Saint George Island 7/17-7/24

[Carplips]

I'm heading down there from N. Georgia that week. I will have a 20' CC Aluminum boat with me. Any good tips and fish to target will be helpful.
I'll be praying for the oil to be under control and not be in the area we will be fishing and boating. Thanks!

[Jumptrout51]

Fish the length of the island on the bay side.
Fish from shore to 6-7 feet deep.
While throwing your topwater and corks etc. keep a shiner or cut bait drifting off the backside of the boat.

[Carplips]

Thanks Jtrout! Sounds easy enough. Just about how I striper fish. I may even put a live bait on a planer board.

[Jumptrout51]

Trailer around to Lanark Village to launch.
Then go out to Dog Island Reef between Dog and Alligator Point.

[wevans]

Depending on the weather, it would be cheaper and faster to just run the bay side of both islands "or the gulf side if it's nice" to get there

[Carplips]

I don't know if I want to ride that far. I want to stay close by the bridge where I'm putting in. It looks to be about 7.5 miles to the cut(west). 14 miles to Dog Island(east). I can't find Lanark Village. This is my first time to the area.

[Jumptrout51]

Lanark Village is 4 miles East of Carrabelle on 98.

[Jumptrout51]

If you want to fish near the bridge I can tell you where there are acres and acres of trout and redfish.

[PerryFisherMan]

What Jumptrout's first advice is what I'd do - or put in at Lanark and still fish the same pattern. My experience has been the fish bite mostly run at daylight for a couple of hours and just at dark (regardless of tide....not like near Perry where I live). I would catch some during the day sometimes, but never as much as first thing in the morning. So, I get out ASAP in the morning (when I could drag myself out of bed to do it on vacation...). Close to shore to 6-7", grass is best for trout, close in for redfish/flounder. That has been my experience for the last 3 years we've stayed there. I've fished both in a 16' skiff and kayak (my personal preference for St. George). If the water is not clear (this usually depends on the amount of recent winds), you'll need a cajun thunder to help them find it. Again, that's my experience.

If the wind is out of the north, put in on the mainland. If out of the S, putting in on the bayside good. Just be sure to check the wind prediction, the bay can get really bouncy quickly. I got caught out in it once in my skiff and was very glad to make it back to the dock. Safety first always.

[Carplips]

Thanks for everyone's help. I just hope the oil stays away. Acres and acres of trout and reds? Near the bridge? I'm listening. This will be my son's first trip.

[Jumptrout51]

Acres and acres of Trout and Redfish is a fantasy hole at SGI created by Chalk and TinCan.
With heavy emphasis on FANTASY.
Sorry to get you excited.

[Harmsway]

I'm heading down there from N. Georgia that week. I will have a 20' CC Aluminum boat with me. Any good tips and fish to target will be helpful.

Carplips, the whole bay will be teeming with fish. Have fun exploring it with your son, and I'm sure you will catch the easier species like spotted seatrout, spanish mackerel, bluefish, small sharks, ladyfish, and gaftopsail catfish. You might even hook up accidentally (on purpose) on redfish, cobia, and tarpon. Careful that you don't oversize your rods and reels; 10-pound class is all you need. Candidate rigs include jighead (say 1/4-oz) with plastic 'grub' of choice (lean toward shrimp imitator) both with and without popping cork, a live bait rig (medium circle hook under cork), topwater and suspending plugs, and weighted or unweighted plastic jerk baits (weedless if necessary). Watch for (and go to) feeding frenzies evidenced by birds feeding or water is crashing. Fish fast through these areas with almost anything (flashy is good but standard jigs work well; light wire leader is advised when fishing frenzies).

You might consider stopping by (or call) South Georgia Outdoors in Cairo, Georgia (ask for Heath). They can set you up with everything you need to be successful. http://www.sogaoutdoors.com/

[Carplips]

Acres and acres of Trout and Redfish is a fantasy hole at SGI created by Chalk and TinCan.
With heavy emphasis on FANTASY.
Sorry to get you excited.

Yeah, I was wainting for a fantasy reply "just show up and throw a rattletrap and hold on". LOL

Thanks for the input. I have a bait tank in my striper boat and plan on finding some bait or shrimp with the cast net to fish with. My son won't be the only kid going so I don't want everyone casting jigs. You know what I mean. They don't care what they catch. Just a few jumps and spashes is all I want them to see. 3 kids that are going has never caught a fish and are 6 to 7 years old. I think that is pretty sad. I'm going to change all that. Thanks, Mike