Sunday, May 2, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Fishing St. Simons Island Georgia - Georgia Fishing Charters
St. Simons Island Georgia - Beauty of the fishery and why....
Capt. Richie Lott
April 2, 2009
St. Simons Island GA - Saltwater Fishing Report
A little about St. Simons Island and it's Estuary System - It all forms EXCELLENT FISHING!
By: Capt. Richie Lott
**NOTE: You must copy and paste the entire video links into your browser. The links normally will not work from the report page itself.
St. Simons Island ... It is indeed very unique. We have 3 major freshwater rivers that dump into the ocean in this area near St. Simons Island. One of the larger river bodies dumping just north of Sea Island Georgia is the Altamaha river. The others I would like to mention dump into St. Andrews Sound which is a body of water/Sound are between Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island Georgia. These 2 freshwater rivers are named The Satilla River and The Little Satilla River.
This (dump out of fresh into salt water) creates a tannic/Murky water on our coast, but make no mistake, it is not polluted or dirty, but a nutrient rich compilation that creates a habitat for fish and other water wildlife unlike anywhere in the US. This area ranks similar only to the Louisiana delta area... Very, very unique and laden with all types of fish and other wildlife including Wild Horses, Hogs, Blue Heron and White Heron, Egrets, Pelicans and many more. St. Simons area video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Yi5a4O5rE
(A MUST SEE TO LEARN ABOUT THE ARE IN GENERAL)
These Marsh and Inshore areas are home for so much wildlife it is amazing. Alligators included! The Marshes are where everything happens. The shrimp grow up in the grasses of the backwater, and fish lay eggs on the full moon tidal stages so their eggs run into the marsh grasses to cling where they will be safe from many predatorial fish as they hatch. Redfish (Red Run) are well known for this tactic and explains why there are so many huge spawning Redfish in our area during the Fall months. The Bull Redfish head in to the beaches to eat menhaden and mullet, and to lay eggs. The Reds are hungry after the spawn and during October, catching 5-15 Redfish over 30 pounds in a day is very common. (See my video on Bull Redfish -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtADYI58nv8
These areas are within 15 miles of each other by crow fly which makes our area rich with backwater/inshore marshes, oyster beds HUGE estuary systems loaded with Trout, Redfish and Flounder. With this scenario of fresh water meeting salt (also known as brackish water) comes TONS of Georgia shrimp. The best tasting shrimp a person can buy. Shrimp boats target them from May through November heavily.
Also, during the heaviest season of the shrimp movement which is in the Fall season comes thousands of small Redfish (Red Drum). One of the most popular inshore game fish in the US. The reds move into the inshore waters to eat the shrimp, as do the saltwater speckled Trout. Both are year round resident fish, but seem more abundant in the Fall and early Winter seasons. Also, both are excellent targets for light tackle fishing and the table fare of the Speckled Trout is hard to beat.
This brackish water meeting area also hold millions of bait fish called Pogies (proper name Menhaden). They become targets of large sharks, Tarpon, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Triple Tail, Jack Crevalle (not to be confused with Amberjack, which are caught offshore) and other beach roaming fish species. Nearly every fish in the ocean will eat menhaden. It is an oily, smelly bait that requires care to keep alive to be used for fishing. Dead menhaden work well too, but many times it is hard to beat a live bait, especially for King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel. See Menhaden Video -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4mpYdMfm0
St. Simons Island and the surrounding Islands are loaded with many species of Shark. The Sharks are in our area thick from April to November. The main Target species is the black tip shark and Spinner Shark. These fish are both in the Black Tip family and are sought after by Anglers for their acrobatic leaping and jumping. Shark fishing in Georgia is very, very dependable and is always fun! See Shark Fishing Video -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4mpYdMfm0
The offshore fishing areas off St. Simons Island offer a fishery that is underfished and overlooked, and we like it that way. Artificial reefs in large numbers have created a habitat here on the Georgia Coast that boasts Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Grouper, Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, Cobia, Amberjack and much, much more. The murky water turns to green at about 10 miles offshore, then as you proceed east, the water begins to turn Blue and more and more clear each mile you travel away from the beaches. Georgia's offshore fishery is highly reputable and known for producing large bottom fish and pelagics (Traveling/Migrating fish) as well. Watch an offshore Georgia Video from one of our charters -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFFAB-f38c0
With all this area offers, fisherman and their families are offered oceans of opportunities. Literally.
Come see us!
