Georgia Saltwater Fishing Report – May 2007

Saltwater:

Inshore: Capt. Greg Hildreth reports that the inshore fishing has been very good on the southern Georgia coast. “Inshore, the trout have started biting now that the water’s warming up. I’ve been catching them with live shrimp as well as the artificial D.O.A. Shrimp fished under a popping cork. The trout have been in water depths of 3 to 8 feet near the sounds.” Capt. Judy Helmey from the Savannah area reports that the large roe trout are still being caught in the creeks, rivers and sounds, but as April ends, these fish will move to the beaches. “Work docks that look fishy,” Capt. Judy said. “Those docks that have birds or droppings usually signify some presence of fish. Be a dock watcher.”

Nearshore: The bull reds have started their spring run as well, and Capt. Hildreth said they’ve been catching them on the nearshore bars of the barrier islands with live pogies and cut mullet. “The tripletail have arrived also. We are catching them on live shrimp, and this year we are using the fly rod. We haven’t had one on the fly yet, but as more fish get here, I think it will happen. In May, the large roe trout make their way to the beachfronts, according to Capt. Judy Helmey. “Live bait such as shrimp, mud minnow, yellow tail and pinfish are the tickets to this ride. Please don’t rule out the artificial stuff because they are also working — light colors when it’s clear-water situations, and dark ones when it’s not.” Capt. Judy said the artificial reefs in less than 50 feet of water are holding keeper black sea bass. “These reefs are also holding school blue fish, ocean perch, and flounder. I suggest giving deep trolling for Spanish mackerel a try. Large Spanish normally are being caught at this time. Get out those planers and downriggers. Clark Spoons, which are those with the red beads, work the best,” Capt. Helmey said.

Offshore: King mackerel and little tunny reports are coming from the artificial reefs in 50 feet or more of water. There is quite a bit of bait holding over the ledges located in the live-bottom area at the Savannah Snapper Banks. “It’s has been years since we have had such a great spring king mackerel run in this area. The kings that are being caught are ranging from 5 to 30 pounds. It’s mixed sizes, all holding in about 100 feet of water,” said Capt. Helmey. The deeper artificial reefs are producing more keeper black sea bass, with some 20-inch keeper red snapper. “Cut squid and fish normally will work, but live cigar minnows are going to be your best bait,” Capt. Helmey said. The bite at the Snapper Banks has a little bit of everything to offer from topwater fishing to the bottom stuff. “Black sea bass and peanut reds (illegal-size-to-keep snapper) have been high on the list of fish caught. However, the past week grouper along with some real nice red snapper have been caught. The backside of the Snapper Banks is holding quite a bit of the large fish. However, this too will change shortly with the larger fish spreading out and moving into 100 feet of water. Trolling out at the Gulf Stream has been good for dolphin and black-fin tuna using surface-rigged ballyhoo.