Salt Water Fly Trip/ Camping

[HoochRat]

Any of you nuts interested in doing the beach camping thing and fly fishing the salt water area. GA.SC/NC/ FL let talk.. I need some sea trout.

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Joe Carnahan aka. HoochRat :)

[Lady Jane]

Sounds like a possibility!

[Grizzz]

Joe,

Sounds like a great idea to me. I just need to get some work done on my boat engine. You dont know a good mechanic that can work on Johnsons that wont cost me an arm and a leg. Just a leg will do.

The Grizz

[KB]

Is fishing on Cumberland allowed?
What about Okeefenokee(Sp? shame on me http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/redface.gif)?
Those would be some excellent winter trips.

[HoochRat]

Griz, one of my warm water fisher friends just had his motor reworked. He was very pleased with the work, turn around time, and price. I will get the shops name and number and pass along to you. The shop is on Buford Hwy. south of Hwy. 20.

About the salt trip, everyone do some reasearch and let's talk. I am looking for a place to wade fish and small boat access. Back bay kind of. I know a 100 palces in Louisiana. Too far to drive.

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Joe Carnahan aka. HoochRat :)

[Drifter]

Hooch,

I think the St George Island area might fit the bill. They also have a campground there. Probably want to wait til the weather cools though.

Tam suggested Titusville. Maybe Myrtle Beach area?

Drifter

[Grizzz]

OK Hooch, I am going to get my motor worked on and then we need to make a trip. St. George would be a great place to go. We could rent a house down there and split it between a number of folks and would not be too expensive. That is my old stomping grounds and be glad to show some of you around. Great places to eat and drink. Fishing is great but going to be harder the warmer it gets. Will still be a good trip. I also want to explore the SC and GA coast. Never been that way.

The Grizzz

[Lady Jane]

In SC you might want to consider Edisto Island and the Edisto River. You can do some nice floats in canoes and jon boats in the river. You won't get me in a float tube down there though. I don't wrestle those gators like Tam does.

[BLACK KNIGHT]

I don't know if I even want to be in a canoe in gator water!

Snakes and gators, oh my! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/redface.gif

[This message has been edited by BLACK KNIGHT (edited 06-27-2000).]

[This message has been edited by BLACK KNIGHT (edited 06-27-2000).]

[kiserzoze]

anyone like Hilton Head? There are a bunch of baby Tarpon there. I used to be a beach guard and guys would talk about how big of a fight it was to catch the tarpons. Sounds good to me. Just not in the heat of the summer. Also, it is too da** crowded.

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Kiserzoze (Pronounced Kai-sir-so-zay)

[Grizzz]

Kiser,

You are right about those baby tarpon. I have heard the same thing. Never fished for them but sure would like to. The only problem is in is too expensive to stay there, at least for me. I used to have a customer over that way and maybe I could get some info on places to go.

The Grizz

[NGTO]

I'm in for sure. Bought a flushing kit today, now all I need is a galvenized trailer and a better truck to pull the boat all that distance. If we are surf fishing I won't even bring the boat.
We could always charter a big party boat?

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Trout Now!

[Riverman]

HoochRat
FYI,check out this web site,www.anglerworld.com.It has a great saltwater message board for all states.Georgia coast is really hot right now.Thought this might help in picking a location for the saltwater trip.Be sure to read all the recent post on the GA. coast.Hope this helps..

[NiteOwl]

When I was in St. Simons in spring, they said that summer was the best time to be there to flycast from the beaches.


Owl


sounds interesting.....

[kiserzoze]

So when are we going to get this thing together. I'm getting antsy over here in this office building. Name the place and I'm in.

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Kiserzoze (Pronounced Kai-sir-so-zay)

[HoochRat]

Will do some road research and report back. Sorry for the slow response here. That's me.. Came back from Tugalo trip and headed out to New Jersey. Will be heading out to South Carolina on Wednesday for rest of week. Hope to get some research done and set this thing up somehow. This might be a pipe dream, but this is what I am after.

Local camping / cabin rental near or on salt water or back waters of marsh.

Boat fishing if possible, and wade fishing most desired.

Not that far of a drive, 3- 31/2 hours from Atlanta. If I drive any further than this, I am heading home to fish. 10 hour drive.

AWAY from vacation landers.

Hunt goes on, will report soon. The angler site is just right for my net search. Thanks.



