101 Fishing Tips - The Anglers Mark

101 Fishing Tips
By Capt. Lawrence Piper
www.TheAnglersMark.com
[email protected]
904-557-1027
Table of Contents
Tackle and Angling
Page 2
Fish and Fishing
Page 5
Fishing Spots
Page 13
Trailering and Boating
Page 14
General
Page 15
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Amelia Island Back Country Light Tackle
Fishing Tips
Tackle and Angling
1) I tell my guests who want to learn to fish the back waters “learn your knots”! You don’t have to
know a whole bunch but be confident in the ones you’re going to use and know how to tie them
good and fast so you can bet back to fishing after you’ve broken off.
2) When fishing with soft plastics keep a tube of Super Glue handy in your tackle box. When you rig
the grub on to your jig, place a drop of the glue below the head and then finish pushing the grub
up. This will secure the grub better to the jig and help make it last longer.
3) Many anglers get excited when they hook up with big fish. When fishing light tackle, check your
drag so that it’s not too tight and the line can pull out. When you hookup, the key is to just keep
the pressure on the fish. If you feel any slack, REEL! When the fish is pulling away from you, use
the rod and the rod tip action to tire the fish. Slowly work the fish in, lifting up, reeling down. Keep
that pressure on!
4) Net a caught fish headfirst. Get the net down in the water and have the angler work the fish
towards you and as it tires, bring the fish headfirst into the net. If you try to net the fish from the
tail end, there’s a chance the fish will feel the net and make a surge away, possibly breaking the
leader.
5) Just because you’ve caught a big fish at the bow of the boat doesn’t mean it’s going to stay there.
If the fish goes to the stern, go back there with it! Be careful as you walk from bow to stern. This is
a good reason to keep the deck completely cleared of coolers, tackle boxes and other gear. Tell
your buddies to get out of the way, you’re coming through!
6) My jig rod is a 6’6” medium heavy rod with a 1000 size reel. This is a light outfit and fun to catch
fish on. I’ve got it spooled with 10lb braid and a 14lb fluorocarbon leader and usually a ¼ oz jig.
The leader will break before the braid will, and I want it to. Braid is expensive and if you lost 30-40’
every time you hung up on an oyster you’d be changing spools every hour or so. Contact Capt.
Lawrence Piper to set up your fishing trip today!
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7) Use a Uni-to-Uni knot to tie the fluorocarbon leader to the braid. I make the leader at least 18”
long. If you hang up in the oysters or on a downed log, point your rod tip straight at the hang up,
wrap the braid around your hand and pull until it comes loose or breaks. Most times the leader will
break but leave you plenty to tie another jig on.
8) On my jig setup I use a DOA Loop Knot to tie the fluorocarbon leader to the jig. Once your fingers
get coordinated with tying the knot it’s quick and easy and has landed over 3 foot long fish.
9) My float rig rods are 7’ Medium Heavy rods and have a size 2500 reel. This is still light tackle, but I
like the little extra umph to hookup when using a float. I have 15lb braid on these reels and tie the
braid directly to the Cajun Thunder float with a Trilene Knot. I then tie on about a 3’ fluorocarbon
leader and then a #3 circle hook and a Trilene Knot.
10) Every guide has his own way of hooking a live shrimp with a hook. If it’s a larger shrimp, I go just
under the horn between the eyes and the brain. If it’s a small shrimp, I go between the tail fins and
hook him from underneath and through. Both ways the shrimp will live for a while.
11) Practice your casting from all planes. Put a bucket out in the yard and remove the hooks from a top
water lure then practice casting from overhead, sidearm, off shoulder and underhanded to the
bucket. When you get on a charter boat you may have some buddies, the console, or rods in the
way of your favorite cast so you may have to adjust the plane of your cast.
12) If you’re fishing a live shrimp under a float and that shrimp comes skipping out of the water, get
ready! There’s a good chance an Amelia Island keeper fish is lurking underneath and that shrimp is
scared!
13) When casting the float rig, swing it back easily and without stopping, come forward with a gradual
acceleration to make your cast. Those that whip the cast back and then forward tend to throw their
bait off! It doesn’t take much to cast a spinning rod with braided line on it. Get Away From it All
and…Let’s go Fishing!
