When kings are off the Golden Isles
King mackerel fishing out of Golden Isles runs on two published windows: June to November, and May to August. The port covers Brunswick, St. Simons and Jekyll Island, and boats work the Golden Isles waters from those three launch points.
Season windows
St. Simons Fishing Center’s offshore list gives June to November. The second window, May to August, comes with one local angler’s comment that king fishing picks up in May.
Biology and migration for king mackerel are covered on their own page, as is how kings move along the Southeast coast (see also the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide).
| Source | Window |
|---|---|
| St. Simons Fishing Center offshore list | June to November |
| Second published window | May to August |
| Golden Isles King Mack Attack | Usually August |
Tournament month
The Golden Isles King Mack Attack is usually held in August.
How far boats run
Published runs go from about 10 miles to about 40 miles, and each figure below comes from the operator that states it. The named reefs are positioned from Little Cumberland Island and Cumberland Island and are covered in the next section.
| Run | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Reef trips | About 10 to 15 miles | Georgia Fishing Company |
| Offshore bottom trips | Out to 30 miles | Southeastern Angling |
| Live bottom zone | About 40 miles | Southeastern Angling |
| Tournament team report | About 40 miles | 2005 tournament team |
Reef trips, 10 to 15 miles
Georgia Fishing Company runs reef trips about 10 to 15 miles out.
Bottom trips to 30 miles
Southeastern Angling runs offshore bottom trips out to 30 miles.
The 40 mile zone
Southeastern Angling lists a 40 mile live bottom zone. A 2005 tournament team also reported kings about 40 miles offshore.
Grounds and structure that hold kings
The closest named reef is Georgia Reef A, 45 ft deep and 7 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island. Depths and distances for the Georgia reefs come from the state reef list. Positions and depths here are for planning only; chart layers are not for navigation.
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Distance | Reference point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Reef A | 45 | 7 nm east | Little Cumberland Island |
| Georgia Reef CDH (formerly C) | 55 | 13.5 nm east | Cumberland Island |
| Georgia Reef SFC | 55 | 18 nm east | Little Cumberland Island |
| G Reef (state list: HLHA) | – | – | – |
| 40 mile live bottom | – | About 40 miles | Offshore (Southeastern Angling) |
| The Ledge | – | – | Offshore on Gulf Stream trips |
Georgia Reef A
This reef is 45 ft deep, 7 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island. It is the nearest named reef, which makes it the first run for most boat owners.
Georgia Reef CDH
Georgia Reef CDH is 55 ft deep, 13.5 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island. The state list shows it as formerly C.
Georgia Reef SFC and the Golden Ray section
Georgia Reef SFC is 55 ft deep, 18 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island. It includes the propeller and rudder section of the Golden Ray.
G Reef (HLHA)
Operators call it "G Reef." The state list shows HLHA, formerly G.
The Golden Ray wreck
The Golden Ray is a capsized vessel that lay on its port side and has been partly removed. Its propeller and rudder section is on Georgia Reef SFC.
The 40 mile live bottom
Southeastern Angling places this live bottom about 40 miles offshore. A 2005 tournament team reported kings at about the same distance.
The Ledge
The Ledge is offshore, on Gulf Stream trips.
How kings are fished here
A 2005 Golden Isles tournament team’s winning king came on a downrigger bait. A beeliner (small snapper) rigged as bait was what the king hit. For general trolling and live-bait setups, see the gamefish guides.
Who fishes kings out of this port
Four local charters target king mackerel:
- St. Simons Fishing Center: source of the June to November window.
- The Georgia Fishing Company: reef trips about 10 to 15 miles out.
- Georgia Saltwater Adventures: Captain Kevin Dezern, owner, and Captain Dave Madray.
- Jekyll Island Fishing Center: lists king mackerel.
Southeastern Angling is the source of the 30 mile and 40 mile figures above. The Golden Isles King Mack Attack is usually held in August.
FAQ: king mackerel fishing out of Golden Isles
When is king mackerel season off the Golden Isles?
St. Simons Fishing Center lists June to November. A second published window is May to August.
How far is the closest named reef?
Georgia Reef A is 45 ft deep and 7 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island.
What is on Georgia Reef SFC?
The propeller and rudder section of the Golden Ray. The reef sits in 55 ft, 18 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island.
When is the Golden Isles King Mack Attack?
It is usually held in August.
How far out did the 2005 tournament team find kings?
About 40 miles offshore. The winning king hit a downrigger bait after a beeliner was rigged as bait.