Capt. Richie Lott
www.richielottoutdoors.com
912-617-1177
Capt. Richie Lott
April 2, 2009
St. Simons Island GA - Saltwater Fishing Report
A little about St. Simons Island and it's Estuary System - It all forms EXCELLENT FISHING!
By: Capt. Richie Lott
**NOTE: You must copy and paste the entire video links into your browser. The links normally will not work from the report page itself.
St. Simons Island ... It is indeed very unique. We have 3 major freshwater rivers that dump into the ocean in this area near St. Simons Island. One of the larger river bodies dumping just north of Sea Island Georgia is the Altamaha river. The others I would like to mention dump into St. Andrews Sound which is a body of water/Sound are between Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island Georgia. These 2 freshwater rivers are named The Satilla River and The Little Satilla River.
This (dump out of fresh into salt water) creates a tannic/Murky water on our coast, but make no mistake, it is not polluted or dirty, but a nutrient rich compilation that creates a habitat for fish and other water wildlife unlike anywhere in the US. This area ranks similar only to the Louisiana delta area... Very, very unique and laden with all types of fish and other wildlife including Wild Horses, Hogs, Blue Heron and White Heron, Egrets, Pelicans and many more. St. Simons area video - www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Yi5a4O5rE
(A MUST SEE TO LEARN ABOUT THE ARE IN GENERAL)
These Marsh and Inshore areas are home for so much wildlife it is amazing. Alligators included! The Marshes are where everything happens. The shrimp grow up in the grasses of the backwater, and fish lay eggs on the full moon tidal stages so their eggs run into the marsh grasses to cling where they will be safe from many predatorial fish as they hatch. Redfish (Red Run) are well known for this tactic and explains why there are so many huge spawning Redfish in our area during the Fall months. The Bull Redfish head in to the beaches to eat menhaden and mullet, and to lay eggs. The Reds are hungry after the spawn and during October, catching 5-15 Redfish over 30 pounds in a day is very common. (See my video on Bull Redfish -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtADYI58nv8
These areas are within 15 miles of each other by crow fly which makes our area rich with backwater/inshore marshes, oyster beds HUGE estuary systems loaded with Trout, Redfish and Flounder. With this scenario of fresh water meeting salt (also known as brackish water) comes TONS of Georgia shrimp. The best tasting shrimp a person can buy. Shrimp boats target them from May through November heavily.
Also, during the heaviest season of the shrimp movement which is in the Fall season comes thousands of small Redfish (Red Drum). One of the most popular inshore game fish in the US. The reds move into the inshore waters to eat the shrimp, as do the saltwater speckled Trout. Both are year round resident fish, but seem more abundant in the Fall and early Winter seasons. Also, both are excellent targets for light tackle fishing and the table fare of the Speckled Trout is hard to beat.
This brackish water meeting area also hold millions of bait fish called Pogies (proper name Menhaden). They become targets of large sharks, Tarpon, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Triple Tail, Jack Crevalle (not to be confused with Amberjack, which are caught offshore) and other beach roaming fish species. Nearly every fish in the ocean will eat menhaden. It is an oily, smelly bait that requires care to keep alive to be used for fishing. Dead menhaden work well too, but many times it is hard to beat a live bait, especially for King Mackerel and Spanish Mackerel. See Menhaden Video -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4mpYdMfm0
St. Simons Island and the surrounding Islands are loaded with many species of Shark. The Sharks are in our area thick from April to November. The main Target species is the black tip shark and Spinner Shark. These fish are both in the Black Tip family and are sought after by Anglers for their acrobatic leaping and jumping. Shark fishing in Georgia is very, very dependable and is always fun! See Shark Fishing Video -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4mpYdMfm0
The offshore fishing areas off St. Simons Island offer a fishery that is underfished and overlooked, and we like it that way. Artificial reefs in large numbers have created a habitat here on the Georgia Coast that boasts Sea Bass, Red Snapper, Grouper, Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, Cobia, Amberjack and much, much more. The murky water turns to green at about 10 miles offshore, then as you proceed east, the water begins to turn Blue and more and more clear each mile you travel away from the beaches. Georgia's offshore fishery is highly reputable and known for producing large bottom fish and pelagics (Traveling/Migrating fish) as well. Watch an offshore Georgia Video from one of our charters -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFFAB-f38c0
With all this area offers, fisherman and their families are offered oceans of opportunities. Literally.
Come see us!
Capt. Richie Lott
www.richielottoutdoors.com
912-617-1177
Georgia Fishing Charters - GA Fishing, St. Simons Island
Bull Reds - COASTAL GEORGIA
Capt. Richie Lott
September 28, 2009
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
We charter fished HARD all weekend for Bull Redfish... I mean HARD. St. Simons ga and Jekyll island ga are normally covered with these heavy hitters by now... However, everything is a month behind this season, it seems...
My bad thoughts were early on this as I told Bob Rowell while we struck out across the ocean on Saturday morning crossing the St. Simons Island shipping channel.. "The water is green, I said to Bob.. That's a problem. If it's too clear, we aint got a chance"
That is one thing about the Bull Redfish I can tell you from the last 20 years of fishing for them... THEY DO NOT LIKE CLEAR WATER in the breakers off the Georgia Coast. The nastier, the better it seems. Northeast Wind, big tides, crashing waves across the bars and horrible conditions prove best when hunting for large beach side redfish. Quite the opposite of what most people look for and for most other species as well.
We managed a couple of fish on Sunday on an un-planned excursion.. I had to re-deem after Saturday and I noticed late Saturday night a frontal boundry was pushing through causing a stiff W-NW wind on the water. I knew that water would be nastier on Sunday... So, last minute, we rounded it up at about 11 PM to go out Sunday morning.
I worked hard again on Sunday to catch Reds. These were off St. Simons in the dirtiest water I could find, and It still wasn't like I would have liked to see, but we caught Redfish. NOTICE HOW SILVER THESE GIRLS ARE. THEY ARE JUST GETTING HERE. The beachside water will change their color to a much, much darker shade as it stains their scales after the fish are on the beach for a couple of weeks. These fish just came in from offshore... THEY ARE ONLY A MONTH LATE!! But, we're thankful they're showing up.
Good Fishing to All!
Capt. Richie Lott - St. Simons Island Georgia Fishing Charters
www.richielottoutdoors.com
St. Simons Island Fishing Forecast:
Better and Better......
Target Species:
Bull Redfish
Capt. Richie Lott
September 28, 2009
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
We charter fished HARD all weekend for Bull Redfish... I mean HARD. St. Simons ga and Jekyll island ga are normally covered with these heavy hitters by now... However, everything is a month behind this season, it seems...
My bad thoughts were early on this as I told Bob Rowell while we struck out across the ocean on Saturday morning crossing the St. Simons Island shipping channel.. "The water is green, I said to Bob.. That's a problem. If it's too clear, we aint got a chance"
That is one thing about the Bull Redfish I can tell you from the last 20 years of fishing for them... THEY DO NOT LIKE CLEAR WATER in the breakers off the Georgia Coast. The nastier, the better it seems. Northeast Wind, big tides, crashing waves across the bars and horrible conditions prove best when hunting for large beach side redfish. Quite the opposite of what most people look for and for most other species as well.
We managed a couple of fish on Sunday on an un-planned excursion.. I had to re-deem after Saturday and I noticed late Saturday night a frontal boundry was pushing through causing a stiff W-NW wind on the water. I knew that water would be nastier on Sunday... So, last minute, we rounded it up at about 11 PM to go out Sunday morning.
I worked hard again on Sunday to catch Reds. These were off St. Simons in the dirtiest water I could find, and It still wasn't like I would have liked to see, but we caught Redfish. NOTICE HOW SILVER THESE GIRLS ARE. THEY ARE JUST GETTING HERE. The beachside water will change their color to a much, much darker shade as it stains their scales after the fish are on the beach for a couple of weeks. These fish just came in from offshore... THEY ARE ONLY A MONTH LATE!! But, we're thankful they're showing up.
Good Fishing to All!
Capt. Richie Lott - St. Simons Island Georgia Fishing Charters
www.richielottoutdoors.com
St. Simons Island Fishing Forecast:
Better and Better......
Target Species:
Bull Redfish
Fishing St. Simons Island Georgia - Fishing Charters on St. Simons Island Georgia
Georgia's Redfish - Where, how and why in 2009
Capt. Richie Lott
December 24, 2009
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
This winter season on the Georgia Coast has been one to remember for me. Not only did I get in more fishing trips than I ever have in the winter, fishing was pretty good and I found plenty of new fishing holes.
Fighting with freshwater
We fought rain water run-off from the Satilla River and the Altamaha River nearly all winter long. Anytime there are heavy rains north of us or directly upon us, it all runs one place. Downhill and straight to the Coast! These fresh water rivers dump directly into our eco-system and they're still over the banks in some places. Most people seriously don't realize what an impact and value these fresh water rivers have on our fishery. It's a double edge sword, so to speak. Our fishing and shrimping is good because of this type of estuary system, but when the rains come, it sure is hard to find Trout if the water gets too fresh.
We had so much rain, the water 3 miles offshore of Jekyll Island was pure, brown swamp and rain water. It was clear, but it was tannic brown. When you find this water far out into the Atlantic, fishing can be tough, especially for Trout.
The Redfish and where to find them
Reds don't seem to mind too much of anything, especially the fresh water influx. I believe that our inshore red fishing should be ranked second to Louisiana. We can't hang with that, but we definitely run a close second with all the others. One thing is certain. It's hard to find resident redfish in Georgia if you're just guessing. There are certain things they like in their feeding habitat.
All the places that look prime, most times, are not. Great looking spots can have all the scenarios like all the other best redfish holes in the area and not produce. Welcome to Red fishing! What I look for:
1. Is there somewhere the fish could run to get away from the Dolphins? In other words, is it shallow enough? (This mainly applies to resident fish, not the fall season movers as much). Those fish like it shallow in most situations, whether it is shell or mud.
2. Look for a gradual sloping Mudflat. One that is only a foot or two deep at flood tide. A steep, quick drop off is not the type of flat you want.
3. On this illusive mudflat, I like to see some scattered shell, even if it's just tiny clumps scattered here and there.
4. Where this mudflat meets the grass and beyond is important. The type of grass you want to see atop your mudflat is not thick spartina/marsh grass. If it's dense, they can't feed as well or move as freely on a flood tide. Sparse grass is what we look for atop the mudflat. Sprigs of grass the fish can swim between and feed on crabs, shrimp and the like. Many times, there will be scattered thick grass with "passages" into the marsh, so look beyond that first layer. Reds will do anything to get on top of a flat on the flood tide and eat crabs.
5. More often than not, there will be a feeder creek (or many) that dump onto the flat. There are exceptions to this depending on where you're fishing, but it's in the scenario most times.
6. Contrary in a funny way to number one above, Reds like to have access to deeper water if they need it. Believe me, they know how to get there in any situation. A redfish normally knows his home turf very well in case of a dolphin attack on the flat or other threats. In short, finding flats on the Intracoastal is ideal, even down in Jacksonville this rings true. With all this being said, you will find fish outside of the above parameters, but good luck trying to find them. Everyone has a favorite hole here and there, but finding Reds consistently in large schools takes practice, patience and you have to be thinking like a Redfish. Period.
**Note: I know this is arguable, but my 20 years fishing for Reds has revealed to me these key factors about them:
A Redfish has 3 Goals in life. The Red's main, number one goal is to keep away from Dolphins. Number two is food. LOT'S of it. Number three is they want to GET IN THE GRASS. No worries about dolphins and free to eat all they want.
If you have never witnessed a few Dolphins ganging up on a school of Reds, it's a sight you will never forget. The Dolphins plan the mission and carry it out to a "T". We have seen them run Reds up in the mud, chasing them down a flat on their sides and the most famous of all…. Crashing into a school of Redfish from multiple angles using numerous dolphins to carry out the plan. There is no escape when this happens. They get A LOT of Redfish this way.
About the Trout
As I mentioned, it was more like Freshwater fishing for Sea Trout! The only places I was able to find trout the past few weeks is in the back of long rivers and ocean front "beach creeks". Those two types of places were holding fish fairly well. Sometimes in numbers, sometimes not. When the fish would bite, we had a blast throwing plastic at them. Mostly root beer and motor oil colors were the best as usual. Those two colors have been fished before the electric chicken was ever thought of. I remember my Dad fishing those rootbeer screw tails in the 70's…. Great Plastic on a lead head.
Well, the good news for everyone on our coast is this; I just read the Satilla River was 2 ft. below flood stage, so the rivers will be cleaning up, the salt water will be normalizing in the rivers and we should resume normal saltwater fishing shortly!
Happy Fishing!
Capt. Richie Lott
www.richielottoutdoors.com
Target Species:
Redfish
More Fishing Reports:
All Reports by Capt. Richie Lott
St. Simons Island Fishing Reports
Georgia Fishing Reports
Browse All Fishing Reports
Capt. Richie Lott
December 24, 2009
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
This winter season on the Georgia Coast has been one to remember for me. Not only did I get in more fishing trips than I ever have in the winter, fishing was pretty good and I found plenty of new fishing holes.
