Capt. Richie Lott
August 22, 2010
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing the COASTAL GEORGIA HEAT in 2010
The GA Saltwater fishing remains incredible, even with soaring temperatures reaching 115 with heat index.
It has simply been one of those seasons that we'll all look back and say… Man, that was an awesome summer! Aside of dealing with scorching temperatures on land and on the ocean, this charter fishing season has been one of the best since 1997-1998 for our group and most other guides and captains in the area around St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island in Coastal Georgia.
Inshore:
Although we don't have very many requests for inshore fishing and backwater fishing in the summer season, the trips we have run and the re-con trips we ran have produced phenomenal results for Trout, Redfish and Flounder from the beach edge all the way to the back country marshes of Coastal Georgia.
If an Angler seeks to catch speckled trout, he/she will definitely have a superb trip with live bait and artificial, but weeding through the keeper fish has been a chore for everyone. Many keeper size fish are being caught, but it's about 6 to 1 or higher on throw-back trout. However, nobody ever said catching ANY size trout one after another wasn't fun!
At the end of the day, you will have a nice mess of fish most times and you will have caught more trout and redfish than most anytime last season. We can only hope they grow quick and everyone stays legal on their keep during this influx of smaller trout and reds. This could be a stellar fall season shaping up for coastal Georgia Inshore Fishing.
Nearshore:
Big Fish, sweat on the brow and medium tackle = SPINNER SHARKS AND TARPON. This season has been premier for Tarpon. The Spinners are here in dependable order each summer, but the Tarpon bite has been extreme. We haven't seen the fish like this in many years.
The numbers of Tarpon off the beaches right now is stunning. Most any sound, channel or sandbar cut on the GA coast that is holding menhaden will be holding tarpon. They are everywhere this year and not a minute to soon! Many of us were beginning to wonder what happened to the good old days of tarpon fishing.
Enjoy a trip to fish for Tarpon on the GA coast before they're gone. You can almost bet that if you don't catch one, you'll see MANY and have a better chance at catching one than you would have last season, or the season before. The challenge is always the same, but with the amount of silver kings in the area, your odds are dramatically increased, no question. This is the year… Right now.
The full moon in August proved its point and procedure once again of being the pristine time to target the silver kings on the GA coast. The blazing hot temperatures and huge bait pods of menhaden drive the fish into our area thick this year and we're no where near the end of the road. The tarpon should be around for another month or more unless some extreme weather moves our bait out of the area.
With tarpon in this area it is pretty simple. Find bait…. Find Fish!
Offshore:
You know, Amberjack are here every season and it's not really abnormal to catch a limit of them. However, catching a limit with spoons and jigs makes it that much more fun for the angler and a challenge for even the most seasoned fishing guide.
200g butterfly jigs in blue, green and red heads have been the ticket for catching HUGE jacks this season. AJ's can't stand the butterfly ripped by them… They'll eat it every time if presented properly. Offshore fun doesn't get much better, and contrary to popular belief, AJ is some of the best eating fish in ocean, especially the shoulder meat. Don't be fooled by rumors from Blue Water fishermen who dolphin fish 5-6 times per year who tell you AJ's are just trash fish in the way….. It's FAR from true. In fact, Salt Water Sportsman magazine had an article and a recipe for Amberjack Cakes in a recent issue less than a year ago. Enjoy them while they're here….. It is truly the fight of an animal and even better on the dinner table that night.
Now, you throw in some Cobia, and we got some good fishing going on during an offshore trip…. Grey Triggers, an occasional Grouper and nice Black Sea Bass… and well, that's all that needs to be said and it's happening right now in the middle of the summer. I can't wait to see that the fall months bring with the summer producing such nice fish for us!
We have been blessed this season on offshore trips. Maybe it's switching back to 2-Stroke engines? Who knows, but we're on a roll and expect it to continue for the above mentioned fish and others as well.
Get to Georgia and get on some great fishing. It's just getting started! Well, it really never ended?...! Bull Redfish will start next month, so we're excited about that fishery as well as one of our favorite beach side trophy fish. Possibly some of the largest redfish in the world can be caught right here not far off the GA coast, and it's almost time!
May the Seas be Calm and your Coolers be full!
Cheers to all!
Capt. Richie Lott
Penn Reels Guide Service – Coastal Georgia
Richie Lott Outdoors & Charter Fishing
www.charterfish.com
912-617-1177
St. Simons Island Fishing Forecast:
As fall approaches, the fishing will only get better and better here on the GA Coast.