Story & photos by Terry Lacoss

    Springtime means great fishing action as pelagic game fish migrating with the warming water temperatures show up along the beaches, offshore fish havens, bays and tidal estuaries of Amelia Island. Largemouth bass fishing just doesn't get any better than the spring, where trophy bass often weigh over the 10-lb mark. Also, saltwater fishermen can target black drum that can weigh well over 80 pounds!

A gigantic black drum run attracts its share of spring fishermen.  Last Spring, Derek Crawford landed a 103.15-lb. black drum while fishing at the tip of the St. Mary's north jetty rocks!  On March 28, 1957, Fernandina Beach's Stella Moore hooked and landed a record breaking 93-lb. black drum while fishing at the very same jetty location.  David Cartwright also landed the Florida record black drum, weighing 96 pounds, while fishing along the beaches of Amelia Island. Popular black drum fishing hot spots include the surf just off from "Main Beach", the deep hole located at the tip of the St. Mary's south jetty rocks, the "Breakers" at Nassau Sound and the deep waters of Cumberland Sound.

Night fishing is extremely popular when targeting giant black drum - particularly when there is a full moon and a flood tide just after dark.  Fish right on the bottom with cut crabs, large shrimp, conch, or a combination of these tasty baits!

Some of the very best largemouth bass fishing in northeast Florida comes during the spring. Some of the smaller ponds and lakes attract spawning action during early spring.  Look for spawning to take place in the deeper freshwater rivers during late spring.

A deadly tactic for taking trophy bass when they move into the grassy shallows to spawn is swimming a large plastic worm, or "Swim Bait" right on, or just under, the surface.  Buzz baits, spinners and topwater plugs will also take their share of trophy bass.

Popular big bass lakes include Rodman Reservoir, Orange Lake, Santa Fe Lake, Lake George, Ocean Pond, Alligator Lake and the many phosphate lakes located in Bienville Plantation.  Popular freshwater rivers include Lofton Creek, Boggy Creek, the Big and Little St. Mary's Rivers, Nassau River and the St. John's River.

Springtime blue water fishermen target wahoo, dolphin, sailfish and blue marlin at northeast Florida's "Big Ledge".  Also called the "Continental Shelf", the big ledge is located some 65 nautical miles directly east of the St. Mary's inlet.  Here, water depths drop off sharply from 180 to 1,000 feet of water in less than a mile. Look for some of the best action while trolling combinations of plastic lures rigged with medium-sized ballyhoo.  The biggest concentrations of game fish will be holding close to weed lines, temperature breaks and where there is an underwater hump, also called an "Up-Welling".  Here, currents push bait fish over the hump, creating a perfect ambush point for a variety of blue water game fish.

Trolling action picks up during the spring at many of the popular near shore fish havens.  Look for kingfish, cobia, amberjack, Spanish mackerel, barracuda and the occasional dolphin and wahoo to head the popular list of gamefish.

Drift fishermen can expect to catch grouper, red snapper, reef sharks, cobia, amberjack and delicious black sea bass.  Some drift fishing boats also employ a "Flat Line" at the transom of the boat. Here, a live bait is allowed to drift with the current.  This bonus setup often provides hookups with fast-swimming pelagic gamefish species.

Inlet and beach fishermen will target cobia, red drum, whiting and a wide variety of sharks while fishing right on the bottom with fresh shrimp, crabs or cut baits.  Look for the slower-moving tides to harbor the best fishing action.

Sea trout are running in the bays, tidal rivers and beaches of Amelia Island during the spring.  Fish deep under a sea trout float with live shrimp, while adjusting the depth of the shrimp so that the frisky live baits drift with the current and just off from the bottom. Sea trout will also take a variety of topwater plugs, including the Chug Bug, Top Dog and Devil's Horse.  Casting a ¼-oz. led head jig with chartreuse-colored plastic curly tail is also a deadly spring fishing tactic for "Specks" that often weigh over the 5-lb. mark.

Redfish can also be found schooling in the shallow waters of the bays and tidal rivers.  Look for the last few hours of the flood and the first hour of the falling tides to produce redfish weighing to ten pounds. Casting a ½-oz. gold Johnson spoon, or an in-line spinner, is a deadly redfish tactic when the reds are feeding in the grass.  As redfish move out of the grass and onto shallow flats where oyster bars are numerous, cast a topwater "Top Dog", or work a led head jig and Berkley Gulp shrimp slowly along the bottom.

Spring fishermen will also find sheepshead, puppy drum and flounder holding close to jetty rocks, at creek mouths and boat docks.  Here, fishing is best during the last few hours of the falling and the first hour of the incoming tides.

Beach fishing is excellent during the spring for whiting, blues, pompano, puppy drum, sea trout and red drum.  Although fishing is good throughout the various tides, some of the best action comes during the first hour of the falling tide.  Fresh local shrimp rigged to a "Fish Finder" setup will catch a variety of good eating game fish from the surf. 

All anglers over the age of 16 will need a saltwater fishing license when fishing from land, bridges, piers, or from a boat.  This also includes crabbing.  For more fishing and charter information, call the Amelia Angler at (904) 321-5090 or visit their website at www.ameliaangler.com.