7-23-09 JEKYLL & ST. SIMONS ISLAND FISHING REPORT
By Captain Vernon Reynolds
Speckled Sea Trout, Red Drum, Flounder, Whiting and Bluefish have been active in area rivers and creeks. Tripletail, Sharks and Tarpon are being taken in local sounds. King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia and Barracuda are cruising near shore reefs. Grouper and Snapper are being taken at the 40 mile bottom. Wahoo, Tuna, King Mackerel and Amberjack are being caught at the Gulf Stream.
Most anglers are fishing in the mornings; it is not as hot and the chance of being rained our is less. Tarpon, the Silver King, have arrived in good numbers. These great fighters offer no food worth but are one of the strongest, highest jumping and determined fighters that swim in the ocean. Fish for Tarpon along the edge of sand bars and in deep holes. Live menhaden is the favored bait but Tarpon will hit about anything live or dead. Fish a couple of baits pinned on the bottom with a three or four ounce sinker and a couple about six feet below a float. (Live bait is a must when float fishing.) Lock the drag down to the point where you can barely pull the 40 mono line from the reel. Don't worry, a good Tarpon will strip a 100 yards of line from the reel before you can get it turned. Tie on a circle hook to your 150 pound mono leader and you are ready to bait up. Chunk the bait out and put the rod in a holder and sit back. The circle hook will hook the fish with out you doing anything and you will know when you have a fish on by the bend in the rod and the scream of the reel. If you land a Tarpon take a scale and release the fish unharmed.
Take a kid fishing. Captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody operate Coastal Charter Fishing and Dolphin Tours. Departing daily from Jekyll Harbor Marina. Call 912-265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com for further information.
