UTERTarpon fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, tarpon peak July–September and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Fish on the pogy schools in the sounds and up the river mouths.
The last fish leave as the water drops.
Tarpon in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayAround
- JuneArrivingThe first tarpon show in St. Simons Sound and off the Golden Isles beaches.
- JulyPeakFish on the pogy schools in the sounds and up the river mouths.
- AugustPeakPrime month — tarpon on the menhaden in St. Simons and St. Andrew sounds and off Jekyll.
- SeptemberPeakStill strong; the fish follow the bait out of the sounds.
- OctoberLeavingThe last fish leave as the water drops.
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tarpon 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 1 beach / surf, 1 bridge spots in the The Golden Isles map area — the kinds tarpon hold on.
What to use for tarpon
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Finger mulletLip-hooked on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook and free-lined, or on a fish-finder rig in the surf. Cut mullet on the bottom for redfish and drum.
- PinfishHooked through the back ahead of the dorsal on a 2/0 to 4/0 circle hook; the small ones free-lined, the big ones on a fish-finder rig.
- Leader50–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook5/0–8/0
- Jig head1–1 1/4 oz
- Braid40–65 lb
Feeds in 74–90°F water, best at 78–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tarpon in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is July–September. Tarpon are in Georgia Coast May–October. July: Fish on the pogy schools in the sounds and up the river mouths.
Where do tarpon hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on pass / inlet, beach / surf, bridge, channel edge — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for tarpon in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: blue crabs, threadfin herring (greenbacks), pilchards (whitebait), finger mullet. Blue crabs: Whole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 5/0–8/0, jig head 1–1 1/4 oz, braid 40–65 lb.
What are the rules for tarpon 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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