14) I use a lot of live shrimp in the back waters of Amelia Island baited to a1/8 or ¼ oz jig. If you’re
right handed, hold the live shrimp parallel to the deck, head to the left. Hook the shrimp down
through the back with the jig, spin the jig and come back up through the belly and then straighten it
a little. The shrimp will appear to “swims backwards” as you retrieve it.
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15) If you get hung up in the oysters with a jig or hook, my advice would be to just break it off, tie on a
new one, and keep on fishing. Years ago I’d go over and try to get the jig free, but it’s not worth it.
In addition to scaring away any fish, you run the chance of damaging your trolling motor or boat
hull.
16) While battling a big fish if it goes under the boat don’t be afraid to stick the rod tip down in the
water and walk the line around the boat until you and your rod are on the same side of the boat as
the fish is. If he’s around the engine, put that rod tip down in the water and walk it around.
17) When setting the hook, you don’t have to do what I call the “Georgia Hook Set”! That’s when bass
fishermen rear back and do such a strong hook set that the fish’s lip comes back with the hook! I
tell my customers to “lift the rod tip firmly”, set the hook and keep the pressure on.
18) When fishing mud banks you can toss your jig and bait right up on the mud – no need to make a
perfect cast. Just reel it slowly down the bank and into the water. Sometimes there’s a drop off at
the water line on low tide so let it fall slowly.
Capt. Lawrence Piper
904-557-1027
[email protected]
www.TheAnglersMark.com
19) Be patient and enjoy the day when fishing top water lures. I’ve had some outstanding fishing trips
by just taking my time and REALLY fishing that lure. Work it slow, make it gurgle, walk the dog,
pause. Try to imagine driving a big old Trout crazy as you work that lure!
20) One of the most common mistakes I see my guest anglers make is that they make a great cast to a
log or dock piling then they immediately throw their bail! Instead of the bait falling to the bottom at
the structure, it now swings back towards the boat and they could be fishing 10-15’ away from
where they wanted to fish! Leave the bail open and let your presentation fall where you wanted it
to!
21) When using braided line on a spinning rod, throw your bail manually with your left hand after you
make your cast and then pull the line taut. Get in the habit of doing this after every cast. This
keeps the braid on the spool from getting spongy and forming loops. Most of us grew up turning the
handle to have the bail throw automatically. Contact Capt Piper to set up your fishing trip today!
22) I had an angler accidently toss one of my fishing rods overboard while casting. Luckily his buddy
gave him a really hard time! I always put the reel base between my middle finger and ring finger
and this locks it in and prevents an accidental tossing! We were able to jig the rod up and salvage
it.
23) Artificials do catch fish! I’ve got buddies that strictly fish artificials and sometimes they do just as
good as or even better than the anglers that are fishing live bait. I’ve noticed that they have a huge
selection of colors and swim patterns and they are changing them constantly to find what the fish
are eating.
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Capt. Lawrence Piper
904-557-1027
24) If the fish aren’t eating live bait, try an artificial grub on a jig. You just never know what the fish are
eating or what’s going to turn them on so making a change will help sometimes. I was fishing an
area one time with guests and the bite was slow so I had one angler go to a white grub with pink
tails and he put 4 nice Trout in the boat in just a short while.
Fish and Fishing
25) During the fall, winter and spring Speckled Sea Trout are hungry easily caught. Sea Trout are
actually in the Drum family but resemble the fresh water Trout except for their very large and sharp
tooth! Catch them at creek run outs, oyster bar points and around dock pilings with live shrimp
under a float or over flooded oyster beds with a jig and artificial grub. Sea Trout are excellent food
fare and are best broiled or fried in a light batter. Get Away From it All and…Let’s go Fishing!
26) When fishing cold snaps here at Amelia Island I’ve found that fishing structure slow will help with
getting bites from those sluggish fish. Bait a ¼ oz jig head with a lively mud minnow (the anglers in
Louisiana call them Cocahoe’s) and toss it up near an oyster bed, rock piling or fallen log and LET IT
SIT! Bump it back real slow. I even let it stop on occasion and occasionally a fish will find it.
27) Fishing Amelia Island during the winter can be very pleasant. Many times we have temperatures that
begin in the 40’s early morning but reach highs into the 70’s which is ideal fishing weather. Wear
layers and just peal a jacket or sweatshirt off as the weather begins to warm.