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Joe Carnahan aka. HoochRat :)

[fishnsmygame]

"The Redfish Book" and "The Trout Book" by Frank Sargeant give some insight on both species, and make specific references to the Indian and Banana Rivers North of Titusville. Two other books, "The Snook Book" and "The Tarpon Book", are written by the same author but I haven't read either of them.

I have heard that speckled trout fishing is good in some areas around bridge structures near Beaufort, SC. Beaufort is only a few miles North of Hilton Head and I would think it less expensive and less crowded than Hilton Head. Can't say about Tarpon around Beaufort but if they're around Hilton Head then I would think them somewhere around the Broad River areas too. May be worth checking into the cobia fishing around the Broad River area near Beaufort.

Winter (the weeks following the Christmas holidays) is my favorite time because the weather is cooler, and even better, fewer tourist fishermen!

Don't know if this helps but be safe and have fun anyway.... http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

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Sam

[NGTO]

Wherever we go I want to emphasize the "AWAY from vacation landers. " part. I never realized how great a vacation could be until I took one a couple years ago in Cape San Blas - no hotels, no crowds, no trash - just me and the fish.

[Lady Jane]

Amen.

[jeffg]

WHEN>>>>>>>?????????
Do y'all mind if I come? I have not been surf drinking, i mean fishing, in a while.
Plus my new 9 wt is set to go for the salt.

[Grizzz]

Hooch,

I think 3 to 3 1/2 hours is not going to get you to the coast in any direction. Unless I am wrong, the closest coast is either Savannah area or the gulf coast of Florida and both are a little over 5 hours away. Now if you want to make a trip to the bayous (sp?) let me know about those too. I would love to make a trip down there with you. That could be dangerous!!!!

The Grizz

[superchub]

ST. GEORGE!!! Let's do it!
http://www.mindspring.com/~poohatlcom.net/stgeorge993.JPG
SC

[Pecheur]

Grizzly, Savannah is about 3 hrs. away but the surf fishing doesn't compare to the gulf. Ahhhh, spots, pompano, specks, ladys, flounder etc. St. George could be ideal. Anyone ever caught a blacktip or a bonnett head on a fly?

[superchub]

Actually like NGTO said, somewhere away from the crowds....Cape San Blas/Port St.Joe would probably be better....That pompano was one of many taken in the surf at St. George last March....Port St, Joe is just as good and away from the crowds!
Let's do it.
SC

[KB]

Pat,
I went to St. George a few years ago and caught my first salty fish on a fly rod. It was a Jack. I also caught several others.
I also caught a good...... well lets just say I had a lot of good beer and roasted lots of good oysters. St. George is a great place.
I need a vacation.

[Grizzz]

St Georges would be fine with me. I can show you all some great fishing, although this time of year it does get to be a little harder to find. As I said before, we could get a group together and rent a house on the island or I know a great lodge and marina in Appalachacola. I also know of a couple of great restaurants in the area. Lets do it.

The Grizz

[Pecheur]

Nice Pompano superchub, I could easily go for a couple of days of fishing for those puppies. I've spent a good amount of time at St. George but if you think St. Joe is just as good, I'm in. Fantastic scallops anyway. What I really want is a shot at a silverside (West Pass?).

Griz, Bay City?



[This message has been edited by Pecheur (edited 07-06-2000).]

[flytyfish]

You can get a good report for St. George or Carabell or Alligator point if you Call Angelos in Panacea Fla. The whiting will be biting in Late July at the cross on St .George

[KB]

Coach- You are alive tooo. It's not a full moon is it?
Where have ya been man?

[captfredfish]

Whatever y'all decide on, I must warn you that as of right now, 7-7-00, 1648 hrs, its HHHOOOTTT!!!! down here in FL! You better bring your air conditioned jonboats. The Fiddler crabs are getting steamed as they cross the road. I can't imagine being in a sleeping bag and tent in this weather!

[Grizzz]

Pecheur - Bay City Lodge was the place I was thinking of. Great place and not expensive. You can launch your boats and leave them in the water. Not a long ride across the bay to the back of St. Georges.

FlyTyFish - So you know of Angelo's. I my opinion that is the best seafood restaurant in the country. And for those of you that know me, I do know a little about food. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif My mouth is beginning to water right now.

Capt - You are right about the weather being hot down there. You would never catch me camping this time of year. That is why I was suggesting either Bay City or renting a house on the Island. Also I do think the fishing will get a little better in the fall when it starts to cool. But we could go down, fish in the morning and then scollop during the heat of the day.

