FISHING

Amelia Island offers unlimited year round fishing possibilities. Charter boats provide inshore fishing in the marshes and rivers around the jetties and offshore trips. Surf fishing can be done anywhere along the island's 12 miles of beach .

The old bridge at the south end was slated for destruction but saved specifically for fishing. Fort Clinch has a fishing pier. January and February are the slowest months with June the best. Redfish and sea trout do not migrate and are here all year. Migratory fish are here from April to October.

Resident licenses are $12 for one year, $60 for five years. Non-resident licenses are $5 for three days, $7 for seven days and $30 for one year. 

A fee of $1.50 is added if you buy a license from a tax collector. If you purchase it at another location, such as a bait and tackle shop, $2.00 is added. Licenses can be purchased at the County Annex on 14th St. and at various bait and tackle shops on the island.

Children under 16 do not need a license. Florida residents do not need a license: when fishing from land or structure affixed to land, if over 65, when fishing in a boat that has a valid Vessel Saltwater Fishing License, when fishing from a pier that has a Pier Saltwater License. Armed Forces personnel on leave for 30 days or less.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS:
QUIT WISHIN' LET'S GO FISHING          904-261-9481         http://www.accharters.net

Bluefish


Family Pomatomidae, BLUEFISHES Pomatomus saltatrix
Description: color blue or greenish blue on back, sides silvery; mouth large; teeth prominent, sharp, and compressed; dorsal and anal fins nearly the same size; scales small; lateral line almost straight.
Similar Fish: blue runner, C. crysos.
Where found: young usually INSHORE spring and summer, moving OFFSHORE to join adults fall and winter; strong migration of northeast Atlantic stock to Florida east coast in winter.
Size: most west coast catches under 3 pounds, much larger on east coast.
*Florida Record: 22 lbs., 3 ozs.
Remarks: travels in large schools, following schools of baitfish; cannibalistic; all members of a given school about the same size; spawning occurs OFFSHORE in spring and summer.

Blue Marlin Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Makaira nigricans

Description: color cobalt blue on top shading to silvery white on bottom; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; dorsal fin pointed at front end; pectoral fin and anal fin pointed; lateral line reticulated (interwoven like a net), difficult to see in large specimens; no dark spots on dorsal fin; body covered with embedded scales ending in one or two sharp points.
Similar Fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus (white has rounded tip of pectoral and anal fins, and spots on the dorsal fin).
Where found: OFFSHORE, a blue water fish.
Size: largest of the Atlantic marlins, common to 11 feet, known to exceed 2,000 pounds.
*Florida Record: 980 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: all of trophy size are females; males do not exceed 300 pounds; make trans-Atlantic migrations; spawning procedures unknown; feeds on squid and pelagic fishes, including blackfin tuna and frigate mackerel.

Cobia (ling)


Family Rachycentridae, COBIA Rachycentron canadum
Description: long, slim fish with broad depressed head; lower jaw projects past upper jaw; dark lateral stripe extends through eye to tail; first dorsal fin comprised of 7 to 9 free spines; when young, has conspicuous alternating black and white horizontal stripes. Similar Fish: remora, Echeneis naucrates. Where found: both INSHORE and NEARSHORE inhabiting inlets, bays, and among mangroves; frequently seen around bouys, pilings, and wrecks. Size: common to 30 pounds. *Florida Record: 103 lbs., 12 ozs. Remarks: spawns in spring and early summer; feeds on crabs, squid, and small fish.

Dolphin


Family Coryphaenidae, DOLPHINS Coryphaena hippurus
Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending from anus to tail. Similar Fish: pompano dolphin, C. equisetis. The pompano dolphin has squarish tooth patch on tongue (oval tooth patch on dolphin) and fewer dorsal rays (48 to 55 versus 55 to 65 on dolphin). Where found: OFFSHORE in warm waters.
Size: common to 30 pounds.
*Florida Record: 77 lbs, 12 ozs.
Remarks: one of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years; swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; young found in sargassum weed; feeds on flying fish and squid.

Black Drum


 Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Pogonias cromis
Description: high arched back; 10 to 14 pairs of chin barbels; gray or black colored body in adults; young have 4 to 6 vertical bars; has cobblestone-like teeth capable of crushing oysters; scales large.
Similar Fish: the vertical bars on juvenile black drum are somewhat similar to those on sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus; spadefish, Chaetodipterus faber; red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus.
Where found: INSHORE fish common to bays and lagoons; bottom dweller often found around oyster beds; also OFFSHORE. Size: common to 30 pounds.
*Florida Record: 93 lbs.
Remarks: largest member of the drum family; spawns NEARSHORE in winter and early spring; feeds on oysters, mussels, crabs, shrimp and occasionally fish; longevity to 35 or more years.

