UTERBlackfin tuna fishing in Georgia Coast
In Georgia Coast, blackfin tuna peak October–May and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Blackfin on the Gulf Stream ledges.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Blackfin tuna in Georgia Coast, month by month
- JanuaryPeakBlackfin on the Gulf Stream ledges.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilPeak
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- 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 blackfin tuna 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 blackfin tuna hold on.
What to use for blackfin tuna
- 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.
- Threadfin herring (greenbacks)Nose-hooked on a circle hook and free-lined, or slow-trolled. Fragile — handle them wet and fast.
- Goggle-eyesBridled through the eye sockets for sailfish and kingfish, kite-fished or slow-trolled.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 70–86°F water, best at 74–82°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch blackfin tuna in Georgia Coast?
Peak season is October–May. Blackfin tuna are here year-round. January: Blackfin on the Gulf Stream ledges.
Where do blackfin tuna hold in Georgia Coast?
Look on wreck, ledge / hard bottom, artificial reef — around Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Darien, Brunswick, St. Simons Island.
What is the best bait for blackfin tuna in Georgia Coast?
Live bait: pilchards (whitebait), threadfin herring (greenbacks), goggle-eyes. 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. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for blackfin tuna 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 blackfin tuna · The Golden Isles, the whole year