King mackerel fishing out of Darien starts with bait off the south end of Sapelo and ends on reefs from 2 to 38 nautical miles out. The run goes pogies at the Doboy Sound mouth, then the old D buoy, then Gray’s Reef and J reef. This guide follows the day in the order you fish it, for anglers running their own boat out of Darien, Georgia.
When kings are off Darien
Kings are off Darien from late spring through fall. The regional guide covers the wider migration picture (see also the wider Atlantic Southeast guide), so this section stays on the local window.
Late spring through fall
Plan trips inside that stretch and let the bait and structure below set the day.
June to August tournaments
Tournaments run June to August. If you plan to enter one, pre-fish the structure listed in this guide before the event.
November while the water stays warm
A 2007 Darien-based tournament report says kings stay through November while the water stays warm. Watch the water temperature readings at NDBC 41008 (see the run section below) to judge how long the warm water holds.
The run: bait, the D buoy, then the reefs
The day starts with bait, since slow-trolling isn’t possible without it. Run the trip in this order:
- Catch pogies at the south Sapelo beach or the Doboy Sound mouth.
- Fish the old D buoy, about 2 miles off the Doboy Sound entrance.
- Run to Gray’s Reef, about 18 miles east.
- Finish on J reef.
Catching pogies
Boats catch menhaden (pogies) along the south Sapelo beach and at the Doboy Sound mouth. Greenies and blue runners also go in the well as live bait. The methods section covers how each one is fished.
The old D buoy
The old D buoy sits about 2 miles offshore, at the entrance to Doboy Sound. It is the first king stop of the day.
Gray’s Reef and J reef
Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is about 18 miles east, almost due east of Sapelo Island. J reef (JY, formerly J) comes next in the run.
Before you commit to the run, check NDBC 41008 Gray’s Reef (31.400N 80.866W), which NOAA describes as 40 NM southeast of Savannah, GA. Read wind, wave height and period there, and check the official marine forecast. The buoy reports conditions at a single point in the ocean, and a forecast is only a forecast, so use both.
Grounds and structure off Sapelo
Kings off Darien work a band of about 30-90 ft. The structure below runs from shallow beach reefs out to the far tower.
| Name | Depth (ft) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| BL reef (beach reef) | 9-15 | 3 nautical miles east of St. |
| BH reef (beach reef) | 10-16 | 2.5 nautical miles east of Blackbeard Island |
| KTK reef (offshore artificial reef) | 35-45 | 7 nautical miles east of Blackbeard Island |
| Old D buoy | About 2 miles offshore, Doboy Sound entrance | |
| Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary | About 18 miles east of Sapelo Island | |
| J reef (JY, formerly J) | ||
| Middlegrounds 70-foot spot | 70 | |
| R2 Navy tower | 72 | 38 nautical miles east of Sapelo Island |
BH and BL are shallow beach reefs, KTK sits in the 35-45 ft band, and the R2 Navy tower is the long run at 38 nautical miles. For the Middlegrounds 70-foot spot, the timing note is arriving by 7:45.
Plot these on the Chart Contours layer before you leave the dock. Chart layers are not for navigation. The same approach to structure runs through our other coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
How kings are fished out of Darien
Local boats slow-troll live bait in about 30-90 ft. For rigging, leaders and species detail, see the king mackerel fishing guide.
Slow-trolling and flat-lining
Live pogies, greenies and blue runners are slow-trolled or flat-lined. Pogies come from the bait stops at the start of the day, and the other two round out the well.
Kite baits
Kite baits ride above the flat lines and keep the spread working at more than one level.
Downriggers
Downriggers take a live pogy or a dead ribbonfish deep, completing a spread of surface, flat and deep baits.
Who fishes kings from this port
Two local charters list king mackerel:
- Reel Busy Shark Charter, Captain Billy Stafford. Website: www.reelbusysharkcharter.com
- Coastal Ga Fishing. Website: www.coastalgafishing.com
FAQ: king mackerel out of Darien
How far is Gray’s Reef from Darien?
About 18 miles east, almost due east of Sapelo Island. The old D buoy is much closer, about 2 miles off the Doboy Sound entrance.
Where do boats get pogies?
Along the south Sapelo beach and at the Doboy Sound mouth.
What depth do kings hold in off Darien?
About 30-90 ft. KTK reef is 35-45 ft and the R2 Navy tower is 72 ft.
Do kings stay into November?
A 2007 Darien-based tournament report says kings stay through November while the water stays warm.
What buoy should I check before the run?
NDBC 41008 Gray’s Reef (31.400N 80.866W), 40 NM southeast of Savannah, GA, for wind, wave height and period. It is one point in the ocean, so check the official forecast too.
Which charters list kings for king mackerel fishing out of Darien?
Reel Busy Shark Charter (Captain Billy Stafford) and Coastal Ga Fishing.
