The featured image shows Georgia Angler Award recipient Jerry Wilson (age 79) who hauled in a 14 plus pound, 46 inch long gar from the Satilla River! 

The Georgia Angler Award Program recognizes anglers in Georgia who catch exceptional fish in Georgia waters. It also allows DNR to collect information on the genetics, age, growth, and habitats of big fish to help manage our fisheries to their greatest potential. For more information on angler awards visit https://georgiawildlife.com/fishing/anglerawards.

News to Know:

  • Go Fish Education Center – Clayton Batt’s Kids Fish Rodeo: TOMORROW (Oct. 3)! Bring the kids out for a fun day of fishing at the Go Fish Education Center’s pond. This is a great way for young anglers to get hooked on the sport in a family-friendly setting. Don’t miss this chance to make some fishing memories! More info: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A1fjmHnzQ/
  • Come and Get’em: Fall Harvest has begun at Go Fish Education Center. Bring your cooler and take home your catch! Visit https://gofisheducationcenter.com/ for directions and information.
  • Camp at a Georgia Public Fishing Area: Many of the Georgia PFAs offer overnight camping, from primitive to RV full hookups! More information about PFAs at GeorgiaWildlife.com/allpfas, and you can reserve campsites at https://reservations.gooutdoorsgeorgia.com.

SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

(Courtesy of Senior Fisheries Biologist Tim Bonvechio, with the help of Regional Supervisor Don Harrison and Southern Waters Joshua Barber’s weekly reports from September.)

There was a slight cold front last week, but now the balmy and hot weather has returned. A bunch of much-needed rain is in the forecast for the next several days, so the river levels may not be super accurate come press time.  Nonetheless, the fishing continues to be decent in September, especially for bass and catfish in the rivers and Public Fishing Areas.

 

photo shows man holding stings of fish

Tommy Davis

River Gauges as of September 3rd:

  • Doctortown on the Altamaha – 2.28 feet and stable
  • Lumber City on the Ocmulgee – 0.2 feet and falling
  • Clyo on the Savannah – 2.87 feet and stable
  • Statenville on the Alapaha – 2.46 feet and falling
  • Alapaha on the Alapaha – 2.51 feet and rising
  • Waycross on the Satilla – 5.39 feet and falling
  • Atkinson on the Satilla – 3.86 feet and falling
  • Quitman on the Withlacoochee – 1.84 feet and stable
  • Macclenny on the Saint Marys – 1.82 feet and falling
  • Fargo on the Suwannee – 3.98 feet and falling

ALTAMAHA RIVER 

Seth Carter fished with Austin Hill last weekend. They caught around 25 bass, and 17 of them weighed over 3 pounds. Their 5 biggest bass weighed 18 pounds. I fished the river one day this week and caught around 30 bass. I had around 20 pounds for my top 5 bass. The biggest one of the trip weighed 6 lbs. Two anglers caught a small mess of bass on the lower river recently. Justin Harrison and his dad fished the middle river last Wednesday and landed 16 nice bass. They used black Zoom Trick Worms and a white Berkeley Choppo to fool their fish. Justin Harrison and his dad fished out of Jaycee Landing on Wednesday and caught over 30 nice bass. All of the fish were caught below the landing. They caught their fish on trick worms.

SMALL IMPOUNDMENTS

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

OCMULGEE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

On September 21st, Ken Burke fished for 4 hours with 2 bites for a 1.25- and 2.5-pounder.  He caught both fish at the roadbed cut-through, one on the trusty shakey head and the other on a Berkley digger 6.5. Water temp was 88 degrees.  On September 25th, Ken Burke again fished on Ocmulgee PFA for 4.5 hours with 3 bites and 2 caught for 2.75 lbs, both on the shaky head.  One other boat on the water bobbed with the red Nitro Z18.  He picked up a couple of 1 lb bass and a good one near 5 lbs.  Water temp got up to 84 degrees on a windy day.  He noted the lake was down a few feet.

