What a Great Week! St Simons Island Fishing Report

Despite getting a few trips blown off the water, we got to get out there with family, friends and charters and take advantage of the great fall bite that has been going on. We had a pretty dynamic representation from the states of California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama and New York. For many, it was their first time in our great marshes, as well as first catches of redfish, trout and flounder. Apparently there truly is a fishing gene, as Michelle's sister Kristen hooked up on her first cast and for a while, we didn't know if she was going to let anybody else catch fish. But the redfish were plentiful that cool morning and everybody got in on the action! While we kept a few fish for the dinner table,

we had an amazing number of redfish releases. We ended the week with Charlie and I pitching docks in the rain. Charlie caught fire with a jig and New Penny Gulp! combo and ended up with one of the nicest slams I've seen this year. Here's where it gets a little weird. Moments before Charlie's biggest flattie of the day, I got bit HARD! I came back with no jig, no nothing. Charlie laughed and tried to suggest cut off from structure. When I cleaned the flounder their was a seven inch mullet in his belly!...AND my jig and plastic.

 

 

By Tim Cutting

A Very Special Day

This was a special day for Andrew who was celebrating his 10^th birthday with his dad James and little sister Alex. James, who works a really heavy work schedule, was looking forward to a great birthday for Andrew and some quality time with both children. Andrew

 

is an avid fisherman who had yet to catch a red. The day started very slow when finally a nice red bit…his little sister’s line. After working several oyster beds we only had some croakers, yt’s, and stinkrays…and a red his sister caught. With the tide still low we checked some more spots until we finally got a another red…on his dad’s line. Now the water was creeping in and we were struggling. We spotted some nervous water in between two gnarly oysters and decided to make a few casts. On Andrew’s third cast he connected with a good slot red. And then the god’s of birthday fish sent us reds for the next 90 minutes. It was kinda crazy with the kids netting each other’s fish and going under and over each other fighting reds. Don’t worry; Dad was yanking on his share too! It couldn’t have turned out better, and we even got to catch a few trout as well. To top it off, Andrew picked up a nice flattie

to complete his birthday slam. I have to apologize for the lack of photos, but the camera went dead, and I struggled with my old flip phone. All in all it was an awesome experience to see Pops and his two wonderful kids laughing and sharing high fives. It’s days like those that you (I) will remember forever! Thanks crew, you guys made it happen!

 

By Tim Cutting

Fish Magnets!

I had another great day earlier this week with “fish magnets” Roy and Amanda. It was a nice fall morning with temps down to about 47 and a pretty good breeze outta the ESE at 10-15 knots. The water was crystal clear, so conditions set up pretty good. On our first stop Amanda boats 4 NICE trout in about 4 casts. We figured it was on! And then things went kinda sideways with a severe case of lockjaw developing. From there it was trolling motor, anchor, plastics, live shrimp and we even considered dynamite. With a trout there, and a red here, we started adding a few up. We weeded thru quite a few dinks as well. Heading back to the ramp we were wondering if we’d have enough fish to stink the grease. It was reminding me of a Kenny Rogers song where “you never count your money (fish) when you’re sitting at the table (boat)”. Sure enough, after the land of a thousand casts, Roy and Amanda (fish magnets) had grinded out a nice mess…again! Thanks guys, it’s always a blast to fish with you!!

 

 

By Tim Cutting

(Fantastic) Fishing Report & Forecast

Most of you folks that have been on the water the past 10 days know the fishing has been very good. The bull redfish run has been one of the best that I’ve seen in nearly thirty years. Amazingly enough, the 1-2 year old reds are incredibly thick as well. These fish in the 14-18” range are everywhere! Trout have been thick one day and scattered the next. It may take several stops to locate them but they are here! The trout fishing has also been populated by a large number of yearling specks in the 9-11” range. There obviously has been an amazingly

successful spawn during the last year and a half. Today Charlie and I snuck out during the low and made a few stops only to find very small trout. With the wind honking out of the south-southwest we made a beeline for some calmer water hoping to find some flounder. With the water temps remaining around 70 we were pretty hopeful. We ended up with just over a dozen, including 6 pretty good ones we threw in the box. The amount of smaller flounder also speaks well of things to come with the flatties!

It looks like the tides will swell up a little these next 6 or 7 days and make fishing a little tricky, but starting about the 9^th of November and until the end of the month (maybe 3 iffy days the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th around the full) the fishing should continue to be outstanding! For those chasing the bulls, the tides shouldn’t affect that bite. They’ll leave when they are good and ready. FYI, those wanting to take a dip on our beautiful beaches need to beware the jolt of the jelly!

By Tim Cutting