Water temperature is steadily rising! We’ve had a cold winter and things are little behind on the coast. That said last week we had several warming days last week that pushed water temperatures into the 60’s and at times into the upper 60’s. Whiting one of the first fish to make its presence known during the Spring is showing in good numbers! When whiting start to run other fish will follow. We’ve seen a few large reds caught in the sounds and on the beachfront as well as bonnet head sharks.
The seatrout bite so far is still sporadic with a couple of strong catches south of Savannah. Redfish action while not hot has been providing some action. White birds pounding bait can be a give away for strong spring time bite! Don Adams bait shop (912.898.1550) is finding live shrimp that over wintered (meaning these shrimp stayed in local water during the winter). During the Spring bait supplies can quickly dwindle. The shrimp that are now available are white shrimp that survived last winter. In the coming weeks these will vanish (push out to the sounds). Brown shrimp typically wont show up in good numbers in local water till June, hence the nick name “junies”. For now some bait shops are finding live local shrimp: Don Adams Bait House and Bandys (located at the foot of the Skidaway Island bridge). If you’re intending to fish live shrimp the best bet call ahead.
Fishing in the coming days and weeks will be likely steadily improving as water temperature continues to heat up. Seatrout action will be heating up as glass minnows and other bait fish push into the sounds.
Those fishing for reds can do fine on a dead, cut bait, live or artificials. The redfish bite hasn’t been hot. We catching a few.
Keep what you want to eat and release the rest! Hope this of interest and help!
Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan
