Boy what a beautiful day we had - sunny skies, cool temps, and only a slight breeze. I had met Will Middleton and his father-in-law Pete Brown down at Sawpit Creek and we headed up the intercoastal, then up the Nassau to make our first stop at Spanish Drop. The tide had been going out for a couple of hours and the shell was showing as we eased along the bank tossing jigs and live shrimp. The duo had a few nibbles but no takers and I was beginning to wonder when, BAM! :Hookup! and BAM! a 2nd hookup -we had a double. Both anglers patiently brought to the boat a feisty Redfish and from then and for about an hour we were steady catching fish. Seatrout and Redfish - We had a couple of keeper sized Redfish and a few keeper sized Seatrout but all fish caught today were released.
Eventually we moved up the river about a quarter mile, stuck with the jigs, and again caught a good handful of Seatrout. We then made or way around to Back River and switched to floats. Pete was on the stern and drifted long a couple of times and got fish both drifts. Will was on the stern - I saw something take his float under and it took off upstream. Will played it expertly and landed another keeper sized Trout. We tried our luck over at some docks at Nassauville and this was the only place we got "skunked".
Around the corner at Seymore's Pointe we fished a dock and here they picked up Seatrout and a couple of Black 'puppy" Drum to round out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish and Drum. Our final stop was down at Broward Island, working the bank on the last of an outgoing, first of an incoming, and again they caught fish. They wee working that bank pretty good and caught Redfish and Seatrout. We lost count of the fish we caught but estimated 4-5 Slot Reds, a good dozen of smaller Reds, 5-6 keeper sized Seatrout to 17", and a good dozen of smaller Trout.
It had been a beautiful day to be fishing and a great day to be catching here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a temperature drop we had! And with it came some strong winds - the forecast for this morning was 13mph at 7am but quickly rising to 17mph by 9am. But it was clear and sunny and the wind was out of the WNW and we had a plan! I met Alex and Laura out at Goffinsville Park and as we left the dock we could see it was calm all along Nassauville rocks. We made our way down a ways and set up between two docks and began pitching jigs and live shrimp.
And the fish catching began!
Both Laura and Alex put some healthy Seatrout in the boat, many of keeper size and Laura added a keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. Then Alex had a strange bite - he hooked it up and Big Fish On! Alex kept the pressure on and worked it up off the bottom and when it came to the net we saw that it was a 19.5" Sheepshead - big enough to move into 2nd Place in the Anglers Mark 2024 Bragging Rights Tournament - Sheepshead category(scroll down the right side of this report for standings). We threw back a whole bunch of small Trout.
We then made our way around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a dock and here we got into some keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum. Alex and Laura caught one after another, with a Seatrout thrown in here and there, and Laura added another keeper Sheepshead. They had an Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Sheepshead and Drum before we left.
Our final stop was up the Nassau and into a Creek and as we worked the bank Laura put the first Redfish in the boat (and made it a Grande Slam). They caught a couple more "feisty" Reds then Alex had a good bite -BAM! Fish On! He played it patiently, let it run, worked it in, and eventually landed a big 24" Slot Redfish, boy what a fish.
Although it was a bit cool, it was very comfortable as we stayed out of the wind most of the morning and as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
After debating whether to even fish today, and meeting under some dreary skies up at Old Town Bait and Tackle this morning, and easing down Eagans Creek with a fine mist on our faces, David and Michele Dannenfelser proceeded to have a pretty good day of fishing! We made our way over to the back side of Tyger and fished the logs - the first area produced only a nibble or two - but as we moved down the island and set up around a group of logs the bite got to hopp'n. David had made good cast over to the bank and within seconds, BAM! He had a strong hookup. He battled it to the boat and landed a nice 21" Slot Redfish that had a Georgia DNR tag on it. Michele got in on the action after she got the hang of fishing a jig and shrimp on the bottom and picked up a keeper sized Seatrout. She then put their secoind (and limit) Slot Red in the boat. We found out we could fish those jigs out deeper and get Seatrout and after getting a handful, we moved on.
