Jekyll Island Camp n Paddle – 2026
Join one of the season’s most anticipated coastal weekends at the Jekyll Island Camp n Paddle, a flagship GKF event built around fall inshore fishing and classic Golden Isles scenery. This non‑competitive, weekend‑long gathering blends camping, saltwater kayak fishing, and coastal skill‑building, making it a perfect trip for both first‑time coastal paddlers and experienced inshore anglers looking to fish with the GKF crew.
Jekyll Island offers top‑tier inshore action in the fall, when redfish migrate along the coast and feed aggressively around creeks, sandbars, and structure. Primary target species include redfish, spotted sea trout, flounder, and sheepshead, with GKF members fanning out to locations such as Jekyll Beach, the salt pond, the boneyard/Driftwood area, Clam Creek, and protected inshore marshes. These zones feature a mix of tidal creeks, shell bars, flats, and channels where anglers can sight‑fish shallow reds on the right tides or work edges and drops for trout and flounder.
Throughout the weekend, the focus is on understanding tides, reading marsh structure, and timing launches so anglers can work with the current instead of fighting it. Event leaders and experienced coastal regulars share tips on lure selection for redfish, trout, and flounder, how to approach spots like Clam Creek and Jekyll Creek safely, and strategies for managing wind and current from a kayak. As always with GKF, safety comes first: life jackets are required at all times on the water, and participants are encouraged to carry appropriate coastal safety gear and monitor tide and weather conditions closely.
Running Friday through Sunday, the Camp n Paddle format leaves time for multiple tide cycles, sunrise and sunset sessions, and plenty of campfire camaraderie back at Jekyll Island Campground, a popular base with RV hookups and primitive sites. GKF typically provides Saturday night dinner, creating a relaxed, social evening to swap stories, share reports from different launch spots, and plan the next morning’s tide strategy with fellow anglers. Because of the event’s popularity and limited campsite availability on the island, paddlers planning to attend should book campsites as early as possible and review current Jekyll Island access, parking, and launch rules before arrival.
You may also like the following events from Georgia Kayak Fishing, Inc.:
Also check out other
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Brunswick.
