Georgia Coastal Fishing and Outlook

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Inshore Fishing:
The inshore fishing is heating up on the Georgia Coast. A leap in water temperature from the low 50’s straight up to nearly 60 degrees has prompted a sporadic, but decent Trout and Redfish feed.

The Reds and Trout are biting live Shrimp very well, of course and my favorite “motor-oil” colored screw tail jig has been a choice selection for plastics as well. When they’re on the feed, it’s a perfect time to toss artificial bait to them.

Low Water has been particularly slow on trout, but the mudflat Redfish don’t mind it one bit, as usual. The mid-out flowing tide has been excellent for trout fishing when the feed is on. This tide seems to be the key in catching numbers of fish as opposed to fishing the flood tide, ironically. We’ll take what we can get.

Nearshore Fishing:
A short run of 11-12 miles off the beach has proven to be fruitful for Sheepshead on the nearshore reefs again this season. Small crabs are the bait of choice, if you can find them. This time of year it can be tough finding the crabs on the marsh flats. Crabs don’t like wind and March is definitely the Windy month. Ideal conditions to catch these crabs are a moist flat after the tide has dropped and a warm, sunny day with little or no wind. Of course, one more thing about fishing we must cater to...

Anchoring correctly over these reefs is crucial to be productive. The fish seem to prefer structure over live bottom, and always have. They hover just outside the edges and tops of wrecks and concrete rubble piles placed on the ocean floor by the Department of Natural Resources for fish to have a home, and home of the Sheepshead they are in the spring! Remember, keep only what you can eat and send back the rest to fight another day and re-produce for the future of the fishery. The larger fish are tempting to keep, but in fact, they are the females in most cases and the key to a flourishing Sheepshead fishery.

May the seas Be calm and your Rods Bent!
Capt. Richie Lott
www.richielottoutdoors.com