We made our way up and around to the Jolley River and turned into the "bank" and switched to float rigs and the live shrimp on that lower incoming tide. This was just the ticket. Getting our cast up near the bank was rewarded with Redfish bites. Most were smaller (but feisty) but one was in the Slot which was released to swim off. Again, another handful of Trout were caught, a couple of keeper size. They kept a couple of Trout but began to release the rest. Further up the river at "Snook Creek" we stayed with the floats and again we were busy catching fish. The current was faster here and the Trout were biting, and there were few Reds caught, too.
Back down the river we made a stop at Tyger Cut and here David found he could drift back into a "ripple" and get Seatrout. After making a short stop further down the river and fishing some "fishy looking spots", to no avail, we moved on.
Our final stop, after running thru Tyger and around to the Bell, and over to a point of grass, we eased up to it and began to toss the floats. When David's float disappeared and his line began to run and his drag began to rip I was thinking, "oh boy, this is big"! It was ripping towards what I knew was shallow water and big humps of oysters so we crossed our fingers and hoped! David was up to the challenge and was very patient, and he needed to be because this was going to be a long battle. He worked the fish in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, pulled it out from under the boat, let it run. Every time we thought it was going to come in it would see the boat and take off again, ripping drag. But David kept that pressure on, stayed patient, and eventually landed on Oversized 35.25" bull of a Redfish - just barely bigger than the biggest of the year, but big enough to take over first place in the 2024 Anglers Mark Bragging Rights Tournament (scroll down the right side of this report for standings). Now that's the way to wrap up a great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Boy what a pretty day we had today - no real wind, temperature in the high 60's, and partly cloudy skies to greet us when I met Tim Parker and is son Wes out at Goffinsville Park boat ramp early. And it was just a short run down the river to Broward Island where we set up to fish with jigs and live shrimp on atide that was low and just coming in. Both Wes and Tim had bites then Tim had a take - he let him bite and then set the hook - the fish took off down the island and right into some tree branches! Ouch. Tim tried "sawing" him out of there, then released the bail in hopes he'd swim out - he did not. We moved the boat over close to shore and Tim worked him out and Fish On! Tim played him expertly and eventually landed a nice Slot sized Redfish. After moving down the bank just a bit it was Wes's turn to battle the Slot Red- after he hooked him up he worked him slowly to the boat and we netted another nice fish.
We moved down the island and fished it back and picked up one more Slot Red before we moved on. Our next stop was back at some docks at Semore's Pointe, pitching the jigs and shrimp. The duo caught a good handful of Seatrout (1 or 2 of keeper size), a Black Drum, and a couple of small Sea Bass. We then ran thru Horsehead to Jackstaff "bank", switched to floats and drifted shrimp. Again, we got a good handful of Trout (maybe a keeper or two), and a couple of Bluefish. We then jumped around to Poteat Point and here Wes found a handful of Seatrout up over a shallow bar.
Back thru Horsehead we came and down to Pumpkin Hill. Wes stayed hot tossing forward to get a few Trout (1 or 2 of keeper size), then we moved up to the point and drifted it, to no avail. But when we dropped back to a grassy island and worked back, they began to get Trout again. Tim had switched to his Patent Pending Temptation Bait grubs and they paid off big time. He matched Wes fish for fish tossing the artificial while Wes caught on the live Shrimp. We ended the day with their limit of 2 Slot Reds and 7 keeper Trout so as we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I THGUGHT I was launching at Sawpit Creek this morning - when I got down there the tide was up so far - all the way to the bend in the curb- I turned around and headed back north to meet Glenn and Patti Langford up at Old Town Bait and Tackle. The water was way up in the grass when we made way out of Eagans Creek and over to the outside of Tyger where we set up with float rigs and live shrimp to fish the first of an outgoing tide. Although we had few good "nibbles" we had no real bites. After crossing over the creek to "Manatee Cove" we again tossed the float rigs and here the duo picked up some feisty Bluefish -one for each of them. We picked up the first of many small but fun to catch Seatrout, too.
