Altamaha river in Georgia - Anyone catching anything?

[wade]

Just wondering if anybody has a fishing report for the altamaha river.its getting about that time for those flatheads to start biting.

[Gator]

I have not heard of many being caught yet. The Bream and bass are just starting to bed and then the Flatties will start soon after. I know of a few channels and on the coastal end near the mouth they have gotten a few blues but that is about all I have heard of.

[wade]

Gator, I have spoken with DNR and they swear up and down that there isn't any blues in the Altamaha. I fish the lower end of the river alot from Altamaha PArk to 95 and know that section very well, I'm planning on making a trip up to Jaycees Landing and fish down river, I've heard there are some good spots in that area

[Gator]

Wade I know there are blues in the Ogeechee river and have been told there are and are not blues in the Altamaha. I know there are creeks that join the 2 and knowing this I don't see why there would not be Blues in there. But hey, I am just posting what I have been told...LOL I have caught channles and flatheads out of there but no blues myself. Then again I have caught flatheads and channles but no blues in the Ogeechee. but the guy i was fishing with caugh 4 real nice ones about 20# each last year out of my boat so I have seen them in the Ogeechee but never caugh one there. Who know for sure?

[wade]

Gator I think the same thing on the blues in the altamaha its a big river with a lot of back water.I'm planning a trip to jaycees at the end of april are the first of may hopefully the flatheads will be biting pretty good by that time.I know the lower end of the river is good that time of year.

[Cuda-Cada]

Wade, I fished down past Lewis Creek to 95 last November. I am not used to fishing such a wide range of tides, the water level changes a lot and the outgoing tide really rips. Some great looking snags and lots of depth. Should be some monsters down there. Only caught a few flatheads under 10 lbs the two nights I went. Have you had any luck in this area?

[wade]

Cuda-Cada, I have fished that section of the river since I was a little boy, my great-grandfather used to have a houseboat at the Clarks Bluff area, so I know that section of the river from Altamaha Park to 95 very well. I have caught plenty of cats outta that section. The tide does rip pretty good on outgoing and there is plenty of deep holes in that area. There is some grown cats in that area. I am planning on fishing up river some this year. I don't know the river that well past the park, heard there is some good fishing below jaycees though. Are you familiar with that stretch of river?

[Cuda-Cada]

Wade,
I usually fish down from Jesup to Paradise Park. Good fishing. I have been fishing that area for about 8 years now. If I can send you my number in a PM, I would be happy to share some information about the area I know for some information you know...

-Bob

[cherokee laker]

Fellows, I live in Jesup, Looking forward to meeting some of ya'll on your visits to the Altamaha....I just wanted to say hello, I hope this isn't taken as just mindless chatter, but I've at least got to get my post count to ten so's I can PM GATOR.

cl

[diertae]

i went and fished the altamaha park pier last night from about 9 until 0230. caught a bluegill, eel(fresh bait), and a 2lbs. Bowfin. i lost four nice cats as well. apparently i need to rethink my baiting methods. ill be back

[Gator]

Fellows, I live in Jesup, Looking forward to meeting some of ya'll on your visits to the Altamaha....I just wanted to say hello, I hope this isn't taken as just mindless chatter, but I've at least got to get my post count to ten so's I can PM GATOR.

cl
I pm'ed you my cell number.

[cherokee laker]

I pm'ed you my cell number.

I got it gator, I'll give you a call.
hh

[diertae]

Since hearing about the Altamaha river, i have been twice to the Regional Park fishing. Both times i caught ONE BOWFIN, and lost four cats the first time and one the second time. I have been fishing from the pier just upstream from the landing and baitshop. I doubt that i will return without a boat, it seems access to other areas of the river are pretty much acquired by boating. the first time i went was the saturday before last, i fished from about 2100hrs. to 0300. I used cut Bluegill and cut local Eel. the eel produced the most strikes. this last time i fished was last night, we used cut bass, crappy, shiners 2-4inches, and eventually cut Bowfin. Any specific information as to getting into the big flatties would be greatly appreciated

[cherokee laker]

I pm'ed you my cell number.

gator, I haven't had a chance to call yet............but I will

hhh

[diertae]

i refuse to let this thread die, anyone been on the alta lately? if so what did you use, where did you use it and how did you use it? i refuse to believe that no one is fishing the heck out of that river its perfect for them monster flatties. even the dnr guys say so. apparently they have shocked or netted flatheads over a hundred pounds out of there. anyone believe this or am i being too optimistic?

[Gator]

Brothe I get my stiches out today and maybe next weekend if you want to go let me know

[Cuda-Cada]

Dave,
I went a couple of weeks ago. Caught one small one but not much else. I will be fishing the tournament this weekend out of Jesup. I will post how I do.
As far as baits on the Altamaha, I have used goldfish, bullheads, bream, and eels. Caught nice fish of all of them. Mostly I use a weight, swivel, leader, hook rig- nothing fancy. I fish out of a boat so I fish many different set ups in the river. I guess I fish right on submerged wood and current breaks the most. I used to fish off of shore when I first started going up there though. In fact, my first Altamaha flathead was 38 pounds and was caught right off the bank at the Altamaha Park.

