Summer Fishing at Amelia
Story and photos by Terry Lacoss

  The high-pitched squeal of a kingfish reel is a common sound during Amelia's warm summer months. Big schools of kingfish are plentiful at Amelia's offshore reefs, wrecks, inlet mouths and beaches.

  One of the highlights of the kingfish season is the annual Nassau Sport Fishing Association's King Mackerel Tournament. This year's event will take place from July 2 - 5. All net proceeds of this popular tournament will benefit Baptist Medical Center - Nassau. This year's event is also sanctioned by the Southern Kingfish Association and is a qualifying event for SKA's Division V. For more information, call tournament director Chuck Tuell at 277-8617.

  Some of the more popular areas to hook summer kingfish close to shore are the mouth of the St. Marys inlet and the Nassau Sound. During the 15th annual Kingfish Tournament, Curtis Gowen hooked the winning fish, which weighed a respectable 37 pounds, while fishing the Nassau Sound. Fishing aboard his tournament boat, Twisted Leader, Gowen hooked the winning kingfish while fishing with a live menhaden.

  Other great kingfish baits include ribbon fish, bluefish, whiting and mullet. Chumming is also a popular fishing tactic to try and entice a big kingfish to your live bait. One of the more popular Amelia Island chumming tactics includes hanging a mesh bag of ground chum from the gunwale of your boat. Chumming with menhaden oil is also very effective, particularly when allowing the fish oil to drip slowly into the water. Hospital IV bags are ideal for this style of chumming.

  Good numbers of kingfish can also be found during the summer fishing season at offshore reefs and wrecks. Some of the more popular kingfish haunts here include FA, FC and HH. All of these offshore fish havens are located some 10 to 15 miles offshore from Amelia Island and are marked with loran coordinates on the Jacksonville Offshore Fishing Club map.

  Popular offshore baits for kingfish include live cigar minnows, Spanish sardines, menhaden and mullet. Naturally, chumming is also a very popular tactic here as well.

  Offshore fishermen can expect to hook up to a wide variety of saltwater species while slow trolling live baits and chumming, including barracuda, bonito, sailfish, cobia, Spanish mackerel and dolphin.

  Bottom fishing can be fair during the summer for red snapper, grouper and black sea bass. One of the better fishing tactics here is fishing right on the bottom with local squid, live cigar minnows or cut baits.

  Another popular style of summer fishing is chumming at both inlets of Amelia Island. This can produce great fishing action for tarpon, sharks, redfish, cobia and kingfish. Here, area fishing boats normally anchor and begin to chum with both dead fish and ground chum. Both cut baits are sent down to the bottom with weights while a few live baits are set out on the surface with either balloons or small floats.

  Sea trout, flounder and redfish are plentiful at both inlets of Amelia Island and in the tidal rivers as well. One of the more popular fishing tactics for all of these species includes fishing close to the bottom with a live shrimp and a float rig. Artificial lures also work well for all of these species, particularly 1/4-oz. led head jigs tipped with live shrimp.

  One of the more popular styles of backwater fishing is sight fishing for redfish. Redfish can be spotted tailing during low tide periods and on the flooded marsh flats. This opens excellent light tackle and fly fishing opportunities for area fishermen.

  Surf fishing is also excellent during the summer months, with some of the best action coming at the "Pipeline." The pipeline is located just south of Atlantic Avenue and has excellent access for parking and surf fishing. However, several areas on Amelia Island also offer excellent surf fishing as well, particularly since the net ban has been in place for a few years now. Look for excellent catches of whiting, blues, sea trout, flounder, puppy drum, redfish and pompano. The best baits here include fresh shrimp, cut baits or live finger mullet.

  Look for the best freshwater fishing for black bass, bream and catfish to come during the early morning and late evening hours. Some of northeast Florida's best freshwater fishing action comes from the St. Marys and Nassau river chains. Also, some of the best boating access comes from the new boat ramps located on Lofton Creek at A1A and at the Boggy Creek boat ramp on Edwards Road.

  Crabbing is also a great summer sport. For best results, fish right on the bottom with a piece of chicken. (Chicken necks are ideal!) Simply tie a long section of string to the chicken neck and attach a two to four-oz. weight to the end of the string. Drop the bait right on the bottom and wait for a tug. Bring the crab slowly to the surface and net. Blue crabs offer excellent eating when boiled with crab boil 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.