BigBendFishing.Net

I will be on SGI next week for the first time ever. I am bringing my boat. I fish mainly inshore here in Beaufort, SC.

I've read that the passes are a good place to fish. I am more familiar with inshore fishing, but I'd like to try the pass fishing if someone could relay their tactics.

Also, on the inshore bite next week would you recommend live bait? I have gulps and artificials, but will bring my cast net for live bait. I thought about buying a pin fish trap down there. Does anyone have a recommendation on a good tackle place close by?

The state park looks like a good place to lauch if i wanted to fish dog island one day, but the website said they don't open their gates until 8 am. This seems a bit late to start a fishing trip. Do they allow honor system admittance by placing your money in an envelope?

Any tips/help would be appreciated. I have a 21' Bay boat. Thanks in advance!

Mudminnow

The 2 logical passes for that area would be BobSikes Cut and the west end of big St.George Island and the pass between St. George and Dog Island on the east end of SGI. The current is swift in both places with mainly sand bottom. Few people depend on fishing there except the spring and winter.
Fish the bay side of SGI and Dog. From shore to about 200 yards out in most places the water will be 6 feet and less. That is where your trout and reds will be. Spanish and blues will be everywhere.
Your GULP and topwater will be your bait of choice. A pinfish on a cork rig drifting behind the boat will catch a bonus fish or 2.
Launch from Carrabelle Timber Island ramp to do Dog Island. Launch from Lanark to do Lanark and Turkey Point. Launch at the foot of the SGI bridge to do anything around SGI. Around SGI, fish the flats near the airport for good trout and reds.
Take one day and go to Port St. Joe to fish the south end of SJB around Blacks Island. Turn left at the first traffic light in St.Joe. The ramp will be in front of you. Stay on the east(left) shore and fish all the way to the end of the bay and back.

I just got back from SGI. The bay is a tricky place to navigate for a first timer. There are oyster bars and sand bars everywhere. The boat docks at the state park (especially teh first one you come to) are very shallow. The public ramp is a joke and teh beach ramp requires 4WD. For $40 you can get a year pass to enter the park after hours. This will give you better access. I caught good trout accross the channel from the first boat ramp and teh yak had reds in rattlesnack cove. The flats near the airport are also shallow. If you go slow and watch, you should be OK. Fish were in 3-5 feet of water. Along 98 east of eastpoint, Trout were in 3-5 feet of water. Shoot me a PM with your email and I'll see if I can help with some other spots we fished. I agree with teh above posts; the passes are not real productive unless you like shark. I have not fished St Joe, but coming back Saturday, the area he is talking about was covered up. We also caught a few spanish, saw more hitting the surface. Blues were off teh beach along with whiting. We did see a few triple tails of Cat Point under the crab bouys. Had fun chasing them.

Thanks to both. I'm really excited about my trip.