Red Grouper


Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Epinephelus morio
Description: color brownish red; lining of mouth scarlet-orange; blotches on sides in unorganized pattern; second spine of dorsal fin longer than others; pectoral fins longer than pelvic fins; squared off tail; margin of soft dorsal black with white at midfin; black dots around the eyes.
Similar Fish: Nassau grouper, E. striatus.
Where found: bottom dwelling fish associated with hard bottom; juveniles OFFSHORE along with adults greater than 6 years old; fish from 1 to 6 years occupy NEARSHORE reefs.
Size: common to 15 pounds.
*Florida Record: 39 lbs., 8 ozs.
Remarks: spawns in April and May; prefer water temperatures between 66 and 77 degrees F; undergoes sex reversal, young individual females becoming males as they age; lifespan of at least 25 years; feeds on squid, crustaceans, and fish

Spanish Mackerel


Family Scombridae, MACKERELS and TUNAS Scomberomorous maculatus
Description: color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail. Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; king mackerel, S. cavalla.
Where found: INSHORE, NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE, especially over grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida waters in winter.
Size: average catch less than 2 pounds (20 inches).
*Florida Record: 12 lbs.
Remarks: schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE, spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.

Florida Pompano


Family Carangidae, JACKS and POMPANOS Trachinotus carolinus
Description: greenish gray on back, shading to silvery sides; fish in dark waters showing gold on throat, pelvic, and anal fins; deep flattened body with small mouth; no scutes; 22 to 27 soft dorsal rays; 20 to 23 soft anal rays; origin of anal fin slightly behind origin of second dorsal.
Similar Fish: permit, T. falcatus, palometa, T. goodei. The permit is deeper bodied; dorsal body profile not strongly angled at insertion of second dorsal fin; pompano rarely grow larger than 6 pounds, permit common to 40 pounds.
Where found: INSHORE and NEARSHORE waters, especially along sandy beaches, along oyster banks, and over grassbeds, often in turbid water; may be found in water as deep as 130 feet.
Size: usually less than 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 8 lbs, 1 oz.
Remarks: spawns OFFSHORE between March and September; feeds on mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas; local movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal movements are influenced by temperature.

Sheepshead


Family Sparidae, PORGIES Archosargus probatocephalus
Description: basic silvery color; with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides, not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins. Similar Fish: black drum, Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodipterus (black drum have barbels on lower jaw, sheepshead do not; vertical barring on sides of black drum and spadefish disappear as fish mature; spadefish have small, brush-like teeth).
Where found: INSHORE species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs and around navigation markers.
Size: INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds. *Florida Record: 12 lbs., 2 ozs.
Remarks: feeds on mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers, prompting the saying that "anglers must strike just before they bite."

Longbill Spearfish

 
Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Tetrapturus pfluegeri
Description: color of body dark blue shading to silvery, white underneath; dorsal fin bluish, others brown-black; two dorsal fins, the first lengthy, its front forming a peak; two anal fins, the anus well in front of the first; upper jaw prolonged into spear, its cross secttion round.
Similar Fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus.
Where found: OFFSHORE in deep water.
Size: relatively small species.
*Florida Record: 61 lbs.
Remarks: uncommon; available data indicate that spearfish matures at 2 years of age and rarely lives past 4 to 5 years; they are pelagic and feed at or near the surface, mainly on fishes and squid; named for Al Pflueger, Sr., founder of Pflueger Taxidermy.

Sailfish- Florida State Fish


 Family Istiophoridae, BILLFISHES Istiophorus platypterus
Description: color dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally, silvery white underbelly; upper jaw elongated in form of spear; first dorsal greatly enlarged in the form of a sail, with many black spots, its front squared off, highest at its midpoint; pelvic fins very narrow, reaching almost to the anus; body covered with embedded scales, blunt at end; lateral line curved above pectoral, then straight to base of tail.
Similar Fish: white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus; young blue marlin, Makaira nigricans (spectacular sail-like dorsal of sailfish is most notable difference).
Where found: OFFSHORE species, in south Florida associated with waters near the Gulf Stream; off the Panhandle near the 100 foot fathom line.
Size: common to 7 feet.
*Florida Record: 116 lbs.
Remarks: rapid growing species, reaching 4 to 5 feet in a single year; swims at speeds up to 50 knots; feeds on the surface or at mid-depths on smaller pelagic fishes and squid.

Scamp


Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Mycteroperca phenax
Description: color light gray or brown; large adults with elongated caudal-fin rays; reddish brown spots on sides that tend to be grouped into lines; some yellow around corners of mouth. Similar Fish: yellowmouth grouper, M. interstitialis.
Where found: NEARSHORE reefs off the northeastern coast, and on OFFSHORE reefs in the Gulf.
Size: generally smaller than gags or blacks.
*Florida Record: 28 lbs.
Remarks: spawns in late spring; feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans; undergoes sex transformation from female to male as it becomes older.

