Posts by Capt. Spud Woodward
Bull Reds On The Satilla Shoals
The name on the cell-phone dis- play brought a smile to my face. The caller was Glenn Durden, a die-hard outdoorsman and avid conservationist from Vidalia. I expected the usual you ‘should-have-been-there-yesterday’ report from his most recent trip, so I was a bit surprised when he started the conversation with an invitation. “Can you get…
Read MoreSometimes Smaller Is Better For Inshore Fishing
This summer’s record-high fuel prices and associated rise in the cost of living are making life tough for anyone who uses a boat for business or recreation. Saltwater anglers are really feeling the pinch since, on average, the boats, engines and fuel tanks are larger. That’s why many coastal fishermen are looking at their small…
Read MoreMakin’ Memories… Kids & Saltwater Fishing
At 10 years of age, I was introduced to saltwater fishing. I didn’t do anything all that sophisticated, just caught blue crabs, catfish, small sharks and whiting from the pier, bridges and beaches of Jekyll Island. Compared with catching small bluegill, that first 3-foot shark was quite exhilarating. So were the blue crabs, which always…
Read MoreBend A Rod At Jekyll Island
The Georgia coast has changed quite a bit since my first visit almost 40 years ago, but Jekyll Island is still a laid-back, slow-paced escape from the modern world. Although the planned revitalization of the island has caused quite a bit of controversy, I think it’s safe to say that Jekyll will continue to be…
Read MoreOctober Is Time For Georgia Shrimping
“Tell me again why we’re doing this,” I asked Dan Foster as he checked his cast net for tangles. “If the shrimp are here, you’ll see on the first throw,” said Dan. It was a blustery day in late October 1988, and the location was Jointer Creek, one of many tidal waterways located between…
Read MoreReal Or Artificial Shrimp For Georgia Inshore Fishing
As if on cue, a shrimp burst from the water, turned a somersault, fell back, skipped across the surface, and disappeared in a violent explosion. Too bad for the shrimp — it was carrying a hook and never had chance. A fraction of a second later, the float disappeared behind a bulge of water and…
Read MoreDrive-Up Surf Fishing
Worried about seasickness and long boat rides? Three of Georgia’s coastal islands offer saltwater fishing within walking distance of your vehicle. The intricate network of sandbars, sloughs and points found near coastal inlets and barrier-island beaches are a battlefield for predator and prey, each vying to win the age-old contest for survival. Wind and waves…
Read MoreEncountering Georgia Stingrays
Each year thousands of stingrays are caught by saltwater anglers looking for speckled trout, redfish, and other gamefish. Some of the unlucky ones find out why they’re called stingrays. “Hooks are cheaper than doctor bills,” is an old adage in saltwater fishing. For 20 years I’ve been saying that to novice anglers when warning them…
Read MoreA Pro’s Guide To Georgia Tarpon
Coastal Georgia has never been known as a premier destination for tarpon anglers. Folks know and appreciate the area for speckled trout, redfish, and king mackerel, but places like Boca Grande and the Florida Keys get all the glamour press for the silver king. Yes, these places have earned their reputation, but Iʼll let you…
Read MoreBrunswick Teens Sets Georgia Tripletail Record
When 17-year old Kyle Thigpen joined his parents Joan and Buddy of Brunswick for a 2005 Father’s Day trip aboard the family boat, Get The Net, he really wasn’t that enthusiastic. Perhaps if he’d known he was in for a date with fishing destiny, he’d have been a bit more excited. Given his family heritage,…
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