The Grizz

[flytyfish]

Grizz I agree it is the best.I lived about 5 miles from there in Sopchoppy Fla. for a couple of years .I went out on Angelos shrimp boat with him a few times also on his grouper boat.Got to eat his famous cooking out on the boat for free and real fresh food also right out of the water and straight on the grill

[Tam]

OKOK.. have seen the words "saltwater, tarpon, redfish, trout, camping, Titusville, Indian River and canoe" listed in this thread several times now.

Not saying that y'all should come here, see you are all thinking St. George and all... just thought I would give you the details and tell you what IS offered here...

First.. little in the way of tourist traffic. T'ville is a fairly small town and the only tourists here come when the shuttle is going off.
Camping: Two campgrounds convenient to the Mosquito Lagoon/Indian and Banana River area.. a KOA campground in Mims on SR46 and a state park campground further south right on the river (the fishing ain't too great RIGHT there, though) that is a darn nice campground. Both are pretty cheap, have showers and all and very nice.
Fishing: Any time of year, baby tarpon in the canals... yes, there are a few gators, but they generally leave you alone. The only reason I have so much trouble with them is because I have stuck hooks in the mouths of most of them *G* As far as canoeing around gators... the ONLY place I've ever had any problems with them is in the north end of the No Motor Zone. Those guys are used to having that place to themselves and will come at a canoe quickly. However, since that is where the large school of 30 and 40 lb reds hang out, I just learned to paddle fast.
There are redfish and seatrout to be caught all over the Indian and Banana Rivers, as well as the Mosquito Lagoon. There are also a few spots that you can catch black drum tailing on the flats... and if you have not done that... you should try it.
Sebastian Inlet is a day trip away from there... some **** big snook in there. Also near the state campground, the docks on the west side of the river have snook around them early and late.
The potential for a grand slam is always there.
Food and Drink: Dixie Crossroads is nearby... one of the best priced and nicest seafood places in FL.. and excellent food, large prices. Folks come from all over the country to eat there. Many other eateries and pubs all over the place around here, from casual to not casual.
Driving time from Atlanta: about 5 hours.

Also, the Canaveral National Seashore is RIGHT here.. one of the last undeveloped beaches in the entire state of FL... and if you go far enough north to where the GOOD fishing is, one of the only nude beaches left. If the trip is planned for the fall when the mullet run comes through, there is the strong potential for some BIG tarpon (not babies) being caught, large snook, reds, blues, macks, sharks.. you name it.. to be caught. Without the mullet run, you are looking mostly at blues and macks with the occasional snook thrown in for good measure.

Guess that is about it. Just thought I would tell ya about this place since a few of you mentioned it.

Good luck.

Tam

[Tam]

PS.. one more thing...

Is THIS what you wanted that started this whole thing???
http://www.eboard.com/Wallpaper

Check the first note, fourth (I think) pic.. that is a wading area.. the first pic on that note is a canoe area... and not a single alligator ever encountered in either area....

[superchub]

Let's try to set a date! Weekend of July 29th????
Pat

[superchub]

I'm checking for a guide tomorrow for some flats fishing....Looking at weekends it appears that Aug.4th weekend is going to be better for me....is nayone still interested in doing this thing?? I'll probably go either way.
SC

[Chris England]

Good luck on your trip guyz! I wish I could go with you, but I recently started a new project, and just took 4 days off to do some fly fishing down in the Tampa area (caught some nice reds by the way). 3 weeks ago I spent the week in the Pine Island/Boca Grande area Tarpon, and Snook fishing.

I could probably be talked into doing a trip this fall. I'd consider hitting the IR and ML, around Oak Hill (I know this area well enough to put us on fish, having fished there for probably 3 weeks of straight hardcore fishing, over the course of 2 years. But I'm by no means an expert on the area).

The only problem is that my boat isn't big enough to carry the entire NGTO. Really only 2 people flyfishing, 3 conventional tackle plug & jig casting, and 4 people bait fishing (popping cork, and/or free lining). Basically the less casting, the more people the boat can fish. It's a 21' BayPro by Skeeter, with a 200 Mariner. It'll fish skinny water, inlets, as well as off shore on the right weather day.

If there's enough interest, and I can get my trailering, and boating expenses covered, we'll do it. We'll just have to get the rules of engagement squared away.

