Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island

By Terry D. Lacoss

Large roe bearing seatrout will be holding in the Amelia Rover on the deep sides of structure including docks, jetties, bridges, and more. Casting a slow sinking plug including the Rapala #11 Countdown Rapala is an extremely deadly trophy seatrout fishing tactic.

During dead high tide, casting a cigar shaped plug, or chugger works well, especially when schools of mullet or menhaden are present. Jesse Stubbs recently guided a client to an 8.3-lb. Amelia River sea trout, however seatrout weighing over the five pound mark are not uncommon.

Drifting a live shrimp, or finger mullet under a small float at the deep sides of oysterbars, docks, and close to bridge pilings is also an excellent Spring time seatrout fishing tactic.

Inshore fishermen can also expect to catch redfish as while employing these very same fishing tactics.

Fishing at the very tip of the St. Mary’s south jetty rocks will produce a variety of big game fish including cobia, red and black drum, a variety of pelagic sharks, and Spanish mackerel. Best fishing tactic includes fishing dead on the bottom with a combination of fresh local shrimp, a quarter blue crab, and fresh conch for red and black drum.

Be sure and have real handy a twenty-pound class spinning rod and reel with a two ounce bucktail jig in the chartreuse color pattern when cobia will actually swim right up to your fishing boat, demanding a good fight!

Whiting, pompano, bluefish, and small sharks will be running along the beaches of Amelia Island during all tidal phases. Best baits include live sand fleas, or fresh dead shrimp. Some of the best beach fishing is available at Fort Clinch and the very southern portion of Amelia Island.

Offshore fishing will begin to heat up for hard fighting and excellent eating cobia, grouper, sheepshead, black sea bass, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda. Slow trolling with net caught live menhaden is a deadly fishing tactic both on the surface and down deep as well.

High speed trolling at the edge of the Gulf Stream for fast swimming wahoo will be excellent as well while rigging high speed lures to large, 10-pound trolling weights with a trolling speed of eighteen knots.

Light tackle fishing far back into the local tidal rivers where salt and fresh water mingle will produce excellent action for largemouth bass, redfish, seatrout and stripers. A longtime favorite plug includes the #11 black back and silver body rapala. The “Redfish Magic” spinner is also an excellent lure for all of these above mentioned species in the white color pattern.

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