28) During the winter, Sheepshead fishermen will be out at the jetties or finding dock pilings to fish with
fiddler crabs. Scrape the barnacles off of pilings or chum with crushed oysters. Sheepsheads are
notorious for stealing your bait so the old timers will tell you to “set the hook before they bite”!
29) Good eating Black “Puppy Drum” will be moving in to the back waters of Amelia Island during the
fall and winter. Black Drum are cousins to the Redfish (Red Drum) and are typically bottom feeders
and are very tasty blackened or grilled. Fish shrimp, blue crab or fiddlers in deeper holes near
oyster beds or dock pilings. Contact Capt. Lawrence Piper to set up your fishing trip today!
30) Most times a Redfish or Drum will nail your bait and you know right off that you’ve got a fish. Once
in a while if you’re really in tune with the rod, line and bait you can actually feel the fish pick up your
bait and “walk off” with it. This is really fun because you know you’ve got a fish, just set the hook!
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31) Whiting should be moving in to Amelia Island waters in February and March. These are great little
fish to catch, they’re delicious to eat and they’re great for getting young anglers hooked on fishing.
They are so abundant there are no limits in size or bag limit although I don’t usually keep any under
12”. Peel your bait shrimp and drop it down on a fish finder rig and be ready for the rod tip to
bounce! Give me a shout and we’ll do some Amelia Island back water fishing!!
32) Here in north Florida a keeper Redfish has to be in a Slot of 18” long and no bigger than 27” and
that’s with the tail pinched! When measuring, you need to squeeze the tail which puts a smaller
Redfish into the Slot and a larger Redfish out of the Slot. Now when you hear an angler say he
caught a Red in the slot, you’ll know what he’s talking about! Anglers can keep two slot Reds apiece.
33) On the higher tides at Amelia Island while fishing for Seatrout, one option is to use a float rig like a
Cajun Thunder. Attach your line to the float and then use a 3’ fluorocarbon leader and circle hook.
Toss this rig with a live shrimp up near the marsh grass or over some flooded oysters, let it sit, then
give it twitch so the brass beads click. You’ll be surprised how many bites this triggers.
www.TheAnglersMark.com
34) Some Amelia Island anglers use a slip float with a weighted Trout rig. You can purchase “bobber
stoppers” to put on your line above a bead then slide a slip float on, another bead and tie to a swivel
with a torpedo weight. Add an 18” leader and hook. If you’re fishing some dock pilings you can
adjust the depth to be bouncing just along the bottom with the current.
35) When fishing for Trout with one of the float rigs, keep your hook baited with a lively shrimp. I’ve
been fishing a spot with a dead shrimp with no bites but as soon as I change it out with a lively one,
BOOM, fish on! Keep your dead shrimp in a small bucket in a cooler for jig fishing later on.
Contact Capt. Lawrence Piper to set up your fishing trip today at Amelia Island!
36) The water temperature should begin to rise in March here at Amelia Island and the Redfish will be
moving in to the backwaters. Fish light tackle using jigs and shrimp and toss it up near exposed
oysters on a low tide. Bump that bait slowly back – as slow as you can retrieve it – and wait for that
bite, FISH ON!
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Capt. Lawrence Piper
Www.TheAnglersMark.com
904-557-1027
37) In March anglers will be catching all sorts of great Amelia Island game fish: Redfish, Seatrout,
Puppy Drum and Sheepshead are all found in the back waters of Amelia Island. The last of the
outgoing tide and first of the incoming tide produce best and are easiest to fish with jigs because
you can see the oysters.
38) The big Black Drum should be moving in the latter part of March. Amelia Island anglers fish off the
beach and river mouths with ½ Blue crab or a whole clam with heavier tackle. These fish can get
up to 70lbs! Larger Drum tend to have parasites so I like to throw them back.
39) The big Black Drum should be here in full force in April. Many anglers choose to fish for these huge
fish at night. As anglers sit quietly they will often hear the BOOM, BOOM, BOOM of these big fish
drumming. No kidding, I’ve been in an aluminum boat and have had the boat vibrate when they
drum!
40) Seatrout need to be at least 15” to be legal, and that’s with the tail pinched. Anglers can keep six
legal Trout apiece. The Florida Wildlife Commission has a very frequent presence at Amelia Island
so make sure your fish are legal – I know you want to anyway!
