Kingfish are a favorite target of summer anglers.
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Probably the most popular summer specie is the fast-swimming kingfish, or king mackerel. Summer kings often weigh over the thirty-pound mark and hit like a missile and run like a race car! Keeping this in mind, the mighty king mackerel has to be the favorite game fish for many summer salts. The Nassau Sport Fishing Association's Annual King Mackerel Fishing Tournament often attracts over 200 boats. This year's tournament will be held from June 29th through July 1st. For more information on this very popular event, call Captain Chuck Tuell at (904) 277-8617.
     One of the deadliest tactics for taking summer kingfish is slow trolling live bait-fish including menhaden, mullet, blue runners, cigar minnows, Spanish mackerel and cutlass fish. These same baits can be trolled or drifted dead as well.
     Offshore king mackerel fishing is also excellent at many of the offshore sunken wrecks, man-made reefs and natural live bottoms and rock ledges.
     Another summer favorite is the high-leaping tarpon. Amelia Island tarpon often weigh over the 100-lb. mark and can weigh well over 150 lbs.! Chumming with cut menhaden, while fishing with live or dead baits anchored right on the bottom at either the Nassau or St. Marys inlets, is the best tarpon tactic. Most tarpon fishermen employ 30 to 50-lb. fishing gear, a six-foot section of 125-lb. mono shock leader, an 8/0 live bait hook and a throwaway sinker, which is attached to a three-way swivel with a light section of wire. Sinker size is determined by the strength of the current and the tidal phase. Use just enough weight to keep your tarpon bait right on the bottom.
     Bonus catches when fishing for king mackerel and tarpon include sharks, cobia, bonito, Spanish mackerel and huge redfish.
     Offshore fishing is excellent in the summer while trolling for dolphin, sailfish, wahoo, blue marlin and tuna. Look for the best action to begin in 100 feet of water, beginning some 40 miles offshore of northeast Florida. The Continental Shelf is located some 70 nautical miles offshore of Amelia Island.
     Drift fishing for grouper, red snapper and sea bass is also good in water depths of 90 feet or greater. However, shallow water bottom fishing slows down during the warm summer months.
     Backwater fishing also heats up in the summer for redfish, sea trout, flounder and blues. Top-water plugs, chugged close to flooded spartina grass flats is a deadly summer fishing tactic for all of these species. However, drifting a live shrimp under a float and just off from the bottom is deadly as well.

This big jack crevalle was taken just offshore from Amelia Island. _____________________________

Speckled trout can be found in many backwater rivers surrounding Amelia Island. _____________________________

     Surf fishing is excellent in the summer, with lots of whiting, blues, redfish, sea trout, pompano and flounder running in the surf. Look for the best action to come during the last of the outgoing tide while fishing with fresh shrimp, cut mullet, or sand fleas. All of these baits become extremely deadly when fished with a fish-finder rig.
     Bass fishing in the many freshwater rivers does slow down in the summer. However, if you find an overcast day, or get out on the river early in the morning, bass fishing can be very productive. Lofton Creek has produced some of the best summer bass fishing during previous years.
     Crabbing is also excellent during the summer. Try fishing right on the bottom with a chicken part that is tied to a long string. A 3-oz. weight is also attached to keep the bait right on the bottom. When a slight tug is detected, bring the crab slowly to the surface and net. Keep your crabs alive in a bucket, then place in a boiling pot of water seasoned with crab boil. Cook until your crabs turn a bright pink and enjoy!
     Non-Florida residents will need a saltwater fishing license when fishing from land or in a boat, and when crabbing, as well.
     Finally, summer fishermen are often in too much of a hurry to arrive at their favorite summer fishing grounds and in doing so, forget to apply a premium suntan block. After a few hours of fishing in the hot summer sun, their skin is already damaged. So, take some advice from a fishermen that has learned the hard way, apply a 40 to 50 block suntan lotion on your face, arms, and any place where the sun may burn your skin. 
      For more fishing and charter information, call the Amelia Angler at (904) 321-5090.