3-18-10 JEKYLL ISLAND FISHING REPORT
By Captain Vernon Reynolds
We, and most of the nation, has endured one of the worst winters in years. Every one I know has had at least a touch of cabin fervor this winter. March has arrived and brought with it a few days of warmer, although wetter, weather. Spring is right around the corner, bring better fishing to the area.
The fishing has been poor, with few boats venturing out and few fish being taken when they did. The warmer days of March have helped the Trout, Redfish and Whiting bite. These fish are being taken in area rivers and creeks. There are no local live shrimp available so anglers use DOA shrimp, Gulp shrimp and Saltwater Assassin jigs to catch the Trout and Reds. The Whiting are hitting squid and Stubby Steve's Fish Food Lure.
The fish are in loose, small schools or traveling alone. Fishing several drops is sometimes necessary to catch a mess of fish. Soon they will be schooled up, preparing for the spawn, and much easier to catch.
Sheepshead are being taken on bridge pilings, rock jetties and near shore artificial reefs. The main food source for Sheepshead is crustaceans and the preferred bait is fiddler crabs. Fiddler crabs are small, a couple of inches long with one big claw and one small claw. They are found in our salt marsh, burrowing into the soft sand leaving small holes that they hide and live in. Often you will see thousands just a few yards away but as you approach them they run for the holes, disappearing in the flash of an eye. Anglers catch them by hand, very difficult, and herd them in various home made wire traps.
The fishing method is simple, drop a fiddler straight down on a small hook. If fishing bridge pilings a small float is sometime used, but more often just the hook and a small weight just heavy enough to keep the bait down is utilized. Anglers fishing pilings break oysters and mussels growing on the pilings open with a paddle to attract fish and help the bite. Sheepshead are notorious for stealing bait with a soft bite. There is an old saying, "in order to catch Sheepshead you must set the hook just before the bite".
A few Black Bass are still being taken offshore, when anglers can get out.
Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing & Dolphin Tours is owned and operated by Captains Vernon and Eric Moody. For more information about fishing charters or sightseeing tours call (912)265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com
TAKE A KID FISHING.
