One morning, 10-year-old Max Collins landed the fish of a lifetime while bass fishing in Georgia. Max caught an impressive 8-pound, 11-ounce largemouth bass in Morgan County on a spinner bait around 9 a.m., just after the rain stopped moving through the area.

The big bass hit during those perfect post-rain conditions that Georgia anglers dream about, and Max made the most of the opportunity. At only 10 years old, he’s already proving he knows how to find trophy largemouths in Georgia waters.

NEWS TO KNOW:

• • New Black Bass Conservation License Plate Available: Georgia anglers can now purchase a specialty license plate featuring a largemouth bass, with proceeds supporting fisheries conservation, habitat improvements, research, stocking programs, and education efforts across the state. Learn more: GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates.
  • Summer is the perfect time to get your family outdoors and on the water together. Georgia offers kid-friendly fishing events, clinics, and family fishing opportunities across the state where young anglers can learn, compete, and make lifelong memories. You can find upcoming kid and family fishing events here: https://license.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com/Event/EventsHome.aspx

This week, we have fishing reports from Southwest, North, Central, and Southeast Georgia! With bass fishing heating up across Georgia this summer, now is a great time to get on the water and chase trophy largemouth — Go Fish Georgia!

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Caroline Cox, Fisheries Biologist, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

LAKE SEMINOLE

According to Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing, bass fishing is fair.  The shad spawn on the lake is making the fishing a little better. When searching for active bait schools, look for topped out vegetation or fish breaking the surface. When you find the shad, try out several different baits: use a Chatterbait in a 3/8-ounce size, a 3/8-ounce swim jig in shad or a 3/8-ounce white buzz bait. Try a 4.25-inch white Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper as a trailer for each one of these baits. Shallow bass like any bream-colored bait and a Luck Craft swimbait is a great choice. Also try the Big Bite Baits warmouth bait. A white Spro popping frog around shallow grass and pads will only get better as the weather continues to warm. Look for the fish to start moving out on ledges and grass edges. Some nice bags were caught at the MLF Toyota series well into the 20’s for multiple anglers as well as some nice 18–19-pound bags.

Nighttime catfishing is a favorite summer pastime for many people. Guide Bryan Alday took some folks out on Seminole recently and ended up with around 15 fish using a mix of dragging baits and anchoring up. Night fishing has been a great way to stay on these fish lately. If you’ve been thinking about getting out after dark, now’s a great time to go.

LAKE WALTER F GEORGE

According to Ken Sturdivant at Southern Fishing, bass fishing is good. The top water bite is very good so keep a Lucky Craft Sammy always tied on. There has also been a good bite on suspending jerk baits worked over a shallow flat. Spinnerbaits are great and the Lucky Craft Redemption 3/8-ounce bait runs straight and true on every cast. Any color with white mixed in the skirt will work. Zoom Super Flukes in pearl and baby bass will work all day. During peak feeding times, the Spro McSticks and Shad Raps will catch fish all day. Use a Rapala X Rap in olive green. This color looks just like the blue back herring found all over the lake. A steady retrieve seems to be working best. Use it just like a medium fast crank bait. Soft plastics are good, but anglers can cover more water with the other baits.

LAKE BLACKSHEAR

Shellcrackers have been hitting it off this past week and have moved into the shallows to spawn! For those looking for their bite look around cypress trees that are 2-3ft deep, especially if there are lily pads around. Their bite preference has been reported to be worms.

Crappies are still a common bite on Blackshear, though now they are mostly post-spawn and will be moving around the lake and back into deeper water than during spawn. Reports for ATX baby shad lures and Crappie Carnivore bluegrass lures working well in getting the crappie to bite.

BIG LAZER PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Surface water temperature:   67°F
• Water visibility:  Visibility is about 35”
• Water level: 10” below Full Pool

 The bass fishing is quickly getting good now as they have begun to move into shallower water to spawn. Try throwing spinners and crankbaits at about 4-6 feet of water. Fishing plastic worms and lizards near spawning beds should produce decent bites.  We have had some reports of decent bream fishing lately. They are getting ready to spawn soon so look for beds to fish near. Red worms and crickets are still your best bet for bream. Catfish fishing is improving as of late and should continue to do so. Try using livers or worms at or near the bottom of the lake. Woody structure as well as the riprap near the dam may be your best bet at a good cat.

NORTH GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Josh Stafford, Fisheries Biologist with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

RESERVOIR REPORT 

LAKE ALLATOONA 

Bass (courtesy of Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing fair. The boat docks are paying off. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. The top water bite still is very good so keep a Lucky Craft Sammy tied on at all times. There has also been a good bite on suspending jerk baits worked over a shallow flat set the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. Try a spool of braid and tie all knows with a double Palomar knot to prevent slipping. Also, hook ups will improve with the no stretch in the braid. First thing in the morning there are shad spawning and the top water bite is good. Use a Spro Dawg and a Zara Spook. Keep these bait small. Look for fish activity and schooling around rock and hard bank. Some shad will even spawn on floating docks. Once the sun gets up look for brush or blowdowns.

Allatoona Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Allatoona, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

LAKE HARTWELL 

Bass (courtesy of Southern Fishing) — Bass fishing is good. The lake is low so be careful. There are waves of shallow bass in the shallows ready for the next full moon. Spinnerbaits are great and the Lucky Craft Redemption 3/8 ounce bait runs straight and true on every cast. Mix any color with white mixed in the skirt will work. Zoom Super Flukes in pearl and baby bass will work all day. During peak feeding times, the Spro McSticks and Rapala Shad Raps will catch fish all day. Use a Rapala X Rap in the olive green. This color looks just like the blue back herring found all over the lake. A steady retrieve seems to be working best. Use it just like a medium fast crank bait. Soft plastics are good but anglers can cover more water with the other baits.

LAKE LANIER 

Bass: (Via Phil Johnson, Pjohnson15@hotmail.com (770) 366 8845 via The Southern Fishing Report)- Bass fishing on Lake Lanier is good. The lake is current water temperature is running in the high sixties. Overall, the lake is clear. There is still some fun to be had with the herring spawn but the big thing cranking up right now is the top water bite. If you want to start early for the herring spawn look for the blow through areas and any hard bottom areas in less than ten feet of water, You’ll often know they are there by seeing them flicker or simply smelling them. A quarter ounce Spot choker with a two eight Keitech or a quarter ounce white spinnerbait with chrome willow leaf blades worked very shallow and slowly will draw some good strikes while a small walking top water bait like a Red Fin will also draw them up. The main way for the week has been top water though. An Ima Skimmer, Riser, Fluke and Slick Stick have all caught fish this week when worked off the long points, humps and brush in twenty-five feet or less of water. For the Skimmer, Riser and Slick Stick two colors have been all that’s needed with Chrome working on sunny days and white or bone working on cloudy days. For the Fluke the main colors have been white, chartreuse and FZNH2O. With the fluke be sure to vary your retrieve to see which way is most productive for the day. Somedays they want it steady jerked back to the boat and some days a reel and stop method works best. I’m sure that there are more top water baits such as the Spook and Gunfish that will catch bass right now so don’t be afraid to throw any of them. The area can be more important than the bait. Watch for this action to just get better over the next few weeks and get out and enjoy it. Go Catch ‘Em!

