2023 Georgia Kayak Fishing Schedule of Events
Here we go!
The 2023 GKF Schedule of events has been released!
If you have any questions about our events, please reach out to one of the GKF Board Members. You can contact us on the GKF Contact Page, or by reaching out on our Facebook Page.
Below is a quick summary of our 2023 schedule of events;
February 19, 2023 - GKF Annual Meet n Online Meet n Greet
GKF will be hosting the Meet n Great on Facebook Rooms again this year. Why? Georgia is a big state, and we host events in all corners of the State. Anyone can attend GKF Events. Not everyone can drive several hours for an in person club meeting/hang out. It's just not practical for everyone. So an online event gives everyone interested in GKF to log in, say hi, and ask questions about this years schedule of events. If you have a smart phone with the Facebook Messenger App, you can attend!
How to attend GKF Online Events -
1. Make sure you have the Facebook App and Messenger App downloaded and updated.
2. Join the GKF Community Group Page on Facebook
3. From the group page, click on the Facebook Rooms Event (at the time of the event) and you're IN!
March 10th through 12th, 2023 - Ocmulgee PFA Camp n Paddle
This is a weekend long kayak fishing and camping trip in the Ocmulgee PFA. "PFA" stands for Public Fishing Area. And there are many of these around the State of Georgia. These are great locations for outdoor opportunities such as fishing, camping, hunting, kayaking... etc. In the case of the Ocmulgee PFA, it is located inside the Ocmulgee WMA. So we will car camp at the WMA, and drive into the PFA to fish for the day. Participants can come and go as they please.
Ocmulgee PFA offers a 106-acre lake that is intensively managed to provide the optimum environment for anglers to catch a trophy largemouth bass. Whether you're fishing from the bank or from a boat, the lake provides an abundance of largemouth bass, bluegill, white crappie, and redear sunfish. There are also some yellow bullheads present for anglers to catch.
March is spawning season for many sunfish species like bluegill, crappie and bass. So the strategy for this kayak fishing event is to target pre and post spawn bass. For a state provided guide to catching fish on the Ocmulgee, Click Here.
We are primitive car camping at the Ocmulgee WMA Camping Area. This location is a few minutes drive from the lake. Most will be camping in a tent or a hammock. GKF will be covering Saturday Night's Dinner. All other meals are on you.
This is a GKF Event. Register with GKF HERE.
April 21st through 23rd, 2023, Okefenokee Camp n Paddle
Back by popular demand, is the Okefenokee Swamp Camp n Paddle. This club favorite, is a weekend long camping and kayak fishing adventure in Georgia's Great Wetland. We use the Traders Hill Camping Area for camping accommodations. This camping area is privately managed, and can accommodate primitive or RV campers.
Okefenokee Adventures is the location that we use to access the swamp. There is ample parking and a boat ramp at this location. This is a Pay to Park location. As many parks are these days. However the facility is staffed, there's a gift shop, bathrooms and easy water access.
While there are bass in the Okefenokee Swamp, the most common species of fish caught on this trip are Bowfin and Chain Pickerel. Other species that can be caught are crappie, bream and catfish. The water is a stained "tea" cooler. Some call it "black water." This is a unique fishing location in the state of Georgia and there aren't any others like it.
YOU WILL KAYAK WITH ALLIGATORS ON THIS TRIP.
Gators are everywhere in the Okefenokee Swamp. You will see them and they will always be present. We do not bother them, they don't bother us. All park rules are encouraged by GKF. We'll go through a quick walkthrough on these rules before pushing off the ramp.
Georgia Kayak Fishing will be providing Saturday Nights Dinner at Traders Hill Campground. You will need to bring your food and drink for other meals.
GKF Partner, Georgia River Network, is working to save the Okefenokee Swamp from mining. This was our 2022 Charitable Donation Recipient. As we at GKF feel that it's important to protect Georgia's Great Wetland. If you'd like to help, here are the details on the GRN Protect the Oke Program.
This is a GKF Event. Register with GKF HERE.
May 20th, 2023 - GRN Flint River Adventure
On this event, GKF is Partnering with GRN for this EPIC single day adventure on the Flint River. This is a 13 mile single day float on the Flint River in Middle Georgia. This river trip will consist mostly of flat water, with two low classed rapids. River bass is on the hit list for this event. Some of the best Shoal Bass Fishing in the state of Georgia is on the Flint River.
