By Captain Vernon Reynolds

Bull Redfish have been King of the hill in Coastal Georgia waters the past couple of weeks. Bull Reds are even hitting trolled jigs, somewhat unusual. Bull Redfish spend most of there life in open ocean waters but for about six weeks in the spring and fall they return to the sound system in which they grew up in. They feed aggressively and are easy to locate due to the fact they return to the same structure every year. Mark the location where you catch a Bull and you may catch one there every year the rest of your life.

The typical fishing method is to bottom fish with live or dead bait. Redfish are scavengers and will eat dead or live bait equally well. Whiting, Poggie and Mullet produce well but any cut fish will do. Crab might be the best bait. You can get crabs free at most seafood shops that carry them. They must be sold alive for table fare, so the dead ones are thrown away. Simply hook the cut fish or crab onto the hook and toss it out with enough sinker weight to keep it on the bottom. Try to place the hook so the bait doesn’t twist in the current. A little twist is OK but a lot will have your line so twisted up you can not fish it. Place the rod in the rod holder and watch the tip of the pole. The tip will lightly bounce a few times before the fish makes a run. Wait until the rod is deeply bent before taking it from the holder and starting to reel. Circle hooks are employed when Bull Red fishing and there is no need to set the hook. The fight will last from five to 15 minutes depending on the weight class of the gear being used. Be sure to revive the fish once it is brought to boat side. Hold his mouth into the current, allowing water to rush over the gills. Once the fish is revived, release it unharmed.

Speckled Sea Trout have also been active the past several weeks. Many boats have been returning to dock with near limit to limits of Trout. These fish are some of the best tasting in our, or any other, area. Trout school this time of the year and feed actively in preparation for the winter migration upriver. Live shrimp is the best bait fished under a float rig. Trout must be over 13 inches in length to keep and there is a creel limit of 15 fish per person.

A few Flounder have been taken recently. Flounder are preparing to move offshore for the winter and can be found along ocean sand bars. Whiting are still active in area sounds. A few King Mackerel are still being found well offshore. These are fish that migrated to the mid-Atlantic states during the summer and are now moving to south Florida for the winter. These fish will move into the area for a day or two and then move on south.

Coastal Expeditions offers charter fishing trips and Dolphin/sightseeing tours. Join us for a fishing trip you will never forget or a Cumberland Island sightseeing tour. Contact Captain Reynolds at (912) 265-0392 or go to coastalcharterfishing.com to book a charter or for further information. Departing daily from Jekyll Harbor Marina.

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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.

Tags: capt vernon reynolds, coastal expeditions, fishing in the golden isles, fishing report, grouper, jekyll island fishing, reds, sea bass, st. simons fishing
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Fishing for Shark, Mackerel, Tarpon, Sea Trout, Flounder, Redfish and Whiting is good in local waters. The question is what effect the coming storms will have on our area and water conditions.

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Sharks are being taken in area sounds and behind shrimp boats working two to five miles offshore. Sharks up to 200 pounds are being caught behind the shrimp boats. These boats produce a natural chum line as stunned baitfish and shrimp fall away from the net as it is pulled along. Add this to the 10 to one by catch that is dumped back into the ocean every three hours or so and a giant buffet is created for the toothy fined ones. Anglers pull up to the stern of a shrimp and begin a drift. Don’t get too close or you will be in the net with the shrimp. Chunk out a live or cut bait about 10 feet under a float and the wait won’t be long. Remember to release Sharks unharmed. If the hook is very deep it is best to cut the leader and let the fish have the hook. It will dissolve away in just a few days.

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Tarpon remain active in local waters. They can be found working area sand bars. Look for “rolling” fish. These fish surface to grab a gulp of air and go right back down. Anchor the boat in a position that allows the bait to drift back to the fish. Tarpon are scavengers and will eat live or dead bait. I like to fish a couple of each. Tarpon have a boney mouth and it is a good habit to sharpen hooks often. When you get a fish on set the hook several times. Do not be concerned about hurting the fish, set the hook hard. Tarpon have no table fare worth so take a scale and release the fish unharmed.

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Take a kid fishing. Captains Vernon Reynolds and Eric Moody operate Coastal Expeditions Charter Fishing & Dolphin Tours. For more information call (912) 265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com

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