There is no doubt that spring has sprung here on St. Simons Island, albeit a tad early. Probably doesn’t mean we won’t see another cold snap or a little snow for the folks in the Atlanta area, but with water temps in the lower 60’s some predictable things are happening. The whiting are THICK in the sounds, trout have been showing up in good numbers on the Camden and Glynn county coast respectively, and that rat-a-tap-tap of those pesky shrimp stealing yellow tails has begun in earnest.
This time of year, the word “transition” gets thrown around a lot, and I suppose it is true. Trout will be bunched up, from shallow to deep, near the sounds as well as further up the rivers. Now is a perfect time to break out a topwater lure for a locater, and you may even get a nice redfish surprise. Whiting will be in many of the usual haunts, but a sure bet is 18 feet of water in the sounds and rivers less than a half mile from the beach. Small pieces of fresh peeled shrimp, a # 1 bait holder hook, and just enough weight to keep the bait planted on the bottom will do the trick. Multi-hook rigs will most certainly yield plenty of "two on one cast" hook ups. Mud minnows are a great addition in the spring as the shrimp will definitely be in the mold and hold mode. Those frisky pollywogs floated under a popping cork around shells at low tide will certainly produce reds on big water as well us up the creeks. Surprisingly enough, we had quite a few flounder show up in the last week of February! And everybody knows what a doormat magnet Mr. Mudminister is. Don't get me wrong, a live shrimp is always a good choice, but a mud minnow added to the mix may up your odds.
The sheepshead fishing is in full swing as well. Jetty rocks, bridge pilings, docks, and laydowns are all holding these hard fighting great eating fish right now. Along with fiddler crabs, chunks of blue crab, squid, shrimp, clam meat, oyster meat, and mussels will all get eaten. A small mussel, used whole, will often entice the larger fish.
March may be one of the best months to take a kid fishing. The weather is not too hot, and if the redfish, trout, and flounder prove to be elusive, the whiting will keep kids busy, not requiring a lot of pin point casting. So while you have to check your honey holes for reds and trout, take the kids whiting fishing at some point. They will get to feel the bite, catch the fish, and have some awesome table fair as well. The keeper ratio is excellent right now for whiting.
As always, you won’t know if you don’t go!
Great forecast Tim! - TJ
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