After twenty-two years in the Waycross regional office in the Wildlife Resource Division, Fisheries Management Section of Georgia DNR, Bert Deener knows a thing or two about catching trophy fish in the Satilla. All aspiring anglers in the AJ Strickland “King of the Satilla” Fishing Tournament this Saturday, May 7 would be wise to heed his advice.
There’s still time to pick up registration forms at local fishing and hardware supply stores or go online at satillariverkeeper.org. Forms and $25 registration fees must be received by the Satilla Riverkeeper office online or via mail (P.O.Box 697, Woodbine GA 31569) by no later than 5 p.m., May 6. Late registration will be accepted 7-9 a.m. on the day of the event at the weigh-in site for an additional $10.
There will be barbecue from Reeal Barbeque and bleacher seats for all at the weigh in from 12-4 p.m. in at Tindall Enterprises, 829 South West Central Ave. in Blackshear. Participants will receive a free event t-shirt and a 1 year membership to Satilla Riverkeeper.
Deener offers tips on reeling in trophy-winners in the five tournament categories: redbreast, native catfish, panfish other than redbreast, largemouth bass and bowfin. Generally speaking, says Deener, folks who have fished the Satilla for years and can best analyze river conditions have the advantage. Although, he pointed out, the standing record for largest redbreast caught in the Satilla at 1 lb. 6 oz. goes to Amanda Peebles of Swainsboro who went fishing for the second time in her life last May. According to Deener, her feat proves folks new to fishing shouldn’t be shy about entering the tournament.
Generally speaking, the conditions to focus on include time of year, river temperature, depth and flow, and favorite places for fish spawning and feeding. Wading is not advisable this time of year when the river is up. Far safer than fishing from the banks is going out in small boats such as a johnboat or even canoes or kayaks. Deener cautions all anglers to observe the safety rule of always going out in teams of at least two and to wear lifejackets. Where to put in the river will be determined by whether it rains again before the tournament date, but anglers going for redbreasts should put in above Highway 82, and those going for the larger fish such as catfish, bowfin or brim should try their luck further down on the river.
For redbreasts, a colorful bream also known as a robin, red belly or long-ear sunfish, late spring and early May is an excellent time to search them out lurking around shallow cover. Gravel bars, weed beds and downed trees are all good spots. Keep your eyes out for a Rooster Red, the name given to the big red-hued males in the 4-7 inch range. If Saturday’s temperature is below the 60’s, live bait of worms or crickets will be the most popular way to target redbreasts. It’s too early and too cool, says Deener, for “bugging”, casting a little top water bug or fly, better to pitch your rig with live bait toward the treetops above where you expect the fish to be and then watch the bobber.
Temperature affects your chances with lures. If it’s above 70 degrees on tournament day, Deener expects fishermen to go to their lures – spinners such as the Satilla Spin. Deener says it’s not a sit and wait game. If the redbreasts aren’t biting, keep searching, casting upstream of promising cover and let the float rig drift through the zone. Finally, this common sense advice: pay attention to details any time a fish hits. If it worked once, chances are it will work again. Be sure to watch the bobber closely, and be ready to set the hook any time it lays sideways because it won’t always dart under.
“We named this tournament to honor AJ Strickland who loved nothing better than teaching kids to fish,” said Satilla Riverkeeper Ashby Nix Worley, “so all kids fish for free and the prize catches will win fishing gear so we really hope to see them out on the river.” Deener’s advice when fishing with kids is find a deep bend, anchor the boat, put their lines out with worms or crickets on the bottom and hope for native panfish, bowfin and catfish to strike.
This tournament is made possible by the event’s generous sponsors: The City of Waycross, Representative Chad Nimmer, The A.J. Strickland Family, Capt. Bert’s Quality Lures, Brantley Telephone Company, Flash Foods, John S. Myers PC Attorney at Law, Bennett, Bennett & Johnson Insurance Agency, Dan Bennett PC Attorney at Law, Blackshear True Value, Buffalo Creek Taxidermy, Catalyst Cleaning Service, Coffee County Historical Society, Okefenokee Sportsman, Farmers and Builders Ace Hardware and Home Center, Italia Digital Signs, Tindall Enterprises, Wall’s IGA, Winge’s Bait and Tackle, Waycross Coca Cola Bottling Company, Neal’s Taxidermy, Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Pierce County Graphics, City of Jesup, Wayne County Tourism Board, GA Wildlife Resources Division-Fisheries Management, and the City of Blackshear Main Street Program.
– Submitted