[Cuda-Cada]

Gator,
I am glad to hear you are on your way to recovery. Are you coming up to watch the weigh-in of the tournament? If so, let me know and I will look for you -Bob

[qball]

Well I'm back in the BOC one more time.

[Gator]

Bob I will be there saturday for sure. Henry Great to have you back brother!

[Baitkiller]

Hello GA Guys

I'm planning a trip to this river in "07" with my brother from Atlanta. I will be buggin ya'll for info & advise soon enough.

1) Like how bad are the gators there and does GA allow open carry of a handgun when you are from outta state?

We will have a 14' Jon Boat.

Thanks Brothers

[Gator]

Steve if you carry a handgun make sure someone in the boat has a permit for the weapon. As far as the gators there is nothing to worry about, I have been here sence 1997 and only seen one gator on the main river body. Now up in some of the slues that is a little different but still you have nothing to worrie about.

As far as the fishing gose it is starting to pick up from what I here around here. I know Henry and a couple of his family members got 2 nice flatties last weekend the smallest was about 35# the big one went almost 45#

[Baitkiller]

Gater & Guys

How does FRESH cut Shad work on the river and is there any good, very reliable places to net them close by?? The only place for Shad I know of is way up by Rome, GA :crazy: !!

[peewee williams]

Gater & Guys

How does FRESH cut Shad work on the river and is there any good, very reliable places to net them close by?? The only place for Shad I know of is way up by Rome, GA :crazy: !!
.Mullet and Shad are interchangeable for bait.Mullet are a staple food fish for man,beast and fish,through out the southern USA.The can be found in most southern rivers in the warmer months,many and I mean many miles from the ocean.They can be caught around industrial warm water outlets in the coldest of weather.SHAD and or Mullet can be used anywhere that you have either,and a lot of places that has never seen either one.MULLET can be found in many southern fish markets.Years ago,I once bought some to fish with from a restaurant on the way to the Okefenokee Swamp.The restaurant had a sign up for fried Mullet,Croaker and whiting.I bought a plate of fried fish for me and a package of raw Mullet for bait.Caught Cats on it in the swamp,where there were no Mullet.My Father would come in from the coast with Mullet when we lived at Santee.Great Striped Bass And Cat bait.We always saved the heads and guts Of the ones we cleaned to eat for bait,as it worked real well too.I have used Mullet for Catfish,and saltwater bait in S.C.,Ga.,Fla.,Ala.and Miss.in my lifetime.I love shad for bait,but Mullet are more available and seem to be just as good.Don,t get me wrong.I love our Shad which run from 3 to 8 pounds,but are seasonal.I can find mullet in a fish market 12 months of the year.peewee-williams

[diertae]

this friday is going to be a disgusting display of overindulgence as far as fishing goes. the poor altamaha doesnt know what is coming its way, i have gone so far as to google earth it to death and have started to mark grids for inspection with my GPS. ill let you all know how it goes. wish me luck, i am about due for the monster i think.

[Baitkiller]

diertae

:cross: :cross: :cross: :cross: :cross:

Luck is alot of times better than being good!!

I'll wish ya luck but be reel good at it too plz!!!!!!!

Are you boating down it & than bank fishing??

"07" I'll be down guys to fish it.

:003: :003: :003:

[diertae]

Thanks for the good karma killer. as for the doing it right and good, i will do my best. I sure hope I will have the use of a boat, my fishin buddy chris has a boat, but he might not be able to go. if that is the case, i will be doing alot of walking in a swamp i guess, and its hard to use the depthfinder without the boat, but ill manage. i will let nothing get in the way of my fishing this weekend, unless of course my better half says to stop obsessing over a stinky, slimy, ugly, fish. in that case looks like it will be a wonderful day of chuckee cheeze and bed, bath, and beyond. this is where i need all the luck, just getting out the house. has anyone tried to sneak out, did it work? should i leave a note?

[Gator]

Just so every one knows there were 3 bluecats caught on the river friday night before the WCCF. The largest was 17 pounds they are there just not very many of them.

[qball]

I know what you saying, I have fished all my life in that river and only seen very little of the blues.

[diertae]

as far as i know, personally with my own eyes, the river is entirely populated by bowfin, eels and large bluegill. but thats only because thats all i have caught OFF THE PIER at the park. location maybe?

[diertae]

as it to prove myself true, my buddy chris and i went to the altamaha friday from sun up until we couldnt stand it. and were after largemouth bass, we caught bowfin...its starting to get to me. the bowfin. i did manage to catch a 10 bluegill but thats about it. no bass, no cats. im losing my freakin mind with this river

[Baitkiller]

Diertae

Location, location & location.

Find a few good spots from the boat than beat down a trail plz for I will be down!!

