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If you are coming to Amelia Island with kids, and have some fishing
rods already, definitely bring them along if the method you are using
to travel allows it. You don't really need to bring anything but rods
and reels - all the other gear you'll need is readily available here
at minimal costs. If you are here already with no rods, or you don't
have any to bring, a quick stop at Walmart or Kmart should remedy
that problem. Both have combos - a rod and reel together, usually with
line already on the reel - that are inexpensive and suitable for
anywhere you'll find to fish here.
Florida Fishing License Information. Kids under 16 do not need a
license to fish in salt water from land, but any non-resident of the state of
Florida over 16 does need one. You can buy a 3 day salt water license for
$6.50 if you need one, pick it up at Walmart or one of the local tackle
shops. If you decide to go fishing in a charter boat, check with the
charter boat captain - boats usually have a license that covers everyone
on the boat, so you won't need to purchase one yourself. Rules change
frequently, visit the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site for up to the minute
information about licensing.
There are also regulations on number and sizes of certain types of
fish in Florida that you are allowed to keep. Ask for a brochure in
Walmart or the tackle store with regulations regarding fish, or for
a quick reference you can print out the Fishing Regulations page from
our Amelia Island Fishing Directory to show you the basics on limits
and sizes.
Now lets try and cover some places to go and the methods to use when
you get there:
Surf Fishing On The Beach. No matter where you are staying on the island,
from North Beach all the way to Amelia Island Plantation, you aren't going
to be far from the beach, and it's always a fun place to fish. Most
fisherman will tell you that the time you fish vs. the tide is very
important, but experience tells us that theory doesn't always work, so
any time the weather is nice and the kids want to go is the right time.
There's plenty of real estate on the beach available for everyone, so try
to find a spot away from bathers before you bait up.
Tackle: A bottom rig with two hooks (1/0 size), available at Walmart, Kmart, or any
of the local tackle stores you might happen to be near. If you purchase
a rod, you want a 'medium' size rod - nothing very light and flimsy, and
nothing twelve feet long - something in the six foot range is fine for the
beach and you can use it other places too. You'll need some 2 to 3 ounce
sinkers, either round or pyramid. And of course you'll need some bait -
the easiest to use and is shrimp, which is available frozen at Walmart or
fresh at the local fish markets. Fresh is better, but frozen works too.
If you can find an inexpensive 'sand spike' (PVC rod holder you stick into
the sand) we'd recommend one of those for the beach too - you never want
to lay your reel down in the sand.
Method: Find the beach, find the water, bait the hooks, and start fishing.
That's easy, huh? If you are using medium size shrimp, you can cut them in
half and put half on each hook. You don't need to throw your bait a mile
out into the ocean, you'd be amazed at how many fish are caught very near
the edge of the water. On days when the water isn't calm, your bait will
sometimes wash back towards the beach - when it gets close, just reel it
in and cast again.
What You Might Catch: In the surf, almost anything. Whiting are the most
populated fish in the surf, but you will also catch trout, reds, small
sharks, flounder, skates, bluefish, and saltwater catfish. The web designer at
Amelia Island Online is an avid surf fisherman, and he's seen everything
hooked in the surf - from a six inch long whiting to a 100 pound tarpon.
Precautions: Rough weather and surf conditions can sometimes create rip
currents on our beaches, that are capable of overcoming even the best
swimmer. You don't need to go into the water to surf fish (although you
can if you'd like) but we recommend keeping the kids safely on the beach,
even on a nice day. Some fish (small sharks, bluefish, etc.) have very
sharp teeth and you need to take care when releasing them from the hooks.
Keep the kid's fingers away from even very small sharks or bluefish.
Pier Fishing. Amelia Island finally has it's own public fishing pier, which
is open to the public and anyone can use it. It's located at the boat ramp
at the north end of 14th Street, and it's a great place to take the kids.
As you proceed North on 14th Street, you will cross Atlantic Avenue and in
a short while you'll come to a bridge over Egans Creek. Cross the bridge,
and the road will bear sharply to the left. Follow the road for 1/2 mile
or so and you'll come to the entrance for the boat ramp parking lot, on
your right.
You can fish with the kids on the piers on either side of the boat ramp.
Here you are fishing in the Amelia River, but you are subject to catching
the same thing as we mentioned you might catch in the surf, with maybe the
exception of Tarpon. Same rod, same bottom rig, and same shrimp for bait
as we outlined in surf fishing above.
Fort Clinch Pier. Fort Clinch State park (entrance on the Atlantic near
the beach) also has a 2700 foot long pier that runs along the jetties at
the mouth of the river. The pier sometimes is crowded on weekends during
nice weather but on weekdays it's pretty empty.
From this pier, you can
catch just about anything the ocean has to offer, including a few species
you won't see in the surf, like the Atlantic Spadefish, which looks like
an angel fish. Use the same fishing gear and bait here, and you can add
some frozen or fresh finger mullet to your bait if you'd like.
There is a moderate admission fee to Fort Clinch State Park, and the
rangers at the toll booth going in can help you with fishing information.
If you park and go into the office, it's a great place to pick up printed
information about fishing in Florida.
Have Fun! And don't forget
the sun block - nobody likes bright red tourists.
Article By Amelia Island Online Staff
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