Coastal Living Chronicles: Insights from a Saint Simons Island Realtor

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 million eggs

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 events.  Na

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 fish listed win a rod and reel combo worth a