Fishing with Captain Jay

By Captain Jay Cranford www.coastalgafishing.com

Slot red. Photo by Captain Jay Cranford

It’s hard to believe, but fall is right around the corner and that's my favorite time of the year to fish.

If you want to catch fish on the coast of Georgia, there are excellent opportunities in store for you this fall. The variety of inshore fish available to anglers during this time is exciting. You can target fish that pull hard, (Jacks, drum and redfish) and fish that are also great on the dinner table, such as flounder and trout. In my opinion, some of the best tasting fish are sea trout, flounder and redfish, not necessarily in that order.

Cooler months are coming and as the water cools, trout and reds will move from deeper saltwater into more shallow areas to feed, such as the rivers and creeks from Savannah to Cumberland Island.

You don't need an expensive boat. I've got an old saying I've repeated many times, "I've never seen a boat catch a fish!"

Any 16- to 24-foot boat with a shallow draft can get you to the shell bars and other structure where the fish feed. Just be sure you get out of shallow areas, like small feeder creeks, before the tide goes out or you’ll have a long wait for it to come back in.

Don’t have a boat? You can fish off a dock or a pier, or even the bank in some places.

Moving water is the key to great fall fishing. We have another saying at Coastal GA Fishing, "Live by the tides, die by the tides." We have a tide change twice a day on the Georgia coast; a falling tide is best for reds and a rising tide is best for trout. When you find structure that has water moving on or over it you will usually find the fish.

Structure is sometimes oyster reefs or rakes – the intertidal section of the bank or mudbar where oysters grow. These oyster rakes are plentiful and all kinds of bait fish feed around them, making them prime fishing territory. Other structure could include pilings, jettys, downed trees, or any other solid objects below the waterline that provide shelter for bait fish. The key is to find such a place with current moving past it – fish will feed there.

I like to anchor up-current from the structure and let my bait drift downstream past the feeding area. The current will carry your bait right to the waiting trout and reds since they position themselves to watch for food being washed along. I’ve found the deeper you can get your bait, the better.

Speckled trout have a "paper mouth" so don't set the hook like you’re trying to land a largemouth bass. Redfish, on the other hand, can pull the rod right out of your hand; don't make the mistake of laying your rod down or you may lose it. Yet at other times they can be less aggressive in their bite.

When searching for new areas, go out at low tide. The best time to find shell beds and pilings to fish is when the tide is low and you can actually see the structure. If you’re quiet in your approach, don't be surprised to see redfish feeding and if you do, cast in front of them for some heart pounding action!

Have a game plan; position yourself ahead of time so when the tide starts coming in you can fish with the current. A few hours later you can go back and position your boat on the opposite side and fish the same structure as the tide falls. A good drift is very important.

You may find yourself set up to catch fish but getting no bites, but an hour or so later you may catch one with every cast! Keep a log of everything you do, including depths fished, water clarity and tide times. It takes patience and time to learn how to work the tides, the right depths and how water flows over or around structure.

And what about bait? I use live shrimp and jigs like the VUDU shrimp or other shrimp imitations. Another choice of artificial is a new company called Fishbites. They have different flavors/scents for targeting different species and are getting more popular with those who prefer artificials.

A popping cork such as the Thunder Chicken, adjusted properly, keeps your bait in the feeding zone. You will be drifting the bait past feeding fish so you usually don’t have to make long casts, just get set up in the right spot to work that drop.

The more time you spend on the water, the more you learn. As you gain this knowledge and find these places to fish, you can catch them. Fall is a great time to catch plenty of fish and fill your cooler. Be a good steward of our waters, don't litter and only keep what you plan to eat. There will be more opportunities the next time you go.

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!