St. Simons Sound Fishing
A Georgia sound off Glynn County with 11 ramps and 12 pier or bank sites nearby.
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St. Simons Sound by the figures
USGS GNIS places St. Simons Sound off Glynn County. Brunswick lies about 3 miles from the GNIS point.
Within reach are 11 public ramps and 12 pier or bank sites. Jekyll Island Pier Reef, under a mile away, is the closest mapped reef. Tides run through Goulds Inlet, Satilla River mouth and Altamaha River mouth nearby.
Where to put in for St. Simons Sound
Public ramps around St. Simons Sound
- Morningstar Golden Isles Marinahoist launch, dock, restroom, fee, 3 miles
- St. Simons Marinahoist launch, dock, restroom, fee, 3 miles
- MacKay River Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, 3 miles
- Sidney Lanier Park, Brunswick2 lanes, dock, restroom, 4 miles
- Brunswick Landing Marina1 lane, dock, restroom, fee, 5 miles
- Village Creek (Harrington) Boat Ramp1 lane, dock, fish cleaning, 6 miles
- Blythe Island Regional Park Lakecarry-in launch, restroom, fee, 8 miles
- Blythe Island Regional Park1 lane, dock, restroom, fish cleaning, fee, 8 miles
- Turtle River (GA HWY 303) Boat Ramp1 lane, 8 miles
- Blythe Island Beach Drive Park2 lanes, dock, fish cleaning, 9 miles
- South Brunswick River Boat Ramp1 lane, 9 miles
Bank access around St. Simons Sound
- Clam Creek Bridgefoot bridge, under a mile
- Jekyll Island Fishing Pierpier, under a mile
- St Simons Fishing Pierpier, 1 mile
- Gascoigne Bluff Parkpier, 3 miles
- Mackay River Pierspier, 3 miles
- Little River Bridge Catwalkcatwalk, 3 miles
- Back River Bridgepier, 3 miles
- Gould's Inletbank, 3 miles
- Marshes of Glynn Overlook Parkpier, 4 miles
- Sidney Lanier Parkpier, 4 miles
- Sea Island Footpathbank, 5 miles
- Clarence Hilburn Fishing Pierpier, 8 miles
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division Coastal Fishing Map layers and WRD Water Access Points, checked October 2026.
Size and bag rules near St. Simons Sound
These CRD limits apply in Georgia waters near shore; offshore federal waters follow SAFMC and NOAA rules.
| Species | Daily limit and size | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Amberjack | 1; minimum size 28" FL | All year |
| American Eel | 25; minimum size 9" TL | All year |
| Atlantic Croaker | 25; minimum size None | All year |
| Atlantic Sturgeon | No harvest | Closed (no harvest) |
| Billfish (Blue marlin, White marlin, Sailfish) | Billfish may be landed in Georgia provided the angler complies with all federal regulations (federal HMS rules) | open all year |
| Black Drum | 15; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Black Sea Bass | 15; minimum size 12" TL | All year |
| Bluefish | 15; minimum size 12" FL | May 1 – Feb. 28 annually |
| Cobia | 1 per angler, maximum 6 per boat; minimum size 36" FL | March 1 – Oct. 31 |
| Dolphin (mahi mahi) | 10 (not to exceed 54 per boat, except headboats, which are allowed 10 per paying customer; minimum size 20" FL | All year |
| Flounder | 15; minimum size 12" TL | All year |
| Gag Grouper | 2; minimum size 25" TL | All year |
| King mackerel | 3; minimum size 24" FL | All year |
| Spanish mackerel | 15; minimum size 12" FL | All year |
| Red Drum | 5; minimum size 14" TL (Maximum 23" TL) | All year |
| Red Porgy | 3; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Red Snapper | 2; minimum size 20" TL | All year |
| Sharks (other than hammerheads, small shark composite, and prohibited | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is fewer; minimum size 54" FL (83" FL for Shortfin Makos) | All year |
| Small Shark Composite (Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Spiny Dogfish) | 1 per angler; minimum size 30" FL | All year |
| Prohibited sharks | No harvest: Sand tiger, Sandbar, Silky, Bigeye sand tiger, Whale, Basking, White, Dusky, Bignose, Galapagos, Night, Reef, Narrowtooth, Caribbean Sharpnose, Smalltail, Atlantic angel, Longfin | Closed (no harvest) |
| Sheepshead | 15; minimum size 10" FL | All year |
| Spot | 25; minimum size None | All year |
| Spotted Seatrout | 15; minimum size 14" TL | All year |
| Striped bass (Saltwater) | 2; minimum size 22" TL | All year |
| Striped bass (Savannah River) | 2; minimum size 27" TL | All year |
| Tarpon | 1; minimum size 68" FL | All year |
| Tripletail | 2; minimum size 18" TL | All year |
| Weakfish | 1; minimum size 13" TL | All year |
| Hammerhead sharks (great, scalloped, smooth) | 1 per angler or boat, whichever is less; minimum size 78 inches FL | All year |
Saltwater anglers 16 and up carry a Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident for 365 days) and the free Saltwater Information Program permit.
