FALL FISHING AT AMELIA

     Giant schools of tarpon are the highlight of Amelia Island fishing during the fall, particularly as the water temperatures begin to cool. Look for these giant silver kings to weigh up to well over the 100-pound mark! However, the average tarpon may well weigh from 70 to 90 pounds.
     Some of the key areas to find Amelia Island silver kings include the tip of the St. Marys south jetty and the Nassau Sound. Look for the best tarpon action to come during the last of the outgoing and the last half of the incoming tides. Chumming with either ground or cut chum is highly effective while fishing right on the bottom with live mullet, menhaden or spots. During a falling tide, jumping 10 to 20 tarpon is often a reality when
fishing Amelia’s waters.
     Giant schools of redfish can be found holding at both inlet mouths of Amelia and also in the backwaters. Reds ranging from two to ten pounds are eager to smash a topwater plug or fly in many of the backwater estuaries and bays. Live shrimp and mullet are also deadly baits for backwater reds.

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Fall is the season for Amelia Island tarpon
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Look for giant redfish weighing to 50 pounds to school at both inlet mouths of Amelia Island during the fall fishing season. One of the hottest fall fishing holes for these giant redfish includes the mouth of the St. Marys inlet. There, fishermen will anchor their boat right at the tip of either the south or north jetty. Bass fishing here is excellent while fishing right on the bottom with blue crabs, shrimp mammies or cut baits. Look for the
best action to come during the last of the outgoing and the first of the incoming tides.

     Fishermen are allowed to keep one redfish per day, as long as it measures between 18 and 27 inches in length.
     Fishing for seatrout, flounder, sheepshead, blues and black drum is also excellent during the fall at both the St. Marys and Nassau inlets. A multitude of tidal estuaries feed these popular inlet mouths and provide excellent angling for all of these species as well.
     Offshore bottom fishing is also very good during the fall season for grouper, red snapper and black seabass. Fishing right on the bottom with fresh squid or a piece of cut bait produces the best action. However, if you are strictly targeting large grouper, fish right on the bottom with either a live cigar minnow, grunt or pinfish.
     Most of the offshore fish havens are located between 10 and 20 miles offshore from Amelia Island. These fish havens include a variety of bottom structures such as wrecks, lime rock ledges and coquina hard bottoms.
     Fall trolling at these offshore fish havens produces great action for amberjack, barracuda, cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, dolphin and many more species.
     Some of the best wahoo action comes during the fall fishing season while trolling northeast Florida’s Gulf Stream. "Hoos" weighing from 50 to 80 pounds are not uncommon. They will often take a large ballyhoo or minnow-type plug. Sailfish, blue marlin, tuna and dolphin are also plentiful at the Gulf Stream as well.
     Look for outstanding surf fishing action during the fall from the beaches of Amelia Island, the footsteps of Fort Clinch and the southern tip of the island at the Nassau Sound. A wide variety of species can be taken from the surf, including whiting, blues, seatrout, redfish, flounder and pompano. The outgoing tide provides the best action while fishing on the bottom with a double rig and a 3-oz. pyramid sinker. Barb one of the hooks with a fresh shrimp and the second with a piece of cut mullet.

There are two fishing piers on Amelia Island: the Fort Clinch pier at the north end of Amelia Island and the Nassau Sound pier at the island's southern end. Here, look for whiting, blues and seatrout, particularly during the high incoming and outgoing tides.
Largemouth bass fishing is excellent during the fall fishing season in many of the area's freshwater rivers, including the St. Marys, Little St. Marys, Boggy, Mills,
Plumbers, Thomas' and Lofton river systems.

Redfish can be taken from Amelia's inlet mouths, beaches and backwater areas.
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     Try fishing the last of the outgoing tide with a floating #11 Rapala. A floating plastic worm also works well, particularly when fishing lily pad stands and cypress trees.
     Excellent boat ramps are now located on A1A at Lofton Creek and at the Nassau River landing on Edwards Road.
     Crabbing is also productive during the fall fishing season. For great family fun, try fishing right on the bottom with a chicken part or fish head. Tie a long piece of string to a 4-oz. weight and your bait. Fish it right on the bottom until you feel a slight tug. Then bring the crab slowly to the surface and net. Keep your crabs alive in a large bucket until time for cooking. Amelia Island blue crabs are delicious when cooked in a pot of
boiling water seasoned with crab boil. Cook till the crabs turn a bright pink.
     All non-Florida residents will need to purchase a saltwater fishing license when fishing from land or a pier. For more fishing and charter information, call the Amelia Angler at 321-5090.