Fishing Georgia’s Offshore Artificial Reefs 

Recreational fishing on Georgia’s artificial reefs occurs year-round, but is most concentrated from June through August. With the advent of warmer water temperatures, bluefish, cobia, and little tunny arrive at the artificial reefs in Spring, followed shortly by amberjack, king and Spanish mackerel, sharks, barracuda, and an occasional dolphin, sailfish, or tuna. Bottom fish caught at the artificial reefs include black sea bass, gag grouper, red snapper, sheepshead, porgies, triggerfish, red drum, spadefish, and more. Offshore fishing techniques employed off Georgia are similar to those used elsewhere, although coastal marina operators and local anglers can often provide more specific information as to what is biting, where to fish, and the gear and bait to use. Georgia’s offshore fisheries are not inexhaustible. Anglers are encouraged to practice catch & release, taking only what they can use. If quickly and properly handled, released fish can survive. It is up to today’s fishermen to restore and maintain Georgia’s offshore fisheries for future generations.

Navy Towers 

In the 1980’s, the U.S. Navy constructed eight offshore towers to support its Tactical Aircrew Combat System. Located 30-60 nm offshore, the “Navy Towers” also created exceptional fishing opportunities for offshore anglers. Reaching 180' in height, the highly visible structures have become a popular destination for anglers targeting pelagic gamefish, such as king mackerel, amberjack, barracuda, tunas, dolphin, and wahoo. 

Surf Fishing the Georgia Coast

When Surf Fishing finding just the right spot is the key to catching the big one or going home with an empty cooler. Without understanding what you are looking for the surf will all look the same.   What you really need to understand is that you need to know where the fish reside.  For example, the area between the surf and a sandbar is called a trough and fish swim up and down looking for small fish, sand-worms and crabs..  It is easier to locate this trough at low tide when the sandbar is more visible. Especially after a storm or high winds waves will break on the sandbar helping you to identify it. It is important to realize the larger fish like drum will prefer the wider deeper troughs with shallow water at either end, while you can find flounder, speckled trout and sea mullet in the more narrow troughs.  Fish need an escape from the trough and it can be recognized by watching the waves pass over the bar.  It you see the wave cross the bar without breaking you will realize the water is escaping through a break in the bar.  As the water rushes through the break there will be fast moving water shoving smaller fish to waiting predator fish.

Low Tide will also reveal tidal pools where the water will roll in a uniform swell.  These tidal pools are close to the beach and time to cast for the fish such as Whiting as this is where they feed on bait fish.  You might try using sand fleas or fresh peeled dead shrimp on a 2/0 hook with a pyramid sinker to catch whiting as they have small mouths.   Whiting will take your bait if they are there and if after 30 minutes and nothing bites it is time to move to a better spot..

Look for a location on the beach that is not exactly the same in formation, such as points, and know that fish are often curious regarding anything unusual. Noting the texture of the beach sand can also be of real value.  The tightly packed fine sand will clue you in to the fact that the beach has a gradual slope when coarse darker sand or small gravel will notify you of a steep sloping beach.

Beach surfaces change constantly due to winds, currents and waves so what is the perfect spot one time may not be satisfying the next.  When piers, bridges, inlets or jetties are stable the beaches around them change often and can be the perfect place to attract larger fish when the small fish are swept out on a residing tide.

Spotted Sea trout and Red Drum can be found around oyster beds from October to December,  Flounder are found on hard mud, shell or sandy bottoms from May to December.  Sheepshead hang around piling or barnacle encrusted structures all year.  Spot, Croaker, Whiting, Weakfish are found in deeper water with sandy and or dead shell bottoms.  Black Drum are found in April through October near oyster beds, submerged structures and pilings. 

Location, location, location!

Some of the most easily reached beaches on the Georgia coast would be St. Simons, Tybee and Cumberland Islands.  If you have fished on Georgia's beaches you know that one of the existing conditions of the beaches is the gradual slope of the sand causing shallow water for up to a quarter of a mile with few fish.  To find satisfactory beaches look for the ends of the isles where creek sand rivers empty through inlets into the ocean.  This is especially true on the south end of Tybee Island and on both ends of Jekyll Island.    Remember to look for the troughs and tidal pools as previously noted.

Deeper water tends to be along the St. Simons shore.  As the inlet nears the ocean it will get more shallow for some reason so concentrate on looking for cuts and run-outs. As long as fish find food they will remain in the area.

You may choose to try Georgia's other barrier island such as Sapelo, St. Catherine, Ossabaw and Warsaw as the fishing opportunities are the same, but the difficulty may be in reaching them.  You can find ferrying by boat captains by reservation.  Remember, it is important to avoid dune lines when going to and from the beach. Another great fishing area is Camden County on Cumberland Island.  This barrier island extends from St. Mary's River entrance north to The Satilla River and St. Andrews Sound.