-- tight lines

[Chris England]

Tam,

Have you ever fished for Barracuda around Ponce Inlet? A friend of mine and I stumbled onto this fishery a few years ago by accident. They are abnormally big for what I'm used to in the rest of FL. The fish are *all* over 4 feet long, with some well over 5.

BTW: Anyone who hasn't hooked a 5-6' barracuda is really missing out. I have many *BIG* tarpon to my credit, and it's still as close to *big game/offshore* type fishing that I've ever done. They jump 6 or 8 feet out of the water, and will spool you in a heartbeat, if you're trying to use anything less than 20lb tackle. The *neatest* thing is that you can do it from the jetty. (I've fished it both from the jetty, and from my boat, and have done equally well.)

-- tight lines

[kiserzoze]

So when are we<B>Really</B> going to go? Sorry for being pushy, I just need to get the time off and tie up all the loose ends.

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Kiserzoze (Pronounced Kai-sir-so-zay)

[cocoon]

Please, Please, Please can we go the second week of August?

My family is coming down from Ohio for my wife's graduation the weekend of the fifth. This is one trip I do not want to miss.

Pleeeeeaaaaaaaase!

Not too proud to beg,

Mark

[This message has been edited by cocoon (edited 07-12-2000).]

[HoochRat]

Folks I know I started this thread and the ideas are great. I have been collecting frequent flyer points and hard to get any free time or be at home.

I was thinking about the cooler part of the year for the salt trip.

Superchub might have the best idea of all on where to go. I will need to check my schedule and see what shakes out.



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Joe Carnahan aka. HoochRat :)

[THE EG]

Most everybody is talking about Florida but I found out some info about the Georgia coast that might be of interest for future plans.

Generally when I go to the wonderful Golden Isles of Georgia, my idea of camping is mooching rooms off of friends and relatives.

However, while there over the forth I kept an eye out for you camper-types and hopefully came up with some info for you.

There is a campground called the Golden Isles Vacation Park. I only drove by but found a little info in my Delorme atlas. It has 118 RV sites and also allows tents. There was even a pool. Not rustic or isolated but the good part was the location. It is located on Hwy 303 about a mile south of a boat ramp into the S. Brunswick River and its assorted estuaries. If you go another miles or so north there is another boat ramp and you are in the Turtle River and near the Buffalo River and their assorted estuaries. Those alone are about 10 square miles of shallow water fishing. The best bet would be small boats but kayaks and canoes would work very well.

You could do some wading if you really wanted but I would recommend a boat just for the convenience and the ability to stay out of the mud.

This place is less than a mile from the I-95 exit to Jekyll Island. If you got bored of fishing the tidal flats you could go to Jekyll and throw plugs and big flies off the north and south ends of the island for spanish, jacks, ladyfish and always reds and trout. The family could go to the beach.

There are many other good areas nearby also. To get to this campground, take I-95 south to the Hwy 17 exit (Jekyll Island exit). Turn right (west) and go about a half mile to the 303 intersection and turn right again (north). The campground is on the left.

There is also an RV campground on the north end of Jeykyll Island right across the street from the Jekyll Island pier.

As Captfredfish already said, right now it is HOT and humid. There are also sand gnats and mosquitos to deal with right now. The fall might be a better time.

If interested, I could give much more info on restaurants and bars http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif.

Hope this helps.

[kiserzoze]

I hate being the persistent one, but when are we going? http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif I really really want to get into some salty fish. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif

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Kiserzoze (Pronounced Kai-sir-so-zay)

[superchub]

Ok! I'll be going down to St. George the Weekend of the 12th....going to try to get into the state park and camp. I have an AC in the old pop up camper....Pretty sure Cocoon is in?? and maybe NGTO MAN. Kiserzoze? Griz?? I am getting a flats guide for one of the days.....I may have space on the boat for one or two...I'll let y'all know asap. About 200.00 each for two..less for three.... More later.
Pat (SC)

[superchub]

Ok! NGTO, Cocoon and I are camping (AC in the pop-up trailer!) at St' George State Park. Aug. 10, 11, 12 and 13.
I am getting a guide for the flats probably on Friday. We have a full boat. Talked to a couple guides down there and they said the reds, specks, macs and TARPON!!! are on in the surf and flats. We'll be headed to the pass on the state park end of the island on one day then probably surf fish the rest. If anyone else is going let us know so's we can hook up.
Pat