We are humble and happy to announce our little Jekyll Island Hotel has received recognition from Hampton for being in the top 10% of the Hampton brand based on Total Quality Scores. Circle of Excellence Award winners are selected annually by the Hampton brand. The criteria for receiving this award is based on customer feedback for overall accommodations measured through guest satisfaction surveys about the hotel, as well as product quality and service scores measured quarterly by the company.
Linda from Mulberry, Indiana discovered her Island Treasure on our boardwalk!
Now until the end of February the Jekyll Island Authority hosts "Island Treasures on Jekyll Island,” a unique treasure hunting experience on Jekyll Island. The treasures are handcrafted glass floats called Island Treasures. The glass floats have been sought after by Jekyll Island guests since 2002. Each is a unique design and is stamped with the year of the hunt on its base. Plus, new for 2012, Island Treasures will be hidden all over Jekyll Island, not just on the beach, increasing the opportunities to find these beautiful pieces of art.
November is a great month for Redfish and Sea Trout. The water temperature has dropped to 65-70 degrees and depending where you fish, water temps could be warmer or cooler. When this takes place our fishing can really turn on with lots of rod bending action! We use artificial bait this time of year as much as we do live bait. Depending on how you want to target your fish, Trout will be out off of oyster points and oyster beds on falling tides. If you choose to fish the higher tides for Trout I would recommend fishing right up close to the grasses edge off of a creek mouth, any points, big oysters bars, and areas with good current flow. The cleaner the water is the better it is for Sea Trout. There are many different types of artificial baits to use when fishing for Trout. A few I use are a weed less swim bait, jig head with a Exude grub tail, DOA Shrimp, Mirro- Lure (floating or suspending), and jerk baits.
Reds can be fished a couple of ways this time of year. As we get closer into the winter pattern, Reds will be on the mud flats in good numbers as the water temp drops. When this occurs, it is a great opportunity to hook one of these Reds and could be a fish of a life time... The approach is much different when targeting Reds on mud flats. We pole our skiff in very shallow water to sight fish these Reds. Also, this is a good time to fish the oyster bars and white shell banks or bars for the puppy drum...just smaller Red Fish. When doing so we use adjustable popping cork rigged with live shrimp and this can be lots of fun with good numbers inside the slot. The bigger Reds will roam on mudflats searching for any crustaceans in its path. These Reds that live on the mudflats will usually stay in the shallow water most of the time to stay with the food and to keep away from danger. Most of the Reds found on the mudflats in the area average 7 lbs. and some can reach up to 15 lbs. These over slot fish need to be handled with care! When fishing in the shallow water for Reds we use a swim baits rigged weed less and retrieving the bait real slow. When sight fishing we want to be stealthy and pick your target when you make the cast.
Tight Lines.....
Captain Griffin Wood
www.jekyllfishing.com
912.269.7337
captgriff@hotmail.com
Sea Turtle Release, United Way BBQ Bash and Savannah Bee Company Honey Tasting!
Join the Jekyll Island Authority's Georgia Sea Turtle Center this Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as they celebrate the release of Morcie, Glottis and Truck with a delicious BBQ Bash to benefit the United Way of Coastal Georgia and a special honey sampling of the Savannah Bee Company's Bee Cause Honey!
Savannah Bee Company's honey sampling and the United Way BBQ Bash begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is located at 214 Stable Road.
The United Way BBQ Bash includes a sandwich, two sides, drink and dessert for only $5!
Morcie, Glottis and Truck will be released promptly at 1:30 p.m. at Great Dunes Park. Great Dunes Park is located at the intersection of Shell Road and Beachview Drive.
Share and stay! We are offering an exclusive Facebook special for you and your friends.Stay June 26-30,2011 and book your stay for $159.00 a night! Your stay includes suite accommodations, free bike rentals for up to 4 hours per day and 2 complimentary drinks at check-in. This special rate is only being offered to our Facebook friends so share and stay! Use promo code: FBS when making your reservation online or call us at 912-635-3733 or 1-800- HAMPTON. We love having you here!
Please note: not valid with existing reservations. Not valid with group reservations. Taxes not included. Free upgrade available. Limited availability.
The Hampton Inn & Suites would like to extend a final farewell and best wishes to our Assistant General Manager, Andy Hobbs. Good Luck with your new position as General Manager of the Hampton Inn in Beaufort, SC. We will miss you! Cheers!
June is here and the heat is on with lots of action of different species around the Golden Isles area.
The beachside of Cumberland, Jekyll, and Saint Simons Island's will turn on this month with bait fish, Sea
Trout, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Sharks and Tarpon could show up towards the end of the month.
Triple Tail are still being caught on the beachside of Jekyll Island using a float rig with a live shrimp. The fish have been a little on the small side for this time of year and not seeing many fish as we should. Last month we had some cooler temps so this may have pushed the Triple Tail farther out. Depends on the bite will continue to get better this month for Reds and Trout. There are a few opportunities this month around the full moon to sight fish for tailing Reds in the grass.
The month of June I spend more time Trout fishing on the beachside of Cumberland Island and in Christmas Creek. So get out there early and fish high tide on the beach with a float rig and live shrimp, you may be surprised. Use caution when entering Christmas Creek! Christmas Creek will turn on with Reds, Trout, Ladyfish, Bluefish, Flounder and possible Tarpon. When fishing for Trout I like to use a slip cork, this can be helpful when fishing deeper water or rips to catch fish. June is the time to fish around any structure, rubble, jetties and around the big bridge pilings. Trout, Redfish, and Sheepshead like to hang around these areas to feed on different bait fish, little crabs and any other crustaceans.
Until next time.....Tight lines
Capt. Griffin Wood
www.jekyllfishing.com
912-269-7337
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center released four sea turtles back into the ocean Saturday after the Turtle Crawl Triathlon & Nest Fest. Did you join us for the release?
Tidelands 4-H Nature Center Jekyll has unspoiled beaches & forests teaming with wildlife. Take a walking tour into the forest, beach or in the tidal marsh & see a living ecosystem that is both fragile and beautiful. Guided walking tours are available through the Tidelands Nature Center on Jekyll. Tours are 1 1/2 - 2 hours long and will give you a greater appreciation for the ecosystem of the Island. Segway nature tours are also available.
Jekyll Island Fun Tours Segway Nature Adventure Glide along trails and personally witness this truly unique area.An educated guide will point out the plant and animal life as you stop to observe the sights. Riding the Segway® PT feels like nothing you've ever experienced. The Segway® PT is balances for you. It all feels natural and really cool. Call 912-635-9704 to book a reservation.
Golf Cart Nature Tours Discover a birding and nature adventure that only locals know about! Jekyll Island's three eighteen-hole golf courses are a natural home to deer, raccoon, nesting birds, flowers, butterflies, dragonflies and alligators. Join Birder and Naturalist Lydia Thompson on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for a Golf Cart Nature Tour June 16th - September. Call 912-635-2368. for reservations.
Clam Creek Picnic Area Marsh and north-end beach walk meets at the Clam Creek parking lot, north end of island, opposite campground. (Mondays / Year-round)St. Andrews Picnic Area Marsh, maritime forest, and south-end beach walk meets at the St. Andrews parking lot. (Wednesdays / Year-round).
South Dunes Picnic Area Maritime forest and beach walk meets at South Dunes parking lot. (Fridays / March - September only)
Kayak & Canoe Tours Guided kayak tours are also available at the Tidelands Center. There is no better way to get closer to the birds, fish and other coastal wildlife! Quietly paddle and explore the pristine beauty of Jekyll and its natural habitat. Each tour is guided by an experienced naturalist. Canoes are available for self-guided tours on Rixen Pond.
Boating Bring your boat along with you to Jekyll Island. The recently updated Jekyll Island boat ramp that features 3 launch lanes 130 feet long, making it possible to launch boats at all tide stages. Venture out on the Intracoastal Waterway or into the Atlantic Ocean. Dock your boat at the Jekyll Island Harbor Marina for fuel and snacks.
Birding Southeast Georgia is well known as an outstanding venue for birdwatchers. Learn how to identify the multitude of birds that migrate through the area and get an up close look at the terrapin turtles that live in the salt marshes. The Georgia Coast Birding and Nature Festival celebrates an annual event in October.
