Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Christmas Creek Entrance

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 new to it or would like to try it out, email me and I can give you tips and a diagram to get in and out safely.  It can be dangerous going in and out and many don't take into consideration the wind direction.  Coming out with a high tide and wind blowing from shore to offshore creates nightmare conditions in that shoaling area.


 My Dad's last big redfish from Christmas Creek!



I love checking my 'stats' to see which posts are popular, where people are when they post - shout out to my Uzbekistan readers, and the Google search querries that bring them to my blog.  I saw where my blog came up on a Christmas Creek Entrance search querry.

Christmas Creek is a very popular fishing area that is reached from the ocean side of Cumberland Island.  Anglers say it is named Christmas Creek cause when you go fishing there it's like Christmas time.  There are excellent opportunities to take speckled seatrout, redfish, tripletail, flound and tarpon.  The entrance tends to shift around as the very dangerous shoals that guard the entrance shift.  This year, 2012, the entrance is reach by heading South along Cumberland's shoreline about 100 yards off the beach then making a very hard right hand turn into the creek mouth.  Personally, I prefer to come in about an hour after low tide or 4 hours before high tide.  This way you can see the entrance part much easier than when the tide is higher and only a few inches may be covering the beach. 

Don't get me wrong, more than once I have had to get out of the boat and push it over some very shallow sand just making it in before losing draft on my boat.  Of note, Christmas Creek is a treacherous creek to enter when the wind is blowing from land to the sea.  The wind will cup the waves that are breaking on the shoals making for a harrowing exit from the creek.  Several times I was concerned enough to ask my fishing buddies to don a life jacket.  One especially bad time, my Dad and I came out at sundown on a high tide with an offshore wind.  We both donned life jackets and I attached the marine radio to my Dad's life jacket in case we went in the water.  A few times, my 19 foot center console boat was at about 50 or 60 degree angle and I thought for sure we were going to flip end over end.  My boat, a 2004 Seaboss, handled it very well although I skipped Christmas Creek for a while.

Christmas Creek Redfish

Christmas Creek

Christmas Creek Trout - My Dad and Linda


If you need more information, feel free to email me separately.

Jeff Williams  RealtorRSPS
Resort & Second Home Markets Specialist
Coastal Georgia Real Estate Associates
405 Magnolia Street, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Ofc: 912-638-0006  Fax: 912-580-4130
Direct: 912-270-0032

Coastal Kitchen Restaurant St. Simons Island


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 of the offshore Georgia wrecks, I always stop into Coastal Kitchen for a cold beer to wash the salt out of my mouth.  It really is heaven!
I have a couple of recommendations first being please make a reservation if you are having dinner.  This restaurant is very popular and not having a reservation makes for a very good chance you’ll wait or have to go someplace else.  I have a couple of favorites with tops on the list being George’s Bank Scallops And Local Shrimp.  The shrimp and scallops come seared and served over a Ginger Spiked Butternut Squash with Pistachio Meuniere And Haricot Verts.  All very fancy but just as good! $24.  My second choice would be the Wild Georgia Shrimp And Grits.  Made with Andouille Sausage, Bell Peppers, Smoked Tomato And Bacon Gravy, Vermont White Cheddar Grits which I believe are the best Grits you’ll ever eat! $19.

During my most recent trip over for lunch, I had the Asian Tuna Salad with mixed greens, cashews, red peppers, tomatoes and Thai cilantro vinaigrette $12.  I have to say the Tuna was just ok and the Thai cilantro vinaigrette was a bit overpowering.  I usually go for something like the Blackened Fish Tacos.  Blackened red grouper, black beans, cilantro lime slaw, pineapple salsa which is awesome $12.

Service is usually very good although at times can seem to be a bit slow.  It's at that point you need to remember you are there to enjoy yourself, relax and have a good meal.  McDonalds drive thru is pretty quick if you are short on time.  The restaurant decor is also very nice with linen tablecloth and comfortable seating.  The bar area has a few hightops and eating at the bar is also allowed.  I've often found that eating at the bar affords me an opportunity to meet one of the many liveaboard sailors who stop and frequent Coastal Kitchen while moored at the marina.  Always a nice time talking to these mariners who also crave a bit of chit chat after long days on the ocean.  Most times you'll find the owner, Jeff Montaigne, running about checking on things.  Make sure to say hello, Jeff is a very friendly guy and from what I've seen, loves to stop and chat with patrons too.  A typical bill of a shared appetizer, two entrees, drinks or a bottle of wine and dessert will run about $80 not including the tip.  They have a very nice wine selection and very competent bartenders so go ahead and order that Old Fashioned or Manhattan.  Coastal Kitchen – go for the food and go for the view and you will not be disappointed with either.
Coastal Kitchen is located at the Golden Isles Marina just off the F.J. Torras Causeway to St. Simons Island Georgia.
102 Marina Drive
St Simons Island, GA
31522
Phone: 912.638.7790


The bar area

The view

Thursday night special


Of note, there are very affordable condos available in the Marina with beautiful vista views of St. Simons Sound and the Frederica River area as well as mooring slips available for sale.

Jeff Williams, Realtor
Coastal Georgia Real Estate Associates
912-270-0032

Monday, June 18, 2012

Blackwater Grill Restaurant Review

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 and spicy Andouille sausage and comes in a classic dark roux.  Soup is poured into the cup and on top of a bed of rice so make sure you mix your gumbo up a bit before diving in.  Now my favorite part, the Jambalaya.  I feel though I have to interject here that Blackwater’s Shrimp and Grits are about as delicious as any you’ll find in any Southern restaurant so if Jambalaya is not your thing, you have to try the Shrimp and Grits.  And don’t let the portion size fool you.  Every time I order the S&Gs, I think I’ll have no problem finishing and every time I am wrong!  Back to my Jambalaya.  A plate full of spicy red rice, Andouille sausage and shrimp all jumbled together.  Just a fantastic meal that really gets your taste buds popping.  And yes it’s true, I rarely can finish it all but that’s ok cause it heats up just fine the next day.  From what I understand from the wait staff, the Jambalaya is made in one very large batch from which each order is appropriated from. 
Joining me for dinner, was my lovely and determined dinner companion Mindy also known as my girlfriend.  She ordered the 10 ounce center cut pork chop that is chargrilled and served with a fresh apple glaze.  Her meal was just as good and she raved about the meal too.  With me having an uber spicy meal and Mindy have a pork chop, we decided to go with a Riesling to accompany our dinner and chose one from Columbia Winery.  The sweeter Riesling took the edge off the spicy food just enough but without tampering with the meal’s flavors.

I don’t know how we did it but we went ahead with dessert.  I had noticed a Sourcream Pound Cake topped with strawberries in sauce and powdered sugar down in the dessert section.  When we placed our dinner order, I asked our server to go ahead and take a piece of the Pound Cake out of the refrigerator (my assumption) to bring it up to room temperature for dessert.  It was just right and really really tasty.  We devoured it in what seemed like a few seconds!
The meal was great and exactly what I was hoping to get when we chose Blackwater Grill.  Service was respectable and we didn't seem to be rushed at all as you might expect on a busy weekend night. Our bill was $81 with a $16 gratuity for an appetizer, two entrees, a bottle of wine and dessert. 


I would like to take a moment and advise that as we are now in the tourist season, I have to recommend calling ahead for reservations.  The last time I tried for Blackwater Grill, the wait was 50 minutes and we had to choose another restaurant.  Mindy and I went on a Saturday night at about 6pm and found ourselves waiting at the bar for about 20 minutes for a table.  We also experienced a non-reservation wait at Coastal Kitchen on Sunday night at 5:30pm.  I am reminded that as we live in such a beautiful place, people also want to come and spend their vacations in our beautiful place.  This makes for full restaurants throughout most of the Summer and making a simple phone call for a reservation can save you a lot of trouble later on.  It's just something you'll have to get used to when you live on the beautiful Coast of Georgia.



Blackwater Jambalaya


Blackwater Jambalaya


My Dinner Date Mindy


Columbia Winer Riesling


Blackwater Pork Chop with Grits & Asparagus



Sourcream Pound Cake with stawberries and vanilla ice cream


Dessert didn't last long!


 Blackwater Grill is located at 260 Redfern Village on St. Simons Island, Georgia and you can call them for a reservation at 912-634-6333. 
There is a great little condo complex called Skiff Landing that is right in the Redfern neighborhood.  You can walk to numerous restaurants and a few night spots.  Units in Skif Landing run in the low to mid $100,00's and as of this blog writing, there are three available.  Call me if you would like to live in one of the livliest condo complexes on St. Simons Island Georgia.

Jeff Williams, Realtor
Coastal Georgia Real Estate Associates
Saint Simons Island Georgia
912-270-0032

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

My Alligator Hunt!

We do have alligators in Georgia and each year the Georgia DNR has a lottery for 'gator tags'.  I was lucky enough to win a tag and have an opportunity to go out and take an alligator.  While the hunting part was fun, the eat'n part was much more enjoyable!  Not much was wasted either as I salt curred the hide and sold it to American Tannery located in Macon.  By now that gator is probably in someone's back pocket, holding up their pants or on some lady's shoulder!  Below is a short clip where I describe how I hunted and killed the alligator.





Jeff Williams, Realtor
Coastal Georgia Real Estate Associates
912-270-0032

Monday, June 11, 2012

Osaka Restaurant review.

As it seems that my most viewed blog submissions occur upon the review of local restaurants, I will gladly give a review of Osaka on St. Simons Island.  Inhabiting the same location as a previous less well visited Japanese restaurant, Kobe, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to visit the ‘new’ Japanese restaurant Osaka. 

I found the place to be well decorated in Japanese style and art and fairly well put together.  A Sushi bar and chef were to the left with the chef busily working away.  To the right are booths for ordering off the menu and towards the back of the restaurant are two hibachi cooking areas with the traditional seating in a U shape where patrons watch the food being prepared. 

We were easily seated and within minutes had our drink orders in while we waited for the chef to appear.  The menu features the typical steak, filet,shrimp, chicken and sea scallops.  We started with a small bowl of soup and a salad with ginger dressing.  Mindy and I shared a California roll which was delicious.  I figure a California roll is always a good start to any new Sushi place and theirs was very good.  Their Sushi menu is about the usual size and the prices are a bit better than Fancy Q, our other local sushi place.

After a few minutes, the chef rolled up and entered the cooking area.  Let the show begin!  Mindy and I had our kids, minus Rachel who was on a trip to Wild Adventures in Valdosta. For Ava age 4 and Kennedy age 6, we ordered a small side order of steak.  Hannah and I ordered steak and shrimp while Mindy made due with steak and chicken.  The part where the chef sets the cooking area alight was particularly funny as upon seeing the flames, Ava was already halfway to the parking lot with eyes about as big as silver dollars!   I could hardly stop laughing. 

We all received generous portions of egg fried rice and Mindy opted for noodles too. The steak, chicken and seafood were cooked perfectly and came with another large portion of veggies.  We were all solidly stuffed with excellent food. The place filled up quickly and by the time we left, was full of people eating at the sushi bar, in the booths and at the hibachi tables.  I’m hopeful this is a good sign. 

I was a bit surprised when the bill came as it was over $100 not including the tip but we did have a lot of food, had a good show and were leaving well satisfied. I will probably come back soon for a better look at the sushi selection.  On those days when there is a 45 minute wait to get into Fancy Q, I think Osaka will be an excellent alternative.  They are located in the Winn Dixie Shopping Center on St. Simons Island.









Jeff Williams, Realtor
Coastal Georgia Real Estate Associates
912-270-0032