Goose Island
Geologically, Goose island was one of the beginning points of St. George although it is now separated by a narrow, but deep channel. The vast oyster bars that surround the island create a habitat that is home to redfish, trout and flounder in all but the coldest months. Spring and summer visitors include jack crevalIe, cobia, sharks and traveling tarpon.
On the cast side of the island is a vast semicircle of oyster bars which is shallow in the center and falls off sharply toward the St. George Island side. During falling tides, small crabs and fish are washed from the shallow center into the deep channels. There they are, of course, eaten.
On a falling tide fish the breaks in these bars where the water is flowing swiftest with green grubs or free-lined live mullet. As the tide is failing, redfish often enter the semicircle from the north sand flats. Fish for them with gold spoons at the points of the bars. As the tide reaches low, watch for tailing fish. Sometimes, grubs or plastic crabs work best on the shallow tailing fish.
On the west side of Goose Island are oyster bars that border a channel that leads out into the bay to "Thirty-Foot Hole" which is one of the deepest spots in the bay and shows twenty-eight feet on the wall map. Big redfish, cobia, sharks and tarpon lounge at these fathoms and then come along the depth line toward the island to feed usually with rising tides. Fish live bait, gold spoons or large grubs along the deeper side of the oyster bars and into the channel.
On die immediate north side of the island are shallow oyster bars that are good hunting place for redfish during falling tides. Stealth is required and wading is best. Choose a falling tide in the middle of the day during spring and fall, or an early or late tide in the summer. These fish are generally found in a foot or so of water. Polarized sunglasses are a must,
(See Chapter IX "FISH St. George Island").
Click here to find the nearest boat launch site.
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