The weather this week has been incredible! Mild sunny days and some great fishing! Typically this time of the year fishermen are finding large numbers of large sea trout up river. This year conditions have been slightly milder than in other years. Consequently, the best fishing has towards the sounds. Traditional community drops have produced big numbers of big fish! This can change quickly but to date the best bite has been towards the sounds. Fishing areas that have produced the largest numbers are areas with lots of water passing. Fishermen are saying drops that produced merger catches in previous years are producing phenomenal catches of large fish. Earl from Adams Bait Shop reports they are still finding shrimp but finding shrimp is becoming more difficult. Those throwing a cast net can still catch bait but as temperatures fall catching shrimp will more difficult as well. Plenty of mullet in the rivers and creeks. Fishing has been good if not outstanding!
The forecast going into the Thanksgiving holiday week looks good! The best fishing will likely be towards the sound. Lots of dirty water in the South Channel as well in the Savannah River. Although red fish can and will eat in dirty water. Crushing your shrimp to put more scent in the water can be an effective trick. When currents are slow, barely moving, seek areas with stronger current. Typically high incoming and high outgoing tides can be excellent tides to target sea trout. Later during the outgoing would be a classic time to fish for red fish.
Tides for the coming week are under seven feet. These are small tides for fishing in Savannah. Long casts with soft plastics can be very effective in fishing for red fish in shallow water with little current. Remember noise can be a factor. Give other fishermen plenty of room. One company making fishing charts has written stay half mile from the next fisherman. On some flats one boat motoring up or trolling to close can literally blow the fishing. Give fellow fishermen plenty of room. If you cast to where another boat is casting you are way too close. Currents, whether you’re in a creek or river or on mud flat all factors that make each decision a little different. In short its best to give up on a drop for another day if it means you going to compromise another’s fishing.
How to tell if you’re too close – the saltwater rule if there is a slight possibility of compromising another’s fishing, you’re too close.
A sign this week of mild conditions is late season tarpon about fifty pounds caught November 21, 2009 by two Savannah fishermen while fishing for sea trout. A unusual catch for this time of year! Not too worry the seasons are changing.
Fish On! Hope this of interest and help! Capt. Jack McGowan