Cumberland

[BearGoneFishing]

Anybody ever waded or surf fished cumberland with a fly? Looking for a new exp. and thought that would be great. Plus i know they have fresh water w/ fish on the island as well. Also do they rent any type of craft from the island for paddleing the marshes. Or can you wade the marshes. Obviously I know nothing so any info would be great.

Thanks
Matt

[TroutTackler]

Matt, I know that there isn't a rental service on the island, but give Greyfield Inn a call. They're the only lodging on the island and may have something that could rent you. Other than that, I don't know of anything else.

As far as the fishing goes, if you can get near the mouths of some of those tidal creeks while the tide is coming up, you will likely find some reds and trout. Throw any fly with flash or a rattle as that water isn't very clear and they'll have to find it. Fishing the beach there is just like anywhere else - you know, except for the wild horses galloping around you - Look for changes... from grass to sand, points, where varying depths meet, etc. Cast clousers around it and see what happens. Give us a report when you get back... that place is awesome and I'd love to hear about it!

[BearGoneFishing]

thanks for the info. If I do it. It will be at the end of summer right before school starts back. Hopefully i can make it happen and coerce someone to go with me. Kind of hard selling camping on a beach for a few day and chasing fish. Or is it?

[PapaDoc]

there is an outfitter at St. Mary's Georgia, which is one of the access points for Ci. They do rent and take trips to CI. I believe the name is Cumberland Outfitters. Great guy who runs it. REally customer friendly. YOu can stay at the Riverview Hotel in St. Mary's. Looks like it is right out of Key West. Give my regards to Cindy the Porno Queen who tends bar there.
Have fun...one of my favorite spots.
PapaDoc

[Jakal03]

Kind of hard selling camping on a beach for a few day and chasing fish. Or is it? Not a hard sell at all. Some of the best vacations I've had have been just that.

[scooby]

Last time I was down there, a few people brought bikes with them on the Park Service ferry. The campgrounds are near the south end of the island and you can do a ton of walking. There is a great trail that runs the length of the island, but once you get off of it and try to get past some of the high sand dunes going can be a little slow. A bike would make it easy to get around on the main trail, and you can surf cast right on the beach. If it's late summer there will most likely be reds in the surf among other species. If you haven't already booked your campsite, you better check ASAP, it fills up months in advance. I had to book about 6 months ahead of time once about 15 years ago.

[TroutTackler]

They let people take bikes on the ferry? Everywhere I've looked and everyone I've spoken with has said that they are very strict about no bikes on the ferry.

PapaDoc - Good to know about the outfitter. Thanks for the info.

[Egg Sucking Leach]

Wading the marshes isn't really an option.

You'll need some kind of watercraft. I'd look into renting a kayak, you can explore the back side of the island just fine with one.

Not sure if you can bring one over on the ferry, but in a pinch you could paddle over from Crooked River State Park. Catch the tide right, it's about a 1 1/2 hour paddle.

Reds and Sea Trout, think Clousers, Shrimp patterns, Crabs, etc.

I don't know anything about surf fishing, but Cumberland has the best beach you'll ever see on the east coast. It's worth going just for that. Last time I was on the Island, we had a Chevy Suburban and drove the entire length of the beach without seeing another person. Saw plenty of horses, deer, hogs, birds, but no other people.

While you're there, you might want to check out the church on the north end of the Island that JFK Jr was married in. Very educational.

[BearGoneFishing]

Wading the marshes isn't really an option.

You'll need some kind of watercraft. I'd look into renting a kayak, you can explore the back side of the island just fine with one.


Why do you say it is not possible. Too big, deep, dangerous, soft ground, no casting room, or just doesn't work. I had talked to a guy at the bar who said he has walked some flats and fished.(conv. tackle) I was just gonna try and grab a chart and mark troughs and try and see if i could walk to them. Also hit mouths of creeks. Please let me know if this is just crazy thinking b/c i have no exp. just the ideas i come up with sitting in my office.

