Jekyll Island Sports & Outdoors

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One of the things that seems to be pretty common along the ICW, and it is true of Jekyll Island also is that when the old draw bridges are removed, the shore ends of the bridges are left in place. This is not only cheaper (because they don't have to pay people to knock them down and haul the debris away), but gives fisherman a ready made 'fishing pier'

Of course there are also party boats that you can fish from.

In addition to the old draw bridge/fishing pier, there is a fishing pier on the north end of the island. I took this picture from a distance because I wondered what it was. There's a better picture if you click on the URL There's also a boat ramp on Jekyll.

Flounder, blue crabs, and trout that can be caught from Jekyll's fishing pier. The island's south end is where you'll find the surf fishing best.

Equipment: A Georgia fishing license is required for freshwater fishing, an option at one of two freshwater lakes on Jekyll.

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Jekyll Island has a golf hidden treasure - 63 holes of challenging but beautiful golf among oceanside dunes and Oleander blossoms. My favorite is the Great Dunes Course which is a 9 hole links course built in the 1890's. It was redone in 1926 by Walter Travis, the leading golf course designer of the time (he also won the 1919 US Open. He was given a blank check by Rockefeller and the wealthy members of the Jekyll Island Club. The course lies just off the beach behind a natural dune barrier. It is still pretty much as it was designed then with a few fairway pot bunkers and the tiniest greens you have ever seen.

I love playing this old course for its historic character, beautiful scenery, unusual layout and challenge to all parts of my game (which is pretty challenged anyway).

In addition there are 3 18 hole courses: Oleander, Indian Mound and Pine Lakes. All are good but challenging. No elevated greens as the island is pretty flat but some narrow fairways.

Equipment: Bring your best "up and down" game for the short course as the tiny greens are difficult to hit and hold.

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I have never stayed here although it is listed in the ICW Southern Guide. It always looked too ramshackle to be attractive. The picture on their website looks a bit like the one I took when we went by last time (2nd picture).

Equipment: Their website says:
Newly renovated Marina
Deep water access 10' at low tide
495 ft. for overnight dockage
New gas & diesel fuel system
All new 30 / 50 amp hook-ups
New docks moved out 80 ft.

When we visited by land in 2007, the marina looked much more attractive. However the only boats that appeared to be docked there were tour boats.

If you're a fisherman, try the pier. It is a great spot to watch the dolphins play and fish. My brother caught a 4 foot Hammer-head last summer. **The water way is a breeding ground for black tipped sharks so you'll catch those too!

AVOID BEACH FISHING - it draws the sharks to the beach and I swim there! Thank you! :)

Equipment: You can rent or buy gear at Maxwell's in the shopping center - and you'll need a Georgia Fishing License. The campground sells fish bait - the best to use is Shrimp or Squid.

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Jekyll Harbor Marina is $1.25/ft plus $4 for 30 amp. They let you have a courtesy car to go to market but the grocery story is pretty puny - almost no fresh veggies. They have an outside pay phone with a data port, but no 110 outlet, so since my laptop battery won't hold a charge I either have to use the dockmaster's phone (when his office is open) or run an extension cord, which gives the restaurant manager a heart attack because he's afraid that one of the old people will trip and sue him. The no-see-ums followed us from Fernandina when we came north in 2002. I haven't had a chance to use the pool.

Equipment: Bob complains that none of the deck hands know how to put a line on a cleat. They just keep wrapping it around, as if that would do it. The docks are all floating face docks, and they often put us on the fuel dock which is almost right under the bridge. Depending on the wind and current, it can be hard to get to.

We come here primarily for the restaurant, which we really like.