Amelia Island's spring fishing season usually gets underway with a big run of black drum. And big they are! Black drum often weigh over 80 pounds! Some of the best drum fishing, which includes fishing right on the bottom with fresh crab or shrimp, comes from both the Nassau and St. Mary's inlet mouths. Excellent fishing can also be enjoyed just offshore of the breakers at "Main Beach." Fishing here after dark often provides anglers with the best action of the spring.

Huge black drum are caught in Amelia's waters
during the spring fishing season.
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    Beach and inlet fishing also provides saltwater fishermen with a grab bag of opportunities including red drum weighing up to 40 pounds, pelagic sharks weighing over the 100-pound mark, cobia weighing up to 70 pounds, whiting, blues, Spanish mackerel and more!
     Blue water trolling at northeast Florida's Gulf Stream is excellent during the spring fishing season, particularly for colorful dolphin. Schooling dolphin can be found at the 30-fathom curve in good numbers holding close to floating weed lines, floating debris, water/color changes and water temperature breaks. Trolling with rigged ballyhoo produces the best action. However, it's always a great idea to have a 20-lb. spinning rod rigged with cut bait or lure available when schooling dolphin follow a hooked one up to the boat.
     Other species blue water trollers can expect to catch at Amelia Island's 30-fathom curve, which is actually located some 70 miles due east, include wahoo, blue marlin, sailfish, blackfin tuna and yellowfin tuna.

Gulf Stream fishing produces dolphin, wahoo, cobia, tuna and more!
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     Cobia fishing is excellent during the spring fishing season at many of Amelia Island's offshore fish havens. A variety of sunken wrecks, artificial reefs and natural reefs can be found from 6 to 30 miles offshore of the St. Mary's inlet, where cobia feed on the excellent supply of baitfish. Live bait trolling often produces a hooked cobia, and other nearby cobia will often follow the hooked fish right up to the boat. Skilled deep-sea fishermen will have the situation already in hand with pre-rigged rods. However, many times a hooked cobia will catch fishermen unprepared, which is followed by what many fishermen explain as a "Chinese Fire Drill!"
     Good numbers of king mackerel can also be found at many of these close-to-shore fish havens during the spring fishing season. Other species here include barracuda, blackfin tuna, Spanish mackerel and the occasional sailfish, dolphin, or wahoo.
     Bottom fishing is excellent during the spring, particularly for gag grouper weighing to 30 pounds. Look for the best action to come while fishing on wrecks and big ledges with live mullet, pinfish, or grunts. Bottom fishing also produces good catches of red snapper, black sea bass, amberjack and cobia.

Bottom fishing is excellent for grouper (above),
red snapper and black sea bass.
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     Surf fishing can be excellent when mild weather persists for excellent-eating whiting, pompano, flounder, sea trout, redfish and blues. Some of the best surf fishing comes from the southern tip of Amelia Island during the falling tide. Look for fresh shrimp, sand fleas and cut baits to produce the best action.
The Fort Clinch fishing pier offers great fishing during the first of the falling tide for whiting, blues and sheepshead. The Nassau Bridge produces big drum and excellent sea trout fishing as well during the flooding tide.
     Backwater fishing is excellent for sea trout during the last hour of the flooding tide while working topwater plugs over flooding oyster bars. Fishing deep with live shrimp under a trout float often produces great sea trout action during the falling tide.
     Red drum can be found schooling over flooding oyster bars and marsh flats during high tide. Topwater plugs, jerk baits, spinners, spoons and minnow-type plugs are very successful here. During low tide, look for redfish at creek mouths and shallow-water mud flats adjacent to oyster bars. Gold spoons, topwater plugs, plastic tail jigs and jerk baits all work well. Fly fishermen should try a black "Clouser Minnow", epoxy spoon or crab pattern fly.
     Sheepshead fishing is excellent at the St. Mary's rock jetties and backwaters of Amelia Island around barnacle-clad pilings and rocks. Fishing with fiddler crabs, barnacles or fresh shrimp right next to the structure produces the best action.
     Largemouth bass, stripers, catfish and bream can be found in many of the freshwater rivers of northeast Florida. Charlie's Fish Camp, located on Highway 17 at the Nassau River, offers great access to many of these seldom-fished rivers. Another convenient boat ramp and park is located at AIA and Lofton Creek. Look for minnow-type lures to work best for largemouth bass and stripers, while a large, wild shiner will entice black bass weighing over the 10-lb. mark!
     Crabbing is also great family fun while fishing right on the bottom with a weighted chicken neck and long string. When a slight tug is detected, pull the blue crab up to the surface and net with a long handled net. Bring a large pot of water to boil, with crab seasoning added. Place the live crabs in the pot and boil until they turn bright pink. Pick the white crab meat from the legs and body for excellent eating!
     Non-Florida residents will need to purchase a Florida saltwater fishing license when fishing from bridges, piers and land. For more fishing information and charters, call (904) 321-5090, or visit www.ameliaangler.com.