Tthe winter blues has still Fishing outlook
Fishing action along the Georgia coast continues at a slow pace, with winter weather conditions and freezing temperatures the major culprits.
While a smattering of inshore activity has indicated a few anglers continuing to chase red drum, and an occasional spotted sea trout bite reported, sheepshead continue to be the most popular target.
Stripers remain on the target list in both the Ogeechee and Little Ogeechee River flows and also in the Savannah River.
When weather conditions allow, both sheepshead and black sea bass are providing some excellent offshore action around the reefs and deeper live bottom areas.
Capt. Ray Golden, who operates Coffee Bluff Marina, said the action Sunday around the reefs was excellent for both sea bass and sheepshead.
He noted that one group of four Coffee Bluff residents went to the reefs this past Sunday, caught 70 sheepshead, and returned to the docks with 48.
Capt. Judy Helmey (Miss Judy Charters), in her weekly website fishing report (www.missjudycharters.com), tells of a run to the reefs for sheepshead Saturday with a group of seasoned fishermen.
Water temp important
The target location was the KC Reef where the water depth is about 45 feet.
It was cold, and when the group first arrived the water temperature was about 45 degrees. At that temperature, the bite was almost non-existent, but when the temperature finally climbed to 47 degrees, the sheepshead bite began to improve.
The black sea bass bite was off, mostly due to the low water temperature, but apparently improved at greater depths where temps were up in the 50s.
On the previous day, with ice caking to the boat rails, she headed to the Savannah Snapper Banks, where, with the water temperature in the 50-degree range, the black sea bass bite was on.
Catch that day for the group totaled 226 fish of which 90 black sea bass were keepers, and 105 of the same species were undersized and released along with one trigger fish, 12 reef runners (cigar fish), 11 sand perch and seven bank sea bass.
Helmey also reminds those fishing the deep-water areas that the season is closed for harvesting vermillion snapper through March and closed for grouper until May 1.
There is a current full ban on harvesting red snapper, with no indication of when the ban will be lifted.
Helmey also has other interesting stories and reports, including dates and times of the three inshore and offshore fishing seminars she soon will be holding at Tubby's Tank House in Thunderbolt.
Tournament activity
Tournament action is heating up, with the Coffee Bluff Inshore Fishing Club to hold its monthly tournament this Saturday.
Target fish will be striped bass.
On Jan 29, Coffee Bluff Marina will be sponsoring a sheepshead tournament, with the five largest sheepshead by weight to be declared the winning catch.
The entry fee is $25 per team, and first place will receive 90 percent of the purse.
Those wanting to participate need to sign up by 5 p.m. on Jan. 28, at Coffee Bluff Marina.
There will be a sheepshead cookout at the marina on Saturday following competition.
For more information, contact Coffee Bluff Marina at 912-925-7474.
In March, the IFA Redfish Tour will be returning to Savannah for an event that will headquartered out of Coffee Bluff Marina.
Set for March 12-13, the event will feature two divisions - the regular RFA Redfish Tour and an IFA Kayak Fishing Tour, presented by Hobie Fishing.
For more information, contact Coffee Bluff Marina, or go on line to www.redfishtour.com or www.ifakayakfishingtour.com.
On the fresh water side of the fishing ledger, other than river striper activity, a few reports are trickling in that crappie are beginning to bite in some of the lakes and impoundments.
Some largemouth bass action also has been reported.
Pro bass event
The most recent comes from Barry Durden, who heads the Savannah River Division of the Southern Anglers Challenge, a professional bass fishing tour.
In freezing temperatures, the group held its monthly tournament Saturday, with teams again leaving out of, and weighing in at Stokes Landing on the Savannah River.
According to Durden, the winning team was David Cole of Twin City and Tracy Burnsed of Eden. The two weighed in and released the five-bass limit that tipped the scales at 13.89 pounds.
They also took top honors for the largest bass - one weighing 5.7 pounds. The two reportedly were fishing in Kennedy Lake, located downstream of Stokes Landing and make their catch on a black/blue pig gig combination.
Taking second place was the team of Richard Boatright and Ken Morgan, both of Rincon, with a five-bass limit weighing 13.83 pounds.
In third was the team of Paul Cole and Chuck Drawdy, both of Bloomingdale, with five fish weighing 11.11 pounds.
To date, after three tournaments, Boatright and Morgan lead with 892 points, followed by Paul Cole and Drawdy at 888. David Cole and Burnsed are in third at 885.
For more information on the tournament trail and the Savannah River Division, contact Durden at by phone at 912-863-7361, or by e-mail at bdurden@planters.com.
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