THE TARPON KING OF THE PIRATE COAST

Where to Find and Catch Tarpon

EDITOR'S NOTE: Very little has been written about the tarpon along Georgia's Pirate Coast where the legendary Blackbeard once pillaged for wealth and treasure, and pirates once ruled with tyranny and fear. But this undiscovered-tarpon hotspot is without question one of the best places to catch the most tarpon in the shortest time. In a day-and-a-half of fishing, we had eight chances to catch tarpon, and we brought four fish to the leader and one fish along the side of the boat. This week, we'll look at the secrets to catching tarpon along the Pirate Coast and talk to Greg Hildreth of Brunswick, Georgia, the King of Tarpon on the Pirate Coast. He'll tell us where to find tarpon and how to catch them.

Question: Where do you like to fish to catch tarpon?
Answer: If you fish 5-6 miles out from the mouth of St. Andrews Sound, you'll find shoals and sandbars. This is the area where I like to fish for tarpon. I anchor in this region and look for rolling tarpon. The guides in this region usually split up and go in different directions. When a guide finds tarpon, he'll call the other guides into that area. The tarpon generally will hold the same pattern for several days to a week before they change course.

Question: You moor your boat on St. Simons Island. In how many different spots can you find tarpon?
Answer: I fish all along the Georgia Coast, but I prefer to fish the St. Simons Island area because it's so close to the marina.

Question: How many days are required to catch a tarpon during July and August?
Answer: You've seen that you can catch one within the first hour of fishing -- like you did the morning you fished with me. However, I suggest that fishermen book half trips and fish a minimum of two mornings to get their tarpon.

Question: If an angler catches all the tarpon he wants to catch in the first hour or two of his trip, what other fish can he catch?
Answer: We have some great shark fishing behind the shrimp boats. We almost always catch black tip and spinner sharks any day we go after them. The sharks are a lot of fun to catch, and I can almost guarantee that the sharks will show up when you do. We also have excellent tripletail fishing as well as speckled trout and redfish fishing.

To learn more about fishing with Captain Greg Hildreth out of Brunswick, Georgia, call (912) 261-1763.