We had pushed the start time to 8am with plans to fish the first of an outgoing tide. After running up the intercoastal we dipped into Jackstaff then eased in to a creek and set up at large drainage. The trio of anglers began tossing float rigs and live shrimp to the mouth and I was encouraged when Ed hooked up fairly quickly and brought to the boat a hungry Seatrout. Shortly after that he had a strong bite that ripped drag - it did seem to "boil" a bit on the surface and we were thinking "Redfish" but as he battled it to the boat and we saw the downward "tug, tug, tug" we changed our guess to "Jack" and sure enough, that's what it was. Fun to catch, but we threw it back. All three anglers had some good bites but no real takers, so we moved on.

After running thru Horsehead we made a stop at Seymore's Pointe and tossed to an outflow and had good action. The Mangrove Snapper are still here!  All three anglers caught keeper fish - they worked thru the small ones but ended up with 6 keeper fish in the box. Our next stop, after running down the Nassau, was at Spanish Drop where we worked the bank with the floats. Both Paul and Ed had strong hookups with what turned out to be feisty Redfish -small but fun to catch. 

Back up the Nassau we went, around to Back River where we fished a stretch with the floats and here we had really good action. Gary was on the stern and caught a couple of the Reds, Ed was midship and caught a few of the Reds, Paul was at the bow and caught a good handful of the Reds. They were all just undersized until Paul had one of those drag ripping bites. He played it perfectly, following it down from the bow then he applied the pressure, worked it in, and landed a bulky 25.5" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish!

They caught a good handful of the Reds there, and a couple of Seatrout, and luckily, a small Ladyfish! We were running low on bait so we slicked it up and iced it down for the next stop. After running back down the Nassau we set up at another drainage, switched to jigs tipped with cut Ladyfish and worked the bottom. Gary got a Flounder right off the bat, then added another couple of Redfish to his catch total. Ed and Paul added a couple of Reds then we headed back to the ramp, counting it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Recipe of the Month: Citrus Shrimp Tacos

This recipe comes from Olive Amelia, and establishment in downtown Fernandina Beach, 206 Centre Street It was very flavor able-I think I'll be prepping my shrimp "just to eat" with this marinade! Check out their Recipe page for ways to add more flavor to your meals..

Get ready to elevate Taco Tuesday to a whole new level with Citrus Shrimp Tacos! Bursting with bright flavors and fresh ingredients, these tacos are a fiesta for your taste buds.

Shrimp Marinade:

• 
  1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined
  
•  2 tbsp. Olive Amelia Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil
•  2 tbsp. Olive Amelia Key Lime Balsamic Vinegar
•  3 tbsp. Salt Sisters Key West Seafood Rub

Avocado Mash:

• 1 – 2 avocados
• Dash of sea salt
•  2 tsp. Olive Amelia Key Lime Balsamic Vinegar

Avocado Mash Directions:

1. In a bowl, mash the avocados.
2. Sprinkle salt to taste and drizzle the Olive Amelia Key Lime Balsamic Vinegar.
3. Mix together.

Slaw Ingredients:

•  2 tbsp. Olive Amelia Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil
•  2 tbsp. Olive Amelia Key Lime Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 cups purple & green cabbage, shredded
• 1 cup carrot, shredded
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
•  1 tbsp. Savannah Bee Orange Blossom Honey
•  3 tsp. Salt Sisters Key West Seafood Rub

Slaw Prep:

1. Combine and allow it to marinate for a few hours or overnight for the best flavor!

Directions:

• Prepare your shrimp by patting them dry with paper towels.
•  Season shrimp with the Key West Seasoning, Olive Amelia Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil, and Olive Amelia Key Lime Balsamic Vinegar.
• Marinade shrimp for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours.
•  Heat 2 tbsp. of Olive Amelia Milanese Gremolata Olive Oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
• Add the marinated shrimp to the pan.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

Assembly:

1. Warm tortillas for the best results.
2. Take a warm tortilla and spread the avocado mash.
3. Place your shrimp, then top with the slaw.
4. Finish with chopped cilantro.

One bite and you will be picturing yourself on an island in paradise!

Big Reds In The Backwater

 You may have noticed that hurricane Milton messed me up last week - 4-5 canceled trips! But I was back at it today and what a way to come back to work! My theory is that the fish are "gorging" themselves, getting ready for winter - the fish catching today was on fire - hands down the best trip I've had all year!

I had met Ann Mastroserio and her fishing crew Dave and Rich out at Goffinsville Park on a tide that had been going out for a couple of hours and after running thru Horsehead and over to Poteat Point, we set up and drifted live shrimp under floats. Dave had the hot hand early, picking up one hungry Seatrout after another. Ann and Rich joined in catching a few then all heck broke loose! Rather than go into the gory details, this is how the morning went - recorded all the big fish....