For more information on this day trip, visit the Georgia River Network Website HERE.
To register for this event, you will need to Register with Georgia River Network.
GKF is not handling registration for this event.
June 3rd, 2023 - The Hooch Kayak Trout Fishing Adventure
By June is starting to get hot in the state of Georgia. That's why we chose the Buford Dam Tailwater for this cool kayak fishing adventure. There are FEW places in the state of Georgia where you can kayak fish for trout. The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is somewhat of an anomaly; the water comes out of the bottom of Lake Lanier and is very cold. Trout THRIVE in these cold water conditions from season to season and grow to enormous size in the Hooch.
For this kayak fishing adventure, we'll launch in the Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam, and float down to Settles Bridge. This is a 4 hour trip (give or take depending on the water flow and how slow we fish). The target species of fish for this trip is Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout.
This is a GKF Event. Register with GKF HERE.
August 13th, 2023 - GRN Chestatee River Adventure
This short 5-mile journey takes in one of the most popular river runs in North Georgia, exploring the historic Chestatee River just south of the Gold Rush town of Dahlonega. Plan a day or a weekend in the Georgia mountains around this three-to-four hour Sunday morning paddle. With its headwaters along the flanks of Blood Mountain in Dicks Creek and Frogtown Creek, the Chestatee flows through the heart of North Georgia’s Gold Rush country where during the 1830s, thousands of settlers moved into the area seeking their fortune. Many worked from flatboats on the Chestatee River where they dredged the river bottom in search of the precious metal; others developed even more elaborate systems–including a diving bell that was employed for a short period on the river in the 1870s. The trip is mostly flatwater with some Class I shoals and flows through a mostly wooded and undeveloped riverfront. The trip is suitable for beginning and novice paddlers. Kayak rentals are available. Registration begins March
For more information on this day trip, visit the Georgia River Network Website HERE
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE NOW!
October 6th - 8th, 2023 - Jekyll Island Camp n Paddle
The GKF Jekyll Island Camp n Paddle is a staple in the GKF schedule from year to year. Because if it's popularity, this is often the biggest GKF event of the season. In the fall off the coast of Jekyll Island, there is a redfish migration. Redfish are migrating from the Atlantic Coast of the US, to the warm southern waters off of Georgia and Florida for the winter. Many of these migrating redfish are mature fish, several years old and of breeding age. They are often referred to by anglers as "Bull Redfish," "Bull Reds" or simply "Bulls." Bull Redfish can be massive, tipping the scales to 20lbs or heavier. These fish will pull you and your kayak all over the ocean. It's an exciting adventure for sure.
For camping accommodations, we typically stay at the Jekyll Island Campground. This is a privately owned campsite that is popular with RVs. There are power and water spots, and there are primitive campsites. If you plan to attend this event, BOOK YOUR CAMPSITE ASAP. Campsites can fill up fast. And if you wait until July or August to book, there is no guarantee that a campsite will be available. In the event that campsites are full, club members have booked other lodging options like beach houses or hotel rooms. While a more expensive options, it's still an option.
Fishing in Jekyll Island is top notch in the fall! There are several places around the island that we target for fishing; Jekyll Beach, the salt pond, the bone yard, clam creek and Jekyll inshore. While the primary target species is redfish, club members also target trout, flounder and sheepshead. GKF Club Members tend to chose their fishing locations and set out for the day in groups. So if you've never fished these locations before, you can tag along with other club members.
GKF will be providing Saturday Night Dinner. All other meals are on you.
This is a GKF Event. Register with GKF HERE.
November 3rd through 5th, 2023 - McDuffie PFA Camp n Paddle
McDuffie PFA is a pond hope kayak bass fishing trip. There are several lakes at McDuffie PFA and you can choose to fish any of the lakes that are open at the time. These lakes are managed for largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. So if you're looking for a trophy largemouth bass, this event is for you.
McDuffie PFA has a camping area that is suitable for both RVs and primitive camping. There is a covered gazebo with a grill, for telling fish stories and preparing meals. Be sure to reserve your campsite well in advance.
This is a GKF Event. Register with GKF HERE.
This is the schedule of events for Georgia Kayak Fishing for the season of 2023. If you have any questions, please reach out to us here or on Facebook.
*Events can be cancelled at any time due to weather or other complications. All registrations are refunded when this occurs.
*Pop Up Events can be added in season in the form of Day Trips. Registration requirements and conditions may vary.