:big_smile:

[Gator]

as it to prove myself true, my buddy chris and i went to the altamaha friday from sun up until we couldnt stand it. and were after largemouth bass, we caught bowfin...its starting to get to me. the bowfin. i did manage to catch a 10 bluegill but thats about it. no bass, no cats. im losing my freakin mind with this river

Get up with me one day you still have my cell # right?

[diertae]

Jim, i do have your number. when i get back from JRTC in the middle of June you should be all healed up right? maybe we can get after somethin worth catchin

[peewee williams]

as it to prove myself true, my buddy chris and i went to the altamaha friday from sun up until we couldnt stand it. and were after largemouth bass, we caught bowfin...its starting to get to me. the bowfin. i did manage to catch a 10 bluegill but thats about it. no bass, no cats. im losing my freakin mind with this river
Hey man!This is why God made Bowfin.They BITE.They FIGHT.And HOW they fight!!They are there for you to enjoy when nothing else will touch your bait.If you hook one Bowfin,you ain;t been skunked.I love a fish that will fight,so I have to love a Bowfin.Think about it.I hope you learn to enjoy them as I did.They have made many a "bust"into a "great" fishing trip.If you don;t like to boat a Bowfin,you will surely hate a fresh Cobia in the boat.peewee-williams

[diertae]

and to add insult to injury Cuda, goes down there two days after me and absolutely kills the flatties, im going comfortably insane, in fact im going to take a break (army says go to Fort Polk for a month) but when i get back i am going to fish that river until i catch a catfish.
and cuda, great job, im happy for you...i would be even happier if you would send me a GPS grid to where you caught the monster, and of course which way he swam last time you saw him

[Gator]

Dave get up with me when you get back and we will see what we can do to find you some cats.

[qball]

The front seat of my boat is open most of the time.

[Gator]

OK went out Saturday and Sunday had 2 nice hits but no hook ups. Got lots of gar and some very nice bluegill and red breast. Yes I did take the bait home and we are going to eat it tonight We did get 1 channel about ¾ pound and a few fiddler cats but nothing like we wanted. I did lose one it some heavy cover and a snag retrieval rig trying to retrieve the fish, the snag retrieval rig was on a ¼ inch peace of nylon rope and we could not get the snag nor fish lose as a matter of fact the rope broke and I though we were going to capsize the boat trying to get it up. But hey we had lots of fun.

[diertae]

went last weekend, upriver from the landing, stayed on the beach just to the right of the private slough. we fished the upstream end of the beach, there is a nice hole filled with structure across from the beach and one just 30 feet from the shore. we camped and fished, had a young kid with us so we just stayed put. Had one really nice fish on. he wanted me in the river with him:lol:. but after a few seconds he tasted the hook and spit it out. Chris caught a four pound channel, and i caught about a 4 foot gar. the mayflies were insane out there, it was like it was snowing. oh yeah. forgot to take my camera again, Jim next time I tell you Im going fishing remind me to take my camera.

[Snappy]

I have never been to the river but would like to plan a trip. I live in Augusta so I will probably come down for a couple days. Where would be a good place to start. I have been down to the duck impoundment area hows the fishing there any info would be appreciated.

[GaDNR]

I worked this past long weekend and checked a many fishermen. The catfish are biting slow but they are biting. The river is extremely low right now and if you plan on fishing in the Jesup area it would be advised to bring a small boat i.e. 14 ft jon boat. The sand bars are out and you should be able to find you a place to camp without any problems. Let me know if I can help any further.

[GaDNR]

Thought some of you could use this. A site to get river stage and forecast for river.
Google search noaa weather. Then find National weather service Southern Region Headquarters. Then click on River Forecast. Then clisk on state of Georgia. Then click on the area of Wayne County. Then click on Doctortown. This will give you the current river stage and a 5 day forecast.
Just for information to you new guys in the area. The river needs to be about 5 ft to keep from having problems in some areas of sand bars coming across the river.

[Snappy]

Thanks for the info Randy!!

[Snappy]

Can you camp on the River Banks?

[qball]

If you have a boat you can camp on just about any sand bar you come across. As low as the river is every bend has a bar to camp on.

[cherokee laker]

I think this is the right one that Randy was talking about
http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=jax&gage=dctg1&view=1,1,1,1,1,1

[Snappy]

Yep thats it. Pretty handy info. Will help me plan my trip down.

[cherokee laker]

Snappy, PM me before you come......(I will give you some contact numbers)......I will try to run across you're down here.

CL

[jerseycat9]

Alright Georgia look out. Ill be movin there by Sept. 18 gonna be living right on Lake Lanier in the Gainseville area anyone got info on that lake would help Will I be near the altamaha river

[fireball]

Hey everyone, is anyone catching any flats down there or is the river just too low to get in and out? I put in below Mt. Vernon a couple weekends ago, fished all day for 1 six pounder. Anyone else fish this area? Thanks:big_smile:

[Catfish_Commando]

Robert,

The last few times I went I couldnt buy a Flathead, hopefully the river comes up in the next month, last I heard the river stage was 1.5 at Baxley.

Paul