Ann -24"  Slot Redfish  

   Rich - 21.5" Seatrout (ties for third biggest this year on the Bragging Rights board)                                       Dave - 26.5"  "Tournament" Slot Redfish                                                                                                            Rich -17" Seatrout                                                                                                                                            Dave- 28.5" Oversized Redfish                                                                                                                        Dave-25.5" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                Rich - 23.25: Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                        Ann - 30.25" Monster Oversized Redfish                                                                                                    Dave - 23" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                                     Rich - 28.25" Oversized Redfish                                                                                                                       Ann - 25.75" Slot Redfish                                                                                                                            

There were numerous "rat Reds" caught during the day, a handful of hard fighting Jack Crevalle's caught, Dave got a Slam by putting a small Flounder in the boat and Rich got his Slam with a keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Crazy great fishing day here at Amelia Island, Florida. 

Big Jack Makes the Day

 We launched this  morning down at Sawpit under some really eerie skies -dark clouds as the sun came up- we were expecting rain but luckily never got it!  I had met Todd Johnson and his son Oliver early and we made a short run up and over to Spanish Drop n the Nassau, turned into a tide that had been coming in for a few hours, and began tossing float rigs and live shrimp. We worked the bank up to a drainage and as we got there the two anglers began to get fish. Todd was on the stern and had his float disappear and the drag started ripping then Oliver's float sunk and Fish On! We had a double! Both anglers moved around the boat as needed, working them in slowly, and then landed a Jack apiece, right at the same size.

We continued to work the bank and when Oliver's rod bent and his drag began to rip and the fish kept going I was thinking "shark"!  We had to chase the fish for Oliver to catch up his line - he worked it in, let it run, worked it in, and after a good battle landed what I think was the biggest Jack Crevalle of the year, and maybe ever, caught on the Anglers Mark. 

As we reached a point of grass Todd was casting beyond it and letting his float sweep around and this paid off with numerous feisty Redfish catches. He picked up one nice keeper sized Seatrout, then battled a big Red (it was a one sided battle - the fish bulled up into the grass, wrapped itself, and broke off) Ouch.  We then ran over to Pumpkin Hill and drifted the marsh grass where Oliver hooked, battled, and landed a 3' Bonnethead Shark. We fished three other areas there around Pumpkin Hill, but had nary a nibble. 

Needing some action, we made a stop between two docks at Nassauville and here they tangled with the Mangrove Snapper. When we left, the score was about 20-5, the Mangroves winning, but we had those five in the box. We jumped around to Seymore's Point, drifted the floats, and picked up one more keeper sized Mangrove, then finished up over at Poteat Pointe. The weather had actually been great, we had some good action early and late, so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.

Mangroves Reds and Manatee

We did a mid morning trip today, meeting at 10:30am - High Tide up at Nassauville. I met James Tuten,

his brother Robert and Roberts daughter Katie down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and we made the 15 minute run up to Semore's Pointe where we went with float rigs and live shrimp on the first of an outgoing tide - it was high!  It didn't take long before Robert "knocked the skunk off" when he hooked up and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We dueled with those Snapper for a bit before we moved on. 

After running thru Horsehead we made our way over to Poteat Pointe. The tide was right, just starting out, but the wind had picked up as forecasted and it was blowing right in our face. All always say, when fishing floats, "get a natural drift in the zone"= we were getting the drift but the wind was blowing our baits away from the grass - we had no real bites. We then made our way over to a creek off of Jackstaff and worked it with the floats, again, no avail.

Back thru Horsehead we went, up the Nassau, and to some docks at Nassauville where James and Robert went to jigs and shrimp and Katie stuck with the float rig. She went to the rocks, making excellent casts and it paid off when her float disappeared. She lifted the rod and let the hook set and Fish On!  Katie worked it to the boat expertly and landed a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. We stayed there until we got bored, boxing 10 keeper sized Mangroves, then moved on.

A short jump over and we were fishing Back River with floats. The tide was right but the drift was getting pushed off. We moved across the river and fished a bend and this did the trick. The current was strong enough to keep their baits up near the grass and it paid off with a good handful of feisty Redfish catches. While we were fishing we had a few small Manatee meander by, going downstream, then back up until they were hanging out right by the boat. 

We had had a beautiful weather, mostly sunny, and even though we had to deal with the wind, as we headed back we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.  

Fly Casting 101 Group Casting Lesson

 I finished up a 2nd "Fly Casting 101" casting session last week and it went pretty good! 

We covered the equipment - the rods (their different configurations, weights, actions), the reels (the
weights, need for spare spools), the backing (the reasons for it), the fly line (the different types and reasons for them), the leaders, the tippet and the flies - Saltwater, freshwater, trout flies.