Crappie (courtesy of Captain Josh Thornton (770-530-6493); report via Southern Fishing): This Lake Lanier Crappie report is by Captain Josh Thornton 770 530 6493 Lake Lanier crappie fishing is excellent the water temperatures are in the low 70’s and the water is clear in the northern part of the lake. The Crappie are moving off the banks and back to docks. Most of the fish we are catching are still in 10-15 foot or less of water and they want to chase the bait vertical jigs has not been productive yet. Large fish are in the main channel suspended around 15 foot this week’s largest fish came over a 65 foot bottom. Look for small groups or individual fish for your best chance of landing a trophy. The jig color of choice is money milk with chartreuse split tail or a blue and chartreuse hair jig. For your best fishing experience consider using the following equipment: a one piece ACC Crappie Stix rod and reel paired with 4 or 6 pound test K9 line with a Atx lure company jig. Further optimizing your efforts with a Garmin LiveScope. To schedule your guided Lake Lanier crappie fishing trip, please contact Captain Josh Thornton at 770-530-6493.

Lanier Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including Lanier, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

WEISS LAKE

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — Bass fishing is fair and the fish are on the beds. The Spotted Bass are doing well. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 60 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. The top water bite still is very good so keep a Lucky Craft Sammy tied on at all times. There has also been a good bite on suspending jerk baits worked over a shallow flat.

WEST POINT LAKE 

Bass (Courtesy of Ken Sturdivant, The Southern Fishing Report) — Bass fishing is fair. For a fast bite use the Berkley Square Bill 7.5 and 8.5 Special Craw 2 Brown Craw. Up lake the fish are hold in blow downs and brush piles. Good baits to use are ¼ ounce black and blue jig or a Senko is the watermelon color. For a fast bite use the Bomber Model A shallow and Deep Model A. Make sure to fish the deep end of the trees b/c the bigger fish have been holding there. Also look for 8 to 10 foot drop offs and throw a Carolina Rigged Zoom Baby Brush Go in green pumpkin hog. Watch the Lowrance for the drop offs in the creeks. Look for the bait and start there. Down lake fish have been biting on long points and shoals markers. Expect the boat docks to start paying off soon. This is when the Lowrance Structure Scan technology can find the fish on the docks. Ride by them and scan out 80 feet with the blue palette. Use the 455 kHz to spot the fish. Mark the spot and then come back. The top water bite still is very good so keep a Lucky Craft Sammy tied on at all times. There has also been a good bite on suspending jerk baits worked over a shallow flat.

West Point Fish Attractors: Find locations of DNR fish attractors and much more information for a variety of water bodies, including West Point, at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing-forecasts.

RIVER REPORT

“Trout Fishing in a Georgia Drought”

By James Miles, WRD Fisheries Biologist

As we continue to experience drought conditions across the state and more folks get out on the water, fishing conditions could get tougher over the following weeks. Here are some tips to enhance your success and help leave that “skunked” feeling behind after a day on the water:

Stealth over Camouflage

Wearing clothing that matches your environment is definitely important while fishing; however, if you’re making excessive movements in the stream, that’s not going to help your fishing. A stealthy approach to fishing requires more work and is vital in low-water conditions. For example, your stealth level should mirror the conditions you face; fast, turbulent water can allow a speedier approach, while low-water conditions demand a sloth-like approach. Lastly, watch your shadows on the water. Nothing worse than getting to a perfect-looking run or pool with fish that already know you’re there because of the shadow you cast.

Lighter Fly/Fishing Lines and Longer Leaders

During low-water conditions, trout become very skittish due to the lack of water they can retreat to and are more vulnerable to predators. So, the more distance you can put between you and the fish without spooking them, the better. For our fly fisherman, put on longer leaders with a heavier butt section. This will allow you to downsize your tippet and upper leader, reducing disturbance on the water’s surface, while still maintaining enough weight in the butt section to cast your fly. For our artificial-lure and bait fishermen, try using smaller pound-test lines like 2-4 pound, longer leaders, and as little hardware as you can get away with.

Watch the Water Temperature

Water temperatures are looking really good for most of the trout streams right now. However, the more we get into summer, the tougher fishing could get. Focus your fishing on the cooler parts of the day, like early morning or late evening. Also, carry a stream thermometer with you so you can check the temperature while fishing. Water temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit are stressful for trout, and fishing may cause unnecessary mortality.