Bank Sea Bass

Family Serranidae, SEA BASSES AND GROUPER Centropristis ocyurus
Description: pale olive or brassy brown in color with indistinct black blotches that form vertical barrings (the blotch above pectoral fin darker); wavy blue lines on head; lips purplish-blue; caudal fin tri-lobed on adults; edge of nape unscaled.
Similar Fish: rock sea bass C. philadelphica; other Centropristis. Where found: OFFSHORE in deep water with rocks and reefs. Size: usually 0.3 pound (8 inches).
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: undergoes sex change, starting life as female, changing to male after three or four spawning seasons; feeds on the bottom, taking squid, crustaceans, and small fish.

Silver Seatrout


Family Sciaenidae, DRUMS Cynoscion nothus
Description: pale straw colored above, silvery sides and white below; no distinctive pigmentation, although faint diagonal lines may be present on upper body; 8 to 9 rays in the anal fin; large eyes; short snout; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw; lower half of tail longer than upper half.
Similar Fish: other seatrouts.
Where found: most common over sand or sandy mud bottoms OFFSHORE along both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida; migrates into bays during cold months.
Size: usually no more than 1/2 pound (less than 10 inches). *Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: smallest seatrout; spawns OFFSHORE in deep water during spring, summer and fall; feeds on small fish and shrimp.

American Shad


Family Clupeidae, HERRINGS Alosa sapidissima
Description: color of back green or greenish blue with silvery sides, white underneath (colors darken when fish enters fresh water to spawn); belly with scutes forming distinct keel; one or more dark spots in a row behind operculum; lower jaw with pointed tip that fits into v-shaped notch in upper jaw.
Similar Fish: other species of Alosa (shad and herring) and Brevoortia (menhaden). Menhaden, which are often referred to as "shad," have a rounder lower jaw tip. American shad is an east coast species replaced on the Panhandle coast by Alabama shad. Where found: OFFSHORE except during late winter spawning run into east coast rivers, notably the St. Johns River.
Size: most catches 2 to 3 pounds; common to 5 pounds.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: anadromous species, coming into fresh water to spawn; young remain in fresh water to length of 2 to 4 inches, then move out to sea; plankton feeder, but strikes small,bright spoons or flies; their roe (as many as 30,000 in a single female) is prized, the flesh full of fork bones.

Vermilion Snapper


Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Rhomboplites aurorubens
Description: color of entire body reddish, with a series of short, irregular lines on its sides, diagonal blue lines formed by spots on the scales above the lateral line; sometimes with yellow streaks below the lateral line; large canine teeth absent; orientation of mouth and eye give it the appearance of looking upward; no dark lateral spot.
Similar Fish: red snapper, L. campechanus (anal fin of red snapper has midpoint like a triangle).
Where found: suspends at mid-depths over rocky reefs OFFSHORE.
Size: usually less than 1 pound.
*Florida Record: n/a
Remarks: spawns April to September, females maturing at 3 to 4 years of age; grows slowly; attains weight of 6 pounds and length of 24 inches; feeds on small, swimming crustaceans and mollusks.

Yellowtail Snapper


Family Lutjanidae, SNAPPERS Ocyurus chrysurus

Description: back and upper sides olive to bluish with yellow spots; lower sides and belly with alternating narrow, longitudinal pink and yellow stripes; prominent midlateral yellow stripe begins at mouth and runs to tail, broadening as it passes the dorsal fins; caudal fin yellow and deeply forked; no dark lateral spot. Similar Fish: none.
Where found: juveniles INSHORE on grassbeds and back reefs; adults NEARSHORE or OFFSHORE over sandy areas near reefs. Size: common to 3 pounds.
*Florida Record: 7 lbs., 5 ozs.
Remarks: found mainly in tropical waters; spawns in midsummer; rarely exceeds 30 inches and 5 pounds in size; feeds on small fish and invertebrates.

Swordfish


Family Xiphiidae, SWORDFISHES Xiphias gladius
Description: color of back variable, black, greyish blue, brown, metallic purple, or bronze; sides dusky; underbelly dirty white; long, flat, sword-like upper jaw; lacks scales, teeth, and pelvic fins; single keel on each side of body in front of tail; first dorsal fin high, rigid and short; large eyes.
Similar Fish: no close resemblance to other billfishes.
Where found: OFFSHORE species worldwide in temperate and tropic waters; known to frequent depths of 400 to 500 fathoms; also has been seen basking at the surface.
Size: once averaged 200 pounds but overharvest has reduced size of commercially caught swordfish to average of 48 inches. *Florida Record: 612 lbs., 12 ozs.
Remarks: large swordfish are all females, males seldom exceeding 200 pounds; except when spawning, females believed to prefer water cooler than that favored by males; feeds on squid, octopus, and pelagic fishes of all kinds.

Tarpon


Family Elopidae, TARPONS Megalops atlanticus
Description: last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; back dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarien waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward. Similar Fish: (as juveniles) ladyfish, Elops saurus.
Where found: primarily INSHORE fish, although adult fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found.
Size: most angler catchs 40 to 50 pounds.
*Florida Record: 243 lbs.
Remarks: slow grower; matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans.