BLACK TIP SHARKS ACTIVE AROUND JEKYLL & ST. ISLANDS
By Captain Vernon Reynolds
The weather is improving and so is area fishing. Freshwater fishing is picking up with good numbers and good sized Bluegill, Redbreast, and Perch being taken over the last couple of weeks. Louisiana Pinks, Red Wigglers, Earth Worms and crickets are producing well. Old timers used to fish with Catawba worms. These worms make nests in pecan trees that look like thick spider webs. If you can find some just place them on the hook about half way and toss them out under a float. If the fish are picky and old trick is to cut the worm in half and use a match stick to turn the half worm inside out. Catawba worms are white inside and often will "match the hatch" when turned inside out. Catfish are also being taken, most are good size and all are good eating. Black Bass are hitting jerk baits and top water plugs. Most are fair to nice sized Bass.
Salt water fishing is getting better too. Black Tip Sharks have arrived. Black Tips are great fun to catch, being foot balled shaped and growing to 200 plus pounds, they are great fighters and good eating. Sea Trout are moving toward the Beaches in preparation for the spawn. Whiting are working the sand bars. Tripletail are in front of Jekyll Island. A 45 pound Cobia was taken at C reef last week. Sheepshead are also taking up residence on the near shore reefs. Further offshore King Mackerel, Barracuda, Amberjack and Wahoo are being found.
Sharks come to our area every year at this time to spawn pups. This is reputed to be the biggest Shark breeding grounds on the East Coast. There has never been a recorded Shark attack in the Golden Isles. I believe the reason is that there is so much bait fish in the water there is no reason for the Sharks to attack anything as big as a human being.
Fishing for Sharks is easy, simply anchor in a likely spot, though out a couple of chunks of cut bait, start a chum line and sit back. It won't be long and you will be fighting a three to 10 foot Shark. Shark numbers are down so we encourage everyone to release Sharks unharmed.
For more information or to book a fishing charter contact Coastal Expeditions at (912) 265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com.
Tale a kid fishing.