Coastal River Charters

There were reports of some fish being caught this week but not a lot. Mostly a few seatrout and redfish. Lots of reports of fishermen still catching lots of small trout. Providing there isn’t a prolonged freeze seatrout action should be hot this Spring! One nice catch of redfish, seatrout and sheepshead reported from St. Catherine sound. Most of the catches in the Savannah/Richmondhill area have been nine fish or less. Capt. Eric Traub said he and his father caught five trout and a couple of reds. The fish were keepers but not large. This can be winter fishing. Sometimes fish will be stressed because of difficultly finding bait, cold water and porpoises. There were reports striper action is picking up. One 27 pound striper was caught around Fields Cut trolling. Striper action is still slow. Those finding success are likely putting in lots of hours for a few fish. Plastics can work well for winter fishing. We caught some nice seatrout and redfish on 6″ salt n’ pepper jerk worm. The bites were fewer but the fish were larger. Large fish like big baits even in the winter. It’s all about energy. A big bait makes a fish think it’s worth its while to eat it! Casts that slam into the water can ruin a fisherman’s chance for success. It’s sometimes hard to do. You’ve caught one fish and in the excitement to get your bait back in the water your bait slams into the water. This isn’t the worst thing. Take a deep breath and refocus. Remember fishing is about fun. Catching fish is the bonus. Jokingly I’ve said you’re going to have to go the time out corner. Not really the point is if your casting is going awry while in front of fish just notice that something isn’t working. Listen to your captain. Good things can happen. Some days the fish will seem to jump on your line. Other days we have to work. Nonetheless, it’s fun, fish or no fish!

Game Fish Status for Redfish
The CCA Coastal Conservation of Georgia is supporting legislation in support of game fish for redfish. This is a positive step towards the protection of this fishery. Other states with a significant redfish fishery have already taken this step. Let hope our legislature recognizes the importance of fishery by granting game fish status to redfish. To voice your opinion either way contact Bob Lane, Chairman Game, Fish and Parks 912.764.7450.

The benefit of fishing seminars
Fishing seminars are great! Most seminars are held during the off season so not only do seminars provide something to do, they’ll provide information to think about and act on. When I listen to a seminar what I pay attention to are things I heard before or things I’ll hear the speaker repeat. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll learn and what a speaker is willing to share. Like George Poveromo (Saltwater Sportsman magazine) has said use the information to improve your fishing skills not to abuse the fishery. Miss Judy of Miss Judy Charters has put together a series of seminars for both the inshore and offshore fisherman. What a resource! This is likely the quickest most efficient way to gain an understanding of the fishery and fishing in Georgia waters. Whether a fisherman is a veteran or novice there is also something to learn or perhaps share. I fish most days of the year and I still enjoy attending a seminar when I have the opportunity to take in one. I try to take in the ones that I believe the best of the best. Then when you’re around the best like a Lefty Kregh in fly casting or a Miss Judy in Georgia fishing you’re going to try to cling every word. A seminar wont cure all bad fishing habits but hopefully it will expose you to plenty of good ones: keep a journal, find out about the bite from fishing reports, tackle shops and your network to a name a few. Miss Judy has put together a top series of seminars that could benefit any fishermen or aspiring fishermen. Check www.missjudycharters.com

Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan

It’s hard to believe another year is already here! It’s here. Mild conditions has local shrimp are still available. Most bait shops close around New Year’s and open around the 1st of March. Capt. Bo Bowens owner of Bandy’s Bait Shop located at the foot of bridge going onto Skidaway Island has been able to find shrimp and according to Mrs. Bowen their shop will be open except for a few days when she’ll be on vacation. Bandy’s phone number is 912-354-6444. Bait is available but a cold snap could quickly change things.

Fishing this week has taken on a winter pattern. Water is cold and clear and the fish are spooky. Redfish can be found along mud flats. This time of the year it’s possible to see schools of 50 or more fish (or none at all). Even when a fisherman are unable to sight fish due to a chop or perhaps it looks the fish just aren’t there, there are always some fish. Lots of fish might not mean lots of bite. In clear water conditions with little current it’s easy to scare fish. Careful approaches and soft cast can mean the difference between a great day of fishing and frustration. Trolling motors can emit too much noise on some winter days. Sometimes simply anchoring and waiting for the bite can be the best bet. A push pole can be an effective way to reach fish on lower tide stages. Winter fishing can be productive but it can also be hit or miss. Winter fishing is weather dependent. Warm sunny days can bring seatrout into the shallows to feed. Cold snaps can slow the bite send fish to deeper water. Fishing this past week has been slow. There has been some redfish action on the mud flats on flies, plastics and bait. A few seatrout but an inconsistent bite. Few fishermen are venturing out. Most conventional fishermen have had little luck. Those fly fishing, pitching soft plastics or light live lining have done better. Small hard back shrimps can be found under docks. A piece of dead shrimp on a small live bait hook can fool a trout. Expect soft bumps not big bites and you just might pull in some large trout. Striper reports have decreased this week perhaps due a full moon. Likely these light sensitive fish have been feeding at night and secondly they are migratory moving in and out of coastal waters. The striper movement is directly related to temperature. With water temperatures in the low to mid 50′s Capt. Bo said coastal waters are too warm for their liking. Whatever the reason the striper bite has been slow. A few large stripers have been reported. The striper bite has slowed and it’s likely the peak of the striper fishing has already happened. Nonetheless, it’s possible for some good striper action throughout the winter and into the Spring.

Tides for the coming weekend are less six foot. Should be an excellent time to target sheepshead (inshore of offshore) or redfish. Remember redfish this time of year are very spooky to be successful you need to approach these fish more stealth than any other time of the year. Favorite baits on low water are clear or gold DOA shrimp and Bass Assassins red/gold jerk worm. Small white or red and yellow deceivers can work well.

Hope this of help! Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan