Strong winds and slow drifts made fishing difficult in waters noth of Savannah, Warsaw sound as well as Ossabaw sound. When the weather finally improved as the weekend approached fishing remained challanging. Several veteran fishermen had difficulty getting a strike when fishing the sounds. Despite this there has been a couple reports of large schools of redfish of 500 or more fish. Slow moving water made catching many of these fish diffiuclt. The past several week we’ve had little rain. Fish will likely seek less salty water. There has been some striper, redfish and seatrout in the Savannah River but fishing is still been challenging. Whiting are showing in the sounds. The law of attraction still works: one boat fishing along a sand bar will draws several boats. Whiting fishing is simply. Anchor along a sandbar and bottom fish with small shrimp, squid or some kind of cut bait. Often times you can along a mark fish on your fishfinder, drop anchor and catch fish. Boats that appear to be fishing in the middle of the river are probably whiting fishing. Well known drops are fine but you might be pleasanly surprised when drop anchor at a spot not fished by others. Pan weights are great for whiting fishing.. Small lead weight aren’t as likely to roll and hold the bottom well. Chuck at Cranmans sells pretied pan rigs or you can tie your own. They work! Per Chuck at Cranmans inshore sheepshead fishing has been good. Whiting are starting to bite. Trout and redfish bite has been sporadic. A few flounders have been caught but not many. String rays are becoming more numerous on the mud flats. A sure sign of Spring.
Capt. Rick Reynolds says please use your boga or other gripping device with care. These devices can kill the trophy fish you thought you carefully released. The fish will appear in good shape only to swim off and die. Apparently there is evidence showing that grippers can cause fish to slowly suffocate. How’s that for a shocker! I use my boga now only for fish we’re going to keep. In the past I would often put one hand under the to displace the weight. From now on fish we’re releasing will be held by hand.. Help spread the word grippers might be killing fish. On the same topic I’ve seen some pretty natsy releases on redfish by tv pros. Dumping a fish in the water might not kill a fish but likely leave it stunned for a propoise to have an easy meal. The larger the redfish, the more care is needed in releasing.
Fishing will likely pick during the coming week. Tides will be gentle all week but building. Bite will likely improve as tides increase. On days with little drift try sheepshead.
Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan