Georgia Saltwater Fishing Report July 2011

Saltwater: Inshore: Good. Capt. David Newlin reports, “I have caught a lot of big redfish over the last few days. Find some clear water, and the fish have been there. All the usual live and artificial baits have been working. A lot of flounder are being caught on live shrimp. Fish the mud flats near oyster beds with a shrimp just off the bottom. The trout catches have picked up. Some fish are coming off the beach fronts and some in the sounds. The main thing is finding some clear water. If you need to take a kid fishing, we are having a real big run of croaker. They aren’t big, but there is a lot of them. Try a piece of shrimp on the bottom.” Capt. Judy Helmey said the fishing is good. “During this month all fish that the intracoastal waters have to offer have reared their heads, or should I say flapped their fins. Our standards, which are redfish, spotted sea bass, and flounder are still an option. As far as best bait, live shrimp either naked on a hook or under a popping cork or under traditional float will get this job done. Soft baits by Strike King (3XZT-55) are jerkbaits that come in many important colors from baby bass to ice to new penny. The secret to knowing which color artificial to use is to go with the one that matches the bottom that you are fishing over. If it’s dark, then those swimming around it take on the same color. Tripletail should start showing up around the buoys in the sound and on the beach fronts. The best bait for this fish is live shrimp. These fish are known for holding deep around the chain that holds the buoys and also right on the surface in the current. If you see something black floating on the surface that looks like a trash bag, it is most likely a tripletail. To add to this already prefect fish-catching list, there are tarpon and Jack crevelle… talk about a line-stretching affair!”

Nearshore: Capt. Newlin reports, “The sharks are thick and seem to be everywhere. The tarpon are getting more abundant every day, and the tarpon fishing should be in full swing by July. ”

Offshore: Capt. Judy reports, “Bottom fishing can be a little slow due to warm water conditions around the artificial reefs located in less than 50 feet of water. However, if you know of any isolated spots, there could be quite a few black sea bass summering in these areas. Best bottom baits are going to be small pieces of squid and cut fish. The Savannah Snapper banks offer fishermen the most in 100 to 120 feet of water. We’re catching Vermilion snapper, red porgy and their cousins white bone and knobbed porgy, scamp, red and gag grouper, triggerfish, banded rubber fish, amberjack, black sea bass, cobia and flounder. The best baits for these bottom and mid-water-column fish are squid, cut fish and live or fresh dead or frozen nervous bait such as cigar minnows and Spanish sardines. As far as topwater species, for king mackerel use Drone spoons and live baits such as cigar minnows or ribbon fish. For dolphin or mahi mahi, the best baits when drifting for them are small pieces of squid or live cigar minnows. For barracuda, use all color surgical-tube lures or whole fresh Spanish mackerel live or dead. For Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and little tunny, the best baits are small 0 or 00 Clark spoons or small casting and retrieving lures such as a Gotta or any swimming small topwater plugs.” Capt. Newlin said, “The sea bass have been big and abundant. A few cobia are still around and some kings, but they are not hot. Cover a lot of ground, and you can find a few.”