fishing rods and reels
Whether you are looking for a quiet morning on the banks, a family outing at the pier, a kayak trip through the marshes, or an off-shore sportsman’s adventure, the Golden Isles is the perfect place to do some fishing. With salty marshes, tidal pools, winding rivers, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic from which to choose, there are many diverse opportunities for anglers. There are numerous docks and fishing piers, and marinas. There are miles of shoreline and, as they say, plenty of fish in the sea.
If you’re new to the area or just visiting, here’s a quick guide to fishing in the Golden Isles:
Varieties of fish – If you head out to sea and troll with live bait, you’re likely to gets strikes by cobia, snapper, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, grouper, and amberjack among other species, especially from May to September. Shark and tarpon can usually be hooked a few miles offshore, with peak times being mid-summer through September. But you don’t need a boat to enjoy great fishing around here! You can surf cast and crab from the stretches of beach on the north end of St. Simons Island. The piers are popular spots for float-fishing, bottom fishing, and crabbing. Spotted sea trout are plentiful at the causeway bridges (where permissible) using live shrimp and minnows as bait. If fly fishing is your thing, you can find redfish schooling in mere inches of water during the winter months, but there are ample opportunities to fish them in the marshes year-round. Tripletail arrive in early spring and can be sight fished off the beaches with flies or artificial lures. Jack Crevalle can be caught with a fly rod in the marshes and sound during summer months.
Crabbing – There’s a healthy blue crab population in the Golden Isles and crabbing is permitted year-round, but peak months are from August through October. With a fishing license, you can drop up to six crab pots from your boat or a dock. You may retain a maximum of one bushel per day or two bushels per day in the case of boats with more than one person. But just like in fishing, size matters--males must be at least 5 inches in diameter and peelers at least 3 inches.
Fishing license – Anyone who fishes, crabs or seines in Georgia waters and is 16 years old or older must possess a fishing license. Any Georgia fishing license is valid in Glynn County and the Golden Isles, allowing for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. If you’re going out on a charter, most charter licenses cover their guests, but be sure to ask whether you’ll also need to obtain a Georgia fishing license if you don’t already have one.
Regulations – It is important to remember that fishing regulations may vary depending on the different bodies of water. If you are planning on doing off-shore fishing, there are federal regulations that may differ from state regulations. Take some time to get familiar with the rules that apply where you’re fishing. One of the most comprehensive sites for local fishing information, including license and regulation details is coastalgadnr.org. For federal fishing regulations, see safmc.net.
Tide charts – Always check the tide chart when heading to the ocean. What many people don’t realize on St. Simons Island is the tidal coefficient (difference between the height of the water at high tide and at low tide) can be as much as 10+ feet. What that means is that the sandbars that are so inviting during low tide can become dangerous when the tide comes back in – twice a day, approximately every 6 hours. If you are fishing on a sandbar, be aware of this risk and leave the sandbar on the incoming tide. Rip currents can make swimming in areas near the sandbars very difficult. Even if you are not fishing from the beach, it is always helpful to consult a tide chart to determine high and low tide for waterway access and fish activity. A great resource is tides4fishing.com.
Of course, if you’d rather be in the hands of an experienced guide or just think you need a bigger boat, there are several local licensed charter fishing captains available for hire. While you’re here, make some time to put out the “Gone Fishin’” sign and get out to the water. A bad day fishing is still a pretty good day!