41) There’s always a good chance of catching a big Slot Redfish or even an oversized one here at Amelia
Island. When a big one bites a good angler knows to play the fish slowly – lift up, reel down, lift
up, reel down. If the fish runs, let her run and let the drag do its work! Know how your drag
operates!
42) Water temperatures will be getting into the high 60’s late in April and the Seatrout will be abundant.
Along with them are hungry Blue’s (Bluefish) that hit a live shrimp hard and fast. Their almost
invisible but razor sharp teeth can shred a leader but they’re fun to catch. I’ve heard they eat them
up north but I don’t know too many people that eat them here.
43) Towards the end of April there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing some Spanish Mackerel off of the
beach and I’ve even caught some up in the back waters of Amelia Island. Look for diving birds and
Spanish feeding on bait pods along the beach. Use a heavier leader and fish a spoon fast at the
outside edges of the commotion. Let’s go Fishing! Contact Capt. Lawrence Piper.
44) Ah, the Bonnethead Shark! They’re fun to catch on a light tackle rig. When a 3’ Shark hits you will
know it right off! RIP, RIP, RIP goes the drag as the big fish heads out to deep water. Sometimes
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we land them, sometimes we don’t! When we do get them in the boat, I get in behind them and
grab behind their head, pin them to the deck, and remove the hook.
45) With the warming water of April and May we begin to see the Manatee show up. There’s nothing
cooler than to be fishing quietly in the back water and have a gentle Manatee come up and blow
right next to the boat! Their breath smells like cow dung!
Capt. Lawrence Piper
www.TheAnglersMark.com
904-557-1027
46) The biggest Trout I’ve ever had caught on The Anglers Mark was caught in May on a high and
outgoing tide. My guest was fishing a float rig up near some downed logs and thought he had
another “bait stealer” bumping his bait. But when the float went under his drag began to sing!
47) Flounder will begin to come on strong in May at Amelia Island. Most of the time we’ll catch these on
the bottom with a jig and shrimp, mud minnows or artificial grub. Many anglers think they have an
oyster clump, but as they get the fish close to the boat, off it runs, causing the drag to sing!
48) On occasion I’ll hookup a nice sized finger mullet or even bait stealer that we’ve caught and put him
back out there to see if a bigger fish will eat. And on occasion it works!
49) Big Slot Redfish and keeper Trout will be caught in June along with the usually junk fish this time of
year. When I say junk fish, I mean Blues, and Bonnethead Shark and Ladyfish – the “poor man’s
Tarpon”. All are fun to catch, but usually are thrown back.
Fish the back waters of Amelia Island with Capt. Lawrence Piper
50) While fishing the north end of Amelia Island anglers have the chance of seeing wild horses on the
southern shores of Cumberland Island, historic sites such as Fort Clinch and Old Town Fernandina
Beach, and on occasion a submarine heading to Kings Bay submarine base!
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CONTACT
Capt. Lawrence Piper
www.TheAnglersMark.com
904-557-1027
51) The Flounder are getting bigger late spring! When you’re bumping your bait slowly along the
bottom you’ll sometimes feel like you’ve all of a sudden picked up a dead weight. Many flounder will
grab the bait with its sharp teeth, but not put it in their mouth for a few seconds. Force yourself to
give a 1-2-3 count of slack the SET THE HOOK!
52) In the spring and summer, Manatee will be gathering together in the shallows early in the morning
or late in the afternoon. They’re more sociable when there is high tide and the juveniles are
especially curious and will swim up and lay their snout on the boat. Please don’t touch them, it’s
illegal!
53) The fishing is great during the summer as long as we get out early or go late in the evening.
There’s no telling what you’re going to catch this time of year – Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder,
Bonnethead Shark, Stingray, Bluefish, Croaker or Ladyfish.
54) During the summer, Look for Redfish schooling in deeper, cooler water. Sometimes you have to hit
different spots and get a single fish here and there but when you find a school you can hang out for
an hour or so catching fish. Florida law now allows for two Slot Redfish per angler.
55) The only Tripletail I’ve caught in the back waters was in July here at Amelia Island. This fish fought
hard and stayed deep just like a Redfish but when my angler worked it to the surface we found that
it was rare back country Tripletail! Tripletail are commonly caught off the beach near buoys and
floating debris.