The 2027 Reef and Migratory Fish Endorsement costs $10 for residents and $20 for nonresidents, required from January 1.
GA DNR Coastal Resources Division recreational limits and the 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations saltwater section, checked October 2026. CRD limits.
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| Reef | Distance | Type | Depth | Deployment points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jekyll Island Pier Reef | under a mile south | inshore | ||
| Henry Vassa Cate (formerly Twin Sisters) Reef | 2 miles south | inshore | ||
| Little River Reef | 3 miles northwest | inshore | ||
| Jove Creek Reef | 6 miles north | inshore | ||
| Troupe Creek Reef | 7 miles north | inshore | ||
| F Reef | 13 miles east | offshore | 35-45 ft | 51 |
CRD Offshore Artificial Reef footprints and guide points.
Spots by St. Simons Sound
Gear and bait a short hop from St. Simons Sound
- Jekyll Fishing Centerbait and tackle shop, Jekyll Island, under a mile
- St. Simons Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, St. Simons Island, 1 mile
- Jekyll Island Fishing Centerbait and tackle shop, Jekyll Island, 1 mile
- Kennedy Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Saint Simons Island, 2 miles
- St Simons Fishing Centerbait and tackle shop, St Simons Island, 3 miles
- Morningstar Marinas – Golden Islesmarina, St. Simons Island, 3 miles
Who guides on St. Simons Sound
- Billy Bee's Kids Charterscharter, St. Simons Island, (912) 269-9983
- Bracewell Charterscharter, Jekyll Island, (912) 996-1572
- Captain Mark Noble Charter Fishingcharter, St. Simons Island, (912) 634-1219
- Cashflow Fishing Charters Ltdcharter, Brunswick, (912) 267-0782
- Coastal Island Charter Fishingcharter, Saint Simons Island, (912) 638-0241
- Coastal River Charterscharter, Savannah, (912) 441-9930
- Creekside Charterscharter, Jekyll, Brunswick, (912) 571-6322
- Dead Bait Charterscharter, Brunswick, (912) 266-1430
Nearby towns for a St. Simons Sound trip
- Brunswick3 miles
- St. Simons4 miles
- Jekyll Island4 miles
- Country Club Estates6 miles
Sounds next to St. Simons Sound
- Jekyll Sound7 miles
- St. Andrew Sound10 miles
- Buttermilk Sound13 miles
St. Simons Sound, county by county
- Glynn Countyseat: Brunswick
A Piscifun reel lineup for St. Simons Sound
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Telling apart the fish of St. Simons Sound
Photo: Jorge Alarcon or Dr. Daniel Benetti, Public domain
Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC., Public domain
Photo: Stephen Ewen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Geeklikepi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Things to know before you fish St. Simons Sound
How do I spot St. Simons Sound on a coastal chart?
GNIS places it in Glynn County, about 3 miles from Brunswick.
What permits do I need for St. Simons Sound?
Saltwater anglers 16 and up carry a Georgia fishing license ($15 resident, $50 nonresident for 365 days) and the free Saltwater Information Program permit.
What is the red drum limit near St. Simons Sound?
The limit is five, with a 14-inch minimum and 23-inch maximum.
How many specks can I keep from St. Simons Sound?
CRD allows 15 seatrout at 14 inches or longer.
Which ramps serve St. Simons Sound?
Morningstar Golden Isles Marina, about 3 miles away.
Where can I fish St. Simons Sound without a boat?
Clam Creek Bridge is closest, under a mile.
How far is the nearest reef from St. Simons Sound?
Jekyll Island Pier Reef lies under a mile away, depth not printed.
Which listed tackle counter sits closest to St. Simons Sound?
Jekyll Fishing Center is under a mile away.
A morning on St. Simons Sound starts here
Carry your license and SIP permit on the water.