Fishing opportunities are limited only by your imagination at Amelia Island at the northern-most tip of Florida. This area has, of course, the ocean, and backwaters that are a mix of salt and fresh water, and fresh water streams and lakes are also plentiful. Many recreational opportunities exist in the area, and you may enjoy those after eating all the healthy fish you catch.
Parks
Amelia Island is surrounded by public areas that hold many fishing opportunities, as well as canoeing, kayaking, hiking and biking. North is Cumberland Island National Seashore, a large undeveloped island with limited public access. To the south are the Big and Little Talbot Island State Parks and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park. To the west is the Nassau Wildlife Area and Four Creeks State Park. Then to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. Any of these places should provide more than enough healthy activity and fishing opportunities.
On Amelia Island
Amelia Island attracts a lot of people, but it is a great place to fish. The island has two public piers and one private pier. The old Nassau Sound bridge has been converted into what amounts to a mile-long pier. A state park is available at the south end where you may take a four-wheel drive vehicle to the beach.
The private pier is for guests at a condo, but you could rent a room there and fish almost out your back door. The public piers have a small daily fee, or you may purchase a yearly pass good at all Florida state parks.
Charters are also available for both offshore and inshore fishing.
Beginning in 2009, a saltwater shoreline license started being required in addition to a fishing license.
Bait
Shrimp and mullet are plentiful around Amelia Island and easy to catch with a cast net. It may take a little time to learn how to throw a net and you can catch all kinds of fish that way, but mostly cast nets are used to catch bait.
One trick with using shrimp for bait is to leave it in the shell, which allows it to stay on the hook longer. Mullet are also very plentiful and often used for bait. Fiddler crabs and blue crabs are also common and often used for bait.
Live bait is popular, but you may also freeze what you don't use and use it on a future fishing expedition.
Types
Many types of fish are available in the waters around Amelia Island. Check with local fishermen if you want to go after a specific species, but in general most of the fish you catch are edible and healthy to eat.
Bluefish are plentiful here and average 2 to 3 lbs., which is much smaller than bluefish in the northern states which get to 20 lbs. Flounder is also a popular fish, but not as easy to catch. Red Drum, sheepshead, sea trout, sea bass and whiting are also popular fish around the shore areas.
Charters
Perhaps the easiest way to go fishing is to take a charter. You may book a fishing trip for going out on the ocean, or for going to the backwaters, the rivers and streams in the area. Usually outfitters specialize on either fresh or salt water, but they are easy to find whichever one you choose. Some outfitters also do surf fishing, which is good if you are not an experienced fisherman.
Typically, charters provide all fishing equipment, but most will let you take your own equipment if you desire. Meals are included for all-day trips. You may choose the length of time you want your trip to be, whether it is a couple of hours or a couple of days.
Outfitters will usually clean your fish and pack it up so it is ready to go in your freezer. Of course, you may take your fish as is and grill it immediately.
Eco-Tour
If you like to get out on the water but do not care to fish, an eco-tour might be interesting. Fishing outfitters are usually very knowledgeable about the area and the ecosystems where they fish.
Tours are from one to four hours. You will get to see the sights around the island from a different perspective, and will also likely see fish, wildlife and birds. Manatees and sharks are often observable.
Outfitters also offer trips that are a combination of the two.
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