St. Simon's Fishing Report and Forecast
Capt. Tim Cutting
April 22, 2012
St. Simons Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
It's time to let the cat out of the bag. St. Simon's Island fishing may be one of the best kept secrets on the Atlantic Seaboard. The Golden Isle's, which includes Little St. Simon's, St. Simons, Sea Island, and Jekyll Island, are teaming with some of the finest inshore and offshore fisheries on the planet. Combine that with the least populated coast in the U.S., and you end up with angler nirvana. Throw in unpopulated beautiful beaches, great restaurants, and world class accommodations at prices from years long gone, and you may have one of the best opportunities for fun family fishing to shots at trophy fish for the most seasoned fisherman.
It is well known that during the season, the Tripletail and shark fishery has no rivals. What is not common knowledge throughout the southeast is that the area surrounding St Simons Island offers some of the best redfish, trout, and flounder fishing anywhere. In 2011 we logged over 250 flounder between the months of April and October. During a hot trout bite, it is not uncommon for anglers to have 50 plus fish days. And with a salt marsh estuary that can only be rivaled in area by Louisiana, the Golden Isles offers perhaps one of the most pristine redfish habitats that you will find anywhere.
With several wrecks and reefs within sight of the Sea Island, the possibilities really multiply. On a recent trip to the 8 mile bottom, we logged over 50 Spanish mackerel, over 20 weakfish, simply too many sea bass to count, and a couple of nice flounder and redfish. Further out, cobia, amberjack, grouper and snapper are plentiful.
During the months of July, August and September Tarpon in the 100-150 lb range are common. These are some of the most unpressured silver kings on the coast. As you head into October, the Sounds around the Golden isles fill up with bull Redfish, with many fish topping the 40 lb mark.
St Simon's Island fishing is not only wide open; it is also one of the most northern estuaries that offer outstanding angling 12 months of the year.
St. Simons Island Fishing Forecast:
Folks, it is absolutely wide open right now! Big sharks, tripletail, trout, flounder, redfish and whiting have invaded our waters.
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