Coastal Georgia Inshore Fishing Report & Forecast

With the Vernal Equinox (SPRING!) less than a month away, we will try to give a quick report and forecast.  Barring any major freezes, water temps should remain above 50 degrees, which bodes well for the forage and bait (shrimp, mullet, mud minnows, etc). 

The Redfish will generally hold their winter patterns and midday lows will still be favorable times to look for these fish.  Stealth will still be very important, as it always is, but especially this time of year when the water is clear, the schools are large and the fish are skittish.  As we move towards the end of March and into April, and bait becomes more prevalent, the popping corks will shine over the oysters on the higher tides.

Sheepshead fishing is prime right now.  Docks, pilings, rip rap, jetties and lay downs on the many bluffs are currently very productive.  If the wind lays down, the nearshore wrecks are also a good bet now through the end of March.  Lack of current helps, as the best way to fish these fish is vertically.  This may mean planning your trips away from the full and new moons, or when fishing these extreme tides, choose the windows around the tide changes, when the flow is less. 

Speckled Trout fishing on St Simons Island, and most of the Georgia coast, has been hit and miss.  I think when you see the ocean temperature reach 60 to 65 degrees, you will see the Trout start to feed.  As we get into spring, the Trout will be seeking areas close to the inlets.  Until the ocean temps pick up, I would concentrate your efforts at low tide in deeper creek bends further away from the ocean…5 to 15 miles away.  It is not uncommon to find the Trout around the I-95 bridges and further west. 

As for our fishing here at Coastal Georgia Inshore Charters, we have been concentrating on Redfish.  The good news is that we have found schools of lower slots, mid slots and overs on a fairly regular basis-- which bids well for the future of this fishery.  Great fishing can be found around St Simons Island and the entire Georgia coast, but patterning these fish is at times challenging.  Look for our next blog that will include prime fishing seasons, days and tides for Trout, Redfish, Flounder, Sheepshead, Tripletail, Whiting, Tarpon and those aggressive, hard-fighting Sharks.

Until next time, you won’t know if you don’t go…