Fall Fishing Report — St. Simons Island & Georgia’s Golden Isles
Fall is one of the best times of the year to fish the waters around St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Georgia’s Golden Isles. Cooler mornings, comfortable temperatures, and improving inshore fishing make September, October, and November some of my favorite months to be on the water.
Whether you’re looking for a serious day of fishing, a family-friendly inshore trip, or one of our unique Cast & Blast adventures, fall offers something for just about everyone.
Late-Season Tarpon Fishing
For anglers looking for a big-game challenge, tarpon fishing along the Georgia coast can remain productive through the end of September.
These incredible fish begin their seasonal migration as fall approaches, but there is still time to chase them around the beaches, sounds, and coastal waters near St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.
Tarpon are one of the most exciting fish we target, and hooking one along the Georgia coast is an experience you won’t soon forget.
Inshore Fishing Gets Better in the Fall
As water temperatures begin to cool, our inshore fishing around St. Simons Island, Sea Island, and Jekyll Island typically becomes more consistent.
We’ll be targeting a variety of species, including:
- Speckled trout
- Redfish
- Flounder
- Black drum
Fall is an excellent time for anglers of all experience levels. Some days may involve casting artificial lures and sight fishing, while others are perfect for keeping rods bent and simply enjoying a day on the water.
Bull Redfish Season
If you want to catch a BIG fish, fall is the time to be here.
Large bull redfish begin moving into the rivers, sounds, and nearshore waters of the Golden Isles during their fall spawning season. These fish are incredibly powerful and can provide some of the hardest pulls you’ll experience while fishing the Georgia coast.
Fishing for bull reds around St. Simons Sound and the waters surrounding Jekyll Island can be an exciting option during the fall months.
When a big bull redfish decides to leave, you better hang on — because they pull, and they pull HARD!
Cast & Blast — Marsh Hens and Tailing Redfish
One of our favorite things about fall in coastal Georgia is combining fishing with our traditional marsh hen hunting trips.
Higher flood tides allow us to take our shallow-water skiffs deep into the flooded marshes surrounding the Golden Isles. When the conditions line up, we can hunt marsh hens while also looking for tailing redfish pushing into the flooded grass.
It’s what we call a Cast & Blast.
Few experiences capture coastal Georgia better. One minute you may be casting to a redfish tailing in the grass, and the next you’re hunting marsh hens (Clapper Rails) as we work our way through miles of beautiful Georgia salt marsh.
If you’re a hunter, sight fisherman, photographer, or simply someone who enjoys exploring places most people never get to see, this is an incredible way to experience the Golden Isles.
Fall in the Golden Isles
The weather alone makes fall one of the best seasons to visit St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and the surrounding Georgia coast.
Cooler mornings replace the summer heat, the marsh begins taking on its fall colors, and we have opportunities ranging from trout and redfish to bull reds, tarpon, and Cast & Blast adventures.
It’s simply a great time to be outside and on the water.
If you’re visiting the Golden Isles this fall and want to experience some of the best fishing around St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, I’d love to have you aboard.
