Coastal Living Chronicles: Insights from a Saint Simons Island Realtor

Fishing is about to get a whole lot better along the Golden Isles of Georgia.   We recently capped off the Summer with the Golden Isles Kingfish Classic held just a couple of weeks ago.   The Classic has been a tournament staple for decades on St. Simons Island and the last few years held out of Gascoigne Bluff Park.   This year, there were close to 100 boats competing for a $15,000 grand price.   My Dad and I along with my former neighbor Leland Ring were fortunate enough to catch the winning king mackerel in 2005.   We caught a 47.6 lb king mackerel and won a brand new Contender fishing boat. My fishing exploits have been a bit more low key than 2005.   Everyone knows I love to fish the inshore waters from Cumberland Island to Saint Simons for Redfish, Seatrout, Flounder and everything in-between.   I have a 19 ft center console fishing boat that manages to get me just about anyplace I need to go to catch fish and during the months of September,...

There is some excellent news from the Georgia DNR regarding Loggerhead turtles along the Georgia Coast - From the GA DNR: Summer 2012 has been a blockbuster for loggerheads in Georgia. After recording the second-earliest nesting start on record, these large sea turtles listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act recently passed the 2,000 nests mark, the most since comprehensive surveys began in 1989. The count as of July 30 was 2,045. The federal recovery target for Georgia’s primary sea turtle is 2,800 nests a year, said DNR Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Mark Dodd. But 2K is a benchmark, particularly when coupled with last year’s 1,992 nests – the previous record – and a longer-term trend of nesting increases that suggests the species is recovering. “It’s significant in that for the last 25 years loggerheads have averaged around 1,000 nests a year (in Georgia),” said Dodd, a senior wildlife biologist with DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section . “To be at 2,000 ...

Jeff Williams (yes that's me)  and Capt. Wendell Harper discuss Georgia's conservationists launch of Operation ROE (Release Over Eighteen) Operation ROE was a put together by a coalition of angler-supported conservation groups, including Coastal Conservation Association Georgia, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Satilla Riverkeeper, Georgia Kayak Fishing, Ogeechee Riverkeeper and Savannah Riverkeeper, is calling on Georgias fishermen to ensure the future of one of their favorite catches  the spotted seatrout. The groups are asking their members and the angling public to voluntarily release spotted seatrout over 18 inches long. DNR studies show that approximately 94 percent of trout more than 18 inches in length are females, so it is not surprising that many anglers refer to all larger fish as roe (egg) trout. Research has shown that larger, older females produce many more eggs than smaller individuals. An 18-inch female seatrout has the potential to produce almost 18 millio...

Whether you live in the Golden Isles permanently or you're visiting, an authentic Italian Restaurant will probably one that you'll keep your eye out for.  On St. Simons Island, Georgia, you needn't look any further than Nazzaro's Italian Restaurant located in Retreat Village across the street from the airport or what we locals call - the Winn Dixie Shopping center. Nazzaro's was easy to make a reservation at, which again are highly recommended, and out table was ready when we showed up just after 6pm on a Saturday night.  There were already a few tables full of patrons when Mindy and I arrived and the empty ones quickly filled up as the time got closer to 7pm.  By the time we left around 7:30, most of the tables were full. I was pleasantly surprised to bump into a friend on hostess duty for the evening.  Lynn Nazzaro was handling the front of the house.  Lynn is another local Realtor who I see from time to time at Golden Isles Association of Realtors ev...

It really has been a super busy July 4th week!  Of course there were fireworks on the 4th and we watched them from East Beach on St. Simons Island.  From our vantage point, you could see the fireworks on Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island AND Sea Island.  Three for the price of one!  The weather was perfect albeit a bit warm but sitting on the beach at night with fireworks going off was just a fun time.  St. Simons Island is always busy around the 4th of July and this year was no exception.  Visitors flocked to our island and hotels, condos and rental homes all seemed to be maxed out.  The weekend after the 4th was just as busy with the big event being the St. Simons Island Kids Fishing Rodeo.  This is an annual event hosted by Captain Billy Bice.  It is a very easy going children's fishing tournament where you catch a Redfish - Whiting - Bluefish (Red White and Blue).  Every child wins a prize and kids who catch all three of the...