[TroutTackler]

There might be a few places you can wade around, but on the inland side of the island, it's mucky bottoms. If you haven't seen this already, check out this great map of the island: http://www.nps.gov/cuis/upload/IslandMap.pdf

[decfly]

You can not bring bikes or yaks on the ferry. You can rent a beach cruiser bike at the Sea Camp dock from the folks that run the ferry.

The only way I know to bring watercraft to the island is to start paddling, or go with a private ferry service. Now that I think about it, you could bring an inflatable yak on the ferry, and blow it up once you get there.

I've surf fished a few times on the island. Caught a few whiting with shrimp. I've casted a fly rod in the surf, and at the sea camp dock with no luck. I also explored the tidal creek on the far south end of the island at low tide. I'm sure there's fish in there, but I didn't see any.

I caught a bunch of rays in a seine net right on the beach. That sure was cool.

There are some fresh water ponds towards the north end. That's a long hike/bike trip from sea camp.

Cumberland Island is one of my top 5 places in the US. A real Jewel.

[BearGoneFishing]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like I may try to do the yak trip. Just gives me more of a reason to go ahead and buy my yak. Hopefully I can get this all worked out looks like I will be headed there on Aug. 12- 15. What about camping on the island with the yak. I want to stay at the camp with showers being it will be aug. Don't know what I am going to do with my yak though. It looks as if the camp is on the other side of the island. Maybe they will let me bike chain it up to something like the dock. Any ideas.

[Kent]

Buy Jimmy Jacob's new book, FLY-FISHING THE SOUTH ATLANTIC COAST (http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ejacobsfish/books.htm). It has specifics spots on Cumberland, plus mucho good info on tactics, etc taht will help find & catch fish all up and down the Atlantic coast.

(All the folks down on the coast online at CGTO (Coastal Georgia seaTrout Online) are cussing and dissing him right now for putting secret spot locations in print.:cool:

Remember, whether they admit it or not, Jimmy has caught trout for a lot of people right here (including me). This book will work the same way.

[BearGoneFishing]

I hadn't even thought of looking in the book. I am gonna have to look at it tonight if I can find it after the move. Thanks.

[Egg Sucking Leach]

Check to see what's available for camping, but primitive camping around Brickhill Bluff or Plum Orchard wouldn't be bad. Looks like they've got water. If you've got water, you can fashion a shower sorta.

It won't be hot water, being artesian it's going to be darn cold. But that will feel good if you're over there in the middle of August.

I wouldn't worry too much about security for your yak, crime is pretty low on the island. Kinda hard to steal something you can't take back with you on the ferry. There's only been one shooting in the last couple of decades, and most everybody agrees he needed killin'.

[BearGoneFishing]

Thanks for all the great info guys. Looks like it is a definate for those days in aug. Gotta work on reservations today. Looks like we may have access to a gonue as well I don't know if we're gonna take it or not. I am thinking with the extra boat might be able to get a cooler over there.

[PapaDoc]

The outfitter in St. Mary's Ga. is www.upthecreektrips.com. As mentioned, they do trips to Cumberland, great selection of yaks for purchase, excellent customer service. Enjoy.
PapaDoc

[chuckwagon]

Some things you will need to know about Cumberland Island.

First of all it is the prettiest place in Ga period. Kinda like Okeefanokee. People can't believe its in this state!

It has bugs,black fly's, misquitos,no see ums etc. If you have never used DEET then start getting used to it. None of that smell good stuff. get Bens, or Jungle Juice.

If you stay at The Sea Camp get a permit early. You may be too late now.

Brick Hill has water and thats it. a looooong way from anyone but a great spot none the less. You can pull your boat right up to the camp on the bay side. It is hard to find by boat and the last time I was there it had no signs from the water. Get Maps.

The tide moves up and down pretty good on regular tides. If its a full moon watch out. Thats why wading is so hard. Too much movement 4-5 feet .

The full moon tides are when fishing the grasses are conducive to wading. You need boats to get to the grass flats.

All docks on the bay side will have trout around them. Find the mouths of tidal creeks on high tide ready to fall and wait out the fall. Fish will hold at these spots waiting to ambush food falling out of these creeks.

