Miss Judy Charters
Captain Judy Helmey
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!"
124 Palmetto Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31410
912 897 4921 or 912 897 3460 fax
www.missjudycharters.com
July 30, 2007
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Which includes:
Inshore report, Offshore Report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!" (Story)
Blue Water Suggestions
Deep Water Bottom Fishing!
If you happen to read the fishing magazines you already know that this has become the new fishing "RAGE!" However, we over here at Miss Judy Charters have been doing this style of fishing for many years. We didn't call it "deep dropping," we called it "some serious catching!" When I first started trolling the blue waters of the Gulf Stream I always had certain schemes in the back of my mind. I loved trolling, because it normally meant, "big fish catching" for sure. However, being a true bottom fisherman I have to admit my patience's almost always wore thin when it came to fish catching action especially in the trolling department. Believe me, I spent many a day dragging lines, before I decided to put each trolling day on notice. If I had customers that wanted to target top water fish, but would change-up if the bite were slack I basically loved it! The reason being is the fact that I had options especially when the customers thought this way!
So therefore when it came to blue water fishing I put myself in the catch fish first then moved on to something else mode and quick! This is basically when I found out that the bottom fishing was great in 150 to 220 feet of water. The fact of the matter is I kept a fish identification book out so that I could identify some of the fish that we had never seen before. You really never knew what you might catch. Not only that, but also catching and landing had several different meanings. Lots of times it wasn't about you being able to physically land your catch, but more about what might eat it right in front of your eyes. I called these fish that basically came from no-where "monsters of the deep!"
When doing the big bottom drop you never caught a small fish and believe me I can back up that last statement. Let say, "you did hook up small fish." Before you could get this fish to the surface something bigger normally ate it getting hooked up. The brought to the light "all hooked fish have a potential bait status!"
Bait or Not!
Dropped in artificial lures also worked great! It's a known fact that if you drop any sort of bait offering into a concentrated school of fish "something is going to happen!" When one fish thinks about eating the others in the school know immediately. All fish get involved meaning "stupid is as stupid does!" This plan of attack is not about what you are using for bait, but where you drop it. Jealous feeding promotes fish attacks even when they are the least bit hungry! It's all about "eating before their comrades do!"
When going with artificial bait only I am using a special set up. I suggest using 80 pound test braided line, 20 feet of fluorocarbon leader, and then tying on my lure. I have been using with great results "butterfly jigs!" I really can't say enough about these lures! They work, so therefore you should purchase, and use them especially during this fishing mode.
Back in the old days we used nylon line known as "squiding line." It was big, but strong and basically all we had. The fact of the matter is we used "squiding line" for our throw buoys and for re-attaching eyes that broke off our rods. It had multi-purposes.
Believe me when monofilament came out I was happy to see it. It was smaller in diameter, flexible and somewhat invisible to the fish. I really never looked back to nylon line as something to load on to my reels. However, as a smaller and due to what my father told me I had some reservations about monofilament line. This was due to the fact that Daddy told me that it was made from "cat gut!" At first I was shocked and didn't want look much less touch it. As time passed I had to work this over in my mind kind of like "down feathers!" According to my father, "down feathers were carefully collected from each bird." Then they were allowed to basically grow another coat of feathers. In my mind I assumed some sort of over coat was involved so as to keep the birds warm. According to my father, a child's mind shouldn't be wasted. So therefore he always had lots to offer up in the storytelling department. My father certainly did keep things interesting with all of his stories, which were always a quest in the deciding "real or not department!" Once again I need to apologize for getting out there, but it seems I had to do it!
Braided Line
When all of these new styles of braided line showed up on the market it basically looked like what we used in the old days, which was "squiding line." However, the new style braided line was smaller in diameter carrying a larger pound test and it cut through the water taking what you tied on the end at great attraction speeds. Not only that, but no matter what lure you used this line allowed it to "work to it's full potential!"
Many years ago I had six serious fresh water fishermen charter my boat for a day of big bottom fishing at the Gulf Stream. When they arrived they all had small rod/reel outfits in their hands. Their reels were loaded with what looked like our old style "squiding line." However, after a bit of observing I knew it was much difference in this line. I provided the freshwater fishermen with terminal gear and bait. As I was doing this I was shaking my head, but only in thought.
Well, this stage of shaking my head certainly didn't last long, because as soon as their rigs hit the bottom "tight lines" were had by all! Bringing to light the saying, "it's hard teaching an old dog new tricks!" However, it did and can happen!
Big Bottom Fish Opportunity Fishing Trip!
The bottom line to this bottom fishing report is a simple one! If you want to go "big and deep fishing," we are the company to call. These 14 and 16 hours offshore trips are not for those fishermen that want a "short ride to the fish!" It's more for the fishermen that don't mind the ride or spending this many hours on a boat. The bottom line to this fishing trip is "if you go, it a long ride, but once you arrive riding will be the last thing on your mind!" It's "fish catching opportunity of a lifetime!"
While bottom fishing our captain will put out what is normally called a "flat line" at the snapper banks. They hang it from the outrigger allowing the bait of choice to move up and down as natural as possible in the water column. It's a known fact that the bigger the fish bowl the bigger the fish is allowed to grow. With that being said, "the top water fish caught in this area, such as Wahoo, dolphin, and tuna, can be well over 50 pounds. The biggest Wahoo I have caught while bottom fishing and drifting bait has been 110 pounds. Believe me it took a while to land it! Come on down and give this type of fishing a try!