More Pics Accomodations: Fifteen charming guestrooms dating back to 1917. Cost: $600 - 675 per night dbl. occupancy; Full House & Exclusive Full Island rates also available Dates: Year round Duration: Open Location: Little St. Simons Island, Georgia Not Included: Transportation to lodge Phone Number: 800-410-1222 ask for Gary or Mike Provided: Lodging, all meals, snacks, beverages, unlimited use of island activities and recreational gear Species: Red fish, Sea trout, Flounder Type: Lodge

Little St. Simons Island, Georgia

Virtually untouched for centuries, Little St. Simons Island is a privately owned 10,000-acre barrier island along the Georgia coast. A rich and varied natural world, its pristine beaches, maritime forests, shimmering marshes and tidal creeks await your exploration.

The owners of Little St. Simons Island have welcomed family and friends since the early 1900s. Today, the tradition continues. We welcome guests to experience a rare combination of complete privacy in an unspoiled wilderness - with the thoughtful service and Southern hospitality of our professional staff.

The Little St. Simons Island ferry boat departs daily from the Hampton River Club Marina on St. Simons Island. We invite you to visit Little St. Simons Island - to experience a rare combination of complete privacy in an unspoiled wilderness - with the thoughtful service and Southern hospitality of our professional staff.

The Fishing:

Little St. Simons Island offers some of the best saltwater fishing to be found on the Georgia Coast. There are many options available for fishing on the Island. Light spinning enthusiasts will find the best fishing by motorboat in the tidal creeks, although many nice fish are taken right off the end of our dock. Those of you who have your sights set on bigger fish will want to surfcast during the summer and fall. The Island also offers opportunities for saltwater and freshwater flyfishing. We stock equipment for all types of fishing. We also have rubber boots available for muddy destinations.

Our most sought after species include Red Drum, or "Redfish", Sea Trout, and Flounder. Other fish you may encounter are Jack, Ladyfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and Tarpon. Georgia's salt water fishing regulations govern the number of fish you can keep and their size as well. There is a 12-inch minimum size for Sea Trout, with a daily limit of 25. Red Drum, or Redfish, must be at least 14 inches but no larger than 27 inches, and the daily limit is 5 fish. If you want to eat the fish you catch, bring it back and we'll prepare it as soon as we are able. We encourage catch and release and suggest that you keep only what you can eat.

Although fishing can be good year round, our most productive time is from late summer through early spring. The extreme tidal range found on the Georgia Coast is the most important factor to consider when planning a fishing trip. As a general rule, fishing is less productive when high tides are running over eight feet. The most extreme tides occur during the spring and fall around the new or full moon. These high tides tend to stir up mud in the marshes, resulting in poor water clarity, which has a negative effect on our fishing.

Although saltwater flyfishing can be done from our motorboats in the same locations as spin fishing, the mouths of Bass and Mosquito Creeks are the most productive locations. Bass Creek should be fished during the latter half of the incoming tide; Mosquito Creek is better around low tide. There are wooden platforms at Bass Creek, but the best approach to Mosquito Creek is to wade or fish from the bank. Most of the fishing is blind casting.

If you have never flyfished but would like to try, we can arrange a lesson or outing with a guide.

The Accommodations:

Our fifteen guestrooms are arranged in five charming cottages and date back to 1917.

The classic Hunting Lodge, built in 1917, is the very heart of Island life where guests gather and share the day's discoveries and adventures. Reminiscent of a Hemingway novel, its living room with brick fireplace, pine bough and antique wicker furnishings, hunting accoutrements and family memorabilia, is a welcome and relaxing step back in time. The Hunting Lodge's two guest bedrooms, each with private baths, are perfect for seniors, the solo traveler, or families with children.

Constructed entirely of cedar, the Cedar House and River Lodge each offer four spacious guestrooms with private baths. Guestrooms open into a shared great room with vaulted ceilings and a grand tabby fireplace, and have private access to a large deck with a spectacular view of the marsh. The houses offer ideal accommodations for groups of up to eight family or friends.

Nestled at the edge of the forest, the Michael Cottage offers the charm of a 1930s bungalow. This private cottage features a comfortable living room with fireplace, two bedrooms and bath, a screened porch, and a private outdoor shower for two. The secluded Michael Cottage is a favorite with honeymooners and families.

The distinctive design and elegance of the Helen House reflects coastal Georgia's rich architectural history with its traditional oyster-shell masonry known as tabby. An elegant reminder of a by-gone era, the Helen House was built in 1928 and features three spacious bedrooms, a large living room filled with interesting memorabilia, a grand fireplace, and a screened porch which overlooks a quiet courtyard and the expansive marshes beyond. Two bedrooms offer working wood-burning fireplaces. The Helen House offers individual accommodations, a two-bedroom suite, or may be reserved exclusively for groups of up to six people.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served family-style in the 1917 Hunting Lodge dining room where guests gather around long oak tables supported by local cedar tree trunks. Breakfast specialties such as Peach Pecan Pancakes, Grits with Tasso Gravy, and homemade Buttermilk Biscuits and Pumpkin Muffins add a regional flavor.

After a day of outdoor recreation, family-style dinners satisfy even the heartiest appetite with bountiful meals. Entrees often highlight local seafood, with house specialties such as Crispy Flounder with Ginger Peach Sauce and Grilled Grouper with Pineapple Mango Salsa. Conversation flows easily as guests discuss the day's adventures and plan outings for tomorrow. Homemade ice creams tickle the palette with Island-inspired flavors such as Key Lime Custard.

Additional activities:

Little St. Simons Island offers a unique chance to observe and learn about the natural history of a pristine barrier island through our interpretive programs. Opportunities for recreation in a wilderness setting are abundant as well. Both guided and independent activities are available.

Activities take full advantage of the natural setting encouraging discovery and exploration by way of guided interpretive programs, boating, canoeing, hiking, biking, birding excursions, angling, saltwater flyfishing, and Summer Fun for Families Programs.

Seven miles of pristine beach provide the perfect location for secluded sunbathing, swimming and beachcombing. The uncrowded beaches mean an abundance of treasures for shell seekers.

Rates:

Accessible only by boat, The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island offers just 30 guests the opportunity to vacation on a 10,000-acre island wilderness with the convenience of INCLUSIVE PRICING. Three bountiful meals each day, all island activities, and all recreational equipment and gear such as boats, kayaks, bicycles, and fishing equipment are included in the rates.

Accommodations may be reserved by the room, cottage or for the ultimate in privacy, as an Exclusive Full Island reservation. Individual nightly rates range from $600 - $675, double occupancy. Full House rates range from $1,150 - $2,500 per night for up to eight guests. Exclusive Full-Island reservations for up to 30 guests range from $7,700 - $8,000 per night.