Also in August (the hottest time of year for temps). Early am and late pm bites will be best.

Explore the island in the middle of the day and fish am and pm.

also make sure you have tide charts. They are a must.


RACOONS!!!!!! They know how to untie knots,bungee cords etc to get into coolers! They have adapted well to the people coming over to visit. Be prepaired to get you cooler raided.


I am extremely jealous and wish I could make a trip over soon. I have spent alot of time over there in the last 15 years. Its a special place for sure!

Have fun and make sure you have bug juice!

Trey
CW

[BearGoneFishing]

I got reservations set for Sea Island camp. We are going to have a gunue and three yaks so i think getting around will be fine. I am going to get JJ new book (should be here in a few days). So hopefully that will help. And I am looking for a good chart that may show actual depths in the marsh and sound. But no luck just yet. Any good places to look? We are going to take the fly rods for the marshes and creeks and try and surf cast too. But we will also have some surf rods and try and take a little frozen shrimp to pull in some whiting off the beach for dinner (peanutbutter and noodles gets old). Hopefully can keep some ice frozen for a few days in the cooler; I got a few tricks that may help.

[chuckwagon]

Dry ice and Duck tape.
If your at Sea camp you can get the ferry to bring you some ice.

Trey
CW

[SuwaneeDawg]

Hey guys,

Great read and info. This will be my fourth trip to Cumberland and I hope to make at least one trek each year. As some posters have stated, it IS the most beautiful place in GA! I have lived in the GA mountains (which are typically my favorite places) and been to most of the state but Cumberland tops them all. I have surf fished the last two years and fished the south marsh off the boardwalk as well. Mostly caught whiting, ladyfish, and a few sharks. Blue crabs are abundant in the marsh as well. I have always used shrimp and squid, but I am also going to try some softbaits this year too. It looks like the best place to fish would be on the far northern Atlantic side with the peninsula that juts out, but I have never made it even close to this spot.
This year my bro in law is bringing his boat so maybe we will make it up there. The NPS will allow you to dock boats first come first serve during the day but they must be anchored or beached at night.
The cold showers are tough at first but feel great on those hot summer days. Also, there was a kid on the ferry last year that brought us some shrimp when we ran out for about 5 bucks. They also have ice, some soft drinks, and some small food items on the ferry if you need to replenish your supply.

I am ready to go!

Check out my post on tripadvisor regarding Cumberland for some more info.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34876-d123074-r13094885-Cumberland_Island_National_Seashore-Cumberland_Island_Georgia.html

[BearGoneFishing]

Whats the latest on the fires?

[chirotrout]

I watched a coastal ga fishing show where the guys drifted the beaches off cumberland in the fall and did great just beyond the surf with DOA shrimp under 3 inches popping corks.

From what they were doing just wade and cast to cover water. Once you find some fish...stop and focus in on the area as there are rarely just one or two trout in an area.

Good luck and i dont need to tell you to have fun im sure! For what it is worth i am jealous.

j

[SuwaneeDawg]

Whats the latest on the fires?

The fires are 100% contained and I think they ended up burning 3500 acres but didnt destroy any buildings. However, the ranger said that some of the marsh area even burned. We saw minimal smoke in the distance the day that we arrived, but that was it. We even went to Plum Orchard and didn't see any fire damage.

[SuwaneeDawg]

Well I didnt get to fish by boat but did do some surf fishing and fished the Sea Camp dock. We caught about 18 whiting while surf fishing and some gafftopsail catfish as well during two days of fishing. When we fished the dock, we had less luck while only catching one unknown fish. I believe the timing was just not right as some others loaded up on fish early the next morning. Squid and shrimp were all that was used. We had our difficulties as some of the waves reached 6 feet from Hurricane Bertha way out in the Atlantic and then my reel handle broke. After my reel situation I reeled in one fish by turning my open face by hand and then I had to retire. I missed out on a whole day's worth of fishing since I only brought one rod. What a shame!
The island was as beautiful as ever and can't wait to return. We made it up to Plum Orchard for the first time and that area is beautiful esp. the mansion. I saw some huge gators up there attempting to take down a small horse.