We asked some of the ladies playing in the putting contest and some of the guys warming up on the driving range, what was their favorite part of the Georgia Florida Golf Classic:

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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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By Dan Lott

Overlooking the intracoastal waterway and alongside the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel, the Jekyll Island Invitational Tournament was played October 23-25 under very favorable weather conditions. It had been 17 years since the last tournament was played there.

The field consisted of eight strong players (four from Georgia and four from Florida). With only one block, each participant played five matches before the seeding of single elimination ladder play on Sunday.

It took several matches before seasoned tournament players Dick Brackett, John Curington, and Ted Knopf adapted to the challenging court, and began to assert their superior style of play.

Absent from the sport for many years, Jim Woodall was the surprise of the tournament going 4-1 in block play to earn the #2 seed position in the ladder. His only block loss was by one point to the eventual champion.

With the exception of a one point loss to Ted Knopf in block play, rising star Derrick Wassink was the dominant force in the tournament. He quickly adjusted to the vicissitudes of the court and overpowered his opponents, earning +48 Net Points in block play.

In the finals, when Ted Knopf stuffed one of his balls in #2 wicket, Wassink hit in and took control of the match, turning in a score of 26-4 to capture the championship trophy.

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JEKYLL ISLAND FISHING REPORT, October 1, 2009

October and November are the two best months for taking Speckled Sea Trout inshore. The Sea Trout is the most popular and sought after inshore species in our area.

Speckled Sea Trout are abundant in local rivers and creeks. They provide a fun fishing experience and are fine table fare. Trout spawn along area beaches through the summer months. Once Trout have spawned they move into sounds and inlets along the coast. Specks will spend the remainder of the summer in small, loose nit schools until fall. As water temperatures drop Trout begin to school in larger numbers. These schools hunt pray aggressively and feed heavily in preparation for the fall migration up stream. Good numbers of fish can be taken quickly during this time of the year.

Trout can be taken on live and artificial bait. The most popular fishing method is float fishing with live shrimp. Trout can be found near oyster bars in shallow water. Float fishing provides a way to fish oyster bars without getting hung up. The Cajen Thunder clacker type float works well around shell bars. Such corks make a clacking noise produced by two or more metal or plastic balls banging together when the float is jerked with the rod. This clacking sound resembles that of a surface feeding Trout striking pray. A D.O.A. artificial shrimp can also be effective fished under a clacking cork. Live Mud Minnows and Finger Mullet also make good Trout baits.

Trout will also strike jigs and surface lures. Curley tail jig bodies in three to five inch lengths attached to quarter ounce heads work well. A slow steady retrieve will work at times, other times the jig must be bounced of the bottom to be effective. Jigs can also be trolled. The jig should be skipped along the bottom. Surface baits with propellers will often entice strikes, other times a more refined lure is called for.

October and November, the summer heat has broken, the days are shorter and the Trout are biting. Take a day or two off your busy schedule and go fishing.

To book a charter or for more information call (912) 265-0392 or go to www.coastalcharterfishing.com.

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ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SHRIMP & GRITS? Making Dinner Plans? Friday night is $3 Sample Night at Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival. Halyards of St. Simon’s Island is one of the awesome restaurants vending at the festival, serving up that wonderful southern specialty: Shrimp and Grits! The Shrimp are Coming! Beth Burnsed of the Jekyll Island Authority Says the Weather is Great as they Are Setting Up and Getting Ready for an Awesome Shrimp & Grits: the Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival! Follow us on Twitter or Be our Fan on Facebook for Updates from the Festival! Not only do we have tasty shrimp but cold beer thanks to our sponsor, Michelob Ultra, at Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival!

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Tags: Add new tag, Beach Music Festival, emerald princess, Geocaching on Jekyll Island, Georgia, georgia beaches, georgia coast, golden isles, golf, jekyll island, jekyll island arts association, jekyll island authority, jekyll island beach vacation, Jekyll Island Beachscape, jekyll island birding, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island georgia, jekyll island golf, jekyll island history, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island museum, jekyll island revitalization, jekyll island vacation, Jekyll Island vacations, Shrimp & Grits Festival, shrimp and grits, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
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Tags: Beach Music Festival, beach vacation, Beachscape, emerald princess, Geocaching on Jekyll Island, geocaching on jekyll island jekyll island georgia, Georgia, georgia beach vacation, georgia beaches, georgia coast, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, golden isles, golf, jekyll, jekyll island, jekyll island authority, jekyll island beach, jekyll island beach vacation, Jekyll Island Beachscape, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, jekyll island development, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island facts, jekyll island golf, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island museum, jekyll island revitalization, jekyll island vacation, sea turtles, Shrimp & Grits Festival, shrimp and grits, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
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Tags: Beach Music Festival, emerald princess, Geocaching on Jekyll Island, geocaching on jekyll island jekyll island georgia, Georgia, georgia beach vacation, georgia beaches, georgia coast, golf, jekyll, jekyll island, jekyll island authority, jekyll island beach, jekyll island beach vacation, Jekyll Island Beachscape, Jekyll Island Club Hotel, jekyll island development, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island golf, jekyll island history, jekyll island hotels, jekyll island revitalization, jekyll island vacation, Jekyll Island vacations, sea turtles, Shrimp & Grits Festival, shrimp and grits, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Wild Georgia Shrimp Festival
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