Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island

By Terry D. Lacoss

Hardfighting cobia will be holding close to working shrimp boats, channel buoys and close to the surf where large concentrations of menhaden are schooling. Offshore fishermen will find cobia at some of the sunken wrecks, large lime rock ledges, and where large concentrations of cigar minnows are schooling close to the surface. Cobia will also follow your hooked fish right up to your fishing boat, so be prepared with a second fishing rod and reel rigged with a brightly colored bucktail jig. Often catching fishermen totally off guard.

A premium pair of sunglasses with amber lens will enable fishermen to see under the surface of the water when sight fishing for hard fighting cobia.

King mackerel will be schooling offshore including FA, FC, and FB fish havens. Bring along a sadiki bait catch and fill your live well with live cigar minnows. Live cigar minnows can now be slow trolled close to and right over nearby fish havens, or where large concentrations of bait fish are holding right on and just under the surface.

Shark fishermen will find good numbers of pelagic sharks during the month of May both at offshore wrecks, ledges and near-shore inlets too. Some of the best shark action comes while drifting dead baits with behind a working shrimp boat that has just cleaned their catch. Shrimp boats discarding their bi-catch will also attract hard fighting tarpon, cobia and fast swimming kingfish too.

Excellent sea trout and redfish fishing is also available during the month of May in many of Amelia Island’s fishy tidal rivers and bays. Timing is critical as fishing is best when a good running tide is flooding oyster beds where huge concentrations of finger mullet are present as well. A flooding early morning tide is key, particularly when arriving around mid-morning.

Some of the larger sea trout and redfish will be taking surface plugs fished along the edges of finger mullet schools. A local favorite is the Storm “Chug Bug” in the chrome and blue color pattern. This popular trout lure also has a sound chamber where led balls rattle against their plastic chamber, which ultimately imitates croaker grunting. Also, the loud popping sounds created by the “Chug Bug”, imitates game fish smacking live shrimp right on the surface.

Flounder fishing will be excellent during the month of May just off from the little jetties located at historic Fort Clinch. Rigging a live finger mullet to a fish finder setup, while retrieving slowly along the bottom is key.

The fish finder setup includes sliding a one-ounce egg weight onto your terminal fishing line. Next attach a small black barrel swivel to the tag end of your terminal fishing line, followed with a two-foot length of twentypound fluorocarbon shock leader. A number 4 kahle hook is then attached to the business end of the shock leader. The live finger mullet is barbed right through the bottom and through the top of the head.

Surf fishermen will be targeting excellent eating whiting, pompano, yellow mouth trout and more. Fishing with fresh shrimp, or sand fleas during a flooding tide is key. Look for some of the best beach fishing action to come where shallow bars located just off from the breaking surf, offer an ambush point for game fish.

For more fishing and charter information please call Amelia Angler Outfitters at 904-261-2870.