Carrablelle

[leesburgga]

Can someone give me some info on fishing out of Carrabelle? I have a 19' boat and mostly fish out of St. Marks and Keaton. Occasionally, I fish out of Pensacola or Mexico Beach trolling for kings. Being in southwest Georgia, I was curious about Carrabelle for nearshore fishing (i.e., primarily kings) and would welcome any info. Might have an open day this coming weekend to give it a try. Thanks in advance for any info.

Jeff

[birddog]

Dog Island Reef with good weather would be a good bet in a 19 ft. bay boat.

[leesburgga]

Is Dog Island Reef an actual man made reef? What is typically caught there? Thanks again.

[EddieJoe]

Is Dog Island Reef an actual man made reef? What is typically caught there? Thanks again.

Lee:

What I suggest is you either look at a paper chart or electronic chart of the area to get an idea of what the nearshore features are. There is an electronic chart on this website, and artificial reefs are also included in a list on the site, separately. Dog Island Reef is a long shoal with mixed seagrass and sand a lot like Ocklocknee Shoal. It lies more or less from the east end of Dog Island to the western tip of Alligator Point, and holds the usual species such as trout, reds, spanish, cobia, sharks, and ladyfish. Fish with live bait or artificials just like on the flats. You can try the closest artificial reefs such as Two Dogs (check the list, look them up on the chart) for kings, using live bait on a fly line or balloon. Chumming helps, but will also draw sharks. None of these, IMO, is as reliable for kings as the buoy line off of Mexico Beach, but you can still fish them and do well at times. Use a sabiki at Dog Island Reef buoy #2 and catch blue runners and thread herring for live baits, or catch pins off the grass on Dog Island Reef.

Kings seem to be scattered right now, but will usually follow the bait pods, which have been on Dog Island Reef, offshore in about 35' of water, and deeper. Spanish are in the same areas.

Luck,

EJ

[leesburgga]

EJ thanks a lot for the detailed info. I have also been talking with some friends who fish that area occasionally and getting similar reports on the trout from dog island. Thanks again and I hope to be posting a report this weekend.