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Have you tried the Jekyll Island Club Hotel’s signature drink- “The Georgia Peach Cocktail?” Watch Kenny, their head bartender, create this drink in this short video (57 seconds).
The weather is hot and so is the fishing! Temperatures have been running in the low hundreds for the last few weeks while Tarpon have been running in the high hundreds. Captain Eric Moody jumped a Tarpon last week that he believes was the largest one he has ever jumped. He had the monster on for about 30 minutes before it made a mighty jump and straightened a 7/0 stainless steel hook. The same day Captain Larry Davis caught a fish estimated to be about 175 pounds.
Sharks up to 100 pounds are also being taken in local waters. Sharks and Tarpon can be caught in the same waters using the same fishing method. Both species feed heavily on Menhaden this time of the year. These baitfish congregate in area sounds and are most easily caught by predators when in shallow water near sand bars. Look for Menhaden gulping air and splashing water near sand bars. Anchor the boat so you can cast baits out the stern to working fish. A normal setup is one or two baits pegged on the bottom with a four ounce egg sinker and one or two baits suspended four to eight feet below a float. Tighten the drags down to the point you can hardly pull line off the spool.
Good numbers of Speckled Sea Trout and Redfish are being taken in area rivers and creeks. Most are small, below the legal 13 inch keeping length for Trout and 14 inches for Reds. Most anglers are reporting taking 20 to 25 small fish to one keeper. This happens every year in late Summer and the high number of small fish to larger looks good for the Fall fishing. These small fish will be legal this fall.
Whiting, Bluefish, Tripletail and Flounder are also being taken inshore.
COASTAL EXPEDITIONS CHARTER FISHING & DOLPHIN TOURS is owned and operated by captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody. Call (912) 265-0392 to book a charter or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com for further information.
With the Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash just weeks away, we will be periodically bringing you sneak previews of some of the teams competing in this year’s BBQ competition. Earlier this week, we introduced you to the Lang BBQ team. Now, we’re introducing you to another BBQ heavyweight.
Right On Q – Darien, GA
This team owns a popular small town BBQ joint and catering business that has attracted quite the following recently. With close to 400 Facebook fans and dozens of glowing reviews on Yelp, it will be hard to take down this hometown favorite. Locals and tourists alike rave about the restaurant’s slab ribs, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and BBQ brisket. And of course, their award-winning Brunswick stew.
“Hands down, this is the best BBQ I’ve had. I wouldn’t be surprised if this place gets featured on a “Throw Down” episode with Bobby Flay or anything on the Food Network sometime soon.” (courtesy of one Yelp reviewer)
You better believe this team will utilize their arsenal of good ‘ole fashioned BBQ food and Southern hospitality to try and beat out the competition.
Do you think your BBQ recipe will put the other teams’ to shame? It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s competition. The cooking, or should I say, smoking begins on August 20th.
The Morgan Center renovation is well underway. This $3.5 million renovation is scheduled to be complete in the beginning of September. Right now, crews are busily working on the 1,800 square foot kitchen facility. The framework and initial electrical and plumbing work for the kitchen are all complete.
In the coming week(s), crews will be tackling the flooring on the Mezzanine level and installing the main elevator.
Once complete, the renovated center will have 4,900 square feet of conference space on the main level and 1600 square feet of space on the mezzanine level.
For more information about the Morgan Center, please visit our website. Or, to schedule a conference, wedding or special event, please contact the Jekyll Island Club Hotel sales team at sales@jekyllclub.com or at 912-635-2600, ext. 1070.
With the Beach Music Festival and BBQ Bash just weeks away, we will be periodically bringing you sneak previews of some of the teams competing in this year’s BBQ competition.
Teams are traveling from across Georgia and even North Carolina to showcase their BBQ cooking skills. All hoping that they have the winning recipe. Let’s meet one of the teams.
Lang BBQ Smokers- Nahunta, GA
With 22 years of experience, these Barbecue connoisseurs will not be easy to take down. While some teams swear by their top secret dry rub or sauce, this team relies on their smoker to draw out great flavors. With four different custom smokers to choose from, this team definitely will have no shortage of that signature rich smoky taste.
Do you think your BBQ recipe is a winner? It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s competition. The cooking, or should I say, smoking begins on August 20th.
Disclosure: Lang BBQ Smokers is also a sponsor for this year’s Beach Music and BBQ Festival.
Watch this video for an aerial tour of Indian Mound Cottage, one of the newly restored and renovated cottages in Jekyll Island’s Historic District.
This cottage was once a vacation home for William and Almira Rockefeller, who stayed there in the early 1900s. They oversaw the additions and renovations that gave Indian Mound Cottage its present day appearance.
Tours of the Indian Mound Cottage are available seven days a week. For more information, contact the Jekyll Island Museum Staff.
Join us for the third annual Shell-e-brate Earth Day Family Festival! This shell-e-bration features recycled crafts, earth-tastic activities and eco-entertainment for the whole family!
Sea you there from Noon to 4pm in Jekyll Island’s historic district at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! The event is free with paid admission to the Center. $6 for adults, $4 for children 4-12, and children 3 and under are free.
Visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s website for more information.
By Captain Vernon ReynoldsFishing is improving in the waters surrounding Jekyll, St. Simons and Cumberland Islands. Whiting fishing is the best bet. A few Bull Reds are being taken. Sea Trout and Redfish are moving into area sounds as the water warms. Sheepshead are taking up residence on near shore reefs.
Whiting are smallish, the world record being only about four pounds. Most range from a half pound to two and a half pounds. But what they lack in size they make up in pure numbers. Often more than 100 can be caught in just a few hours fishing. On top of that Whiting are one of the best eating fish in our, or any other, area.
On any Saturday or Sunday for the next 10 to 12 weeks there will be over 75 boats bobbing up and down in the waters off the King & Prince Hotel on St. Simons Island. All of these boats will be Whiting fishing. And all of the boats will be catching Whiting.
Whiting are bottom feeders, and can be easily fooled with a small piece of shrimp or squid. Terminal tackle is the traditional fish finding rig. An 18 inch length of 20 pound test mono leader is attached to the main line via a small swivel. A 2/0 wire gold hook is attached to the other end of the leader. An egg sinker just heavy enough to stay on the bottom is placed on the main line above the swivel. I like a one and a half to a two ounce sinker depending on the current. Fifteen pound test mono spooled onto a Pflueger 7040 Medalist spinning reel works well. Attach the reel to a Shakespeare six and a half foot medium action, Ugly Stick Lite Spinning rod and you have a whiting outfit.
Fishing method is simple, cast the bait out and let it sink to the bottom. Take up the slack line and wait for the bite. If there is no bite in a few minutes slowly drag the bait to you by lifting the rod tip. Drop the rod tip and pick up the slack. Wait 30 seconds and repeat until the bait is near the boat. This method covers a lot of water and usually produces a fish before the bait is back to the boat.
The minimum legal size for Whiting is 10 inches, (there is no creel limit) there is not much meat on a 10 inch fish so I suggest only keeping those 12 inches or better. Twelve inch and better fish produce fair fillets. There is nothing better than a pile of golden brown, fried Whiting fillets stacked high and a big bowl of stiff cheese grits. Add a few dozen hushpuppies, a little cold slaw and a glass of sweet ice tea; what more can I say?
Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing And Dolphin Tours is owned and operated by Captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody. Contact us at (912) 265-0392 for further information or to book a charter. Whiting fishing is just right for the kids.
TAKE A KID FISHING!!!!
 WIN, YOUWIN!!! Just mention the Braves winning score from the most recent game and you’ll pay only twenty five dollars for
your round of golf. So cheer on the Braves, and come to Jekyll Island for the best golf value. Call for details and we’ll see you at the turn! © 2009 Jekyll Island Golf Club| 322 Captain Wylly Road | Jekyll Island, GA 31527 Phone: (912) 635-2368 | Fax: (912) 635-4164 golf.jekyllisland.com | golf@jekyllisland.com
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We are happy to announce that Blackbeard’s Seafood Restaurant is now serving lunch 7 days a week (effective Monday 4/5/10). Our focus over the last half of March was to make sure the product and service being delivered at dinner exceeded the guest’s expectations. We are very pleased with the positive comments from locals and visitors to the island. While we will continue to refine our evening service we feel confident that now is the time to extend our reach to lunch and provide the same attention to detail as we have for evening service.
Fishing is picking up in local waters. Catches of Whiting, Redfish and Sea Trout are being reported from Darien to Cumberland Island. Bull Reds, mature Redfish ranging from 20 to 80 pounds, are being taken in and around inlets and sounds.
Everything is a little late this year, the winter was long and server, spring has been windy and wet, and the water temperature is slow in rising. Not conducive to good fishing. All we need though is a few days of warm, calm weather and the fish will respond. Some years it seems like the warm up will never come, but it always dose.
Look for places out of the wind, where the sun shines long on shallow water over black mud. These are the places where the water will warm first. Add structure to this, oyster bars or maybe a bridge and fish will not be far. Fish them on both the incoming and outgoing tides during the middle of the day, when the Sun is high and hot.
Mud minnows are good live bait for Reds and Trout. Local shrimp are still a few weeks off. Mud minnows can be caught in a minnow trap baited with cat food, fish or crab parts, hot dogs and such, minnows are not picky. They can be keep alive in a five gallon bucket in the yard. Just change the water twice a day and drop in a piece of hotdog for them to eat.
Artificial baits include DOA lures, Saltwater Assassin jig head and body combinations and Gulp plastic lures. These lures can be fished via the cast and retrieve method or fished under a float. Both methods produce well.
Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing & Dolphin Tours is operated by Captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody. For further information or to book a tour call (912) 265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com
Brian Powers of the Jekyll Island Golf Course
We got this super letter of appreciation from a customer of the golf course, and we thought we’d share and give Brian Powers his accolades…
Good evening Mr. Kicklighter
My name is Harvey Beaulac and I am writing to let you know how impressed my wife and I were with your staff, more specifically Brian Powers. We visited the pro shop last week and Brian quickly picked up on our Canadian accent and did a great job in making us feel both welcome and at home by even speaking French to my wife. He fully explained the Punch Card program to me and took the time to answer all of my questions regarding the intricacies of this program.
Today my wife and I again visited the pro shop (I had a tee time at 1:11) and we were again greeted by Brian and his assistant (I am sorry I forgot his name). Both Brian and his assistant greeted us in French and made us feel truly welcomed. After checking in for my tee time, I casually mentioned that today was my wife’s (Diane) birthday. Brian and his assistant wished my wife a “very happy birthday” and Brian insisted in buying her a “birthday drink at the bar”. He accompanied us to the bar and explained that he was simply giving us a taste of “southern hospitality. WOW!!
To say we were totally impressed would be an understatement. Brian asked the bartender to give my wife any drink she wanted. Diane ordered a Diet Coke and Brian and I toasted her and wished her a happy birthday. My wife said that it was the best Diet Coke she has had in quite a while.
I can’t wait to share this story with all my friends back home and stress how well we were treated at your establishment. The golf courses, the training facilities and the service were all outstanding.
Thank you very much and you can be sure that we will be back next year.
Yours truly
H.C. Beaulac
Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s Golden Isles, delights travelers with its rich history and natural beauty. Whether you’re seeking a weekend away with your honey or a family-friendly vacation, this place has it all and is a mere stone’s throw from Atlanta. Read the full article here.
Fun loving winter residents of Jekyll Island that are always looking for a good time and the opportunity to share their quirky talents established Jekyll Island’s first Kazoo Night. Morgan’s Grill was hopping with friendly chatter, mouth watering food and the hum of Kazoos Friday March 12 during their weekly sing-a-long happy hour. Musicians Chip Ward & Friends played to a packed house playing their hometown tunes while being accompanied by an audience of Kazoo enthusiasts.
We, and most of the nation, has endured one of the worst winters in years. Everyone I know has had at least a touch of cabin fever this winter. March has arrived and brought with it a few days of warmer, although wetter, weather. Spring is right around the corner, bringing 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. Fishing bridge pilings with 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.
