Georgia Saltwater Fishing Report – June 2006

Inshore:

The inshore fishing for trout has been very good, and June should also be very good for numbers and better chances at bigger fish, according to Capt. Greg Hildreth. He said the trout are biting good on the standard slip-float rigs baited with good, lively shrimp. Also, he has been doing well sight fishing for redfish using Spike-It soft jerkbaits.

Nearshore:

Tripletail action has been on fire off the beaches, according to Capt. Hildreth. The bull reds nearshore have been hit and miss this spring, but on the days you get on them, this is some fantastic fishing for giant redfish. Georgia’s best-kept secret, some of the world’s best tarpon fishing, hasn’t started yet. “There have been a few tarpon spotted, but no hook ups yet. It won’t be long, the water is teaming with bait,” Capt. Hildreth said. Also, the sounds and beachfront areas are holding Spanish mackerel, little tunny, jack crevalle, and blue fish. Fish the rips that are formed when two currents come together with a Clark spoon. Also, the big sharks are starting to show, especially big blacktips, according to Capt. David Newlin, who fishes out of the Richmond Hill area. He said that means the tarpon won’t be far behind, and he is expecting a good season for sharks and tarpon in the areas he fishes.

Offshore:

The weather was horrible last month, which kept the boats at the docks an incredible percentage of the days. That just means the fish have hardly been touched so far this season. Capt. Newlin said the bottom fishing is very good for big snapper, and some nice grouper are showing up as well. He’s also catching plenty of smaller snapper and sea bass as well. Capt. Newlin also takes fishermen out for king mackerel, as well as other species, and he said some big smokers and numbers of kings can be expected off the Georgia coast this month. Some teenager kinds are already chasing bait at the artificial reefs.