After that we ran thru Tyger, down the Bell, and up Lanceford, all the way up to some docks where we again drifted the floats. Both Patti and Glenn had good hookups with those small Seatrout. We moved aro8und the corner and fished a bulkhead and Glenn had a good bite, had 'em on, but it let go and while he was baiting up Patti drifted thru the same stretch and BAM! Fish On! I was thinking it was going to be a big Seatrout. Pattie played it perfectly and brought to the net a feisty Redfish. We then moved over to a grassy Island -"Millie's Spot" and fished it good. After picking up a Trout or two, and after Glenn's float had drifted ust past the grass, FLOAT GONE! Glenn caught up to it and it was Big Fish On! This fish was ripping that drag and having none of coming it. I thought for sure it was up in the grass a couple of times and I hated to say it but I had to let Glenn know, we were REAL shallow and there were sharp oyster beds all underneath us. But Glenn stayed calm, played it patiently, let it run, worked it in, and after a good battle landed a big 26" Slot Redfish (it later weighed in at a bit over 6lbs).
Our next stop was over at Soap Creek, fishing a large outflow. Both anglers put those small Seatrout in the boat (we caught a bunch throughout the day, but no keeper Trout). But as we moved up to a grassy island they both got busy catching Redfish. We found the cast had to be in just the right spot but if wew got it there. BAM! Fish On.
We then ran down the river to Piney Island, found some dock pilings to fish and the duo quickly put two keeper sized Black "puppy" Drum in the boat, and then a nice 17" Sheepshead., which rounded out their Amelia Island Back Country Slam of Seatrout, Redfish, Black Drum and Sheepshead. It had been a beautiful day, and although the wind had picked up, 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.
It was "Chamber of Commerce" weather today - clear, just a slight breeze to keep the bugs off, and just a bit cool as we ran down the river. I had met Ed Andrewlavage and his fishing buddy Chris down at the Sawpit Creek boat ramp and from there we made our way up the intercoastal and over to Poteat Cut to set up with float rigs and live shrimp on a tide that had been going out for about 2 hours. Both anglers began to toss their baits forward and it wasn't long before they were getting bites. Ed had told me that he'd like to get some Redfish - didn't want any Seatrout - and wouldn't you know, we caught Trout.
Chris got hot early and landed a few "hungry" one's before he put a keeper sized one in the boat - we photographed and released all Trout today. Then Ed began to get a few, fishing off the stern. They added a Bluefish to the catch before we moved on. Just around the corner, over at Jackstaff, we eased along the bank, just beyond the White Pelicans, and caught a few Trout. Chris went up close to the grass and had a hookup, one that pulled some drag and "rolled" and, Redfish On! Chris played it perfectly and soon brought to the net a feisty Redfish. Only minutes later it was Eds turn to battle a feisty Red to the boat.
We ran thru Horsehead and down to Back River and drifted a bank. Chris did pickup one Seatrout but that was it. We crossed the river and drifted the floats and again, a Trout or two. Chris did have something take his bait, and his leader, and his float, and we never saw it again! We then made our way down the Nassau and fished a large drainage. Again, a Seatrout catch, but not much else.
Our final stop was fishing some docks at Seymore's Pointe. Both anglers stayed busy either catching fish ore losing bait. They added another keeper Trout - the biggest of the day at 18.5", a keeper sized 16" Black "puppy" Drum, and 5 keeper sized Mangrove Snapper. I kept count of the "keeper" Trout that we threw back and it was five. We had some outstanding weather and 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.
I stepped out this morning and it was drizzling rain and the flag was flapping in the wind and I was thinking we may be in for a "blustery" day. But after launching down at Sawpit Creek and meeting Ed AndrewLavage and his wife Madonna, the rain ended and the wind never increased. We made a long run up the Nassau and down to Broward Island and set up on the north end to pitch jigs and live shrimp on a tide that had just started back in - it wasn't a very low tide though, the banks were almost covered. The duo of anglers got bites right off then Madonna hooked up and landed a hungry Seatrout. Then both angles had good some good catches of feisty Redfish, and a couple of small Mangrove Snapper.
We moved down the island and set up under a pair of Bald Eagles and pitched the bank. Again, they were hooking up and landing Redfish. Ed commented that they seemed to be about 15' off the bank. They added a keeper sized Seatrout then Madonna went up close to the bank, behind a stump, and B AM! Bigger fish on! She played it perfectly and worked to the net the first Slot Red of the day, one that measured 21". Only a few minutes later, after going up to the same spot, BAM! BIGGER FISH ON! This one was really ripping drag. Madonna battled it like a pro -worked it in, let it run, worked it in, let it run, then slowly brought a bulky 25.5" Slot Red to the net. Boy what a fish. The commotion must have scared everything away, so we moved on.
Our next stop was up at Pumpkin Hill, drifting floats. They caught a couple of small Seatrout and a hard fighting Jack Crevalle. We moved up to a point of grass and drifted the other side and this did the trick. Ed had made a good cast, gotten a good drift and when\ his float disappeared he tightened up and let the circle hook set. Ed played it patiently and landed a big 17" Seatrout. Both anglers drifted again and again and got more Seatrout, a couple of keeper size. Then Ed went back up close to the grass and had a Big hookup. This fish was ripping drag - it wasn't a Trout! He played it for a good while, worked it in slowly, and landed a "tournament" sized 26.75" massive Redfish. Madonna got in some more drag ripping action when she hooked up and battle a Bonnethead Shark to the boat.
We made a run over to Twin Creeks, drifted floats, added another Jack and a Bluefish to the cach total, then called it a day. As we headed back to the ramp we counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
I fished Friday running up to the annual Florida/Georgia football game - great weather for a great weekend! I had met Brian Roach and his fishing buddy Jason down at Sawpit Creek. All week I had noted that the fish catching was really slow (non-existent) on the last of the incoming tide, which was what we had this day, so my "plan" was to run north up to a dock on the intercoastal and get there early before anyone beat us to it. Unfortunately, after the long run, there was a shore angler fishing off the dock in the "hole". Dang it.
So ran back down the intercoastal and made it to Poteat Point and began to drift float rigs with live shrimp and luckily the Trout were biting. Brian got things started off and stayed hot catching a good handful of those "hungry" Seatrout, but we did get one that was of legal size. I noted that the water temperature was right at 74°. We moved over to Jackstaff and fished the "bank", working along it, and again picked up Seatrout. Jason got on the board, picking up a few Trout and a feisty Redfish.
We then ran thru Horsehead and down to Pumpkin Hill to fish that last of the incoming tide. This hasn't worked too well during the first of the week but today it paid off. the duo stayed busy catching Trout, and a small Flounder for their Amelia Island Backcountry Slam, and when we pulled up to the point and drifted the other side, I sensed a boredom with the Trout catching. Again, they weeded thru the shorts and picked up a keeper or two. After fishing the grass patch, we moved on.
Back to Seymore's Pointe to fish a large drainage. I can't remember if we got a Trout there but we had numerous "nibbles" that I felt sure were small Mangroves that won the battle (kinda like those mangy Dawgs did Saturday), and we moved on. Down the Nassau, stopping at Twin Creeks, we fished the two drainages. Both Brian and Jason were pitching to the "ripples" and it paid off with Trout catches. We may have added one more keeper sized fish here, and a couple of feisty Redfish
The final spot was at Spanish Drop, working the bank- More Trout, maybe another keeper (they ended the day with 5 keeper Trout, two were at 17") and another feisty Red or two. Brian battled a Bonnethead Shark to the boat before we headed back and counted it as another great day to be fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
Talking to Bob at the bait shop (Old Town Bait and Tackle) and comparing reports, we both agreed that there were a bunch of short Seatrout to be caught in the creeks and rivers. Then I met William and Dara Blalock early and we headed up and over to the Jolley River, turned into the "bank" and began tossing float rigs and live shrimp. The wind was so low we had an initial issue with the "no-see-ums" and as we worked the bank it looked good - it wasn't. We may have had one nibble but that was it. We dropped down the river and fished the point at Tyger Cut and noticed that we had almost zero current flow, and again, no bites. After moving up the river to Snook Creek and working that bank the two anglers did get into some hungry Seatrout, and by that time we were glad to have them. Although most were between 14"-4.75", we did get a keeper.
We fished until the tide had started out then we made the run back to the outside of Tyger and set up on a point and here we had good action for a bit - hungry Seatrout, a couple of Bluefish, and a legal sized Flounder that we tossed back due to being out of season. We added two more keeper Trout to the box. After running thru Tyger and down the Bell River, and up Lanceford Creek, we made our way to a grassy spot and worked it thoroughly. Dara hooked up almost immediately and expertly brought a feisty Redfish to the boat - it had 30 spots on it! We released it, hopefully to be caught in the next AIGA Inshore Classic! They caught another Trout or two, and another small Red before we moved on.
Fishing west of a dock both anglers were getting a nibble here and there when William's float slowly went under- he lifted the rod to set the circle hook and when the drag ripped a bit we were both hoping that finally we'd have a big Trout! William worked it in slowly and it wasn't putting up much of fight until it got to the boat but then it got busy! Th fish made a couple of runs up to the bow, underneath the boat, and back before William wore it out and landed a nice 24.5" Slot Redfish.
We finished up over at Soap Creek - fishing a drainage there was not shortage of those 14" Trout, then we moved up to a grassy island and picked up a couple more Redfish. We had started slow but had shad some good action with the Trout, and had a nice big Red 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,
The difference in the weather from yesterday to today was like night and day! Beautiful - clear skies, sunshine, pleasant temperatures, and just a bit of wind to keep things interesting. I had met John Raker and his fishing partner Robert out at Goffinsville Park at 8:30 to give the tide a chance to turn around. We made our first run around to Seymore's Pointe and fished a large drainage with float rigs and live shrimp - the tide had just started out and the two anglers were getting slow drifts. It was only a matter of minutes before Robert had a hookup, he played it to the boat and landed a hungry Seatrout to "knock the skunk off". Then both anglers were dueling with Mangrove Snappers and did get one nice sized keeper. Then John went long with a drift and sure enough, after the float had crossed a submerged oyster bar, BAM! His float disappeared and fish on! John expertly reeled it in and landed a keeper sized Seatrout.
We than ran thru Horsehead to the mouth of Jackstaff and worked along the "bank". Here, we could barely discern the outgoing tide. But even with not much water flowing, they did catch a good handful of "just undersized" Seatrout. We fished up a small creek off of Jackstaff, to no avail, then made the short run over to Poteat Pointe and worked along that edge. Robert picked up another hungry Seatrout right off, then we had a lull, then the duo caught another handful of those small, almost legal, Seatrout, and one more that was a keeper. We saw a ripple off of a grassy point and John placed his cast just north of it, let it drift and BOOM! Big Fish on! It was ripping drag and running down the grass line, then came out deep and dug down, then boiled ot the top. John kept the pressure on, worked it in, let it run, worked it in, then landed a "tournament" sized 26.75" Slot Red, boy what a fish! And it was what turned out to be the only Redfish of the day!
After running back thru Horsehead we made our way down to the Back River and fished a bend of grass. They picked up another handful of hungry Seatrout, but no Reds today, and no Flounder like yesterday. We finished up over at Nassauville catching 12" Mangrove Snapper to round out a mess o' fish and another great day of fishing here at Amelia Island, Florida.
