Fishing America

STATE # 34 - GEORGIA

SEPTEMBER 2018 - OSSABAW SOUND

(ATLANTIC OCEAN)

SPECIES CAUGHT - REDFISH

The Delagal Creek Marina is inside the largest gated community I have ever seen and one of the nicest ones. That’s where I met Captain Matt Starling and first mate, Tripp. Billie Jo dropped me off at this marina amidst my failed efforts to talk her into getting in the boat.

After we caught some mullet in a throw net for bait, we struck out towards the Atlantic to use them. Five major rivers and many huge creeks meet together where they all flow into the Ossabaw Sound. The brackish waters of this estuary sure made for some excellent fishing on the morning of Sep 3rd.

A slow start with a little wind didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. We had to change spots twice boating around the edge of some of the marsh grass flats. My first fish came at our third fishing spot, a small redfish that did not impress Tripp as he watched me reel it in and unhook it. It was about to get better.

After another small one, I hooked into a big rod bender that started fighting and running. Tripp proved he had the same kind of heart I have about fishing.

As soon as that rod started bending, this big red dog went to pacing back and forth barking and whining with excitement while I fought this big red fish.

After unhooking it, I held it for a picture and without being instructed, Tripp ran around and posed with me in one of my favorite fishing pictures. So, a big redfish and a big red dog in the big red state of Georgia. Hard to beat that.

More was to come. I kept count of these, and of the 18 I caught on that morning, 15 were really nice big fish. The funny part was my new friend Tripp showed no reaction at all to the little ones. But he got excited, barking and carrying on with every one of those big fish.

Out of all the charters I have been on, this was the first and only one that had a dog aboard. I remembered my thoughts when I first saw him getting in the boat. The thoughts were, “Is this dog gonna be all over me and stay tangled up in everything?”

Matt obviously trained Tripp well because this high bred dark golden retriever never imposed himself on me - just joined in the fun. Catching big fish had never bored me, but with my new friend jumping around barking with every catch this was just too fun.

After a morning of awesome fishing and catching reds, Matt shared a couple redfish tips with me when he filleted my catch.

This was my third time to go after them, so I didn’t need any training on catching them, but I am always open to learn something new.

He then cut the skeleton piece in smaller pieces like when doing fish steaks except longer, obviously because of less meat.

He said, “just fry these on the bone in the corn meal along with the rest and I guarantee you will like them.”

Later back at home in East Texas at one of my backyard fish fries, I shared this information and the fish with my hungry friends. That thin stretch of meat hugging the bones was even better than the delicious cut strips of the fillets as we indulged.

Matt is an excellent guide and knows his fishing grounds well; specializing in multiple species including red fish, flounder, triple tail and tarpon.

Tripp is an excellent dog and specializes in having fun and tripping out. Matt is on Facebook at Captain Matt Starling and also at www.fishingbooker.com by the same name.