After going over the casting stroke and the idea of "loading your rod with the fly line", we moved on to a good horizontal practice drill that you can do in your yard. While doing that we talked about the "5 principles to a good cast".  We then broke out into 3 groups where everyone got to try their hand at the horizontal casting drill. 

From there we moved over to a pond and went over a Roll Cast - easy to learn and it will have you catching fish in just a day of practice. Again, we split up into groups and everyone worked on that Roll  Cast.

Finally, we moved back to the grass and practiced a basic Pickup and Lay Down cast.  I advise all "students" who want to learn to fly cast to "Take a lesson, Read, Watch a Video, Practice.  Then, Read, Watch a Video, Practice. Then Read, Watch a Video, Practice!  Hah!  Just like learning to play golf, or tennis or any other "sport", you gotta practice! But you CAN learn to fly cast.

I provide the equipment for the casting and bring samples of line, leader, and flies and will bring handouts for reading at home. 

Can  you pull 10 people together for a group fly casting session?

$35 per person, 10 people minimum/maximum Contact me  lwpiper@comcast.net  904-557-1027

Recipe of the Month: Blackened Fish with Cajun Cream Sauce

 The recipe calls for blackened red snapper, but I've been using blackened Red Drum - those Snapper are hard to find in the back water!  I picked this recipe up off of Facebook, specifically, the page Cookery Gems:

For the blackened Redfish: 

Melt a stick of butter in a pot                                                                                                                      Pour a few tablespoons of blackening seasoning onto a plate.                                                                          Cut your Redfish fillets in quarters (or thirds, depending on size of fish) pat dry with paper towel               Get a cast iron skillet "white hot" - no Oil in the skillet  

Drag the fillets thru the melted butter, coat with the Cajun seasoning and place in the white hot skillet...        Sear the fillet - you will see the fish cooking, changing from opaque to white. When it is halfway cooked, flip it over and sear the other side. If your guests don't like a lot of seasoning, you can sprinkle the blackening rather than coating it. Remove from skillet and set aside, keep warm.

For the Cajun Cream Sauce:

1 tbsp olive oil                                                                                                                                                     2 cloves garlic, minced                                                                                                                                      1 small onion, finely chopped                                                                                                                          1 red bell pepper, finely chopped                                                                                                                      1 cup heavy cream                                                                                                                                          1/2 cup chicken broth                                                                                                                                         1 tbsp Cajun Seasoning (be careful about the amount of salt in it -you don't want too much)                       1/2 tsp paprika                                                                                                                                                     Salt and pepper to taste (again, watch the salt)                                                                                                 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese                                                                                                                                    2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley                                                                                                                                    

In the same skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Saute' the garlic, onion, and red bell pepper until softened, about 5-7 minutes. 

Add the heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.

Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combines.

Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley

Plate the blackened fish and spoon Cajun cream sauce over the top. 

NOTE!  With the Blackenening Seasoning, the Chicken Broth, the Cajun Seasoning and then the suggested Salt, this can get TOO Salty!  Keep tabs of how much salt is going in - you may want to use some salt-free ingredients.

She's On Her Way!

 Evidently Hurricane Helene is headed to Florida, hopefully passing us by as she hits over near
Tallahassee. But we were able to squeeze in one more fishing trip today when I met the Ahrens, Bryan and his sons Henry, down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp. We headed up the intercoastal, turned into the Nassau and made our way around to Back River where we set up to fish float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out a few hours - the oysters were just beginning to show.

All three anglers were getting good drifts up near the grass and it paid off - they began to get feisty Reds, one after the other - they put up a good battle and are fun to catch. I mentioned that every once in a while we'll get a keeper "Slot" fish and shortly after Oscar had a stronger than normal bite. He lifted  his rod and let the circle hook set and when it ripped some drag with thought it might be a bit bigger, and it was. Oscar played it perfectly and brought to the net a 18"+ Slot Redfish.  Not too long after that, after we had moved up to where he could toss between two oyster beds, Oscar and another big bite, this one was even bigger! Oscar played it patiently as it ran deep and back to the stern and after a good battle he landed a nice 24.5" Slot Red.

We eventually moved across the river and fished a big bend, letting the floats drift around it and again, we caught umpteen fiesty Reds. Bryan went long and picked up a couple of hungry Seatrout and when Henry followed him he picked up a small Flounder. There was a commotion up ahead of us so Henry moved to the bow, made a long toss forward and BAM! Big Fish On!  He fought it expertly, let it run, worked it in, let it run and eventually landed a beautiful golden copper 22" Slot Red - they had their limit!

After running down the Nassau we worked a large drainage with jigs and shrimp and caught more Reds, a Catfish, a couple of Jack Crevalle and then Oscar put a keeper sized Flounder in the boat. We fished a dock at Seymore's where Oscar added a Croaker to the catch, then we headed back to the ramp and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.