Fernandina Fishing Report – August
A slight indication that Fall is soon to arrive with cooler days and nights during the month of September where a variety of inshore and near offshore game fish species will become more active with cooler conditions.
Tidal rivers, bays and small creek fishing is extremely productive during the month of September where redfish school in deep holes satisfying their appetite on a good supple of shrimp and a major mullet migration.
Look for the last of the falling tide to harbor excellent fishing for redfish while attaching a live shrimp to a 1/8th ounce jig head, or simply free lining a lively shrimp into a deep turn in the tidal creek. Boat docks, or oysterbars located at the deep turn in the creek make for a perfect ambush point while fishing the deep side of the structure for strong fighting redfish.
One of the more popular tidal creeks located in Nassau Sound is “Simpson’s Creek” which is accessible from a small boat launch located where AIA crosses the popular fishing creek. Here fishing from a small boat, including a kayak is extremely popular. Look for the last of the incoming and all the falling tide to produce the best redfish action.
Largemouth and striped bass fishing should begin to pick up in the upper reaches of the Nassau and St. Mary’s rivers and their estuaries. White spinners baits with a white skirt worked slowly close to creek mouths and shoreline cover works best for bass that could push the ten-pound mark. Trolling a minnow type plug at the I-95 bridge in both the Nassau and St. Mary’s rivers is key when targeting striped bass.
Flounder fishing is excellent during the falling tide while slowly retrieving a weighted bullhead minnow, finger mullet, strip bait, or live shrimp along a rough bottom. Fort Clinch historically produces heavyweight flounder weighing to 10-pounds with an average flounder weighing from 2-5 pounds. Fish close to the small jetty rocks for flounder that are laying flat and concealed along the bottom and close the rocks.
Sea trout fishing is excellent in Tiger basin, which is located on the east shoreline of Cumberland Sound. This is a shallow oyster laden bay where fishing the last of the in-coming tide produces sea trout weighing over the five-pound mark. Drifting a live shrimp or finger mullet under a small float works best, however casting a Storm Chug Bug, or 52-m Mirror Lure is a deadly sea trout tactic as well
Surf fishing at Amelia Island and Nassau Sound should produce excellent catches of sea trout, whiting, pompano, flounder, bluefish and redfish during the early morning and late evening tides. Casting a ¼-ounce led head jig rigged with a clear curly plastic tail with blue glitter is key for big catches of sea trout measuring to over twenty-inches. Fishing dead on the bottom with live finger mullet is also a great surf fishing tactic, so be sure and bring along a six-foot cast net and live bait bucket.
As the water temperatures begin to cool over night during the month of September, many of the freshwater ponds and lakes located on Amelia Island will offer excellent early morning topwater fishing action. The Storm “chug Bug” in the Baby Bass color pattern remains would be my first choice.
Offshore fishermen will be targeting gag grouper at FA, HH and FC fish havens while targeting rock ledges. Fish dead on the bottom with live pinfish, mullet, Spanish sardines or menhaden. Black sea bass fishing should also improve with cooling water temperatures while fishing with cut baits, or fresh local squid. A good rule of thumb is to watch your boat’s fish finder closely while navigating over you targeted live bottom, ledge, or wreck first for signs of both bait fish and game fish before setting out your boat’s anchor!
Trolling species including kingfish, barracuda, cobia and Spanish mackerel will take a trolled “Popsicle” more commonly known as a dead cigar minnow.
Bull reds and a few tarpon will still be schooling at the mouths of the Nassau and St. Mary’s inlets and along the beaches while chum fishing with freshly netted menhaden. The middle of the in-coming tide is key when arriving at mid-morning .
Finally, redfish will be tailing in the flooded marshes during a full moon and a good northeast wind. Fly fishermen will do well while casting a crab pattern while a live finger mullet or bullhead minnow barbed to ¼ ounce led head jig may well be the best angling tactic when hooking up to September flood tide reds.
For more fishing and charter information please call Amelia Angler Outfitters at 904-261-2870.