2 minute read
Fishing with Captain Jay
Coastal Reefs
By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com
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Our offshore wrecks and reef fishery are great places to fill your cooler with fish, such as grouper, snapper, amberjack, black sea bass, barracuda, kings, Spanish mackeral, and more, and we have one of the strongest coastal fisheries in the country.
The hundreds of miles of inland waterways throughout our coast, coupled with our creel limits, make coastal Georgia one of the top destinations for redfish, trout, flounder and others. There are also quite a few inshore and offshore reefs for the coastal angler.
The continental shelf slopes gradually eastward for over 80 miles before reaching the Gulf Stream. This shelf consists largely of sand/shell bottom that doesn't adequately provide a firm foundation needed for sustainability of reef fish such as those mentioned above. Most of our offshore natural reefs or "live bottoms" are more than 40 miles offshore. It's a long ride but on the right days, it's worth it!
Georgia DNR has worked to establish artificial reefs, many of which are located six to 23 miles offshore at depths of 30 to 75 feet. Two experimental “deepwater” artificial reefs have also been established at 120- to 170-foot water depths, 50 to 70 miles offshore, and three beach artificial reefs have been established at 15- to 30foot depths, from two to four miles offshore. Georgia’s natural reefs consist of rock outcroppings, not coral, and the manmade reef materials are carefully selected to safely and quickly establish growth.
We have to mention Gray’s Reef, as well. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is one of the largest near-shore live bottom reefs in the Southeast. It lies about 19 miles east of Sapelo Island, at about 60 to 70 feet, and is about 22 square miles in area, or about 14,000 acres. Anchoring is prohibited and you should check the Gray’s Reef website prior to planning your trip. graysreef.noaa.gov/ visit/fishing/.
There are about 20 offshore artificial reef sites available to us, covering about 116 square miles. These reef sites provide ideal structure for bottom fishing and have helped the Georgia offshore fishery become a great place to fill your cooler. But, like the old saying goes, "Some days they are there, and some days they are not."
Charter guest with a barracuda caught on an offshore reef trip. Photo by Captain Jay Cranford
To learn more about Georgia reefs, including coordinates for each, visit: coastalgadnr.org/HERU/downloads and coastalgadnr. org/ARandMH/downloads
Go out, explore new areas and have fun! Be sure to check the wind, weather and tides, file a float plan with someone shoreside, and as always, be sure all of your safety gear and licenses are up to date!
Don't wish ... let's go fish!
Captain Jay has over 20 years experience fishing the Georgia coast. He's passionate about fishing and enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with you!