56) It’s not uncommon to catch an Amelia Island Back Country Slam which typically is a Redfish,
Seatrout and Flounder. However we can often fudge the standard and include a Black Drum or
Sheepshead to round out a Slam. All five are great table fare.
57) Jack Crevalle come into the back waters during the summer at Amelia Island and boy do they put up
a fight! Anglers often think they have a Seatrout or Redfish but the fight goes on and on and on!
Jack’s are tossed back because they’re not so good to eat. Get Away From it all and…Let’s go
Fishing with Captain Lawrence Piper on The Anglers Mark at Amelia Island, Florida!
58) There’s more to getting out on Amelia Island waters than fishing! This time of year we’re seeing
Manatee, Dolphin, and Sea Otter. We also have sightings of Osprey, Bald Eagles and Rosette
Spoonbills while out on the water.
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59) During the summer it is best to plan your fishing trip for early morning or late afternoon and
evening. On morning trips the bite is usually better early but falls off as it warms up. Afternoon
trips usually start off slow but tend to get better and better as the sun goes down. Things get
quieter, the wind dies, and the fish begin to bite!
60) During the spring and fall, refer to your tide chart and on the extreme high tides (6.7-7.3) be on the
marsh 2 hours before high tide. Redfish will be up in the grass, nose down and tail out of the water
and all you have to do is put a fly right in front of them and wait for them to pounce!
61) Tailing Redfish can be easily spooked but sometimes seem oblivious to our presence. When casting
a fly, do very little false casting and try to make your first cast count. The shadow of your fly line
will spook a feeding fish, he’ll sink below the water and you’ll never see him again.
904-557-1027
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62) If you’re fly fishing, master the Roll Cast pickup and a good pick up and lay down cast with the fly
rod to catch tailing Redfish. If you’re wading and have stripped your line out you have to get it in
motion so use a Roll Cast pickup. Once you’ve made your cast if the fish doesn’t bite you can pick
up and lay it down again to the next spot without false casting.
63) Early morning and late evening fishing trips are excellent times to get out your favorite topwater lure
and fish for Sea Trout. There’s not much more fun to be had than to be Walking the Dog and have
a big ‘ole Trout explode on the lure.
64) During the cool winter months the water will clear and anglers with shallow draft boats or kayaks
can fish the shallow creeks and river edges for backing Redfish. They’ll be spooky so you’ve got to
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approach quietly, poling or paddling to get within casting range. Look for them at the mouths of
creeks or as the tide begins to push the water back up into the creeks.
Light Tackle - Fly Fishing - Back Country
65) During the cooler months, once the tide get’s higher and covers the oysters look for Redfish laying
up near the marsh grass, especially on morning fishing trips with the rising sun at your back. You’ll
see their silhouette and can make your cast.
66) The fall is an excellent time to be fishing here at Amelia Island. The summer vacationers have left,
the temperatures have cooled and all the prime fishing spots are open for anglers to fish.
67) The fall flounder run should be in full force in October. Purchase or catch mud minnows and fish
them slow on the bottom. When you feel something heavy grab the bait, wait a few seconds and
then set the hook!
68) Many times if you find one fish there will be more. Redfish, Trout, Flounder, or Drum will often be
together so if you catch one hang out and give that spot a 2nd and 3rd chance.
69) Learn how to cast a spinning rod and put the break on. Once I make my cast I have my left hand
up near the line and even form a circle allowing the line to pass through it. As my lure get’s close to
its target I began to slightly squeeze the line between my finger and thumb, slowing the cast until I
am at my target where I stop it completely. Practice this until it becomes second nature.
70) If you have a boat and are new to the area, go out at dead low tides and scout the area’s you’re
going to fish. In addition to needing to know where the oyster beds, logs, and sandbars are, you can
see the structure and find new fishing spots.
71) Many anglers like to fish flooded oyster beds with 1/8 oz jigs and artificial grubs. You have to know
that if you let the lure fall too much it will hang in the oysters. But with practice, you can begin to
feel the oysters and keep the jig coming back and not get hung. Trout will sometimes feel like they
are pecking at your lure so be ready to hook them up! Let Capt. Lawrence Piper be your Amelia
Island fishing guide today!