Fishing in any sort of extreme weather can be tough, but embracing the challenges can lead to less crowded fishing days and, hopefully, a more patient and wiser angler, too!

GA DNR staff hosted their annual Trout Fishing with Mom event at Unicoi State Park with the help of several Trout Unlimited volunteers. There were over 50 participants that got to reel in a bunch of fish! If you are interested in this event, you can sign up next year on GA DNR’s event page (GADNR Events Calendar | Go Outdoors Georgia).

Trout Fishing Opportunities for Those With Disabilities: Find sites that are open to the public and offer specific amenities for anglers with disabilities at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout.

Supporting Trout Fishing: Want to do more to support trout fishing in Georgia?  Consider upgrading to a Trout Unlimited license plate this year. See more info at GeorgiaWildlife.com/licenseplates.  Aside from being a great looking tag, each purchase or renewal of a Trout Unlimited license plate directly supports Georgia’s trout conservation and management programs which can be found at GeorgiaWildlife.com/fishing/trout. Hatcheries and wild trout efforts both benefit from the trout tag.

CENTRAL GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Matthew Gerber, Fisheries Biologist with the Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

This week’s Central Georgia fishing report is brought to you by Ken Sturdivant’s Southern Fishing Report, and contributions from Region 3 WRD Fisheries staff, local guides, and anglers.

RESERVOIR REPORT 

CLARKS HILL LAKE

CLARKS HILL LAKE IS DOWN 7.6 FEET, 70’S – Bass catching fish on a Whopper Plopper and Zoom Flukes in white ice and a Gunfish. The fish are starting to move to summer locations on the Hill that are in deeper water. Jigs, C rigs and crankbaits are still working for some fishermen. The Whopper Ploppers are great lures for any level angler. But it’s a good idea to have both the large one and the small one. Color is not important as the fish just see the belly. Try both a fast retrieve and a slow one. The largemouth are holding off the sides of grassy points in 12 to 18 feet of water and are feeding heavily on the crawfish in the grass. We are also finding several largemouth mixed in with the hybrids feeding on the herring.

LAKE SINCLAIR

LAKE SINCLAIR IS DOWN 1.5 FEET, 70’S – Bass fishing is great. The shallow bite is still the dominant pattern. The bream are still bedding in the pockets and the mayflies are just starting to hatch in the rivers, causing the bass to stay up shallow. Top water baits such as a black buzz bait and the Spro Bronzeye frog are catching fish consistently around grass, lay down trees, and sea walls around points and channel swings. Texas rigged soft plastics and shaky heads will also catch fish around the docks in these same areas. A Weedless Wonder head with a Zoom trick worm is hard to beat under these docks. A drop shot with a morning dawn colored Roboworm Straight Tail Worm on a 1/0 hook and ¼ ounce tungsten weight. For those that prefer to fish deep, there is a decent offshore bite going on as well in 14 to 18 feet of water. Look for offshore humps and long points in the mouths of creeks and near the river channels for the best results. A cell mate colored Spro Little John DD and Buckeye Football Mop jig fished on these offshore spots will catch fish right now and for weeks to come. Look for hard bottom or stumps when fishing offshore. This bite is best when Georgia Power is moving water.

LAKE RUSSELL

LAKE RUSSELL IS FULL, 70’S – Bass fishing is good. This week, the bass are up early and late and a Stanley buzz baits with silver blades and a white skirt up and down lake will work. On river points, use a bright Mann’s Deep crank bait in shad colors down lake on points. The Alabama rig with small Zoom fluke pear trailers is working also. Up the rivers, go to the Bomber 7A in all white or fire tiger on the banks. The Whopper Ploppers are great lures for any level angler. But it’s a good idea to have both the large one and the small one. Color is not important since the fish just see the belly. Try both a fast retrieve and a slow one. Small spinner baits with willow leaf blades have been fair early and late. Cast the floating worms halfway in the creeks and the off river coves. Zoom u tail worms in gourd green or natural blue on a Texas rig is fair, but fish them very slowly. Night fishing is slow, but a big red worm on a Texas rig can draw a few strikes on bridges and docks around lights.