 

 

DODGE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

On September 14th, Ken Burke said there was tough fishing for about 4 hours, with 4 bites and 3 fish caught, including a 3.5, a 1.8, and a 1.0 lb.  He caught 2 on the shaky head and the biggest fish on the crankbait.  He lost a bigger fish on the shaky head by the dam concrete valve in 20-plus feet of water on the shaky that dove under a log and broke him off.  There was one other boat on the lake, and those 2 guys managed only 1 small bass.  Water temp was about 88 degrees. On September 16th, Michael Carter had 4 bass; 3 were in the slot limit, so he threw them back. Total fish caught was 4 for 11 lbs. On September 22nd, Curtis and Donna Wells of Alamo caught 12 nice bluegill from the shoreline. On September 25th, a gentleman caught 4 channel catfish off the pier.  On September 26th, Ken Burke fished for 4.5 hours.  2 bites and 1 fish caught for 2.25 lbs. Got the fish on the shad-head.  5 boats on the lake, and all the bass fishermen struggled to get bites.  Water temp was 80 degrees.

HUGH GILLIS PUBLIC FISHING AREA

On September 22nd, Staff talked to an angler who caught 2 bluegill. On September 24th, staff talked to another angler, and he said he caught six redear sunfish (AKA-shellcracker) and said that they were still on the shell beds of the lake.  Ken Burke also caught 2 bass, both on the shaky head, a 0.75 and a 2.5 lber.  Water temp made it to 86 degrees. Hopefully, upcoming cooler temps and maybe some rain will get the fish fired up for a fall feeding spree.

PARADISE PUBLIC FISHING AREA

photo shows young girl holding fish

Brooklyn Rugg Youth Angler Award

photo shows young boy holding fish

Lee Lewis Youth Angler Award

Reports from the PFAs said the bass bite was pretty slow this last week of September. Area Manager Dean Barber said folks were still catching some nice mess of bluegill and catfish at Paradise PFA. Last Saturday, Paradise PFA hosted our annual OAD/Jakes Day event, which is co-sponsored by the NWTF. Over 300 kids registered for the event, and a bunch of channel catfish were caught out of the special events ponds, including seven kids landing catfish that qualified for youth angler awards.

LAKES AND PONDS

Tommy Davis and Captain Bert Deener fished at a local pond last Friday. They each caught around 40 fish (crappie, bluegill, and bass). Ten of the crappie that Tommy caught weighed around a pound. They fooled their fish on Satilla Spins, chartreuse Specktacular Jigs (tipped with a minnow), Zombie Eye Jigheads, and Flashy Jigheads rigged with 2-inch Keitech swimbaits. Jimmy Zinker fished at Carr Lake (near Tallahassee) last Saturday night and caught a few bass (two of them weighed 3 ½-lbs.) on a Muskie Jitterbug. Jimmy fished at a Turner County area pond on Wednesday night and landed a half dozen bass. The biggest one of the trip weighed 5 lbs. 15-oz. He caught one on a buzzbait, and the rest ate a Muskie Jitterbug. I won first place and big fish last Saturday in a tournament. Justin Harrison fished at a pond and caught a 7-lb. 13-oz. monster bass this week. Matthew Bennett fished at a private lake last Saturday evening and caught around 40 bass. His biggest weighed around 5 pounds.

OKEFENOKEE SWAMP

Captain Bert Deener fished on the east side of the Swamp on Wednesday. In 4 hours of fishing, he was able to catch a gar and 22 bowfin up to 3 lbs. Most of his fish were caught on a Bladed Fly, but a few came on a Dura-Spin. Captain Bert reported that the fish are firing up due to the cooler weather. 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 120.16 feet.

SALTWATER

Captain Greg Hildreth fished the Saint Simons area on Monday the 21st and landed around 40 trout (10-12 were keepers). He caught the fish by using live shrimp under a float. Captain Greg said that he has fished the last few days and the high winds have shut down the trout bite.