The coastal backcountry of Southern Georgia has quite a reputation, and Jekyll Island fishing charters will show you why that’s the case. Hymns of the Marshes, a set of poems by Sidney Lanier, was written more than a century ago to describe the beauty and splendor that blesses this coastal part of Georgia. Hopefully, you’ll come to appreciate the sights as much as he did, but you’re sure to love the fishing here regardless.

If wading through the marshland doesn’t interest you all that much, you can always look for a guide to take you out into the Gulf Stream where there’s plenty of game fish and Sharks to keep you busy. Checking out the closer artificial wrecks for Snapper, Kingfish, and huge Bull Redfish is yet another thing you can do - which shows why Jekyll Island is considered the capital of saltwater fishing in coastal Georgia.

Jekyll Island Fishing Spots

Jekyll Sound

If you go fishing in Jekyll Sound near the southern tip of the island, don’t be surprised to see small crowds of people on the beach during low tide. They’ll be coming to see the old Shrimp boat wreck that’s just off the beach, but anglers will likely be more interested in the Flounder that congregate in the area.

Satilla River

The marshes near the mouth of Satilla River will show you what Sidney Lanier meant when he wrote of a “world of marsh that borders a world of sea.” It really shines in summer when you have droves of Jacks just waiting to be hooked. In the winter months, however, the water is very clear, making it a prime place for sight fishing.

The Hole

The Hole stands between Jekyll Island and Cumberland Island alongside Jekyll Sound in such a way you wouldn’t think too much of that body of water if you saw it on a map. It got its name because it’s about 70’ deep, making it very popular with big Blacktip Sharks.

Jekyll Island Pier

The Jekyll Island Pier is the only of its kind on the island, which automatically makes it somewhat of an angling hotspot. While it is a favorite location of some anglers for the likes of Redfish, Trout, and Spanish Mackerel, most have come to prefer the southern part of the island in recent years. The nearby Clam Creek is a good fishing spot for Flounder in particular.

St. Andrew’s Beach

Undoubtedly the place to go for anyone looking to do either shrimping or crabbing, St. Andrew’s beach is known to be very crowded on weekends. Shrimping season runs from June until January, and it’s also a good place to go surf fishing for Sharks and Bull Reds.

Types of Fishing

The Jekyll Island fishery is well-known for the quantity and quality of its Bull Redfish, which means that smaller Reds usually aren’t as sought-after as they might be otherwise. This makes the flats a fly fishing paradise for anglers looking for fish in the 10-15 lbs range. If you’re ready to push yourself to the limit when it comes to ultra-light tackle, break out the 2 lb test line and come on down. Just make sure to check it after every cast and you should be fine.

Springtime means there’ll be Tripletail near the coast soon, which the local anglers like to fish using a popping cork and live shrimp. The trick is to cast it in front of the fish and pull. This can also be done using a fly. Spotting them in the water can be a hassle, but it’s definitely worth the try.

Surprisingly enough, deep water fishing from Jekyll Island is overlooked by many for no good reason. Trolling for pelagics is always an exciting way to spend the day. You can use live bait and lures to go after Mahi Mahi, Cobia, and Amberjack among others. Shrimp will come in very handy, and you can easily get loads here.

Need to Know

Don’t worry about having a fishing license if you’re planning on hiring a guide to take you fishing. Otherwise, you’ll need to have a valid Georgia fishing license even if you plan on fishing from the pier only.

If you get acquainted with the tidal conditions for the time of your trip, you’ll have a much easier time fishing if you’re going solo. A low tide can sometimes make or break a day of fishing in the flats.

Jekyll Island is an angler’s dream trifecta - great inshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing in a place that resembles a late 19th century period drama at times. The wide sea-marshes of Glynn welcome you with open arms.