LAKE OCONEE

LAKE OCONEE IS FULL, 70’S – Bass fishing is fair. Start the day with a buzz bait fished along sea walls and rip rap. Work the middle of the coves and main lake creeks. After the sun gets up, switch to boat docks in the same areas. Use a shaky head under the docks and around the dock poles. Also use a small shallow running Rapala Shad Rap crank bait around the same docks. The Whopper Ploppers are great lures for any level angler. It’s a good idea to have both the large one and the small one. Color is not important as the fish just see the belly. Try both a fast retrieve and a slow one. As the day heats up, move to the bridge and rip rap when Georgia Power starts pulling water. Use a white and chartreuse spinner bait or a small crank bait and fish the down lake side with these two baits. Keep an eye on the water movement while fishing as this also causes the bass to feed.

LAKE JACKSON

LAKE JACKSON IS DOWN 2.2 FEET, 70’S – Bass fishing is good. There are a lot of spawning shad around the man-made rock piles and the bass are right in there with them. Any windblown point can also produce a few fish using the Lucky Craft Flashminnow 110 and Pointer 100’s. Once the sun gets up, the fishing gets a little trickier. Fish are already seeking thermal refuges such as shaded banks, deeper water, and the backs of creeks. Be ready to adjust quickly once the sun gets up by fishing deeper water in the 10- to 15-foot range. The hump bite in the main lake is starting to turn on strong as well. Best deep baits for fishing deeper are a small 1/4-ounce standup Bass Stalker jigs and spot stickers tipped with a finesse worm. Also, the drop shot bite is producing a few fish. The bass are roaming in the pockets and creeks, and they are after any small popping bait or a small Zara Spook in shad patterns. Top water lures line the Devils Horse will catch some good largemouth, as well as the Senko green pumpkin worm rigged weightless.

PUBLIC FISHING AREA REPORT

Marben Public Fishing Area (courtesy of PFA Manager Jamie Dowd)

• Marben PFA Information
• Water Level: Most ponds remain slightly below full pool; recent rains have improved conditions.
• Water Clarity: Clear to lightly stained
• Surface Temperature: Warming into the 60s
• Marben PFA Fishing Guide

Marben PFA is a great place to enjoy spring fishing. As always, anglers are encouraged to adjust tactics based on daily conditions and water temperatures.

Spring conditions are here at Marben PFA, and warming water temperatures have anglers back on the water. As daylight increases and temperatures rise, fish activity should steadily improve across all ponds. 

Largemouth: Most of the females have spawned and moved to deeper water.  The males may be found still guarding fry.  Carolina rigged lizards do well.

Bass: Bass fishing is expected to improve as water temperatures continue to warm. Fish will begin moving shallower during stable, warming trends. Anglers should focus on soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and shallow-running crankbaits around shoreline cover, woody structure, and pond points during the afternoon hours when water temperatures peak. 

Crappie: Crappie will transition from deeper winter holding areas toward shallow structure as spawning approaches. Target brush, submerged timber, and pond edges with minnows or small jigs. Fishing success should improve significantly with consecutive days of warm weather. Crappie were really hitting jigs and jigs tipped with minnows.

Bream: Spring is an excellent time to target bream at Marben. Recent bluegill stockings will provide additional opportunities for anglers, and fish will become more active as water temperatures rise. Red wigglers and crickets fished near the bottom around shoreline cover and shallow structure should produce steady action. Bluegill have been biting worms. They should be bedding the first full moon in May.

Channel Catfish: Channel Catfish are moving in and will spawn soon. Anglers fishing cut bait, worms, or prepared baits on the bottom should begin to see improving success, particularly during the evening hours.

