JEKYLL & ST. SIMONS ISLAND FISHING REPORT
By Captain Vernon Reynolds
Fishing in the Golden Isles has been somewhat hampered by hurricanes, northeasters and rain. Those days when anglers could get away from the dock Whiting, Trout, Tripletail and Redfish were found inshore. Sharks and Tarpon were cruising near shore. King Mackerel and Barracuda were working the offshore reefs.
September is a transition month. Sharks, Tarpon, Tripletail, King Mackerel and Barracuda are leaving area waters. Sea Trout, Bull and River Reds, Black Sea Bass, Grouper and Sheepshead are becoming more active.
Look for Trout and River Reds in inshore rivers and creeks. Trout will be schooling up in preparation for the fall migration upstream. Specks feel heavily before making the trip. Look for oyster bars and drop-offs near the bank to hold Trout. Younger Reds will be found in the same areas. As the water cools Reds will be found on mud bars, on low tide during the middle of the day. The dark mud holds the heat of the sun and warms the surrounding water.
Bull Reds will be found near sand bars adjacent to sounds, inlets and river mouths. Bull Reds, those fish that have become sexually mature at about four years of age, spend most of their lives in the open ocean. A quirk of the species is that they return to the same estuary into which they were spawned. They return in the spring and again in the fall. The annual return is so precise that the same fish will return to the same sand bar year after year. These fish range from 20 to over 100 pounds and are the breeder stock of the species. They are fun to catch but must be released unharmed.
Sheepshead, Sea Bass and Grouper will be found on near shore reefs. These species move into shallow water for the winter months. Look for them on structure in 40 to 60 feet of water.
Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing and Dolphin Tours is operated by Captain Vernon Reynolds and Captain Eric Moody. For further information or to book a charter call (912) 265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com.
