Summer Fishing at Amelia

The most popular catch of the summer is the
king mackerel, or kingfish.
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Hot summer fishing action for a wide variety of both saltwater and freshwater gamefish is awaiting the avid angler on Amelia Island. Look for some of the largest fish of the year to be hooked during the heat of the summer months.
King mackerel, or kingfish, are the main target of local anglers during the summer season, which is highlighted by the Nassau Sport Fishing Association's Kingfish Tournament. The 18th annual Tournament of Champions will take place from June 30 to July 2. The lucky angler that weighs in the largest kingfish of the two-day event will win thousands of dollars in cold, hard cash!
Kingfish are plentiful during the months of June, July and August, and can be found feeding in close to both inlet mouths of Amelia Island and beaches as well. Offshore waters are also teeming with kingfish schools at many of the natural and man-made fish havens. The St. Marys shipping channel is always a good bet for an outsized kingfish, whether you fish at the channel
entrance or the sea buoy.

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A variety of sharks can be taken from Amelia's
waters during the summer months
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     Live bait trolling is the more productive fishing tactic for hooking up to a school of speedy kings. Menhaden, cigar minnows, greenies and mullet are all excellent live baits. Ribbonfish, also called cutlass fish, are great baits for hooking up to a real "smoker," too.
     Trolling also provides great summer fishing action for bonito, cobia, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, tuna and the occasional sailfish.
     Tarpon are always a prized catch during the summer fishing season, with some local tarpon

weighing up to 150 pounds! Look for the best action to come at the tip of the St. Marys south jetties and the Nassau Sound. Chum fishing is highly effective while soaking a chunk of cut bait or floating a dead whiting or spot right on the surface. However, tarpon are not picky feeders,
and will eat crabs, cut baits and live baits, too. Jigging with a throwaway jig is also very effective during the slack running tides.
Tarpon fishermen often enjoy plenty of action for sharks, red drum, cobia, blues, kingfish and many more species while chum fishing. However, it's that gill-rattling jump of the silver king that makes chum fishermen jump for joy!
Jetty fishing produces a grab bag catch for seatrout, flounder, redfish, blues, Spanish mackerel, black drum and sheepshead. Here, a good fishing tactic includes fishing with fresh shrimp right on the bottom, up close to the jetty rocks. Another good tactic is trolling along the rocks with Clark
spoons or a small led head jig with a white or chartreuse plastic tail.

     Bay and river fishing produces great summer fishing action for spotted seatrout, flounder, redfish and jack crevalle. A 1/4-ounce led head jig and plastic tail tipped with a small piece of dead shrimp will lure most of these species, particularly when bumped slowly along the bottom.
     Plug casting with a large saltwater chugger will produce strikes from redfish, seatrout and huge jack crevalle. Look for good numbers of jack crevalle to school during the summer months at creek mouths and high spots in the Amelia River.
     Surf fishing is also excellent during the summer months for whiting, blues, seatrout, flounder, redfish, pompano and puppy drum. Try fishing right on the bottom with a double-hook rig and a 2-ounce pyramid sinker. Bait one of the hooks with a piece of fresh shrimp and the second hook with a one-inch square of cut mullet. Sand fleas also work well, especially for pompano.
     Bridge fishing is available at the Nassau Bridge, where good catches of seatrout and whiting are made during the

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Chum fishing the waters off Amelia Island can
produce tarpon weighing up to 150 pounds
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slow-moving tides. Look for the Fort Clinch fishing pier to produce great action during the flood tide for seatrout, whiting, sheepshead and puppy drum.
     Freshwater fishing in the many backwater rivers of northeast Florida is somewhat slow during the heat of summer. However, early morning fishing action is still good for largemouth bass, bream and catfish. Look for Lofton and Thomas' creeks to produce the best results.
     Crabbing is excellent during the summer season. Fish right on the bottom with a chicken part, weight and long piece of kite string or twine. When you feel a slight tug, bring the crab slowly to the surface ant net with a long-handled net. For excellent eating, boil the live crabs in a pot of
water seasoned with crab boil.
     Out-of-state residents will need a saltwater fishing license when fishing from bridges, beaches and boats. For more fishing and charter information, call the Amelia Angler at (904) 321-5090.