Black sea bass fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, black sea bass peak December–May and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Sea bass on the nearshore reefs; squid on a two-hook rig.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Black sea bass in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakSea bass on the nearshore reefs; squid on a two-hook rig.
- FebruaryPeakSheepshead spawn on the nearshore reefs. Fiddler crabs on the nearshore artificial reefs and the jetties.
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberPeakWinter sets up: reds school, sea bass on the reefs. Low-tide flats for reds; squid on the nearshore reefs for sea bass.
Where to fish black sea bass near Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill
Endless spartina marsh and tidal creeks behind the barrier islands — Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, St. Simons, Jekyll and Cumberland — cut by big sounds (Wassaw, St. Catherines, Doboy, St. Simons, St. Andrew), with shell rakes everywhere, artificial reefs nearshore and Gray's Reef and the Gulf Stream offshore.
Fish Scouter charts 338 artificial reef, 169 wreck, 11 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Golden Isles map area — the kinds black sea bass hold on.
What to use for black sea bass
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Leader30–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook2/0–7/0
- Braid30–65 lb
Feeds in 52–78°F water, best at 58–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch black sea bass in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is December–May. Black sea bass are here year-round. January: Sea bass on the nearshore reefs; squid on a two-hook rig.
Where do black sea bass hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on artificial reef, ledge / hard bottom, wreck — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for black sea bass in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: squid, live shrimp. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 30–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 2/0–7/0, braid 30–65 lb.
What are the rules for black sea bass in Georgia Coast?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (Georgia DNR) and change — read the current rule at https://coastalgadnr.org/RecreationalFishing before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes.
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All about black sea bass · The Golden Isles, the whole year