Georgia Saltwater Fishing Report – August 2010

Saltwater: Capt. David Newlin reports, “Everything is in the usual late-summer pattern. The small redfish seem to be everywhere. They will hit anything you throw at them. The big redfish can still be found on high tide up in the marsh grass. High tides late in the day with no wind have been really productive. Trout are showing up in fair numbers. The beaches have been producing a fair number of big fish. St. Catherines Sound has been producing good fish for me. I had several groups recently that caught more than 20 trout in a morning. As usual, live shrimp under a float has been working. Tarpon are showing up in good numbers. Most fish have been on the beaches. Where you can find pogies, the tarpon will be there. Some tarpon should head up the rivers and sounds next month. Look for fish chasing mullet and pogies, and start fishing. Live bait under a noisy popping cork should get a bite. The sharks are in all the sounds and off all the beaches. The big sharks seem to be staying offshore a little. My best days have been 2 to 5 miles out. A shrimp boat in clear water offshore on most days will hold a few big sharks. Throw a fresh fish under a noisy popping cork, and hang on. The best bite is when the shrimp boats stop to pull the nets up. Watch closely, and you will see sharks. In the sounds there are a lot of big bonnethead sharks that are 20 to 30 pounds. Any fresh fish, shrimp or squid on the bottom will work.” Capt. Greg Hildreth reports, “The tarpon fishing is wide open! I’ve been finding plenty of tarpon in all the sounds from here to Savannah! I’m using live pogies freelined from an anchored position. I’m also fishing a few baits on the bottom. I’ve also been sight casting to rolling and laid-up tarpon with plugs. My plug of choice is the Bomber Saltwater Grade Long A in the firetiger color. The inshore trout fishing has also been good the past few weeks and is only going to get better. I’ve been catching large numbers of trout, but most are under-size. By the fall they should grow into keepers.” Capt. Judy Helmey said Wassaw Sound is a good place to see and catch sharks. “The shark bite rules, that is if you want lots of action! If you are looking for a redfish, spotted sea trout and flounder bite, this also can happen,” Capt. Judy said. “It’s all about going to your spot, working all areas from shallow to deep and trying different baits. Live shrimp is the No. 1 bait for all fish, meaning small and large. So, therefore, it’s that time of the year where small, live fish lipped or hooked behind the dorsal fin while freelining attracts a bigger-fish bite. Where are the Spanish mackerel? You might not see them, but they are there. I suggest looking for any bird activity, not necessarily feeding either. If you see birds hovering or sitting on the water, look the area over.”