Coastal River Charters

Fishing last week was up and down. Following the storm last Saturday’s night was poor. When the sea bottom gets torn up sting rays are on prowl. Some of the rays can be enormous. Like dolphins, sting rays are an indicator a sign of healthy environment. Immediately following a storm bait fish and predator fish often move to deeper water. Consequently, the whiting bite was good early in the week due to fewer predator fish.

In just few tides conditions improved and the bite was back on! Redfish during the summer can at time be found by fishing deeper water structure. The bite is not red hot but its possible to catch some nice reds. Shrimp are becoming more plentiful. One fisherman stated in about half hour he can catch a couple of quarts. If possible its always nice to have some live or dead shrimp on board! The seatrout bite is picking up most are in 15 to 16 inch. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the CCA of Georgia is recommending releasing those over 18 inches until they show signs that they sufficiently recovered from the last couple of cold winters. Despite not having numbers like previous years possibly to catch some dandy seatrout!

The flounder bite is picking up! Fishing points are a favorite to find stacking up on an incoming tide as they wait for an unsuspecting bait to pass by. Mud minnows are a favorite flounder. When fishing an adjustable float rig, if you don’t get a bite in a pass or two, keep deepening your rig. Getting your bait close to the bottom is tip that can help you catch more seatrout, redfish and flounders!

Before last Saturday’s storm there reports of a few tarpon being caught. As conditions continue to improve the tarpon bite will likely be picking up!

When fishing during the summer often the best time to fish is during the morning before conditions get hot and sea breeze develop Fishing the late afternoon can also be effective. Tides for the coming week look good! There should be opportunities to catch some nice fish!

Hope this report of interest and help!

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan

The hottest bite is on the beachfronts! Water temperatures have quickly risen into the mid 80’s with that there all sorts of toothy fish working the sandbars! Everyday there few more reports of seatrout being caught. Most of seatrout action is towards beachfronts as well. This a summer pattern. The flounder bite likewise is picking up. Keeper size redfish can be found hanging close to structure. Action along can be fast and furious! Those wanting to get their line stretched fishing a cut or live bait along sandbars or sloughs will likely find plenty of action.

When catching sharks there some that simply should not be handled. Namely, large sandbar and black tips fall into this category. For safety sake take a picture and let him swim off to fight another day. Each fisherman has his strategy for disengaging from a large fish predator fish. A de hooking device spare the fish swimming around with a lot of terminal tackle in its mouth. On the other hand for some cutting your line could be best.

Shrimp are becoming more plentiful in the creeks and rivers with that more redfish and seatrout will be appearing. When the flats get super heated with temperature pushing close to 90 degree look for reds around dock pilings and other deeper water structure. Whiting are still numerous but with lots of predator fish around anticipate the whiting bite to slacken. Look for seatrout on the beachfronts. Still a little early for flounder but it is possible to catch some nice ones!

May was a good month for inshore and offshore cobia. The best fishing has been by those venturing to wrecks offshore past the short shots wrecks. The bite in Broad River has been pretty good with some anglers catching several. As water heat the shark bite will take over.

Earl from Adams Bait House said he hope this will be the last Florida shrimp they have to stock. Adams is finding some shrimp. Cast netters can with little effort pick a quart or two of perfectly adequate brown shrimp for fishing. There are lots of river menhaden as well mullet around. Both of these are excellent bait for big and medium sized fish! Mullet and menhaden can be fished live or dead. The trick is to present a quality bait no matter what bait you are fishing.

Tides for the coming week look pretty good! For best action fish the beach!

Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan