Spring Fishing at Amelia
Story and photos by Terry Lacoss

     Spring fishing action at Amelia Island offers fishermen a wide variety of angling opportunities with the warming water temperatures of spring. Some of the more popular inshore species include black drum, whiting, flounder, redfish, pompano and speckled sea trout. Offshore fishing begins to heat up for kingfish, blackfin tuna, dolphin, Spanish mackerel, barracuda and many more.

     Surf fishing is great fun during the springtime. Virtually all of the beaches of Amelia Island are excellent areas for outstanding surf fishing action. Some of the key areas include the footsteps of Fort Clinch, the beaches just south of the St. Mary's south jetties, the old pipe line and the southern tip of Amelia Island. One of the more productive surf fishing tactics is using a "Fish Finder" rig and fresh shrimp. Finger mullet, bullhead minnows and cut baits will also provide great results, while sand fleas are the select bait for catching pompano. Some of the best action often comes during the last four hours of the outgoing tide. Some of the more popular species that can be taken from the surf include whiting, drum, sea trout, bluefish, flounder and redfish.

     Spring fishing from the Fort Clinch pier or the Nassau Sound bridge is also popular and very productive. Once again, fishing right on the bottom with the traditional "fish finder" setup and fresh shrimp is a tactic that is hard to beat.

     Black drum fishing heats up every spring season as well. Look for the best action to come from the Nassau Sound breakers and from the tip of the St. Mary's south jetties. There, huge drum often weighing up to 70 pounds can be found feeding in good numbers along the bottom. The best fishing tactic here is fishing right on the bottom with combination baits of crab & shrimp, crab & conch or shrimp & conch. Most drum fishermen prefer to fish with 50 to 80-lb. class tackle in order to tire these huge bottom dwellers out.

     Trolling for good-eating Spanish mackerel is particularly good during late spring at both inlets of Amelia Island and just off from the beaches. Most fishermen troll with 00 Clark spoons and with a #1 planer. Look for the diving birds to direct your fishing party to big schools of Spanish mackerel. You will also find jack crevalle and bluefish waiting to take these small spoons.

     Fishing the tidal estuaries of Amelia Island during the spring will often net great backwater fishing action for redfish, flounder and sea trout. One of the more popular methods here includes drifting a live shrimp just off from the bottom, or working a popping cork and live shrimp combo up close to the flooded marsh grass. Minnow-type plugs, Cotee led head jigs with twin plastic tails, mirror lures, Rattlin Flash and top-water plugs will also take their share of these popular backwater species.

     Fly fishing has also become extremely popular during the past few fishing seasons, particularly for redfish on the flooded marsh flats. Look for crab patterns and Clousers to take their share of redfish on the flats.

     During late spring, offshore fishing begins to heat up for grouper, red snapper and black sea bass at many of the offshore fish havens. Try fishing right on the bottom with fresh local squid, live cigar minnows or cut baits.

     Offshore trolling also begins to heat up for cobia, king mackerel, blackfin tuna, Spanish mackerel, bonito, dolphin and barracuda. One of the more popular fishing tactics here is catching live cigar minnows with "bait-catcher" rigs, then slow trolling them with 20-lb. fishing tackle. Large spoons and minnow-type plugs also work well when trolled at five to seven knots.

     Many of the popular offshore fishing havens, which include rock ledges, sunken wrecks and live bottoms, are located within 10 miles offshore of the St. Mary's inlet.

    One of northeast Florida's best fishing secrets is the blue water fishing action during late spring. Last year, Mike Holland, Allen Mills and Cris Holland landed seven giant wahoo at the Gulf Stream. The largest "Hoo" weighed right at 80 pounds! Fishermen can also expect to catch dolphin, sailfish, tuna and blue marlin. One of the proven fishing tactics here is trolling with large ballyhoo or a combination of ballyhoo and large plastic lures. Look for the best Gulf Stream action to come from the 30-fathom curve and deeper. The 30-fathom curve is located some 70 miles offshore from Amelia Island.

     Largemouth bass fishing is excellent during the warmer spring months. Lofton, Boggy, Thomas, Mills, Plummers and the St. Mary's river systems offer great bass waters during the spring. One of the best tactics here is working a jerk worm or small rapala up close to the river bank during the outgoing tide. Fishermen can also expect to catch trophy largemouth bass weighing up to 10 pounds during the spring fishing season. Stripers, sunshine bass, catfish, sea trout, bream, redfish, black drum and many more species can often be taken from these brackish tidal rivers as well.

     For great family fun during the springtime, go crabbing. Good numbers of blue crabs can be found where the shallow creek waters meet the deep channels. For best results, fish right on the bottom with a chicken neck or fish head. A small two-ounce weight is needed to keep the bait right on the bottom. Once a slight tug is felt, pull the crab right to the surface and net. Keep your crabs alive in a bucket of salt water until boiling. For great eating, put the live crabs in a boiling pot of water and crab seasoning.

     If you are an out-of-state-resident, you will need a Florida saltwater license for fishing or crabbing from shore. For more fishing and charter information, call the Amelia Angler at 261-2870.