Where boats run for red grouper from Golden Isles
Red grouper fishing out of Golden Isles centers on the 40 mile live bottom zone off St. Simons, Sea Island and Jekyll. It is the long run of the trip, and shorter runs put you on reefs closer in. For the wider coast, see the red grouper fishing in the Atlantic Southeast and the Atlantic Southeast offshore fishing guide.
From nearest to farthest:
- Georgia Reef A, 7 nautical miles out.
- Georgia Reef CDH, 13.5 nautical miles out.
- Georgia Reef SFC, 18 nautical miles out.
- The 40 mile live bottom, about 40 miles offshore.
- The Ledge, fished on Gulf Stream trips.
Biology and timing for the fish itself are covered in the red grouper fishing guide.
Grounds and structure that hold red grouper
The grounds below run from nearest to farthest. G Reef and the Golden Ray have no supplied distance, so they are listed by name.
| Ground | Type | Depth (ft) | Distance/reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Reef A | artificial reef | 45 | 7 nm east of Little Cumberland Island |
| Georgia Reef CDH (formerly C) | artificial reef | 55 | 13.5 nm east of Cumberland Island |
| Georgia Reef SFC | artificial reef | 55 | 18 nm east of Little Cumberland Island |
| G Reef (state list: HLHA, formerly G) | reef | ||
| 40 mile live bottom | live bottom | about 40 miles offshore | |
| The Ledge | offshore ground | Gulf Stream trips | |
| Golden Ray | wreck | capsized, partly removed, on its port side |
Load reef positions from Georgia’s offshore artificial reef list onto your chart and verify them before you run. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Georgia Reef A
Reef A is the closest named reef with a supplied distance. It lies 7 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island in 45 ft.
Georgia Reef CDH (formerly C)
CDH lies 13.5 nautical miles east of Cumberland Island in 55 ft. CDH is the state designation, and the reef was formerly called C.
Georgia Reef SFC
SFC lies 18 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island in 55 ft. The reef includes the Golden Ray propeller and rudder section.
G Reef / HLHA
G Reef is the operator’s name for this reef. The state list shows it as HLHA, formerly G, so search for HLHA when you match it against the list.
The 40 mile live bottom
This zone sits about 40 miles offshore from St. Simons, Sea Island and Jekyll. Southeastern Angling runs it.
The Ledge
The Ledge is an offshore ground fished on Gulf Stream trips.
Golden Ray wreck
The Golden Ray is a capsized vessel, partly removed, lying on its port side. It is separate from the propeller and rudder section at Georgia Reef SFC.
How red grouper are fished here
The local method is bottom fishing on live bottom: put the bait on the structure and fish it there.
For general bottom and reef-fish technique, see the reef fish technique pages.
Who fishes for red grouper out of this port
Southeastern Angling lists red grouper and runs the 40 mile live bottom zone off St. Simons, Sea Island and Jekyll.
FAQ about red grouper fishing out of Golden Isles
How far do boats run for red grouper?
The main run is the 40 mile live bottom zone off St. Simons, Sea Island and Jekyll. Nearer reefs sit at 7, 13.5 and 18 nautical miles.
What is the closest named reef?
Georgia Reef A, 7 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island in 45 ft.
Is G Reef the same as HLHA?
Yes. G Reef is the operator’s name, and the state list shows HLHA, formerly G.
Where did the Golden Ray propeller go?
The propeller and rudder section is part of Georgia Reef SFC, at 55 ft and 18 nautical miles east of Little Cumberland Island. The capsized vessel itself is partly removed and lies on its port side.
Do local charters target red grouper?
Yes. Southeastern Angling lists red grouper and runs the 40 mile live bottom zone.