Fighting with freshwater
We fought rain water run-off from the Satilla River and the Altamaha River nearly all winter long. Anytime there are heavy rains north of us or directly upon us, it all runs one place. Downhill and straight to the Coast! These fresh water rivers dump directly into our eco-system and they're still over the banks in some places. Most people seriously don't realize what an impact and value these fresh water rivers have on our fishery. It's a double edge sword, so to speak. Our fishing and shrimping is good because of this type of estuary system, but when the rains come, it sure is hard to find Trout if the water gets too fresh.
We had so much rain, the water 3 miles offshore of Jekyll Island was pure, brown swamp and rain water. It was clear, but it was tannic brown. When you find this water far out into the Atlantic, fishing can be tough, especially for Trout.
The Redfish and where to find them
Reds don't seem to mind too much of anything, especially the fresh water influx. I believe that our inshore red fishing should be ranked second to Louisiana. We can't hang with that, but we definitely run a close second with all the others. One thing is certain. It's hard to find resident redfish in Georgia if you're just guessing. There are certain things they like in their feeding habitat.
All the places that look prime, most times, are not. Great looking spots can have all the scenarios like all the other best redfish holes in the area and not produce. Welcome to Red fishing! What I look for:
1. Is there somewhere the fish could run to get away from the Dolphins? In other words, is it shallow enough? (This mainly applies to resident fish, not the fall season movers as much). Those fish like it shallow in most situations, whether it is shell or mud.
2. Look for a gradual sloping Mudflat. One that is only a foot or two deep at flood tide. A steep, quick drop off is not the type of flat you want.
3. On this illusive mudflat, I like to see some scattered shell, even if it's just tiny clumps scattered here and there.
4. Where this mudflat meets the grass and beyond is important. The type of grass you want to see atop your mudflat is not thick spartina/marsh grass. If it's dense, they can't feed as well or move as freely on a flood tide. Sparse grass is what we look for atop the mudflat. Sprigs of grass the fish can swim between and feed on crabs, shrimp and the like. Many times, there will be scattered thick grass with "passages" into the marsh, so look beyond that first layer. Reds will do anything to get on top of a flat on the flood tide and eat crabs.
5. More often than not, there will be a feeder creek (or many) that dump onto the flat. There are exceptions to this depending on where you're fishing, but it's in the scenario most times.
6. Contrary in a funny way to number one above, Reds like to have access to deeper water if they need it. Believe me, they know how to get there in any situation. A redfish normally knows his home turf very well in case of a dolphin attack on the flat or other threats. In short, finding flats on the Intracoastal is ideal, even down in Jacksonville this rings true. With all this being said, you will find fish outside of the above parameters, but good luck trying to find them. Everyone has a favorite hole here and there, but finding Reds consistently in large schools takes practice, patience and you have to be thinking like a Redfish. Period.
**Note: I know this is arguable, but my 20 years fishing for Reds has revealed to me these key factors about them:
A Redfish has 3 Goals in life. The Red's main, number one goal is to keep away from Dolphins. Number two is food. LOT'S of it. Number three is they want to GET IN THE GRASS. No worries about dolphins and free to eat all they want.
If you have never witnessed a few Dolphins ganging up on a school of Reds, it's a sight you will never forget. The Dolphins plan the mission and carry it out to a "T". We have seen them run Reds up in the mud, chasing them down a flat on their sides and the most famous of all…. Crashing into a school of Redfish from multiple angles using numerous dolphins to carry out the plan. There is no escape when this happens. They get A LOT of Redfish this way.
About the Trout
As I mentioned, it was more like Freshwater fishing for Sea Trout! The only places I was able to find trout the past few weeks is in the back of long rivers and ocean front "beach creeks". Those two types of places were holding fish fairly well. Sometimes in numbers, sometimes not. When the fish would bite, we had a blast throwing plastic at them. Mostly root beer and motor oil colors were the best as usual. Those two colors have been fished before the electric chicken was ever thought of. I remember my Dad fishing those rootbeer screw tails in the 70's…. Great Plastic on a lead head.
Well, the good news for everyone on our coast is this; I just read the Satilla River was 2 ft. below flood stage, so the rivers will be cleaning up, the salt water will be normalizing in the rivers and we should resume normal saltwater fishing shortly!
Happy Fishing!
Capt. Richie Lott
www.richielottoutdoors.com
Target Species:
Redfish
More Fishing Reports:
All Reports by Capt. Richie Lott
St. Simons Island Fishing Reports
Georgia Fishing Reports
Browse All Fishing Reports
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