McDuffie Public Fishing Area (courtesy of Area Manager Chalisa Fabillar)

• McDuffie PFA Information
• McDuffie PFA Fishing Guide

Anglers at McDuffie are seeing the results of warmer spring weather as well. The bass have moved in the shallows and have completed the spawn. Folks are pulling smaller bass pretty easily. Though larger bass are moving in the shallows as well, they are pickier about their prey. Bream are hitting worms and crickets in 4-8 ft of water, especially shellcrackers.

Flat Creek Public Fishing Area (courtesy of Area Manager Amory Cook)

• Flat Creek PFA Information
• Water Level: 47” below full pool

• Water Temperature: Low 70’s
• Water Clarity: 37.5″
• Flat Creek PFA Fishing Guide

Bass: Anglers are having success using plum colored ‘Ol Monster worms by Zoom, white buzz baits, and minnows. Most bass are being caught from boats.

Bream: Red Wigglers continue to produce Bream. Target the treetops next to the boat ramp.

Crappie: Minnows have been the go-to bait, while jigs (John Deere or yellow and white colored Triple Ripple, or June Bug colored Teaser Tail) fished with light tackle to feel the slightest bite and trolled have been working very great! If you are bank fishing, try fishing near the pier. If on a boat, try cover (treetops).

Catfish: Most catfish caught has been bycatch while fishing for Bream or Bass. The last angler interviewed that was catching catfish had great success with worms fished on the bottom.  Remember the PFA lake record for catfish is still open and the minimum requirement to qualify is 12lbs or 32in long. You must have the catch weighed on a certified scale and properly documented.  Should you land a catfish that you believe to be at least 12 pounds (about 30 inches long), please notify DNR staff.

If you are having difficulty catching fish at FCPFA, try talking to other anglers. Flat Creek PFA receives high pressure, and it can take some time to narrow down techniques and locations where fish are biting.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Fishing report courtesy of Joshua Barber with help from Region Staff and Local Experts)

The saltwater bite has been improving. Anglers have been able to get on some trout. The bass bite has also been good this week.

River Gages as of May 7th:

• Doctortown on the Altamaha – 4.4 feet and steady
• Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 2.3 feet and rising
• Clyo on the Savannah – 3.3 feet and falling
• Statenville on the Alapaha – 1.3 feet and steady
• Alapaha on the Alapaha – 1.8 feet and steady
• Waycross on the Satilla – 4.5 feet and rising
• Atkinson on the Satilla – 2.8 feet and rising
• Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 1.6 feet and steady
• Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 1.7 feet and falling
• Fargo on the Suwannee – 0.8 feet and steady

Last Quarter Moon is on May 9th. To monitor all the Georgia river levels, visit the USGS website (waterdata.usgs.gov/ga/nwis/rt). For the latest marine forecast, check out www.weather.gov/jax/.

ALTAMAHA RIVER

Kevin Mullis has been catching some big bass on the mighty Altamaha. He has been using a Devil’s Horse and has had success in oxbows. He thinks that they are on the verge of moving back out into the main river. Altamaha River Rats Trail will be hosting an open tournament next Saturday (May 16^th) at Jaycee Landing. Entry fee is $80 dollars.

SATILLA RIVER

The bass and panfish bite has been good. Some big redbreasts have been caught. Seth Carter and Kerry Hood wore out the bass this week and they caught some bigguns too. Before your next trip to the river, stop by Satilla Feed and Outdoors located at 2270 US-84 in Blackshear. They have a variety of rods, reels, and fishing tackle. For hours, call 912-449-3001.

ST MARYS RIVER

Tyler Chesser fished on Wednesday morning and caught 3 nice bass up to 3.40-lbs. He was using a black Zoom Trick Worm to fool them.

WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER

Jim O’Conner hit the upper river for two evenings last week. The fish were munching! On the first day, he landed 8 largemouth bass. He caught a dozen on the next evening. A soft plastic creature bait and a jig worked well. Many of the bass were in the 2-5 pound range, with the biggest one pulling the scales down to 7.13-lbs. Congrats on the big river fish Jim!

LAKES AND PONDS

Ken Burke fished at Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area (near Hawkinsville) on Tuesday and caught 7 bass that weighed a combined 21.25-lbs. The biggest bass weighed 3.75-lbs. Ken caught all of them on crankbaits in water from 4-14 feet deep. The water temperature was 76.5 degrees on Tuesday. Jimmy Zinker and a friend fished at Lake Miccosukee on Wednesday Night. They landed 8 bass, including two that weighed 7-lbs 8-oz. and 5-lbs. 15-oz. They used buzzbaits and the legendary Muskie Jitterbug. Jimmy said that the lake level has dropped another foot since they started to drain it. Rocky Barnard reported that his friend Derrick Sheffield had a good day bass fishing at a golf course pond in Blackshear. He was using FA Lures black soft plastic worms. Danny Cooley caught a big bass that weighed 7-lbs. at Paradise Public Fishing Area (near Tifton).

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Two anglers fished on the east side for two days. They caught 70 warmouth on the first day and 40 warmouth on the second day. The bowfin bite has been great! The boat ramp on the west side (Stephen C. Foster State Park) is currently closed due to some renovations that are taking place around the boat basin. They estimate that it will probably be at least early May before it is reopened. Anglers can still launch kayaks and canoes though. Captain Bert Deener offers guided fishing trips in the Okefenokee. To book a trip with him, visit his website bertsjigsandthings.com. Latest Swamp level on the east side was 119.38 feet. Be careful driving your boat with the very low water conditions.

SALTWATER (Georgia Coast)

Tim Robison and Captain Bert Deener fished at Crooked River State Park on Wednesday and they caught 19 trout. A few of the trout measured 17-18 inches long. They used Zombie Eye Jigheads rigged with Keitech swimbaits (electric chicken and perch were the best colors). Lee and Steve fished with Captain Tim Cutting (fishthegeorgiacoast.com) on Tuesday. They caught 14 fish (8 flounder and 6 trout). They used soft plastic baits rigged on jigheads. Chad and his wife Tonya fished with Captain Tim on Wednesday and caught 5 flounder, 8 trout, and 9 redfish. Most of them were caught on live shrimp. Robert White and his daughter fished in the Saint Simons Island area last weekend and caught some catfish and a pile of stingrays. They also fished at a river and caught 5 sharks, 3 croaker, 1 whiting, 1 trout, and 4 stingrays. They were using shrimp on bottom.

SALTWATER (KEATON BEACH, FL)

Captain Pat McGriff and Captain Bert Deener fished on Monday in the slick conditions. The bite was tough to start off, but it got better as the day progressed. They wound up catching north of 50 fish (16 were trout). Bottom Bouncing was the most productive method with Assassin Sea Shads. Their biggest trout measured 18-1/2 inches long.

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA (near Hawkinsville)

• Ocmulgee PFA Info
• Ocmulgee PFA Fishing Guide

HUGH M. GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR DUBLIN)

• Hugh Gillis PFA Information
• Hugh Gillis PFA Fishing Guide

DODGE COUNTY PUBLIC FISHING AREA (NEAR EASTMAN)

• Dodge County PFA Information  
• Dodge County Fishing Guide

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

• Paradise Public Fishing Area Information 
• Paradise PFA Fishing Guide

Before your next fishing trip, stop by Winge’s Bait and Tackle located at 440 Memorial Drive in Waycross. They have all the tackle you need for a successful trip! For their hours, call 912-283-9400.

If you have any fishing reports or fish pictures that you would like to be included in this report, email them to me joshuabfishhunter@gmail.com or send them through Messenger on Southern Waters Fishing Report’s Facebook Page.