72) Fishing early morning or late evening with top water lures for Seatrout is a whole bunch of fun! I
start the retrieve slow and sometimes let the lure sit after each twitch. BOOM! Fish On! This is
great fun when the fish are hungry.
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73) I really like the incoming tides for Redfish. It’s easier to control the boat because the current is so
much slower. Point the boat into the current and ease along an oyster bank or shoreline, pitching
your jig and bait up current and to the shore, fish it back slow and wait for the bump!
74) Fall is the ideal time to be fishing at Amelia Island. The weather is pleasant, the summer
vacationing crowds are gone and the fish are fattening up for the winter. The Amelia Island back
country slam of Redfish, Seatrout and Flounder are being caught in November
75) When we have cooler weather try fishing an area that has mud and oysters. As the tide rises and
covers the area the Redfish, Trout and Drum will move in to warm up and feed. Use a float rig with
a leader that keeps the bait just above the bottom and off the oysters.
76) I fish out of a big bay boat so I have to stay rather deep when fishing, but I like this because it suits
my fishing style. I think the fish like the comfort and safety of being able to move in an out of the
deeper water so a steep river bottom is ideal for tossing a jig and bumping it back. I catch them up
near the shore but sometimes they’re out deeper.
77) I’ve had some of my best Redfish and Trout fishing trips during December. As long as the weather
is favorable, go fishing! Amelia Island temperatures usually warm up during the day and it can be
very pleasant. Redfish and Seatrout are what we’re fishing for.
78) Redfish and Seatrout can be caught in abundance here at Amelia Island in December. I’ve noted to
myself in my journals, “fish the structure and fish it slow”! The water may be cold but the fish gotta
eat, they just do it a little bit slower.
Handcrafted Leather Items for
Anglers
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Fishing Spots
79) Have your spots planned the night before you go fishing! I’ve had days where the first 2-3 spots
produced no fish but the 4th one was dynamite! One day they may bite near the oyster beds and
the next they will be biting around the dock pilings. You gotta have a bunch of spots in your back
pocket to try.
80) When I catch fish at a certain spot, I always ask myself, “Why am I catching fish at this particular
spot?” Check the water flow, the tide, what structure is present and make a mental note of the time
of day. You can find similar areas that will produce fish under the same conditions.
81) Whenever I fish alone I force myself to fish new areas, hunting for a new “spot”. It doesn’t always
work but on occasion I’ll come across a spot that produces fish, and again, I ask myself, “Why am I
catching fish here?” I’ll put the spot in my back pocket for use on another day with the same
conditions.
82) One of my best fishing spots is where the water drains off of a mud flat that is edged with a large
oyster bed. Once the water gets below the oysters it has to come out in one spot and that’s where I
set up to fish. The bait fish are coming out of the drain and the Reds, Trout, and Flounder are
sitting there waiting for a meal.
83) My MOA spot (Mother of All) is similar to this too. As the tide drops it washes over a horseshoe
shaped oyster bed but when it gets below the oysters all of the water comes out at the mouth of the
horseshoe. The fish tend to hang out there. Scout areas at low tide and find likely spots to fish on
later fishing trips.
Low Tide
High Tide
Picture
Picture
84) Don’t give up on a fishing trip just because it’s windy! I’ve had some excellent fishing trips where I
was able to get behind a land mass and continue to fish and catch fish. Check your weather the
night before, see what direction the wind is going to be blowing, and make your plan to hit spots out
of the wind!
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Trailering and Boating
85) Practice launching and loading your boat when no one is around! Make it a point to go to the ramp
when you know it’s not going to be busy, like during the week. Whether you’re fishing or boating,
always prep your boat for launch way up in the parking lot and when it’s all ready, back it down,
launch it and move your vehicle. You’ll earn all the other anglers respect!
The Boat Goes First!
86) If you’re going to be trailering your boat to Amelia Island make sure your tires and wheel bearings
are in good condition. Pay someone to re-work the bearings if you haven’t done so in a while.
There’s nothing that can ruin a trip more than to have a wheel go out on the highway.
87) Each time I got a new boat (not often enough!) I make up a small check off sheet and have it
laminated. When I’d go to launch the boat I’d sit in the parking lot and review my check off sheet to
make sure I had all the plugs in, straps off, key in the ignition, bulb pumped, etc. It all becomes
second nature but it helps to have a cheat sheet at first!
