Creek Fishing

 

“Creek Fishing”

 

By Terry Lacoss

If you and your fishing companions are tired of trying to find a spot to fish in the surrounding Amelia Island backwaters, you need to tow your boat west and launch at one of several backwater boat accesses and boat ramps.  Instead of waiting in line to launch your fishing boat, you might just be the first and last in line!

Driving west on SR-200, also called AIA, fishermen can obtain easy access to some of Lofton Creek's

best fishing by launching their boat at the “Melton Nelson” Memorial Park and public boat ramp.  This seldom used boat ramp is located just five miles west of Amelia Island offering both fresh and saltwater fishing in its brackish waters.

.   Within a hundred yards navigating south fishermen will find a deep turn in the river where several largemouth bass weighing over the ten-pound mark have been caught.  This popular fishing hole is properly named the “Horseshoe” after Captain Richard Sheets who has a memorial plaque on a nearby cypress tree.  In fact, some of the largest bass in the creek have been taken close to the knees of this memorial cypress.

Bass fishermen working the first mile of water fishing south from the boat ramp will find a variety of cypress trees, lily pads, boat docks and feeder creek mouths where working a weightless black plastic worm with blue metal flakes slowly at shoreline cover. Casting a white spinner bait with a silver Colorado blade in the mouths of feeder creeks during the last of the in-coming and first of the falling tide is a deadly creek bass fishing technique.  During low tide periods plastic worms and shallow running minnow type plugs work best when worked super close to shoreline cover.  Drifting a live shiner under a small, bright colored float works well during all tidal phases when targeting trophy Lofton creek largemouth bass.

Navigating further downstream Lofton Creek opens with vast amounts of marshlands on either bank.  Here the river waters are a mix of both fresh and saltwater where a variety of river fish can be targeted.  Typically, a good rule of thumb is once you have navigated under the power lines, you will find mostly saltwater species including redfish, sea trout, black drum and flounder.

Having on electric trolling motor on your creek boat is a must in locating areas of the creek where saltwater species including black bass, sea trout, redfish and striped bass are schooling.  Casting a three-inch white Berkley Gulp shrimp barbed to a 1/8^th ounce led head is a deadly fishing tactic in these slow-moving tidal waters.  Once you have located a hungry game fish, more creek action here is soon to follow.  Casting a redfish “Magic” spinner bait is also a deadly fishing tactic here as well, particularly when there is a falling tide.

Several of these fresh and saltwater species have more than likely never seen a lure, or barbed bait makes them very aggressive often striking your lure right at boat side!

Here creek fishermen will discover the best fishing in the wide turns of the creek where there is numerous small marsh

creeks that empty into Lofton Creek.  In many cases, fishermen will enjoy multiple strikes while working a productive creek mouth.  Here redfish and striped bass are king.  Fishermen will also find sea trout schooling in the main channel where a deep edge of the creek is located.

The mouth of Lofton Creek also harbors excellent redfish, flounder, black drum and sheepshead fishing where area boat

barnacle clad dock pilings harbor excellent fishing action.

One of the best angling tactics for all the above species includes casting a 1/8 ounce led head jig barbed with a three-inch Berkley Gulp shrimp in the white and chartreuse color pattern.  Working a white “Redfish Magic” spinner bait is also a deadly Lofton Creek fishing tactic for redfish, sea trout, largemouth bass and stripers as well.

Fly fishing is also excellent in Lofton Creek particularly during high tides when working a Brown and Orange “Clouser Minnow” pattern close to shoreline cover and creek mouths.

Creek fishermen can also launch their fishing boat at the Nassau Landing public boat ramp which is located at 436

Edwards Road will also have the option of fishing Thomas’, Boggy and Mills creeks as well for a variety of both fresh and saltwater species as well.

Creek fishing is excellent all year with some of the best action coming during the months of December, January and February.  For fishing license and local fishing regulations, please visit www.myfwc.com