UPDATE: 10-25-13 The Christmas Creek entrance this year is to the North of the creek mouth.  As you go South along Cumberland Beach you'll see the shoaling a few hundred yards East of the mouth of the creek.  Enter Christmas Creek between the shoaling and the beach as you go South.  As you enter the entrance between the shoals and the beach, look for your hard right turn to go directly into the creek mouth.  Best to try at least an hour after low tide for that area.  If you plan on coming out after high tide, best to be at the mouth no later than 4 1/2 hours after high tide unless your boat draws less than a foot like flats boats and Carolina Skifs.  I like to go in about an hour after low tide and fish through the rising tide and then make my way out.   I made this update because this Blog post is one of my top posts which I wouldn't have know when I originally wrote it. Christmas Creek has some of the best fishing around and if you are...

One of my favorite restaurants on St. Simons Island in Georgia is Coastal Kitchen.   It is located just a few minutes from my home in the Morningstar Marina complex. There are several things that I really enjoy about Coastal Kitchen besides the food – which is always delicious.   I have to say that I really enjoy the view.   They have one of the best restaurant views on St. Simons.   Large windows give a terrific view of the Frederica River and all the boats moored at the marina.   Boat traffic is common along with a multitude of birds and other wildlife.   Coastal Kitchen offers inside dining along with an outside patio section for even better views. Often times, Coastal Kitchen will have a band playing out on the front deck and the drinks flow faster than the river!   Speaking of drinks.   Coastal Kitchen has a very good bar and as far as I’m concerned, the coldest Coronas on the island.   I am an avid SCUBA diver and after diving one ...

Saturday night I had a hankering for some good Cajun food and luckily we have Blackwater Grill on St. Simons Island.   Located in Redfern Village, an area populated with several great restaurants, Blackwater Grill offers some excellent Cajun fare along with numerous other great dishes.   Like Southern Soul BBQ, Blackwater has been featured on the nationally syndicated Tv series Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and have been written about in many national magazines.   When I go to Blackwater it’s because I want some Gumbo and I want some Jambalaya.   Two dishes that my Mother had perfected and since her passing, I just don’t get very often anymore.   Upon entering, you’ll be surrounded by the somewhat typical nautical style that adorns many seafood restaurants but don’t be put off.   Yes the interior is a bit kitschy but the food is the main attraction.   I always start off with a cup of their house gumbo which is chock-a-bloc full of chicken and sweet...

We are all well on St. Simons Island!  That's the headline after Tropical Storm Beryl failed to land a punch on our beautiful Golden Isles.  Despite the overly excite weatherman from The Weather Channel, which I like to call The Liar's Channel, we had a fairly nice day on Saturday, same for Sunday and then quick periods of rain on Monday followed by sunshine.  Much to do about nothing much if you ask me.  Sadly, many people were convinced by news reports to cancel their plans for the Memorial Day weekend based on what appeared to by erroneous forecasts. Yes we had a few large dead limbs come down, plenty of Spanish Moss about the streets and my neighbors lost their cable for a few hours but being a bright side kind of guy, it was better than the alternative of being whomped by a frothy tropical storm.  And we, Georgia, really needed a good soaking to help with the minor drought we've been experiencing.  So this too shall pass and really it's just the p...

So you’ve seen your dream home listed on the Internet or in your local Real Estate guide.    You might be thinking, “I am interested in buying that house, why don’t I call the Listing Agent to make an offer?” Answer:  because the Listing Agent represents the Seller of the home and that means they only have the Seller’s best interest at heart.   The Seller’s Real Estate Agent is required to act in an honest and fair way with you, however, the Agent's loyalty, without other disclosure, is focused on obtaining the best deal for the Seller!   Using a Buyer's Broker (a separate Real Estate Agent), who has your best interest in mind, may help you shave thousands off a home's purchase price, mortgage or various other costs, and there is no fee to you the home buyer.   Typically, the Buyer’s Agent is paid with proceeds from the sale of the home at closing. When you, the Buyer, sign a contract with a Buyer's Broker, that Broker then works for you, they...