88) If you’ve got someone parking your car after you’ve launched your boat, move your boat away from
the dock if others are waiting to come in to load. It’ll speed things up for everyone – it may be you
out there waiting the next time for folks to get going. You can always ease up to the dock and pick
up your passengers.
89) If you have a heavier boat, be careful about getting in to shallow areas on an outgoing tide! Our
tides are approximately 6 hours apart and are 6-8’ so you can imagine if you get stuck on the last of
an outgoing tide. You may be 4-5 hours getting enough water to get out. Know your tides.
Amelia Island tides can be 6’-8’ and
change every 6 hours. Be careful not
to get caught in a shallow area on an
outgoing tide – you may be there a
while!
Let Capt. Lawrence Piper show you the area!
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90) I use a Minnkota I-Pilot trolling motor on my boat. It allows me to operate the trolling motor while
I’m down on the deck and leave the bow for my customers. The greatest feature is to be able to hit
the “anchor” button and allow the built in GPS to hold the boat in position at a creek run out or
oyster bank.
91) When loading my boat back on the trailer at a ramp with heavy current, I usually try to back my
trailer down to the side of the ramp up current. Bring the boat very slowly at an angle into the
current and towards the trailer. As you get to the trailer, turn the wheel and direct the boat straight
in to the bunks and bow pad. Worst case, the bunks will grab the boat and keep you from getting
sideways. Use just enough power to keep the boat moving – don’t come in too hard.
92) When trailering your boat away from the ramp, make sure your rods are stowed away and not in the
boats upright rod racks. I’ve seen one my rods hanging from a tree at least once.
Get Captain Lawrence Piper to help launch and load that new boat, show
you the area and find some fishing spots!
General
93) Not too many folks are fishing during the Christmas holidays but if you’re feeling the urge to get out
on the water, then let’s go! Amelia Island is great fishing destinations so if you have some free time
during the holidays, come see us!
94) Don’t ever tell a fishing guide where your favorite spot is unless you know he’s going to try it once in
a while. If you’re catching fish there then he’s going to hit it once in a while to see if he can put his
customers on some fish. The good news is that he probably won’t be there long and usually won’t
revisit it for a few days.
95) Wear some old shoes or wading shoes when fishing the backwater. You never know when you may
want to jump out. If you’re fishing in shallow water you may accidently end up on an oyster bed or
sandbar and you don’t want to delay getting out and pushing off, especially if the tide is going out.
96) During the hot summer months I’ll freeze some jugs of ice and take them with me to throw in the
bait well later in the day. Even though you may have an aerator the water gets hot and this helps
the shrimp or minnows live just a little bit longer.
97) Always have plenty of waters or sports drinks on the boat to keep yourself hydrated, especially in
the summer months. Around 10am it gets really hot and you will need to be drinking fluids if you’re
going to stay out there. I like to fish early or late in the summer months and rarely stay out past
11am.
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98) Always pack some insect repellant. Mosquitoes aren’t bad at all but the sand gnats or No-See-Ums
can be terrible sometimes. I also keep a bottle of Skin So Soft on the boat to combat the gnats. You
want to have something on the boat to try because when they’re really present, you’ll try anything!
While fishing with my wife during a gnat attack, she once told me, “crank the boat or I’m swimming
back, ‘cause one way or the other I’m leaving!”
99) Look out for late afternoon thunderstorms, especially in the summer time. This would be one reason
to get your fishing in early during the summer because even though it may be a beautiful day the
storms tend to roll in and can ruin a fishing trip. Sometimes you can run away from them, IE: run to
the south end of the island if the storms are north.
100) Lather up with sunscreen, even in overcast days or in the winter time. You’d be surprised how
much sun you can get reflecting off of the water, and you surely don’t want to ruin your vacation
due to some painful sunburn.
101)
I’ve got two small plastic paint buckets with handles that I keep in my live well. I’ll put 6-8 live
shrimp in one in the front and put one in the back so that anglers don’t have to keep coming to the
boat live well for bait every time they need a shrimp. If you put too many they’ll die but it’s
convenient to just reach down and re-bait when there’s a few in the bucket.
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