Golden Isles Saltwater Fishing Report With Capt. Mark Noble

Carolyn and Stokely Doster with a nice trout caught on a recent trip with Capt. Mark Nobles.

Capt. Mark Noble reports. “The Strawberry Moon has tides higher than normal, but they are not too terribly bad. The bite has been consistent across the board, but knowing where to look is key.”

Seatrout: With the daily afternoon rains we’ve been receiving the past few weeks, Mark says that the salinity of the water will be a key factor in where trout will hold in the marsh.

“If we get hit pretty hard by rain, expect the trout to move closer to the creek mouths and shells near the ocean. On the flip side of that, if we receive little or no rain, the trout will hold in the same types of areas farther inland. They like the salinity high, and where they position will be contingent on that,” said Mark.

Mark recommends using a live shrimp to find trout and then swapping to artificial lures to finish filling the coolers, a strategy opposite of most saltwater anglers.

“They can’t resist a live shrimp dangling under a popping cork. Once you get a bite or two and know where they are, you can swap to artificial offerings and work on them pretty good. Then, when that bite dies, you can go back to a live shrimp and usually pick up another fish or two before moving on. One more thing I’ll add to that, is don’t get discouraged if you’re getting bit by small trout. This time of year the schools of fish will be made up of fish of various sizes,” Mark said.

Flounder: Flounder are another good bet this week, and you can expect them to be holding in areas close to the ocean in high numbers.

“Look for those transition banks where mud turns to sand or hard shell bottom. A jig hopped on the bottom or a live shrimp fished under a Thunder Chicken popping cork will both produce, but finding a good hard or sandy bottom will get you in the fish,” said Mark.

Sheepshead: “Check seawalls and bridge pilings, as well as dock posts and other similar structure, for signs of sheepshead activity. You’re looking for those fresh white patches in the shells and barnacles that indicate sheepshead have been feeding recently,” said Mark.

Fiddler crabs and fresh shrimp have both been producing well, and don’t be surprised if you cross paths with some nice black drum while fishing for the sheep.

Whiting: “The Whiting Hole has been producing really well the past few days, and folks have been catching them by the cooler fulls. If you peel the shell off of a small piece of shrimp and drop it to the bottom, you shouldn’t have any problem finding the fish,” said Captain Mark.

The Whiting Hole is the area of ocean that stretches a mile or two off of the beach directly in front of the King and Prince Hotel.

“It’s not hard to find at all. Most days, especially on the weekends, you will see boats anchored up out there catching whiting. Idle down a hundred yards or so and drop an anchor. There’s plenty of fish for everyone out there this time of year,” said Mark.

Capt. Mark Noble owns The St. Simons Fishing Center and guides fishing trips for St. Simons, Jekyll, Sea Island, Cumberland and the surrounding areas of The Golden Isles of Georgia. He invented the famous patented Thunder Chicken Popping Cork. To book a trip, call 912.634.1219 or visit the office at 104 Marina Drive on St. Simons Island.

Capt. Mark Noble on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkNobleCaptainMarkNoble