Captain Judy Helmey
Miss Judy Charters
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!"
124 Palmetto Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31410
912 897 4921 or 912 897 3460 fax
www.missjudycharters.com
November 24, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving To All!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Big Offshore Tackle Sale at
Tybee Bait and Tackle Lazaretto Creek
912 786 7472 Call Capt Ray Golden
raygolden1@comcast.net
Please find at the very end of fishing report two Thanksgiving stories in "Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
Offshore Artificial Reef Fishing
King Mackerel Blitz!
The king mackerel are still here and they are "thick as thieves!" I love that saying, "thick as thieves!" All size kings from snakes, teenagers, and even a few "smokers" can be caught. For those that don't know, snakes are king mackerel up to 12 pounds, teenagers are teen pounds 13 to 19 pounds, and "Smokers" are the big boys.
If you have been reading my reports you already know I love trolling for these fish. My technique of pulling #3 planers and 31/2-inch Drone spoons works well, It offers my customers some serious strong pulls, and catches them lots of fish. This type of fishing is fast with customers being able to stay busy. We let them play a part in the whole ordeal of catching which is letting the lines out, setting the planers, reeling the hooked up fish in, hand lining the leader, slinging the fish in the cooler, netting or gaffing when larger fish are involved, assist in removing the hook, and etc. I think you get the picture of how busy the cockpit of the Miss Judy Too can be with this many fish hooked up at once! The bottom line to this type of fishing for the charter fisherman is that you can get as involved as much as you would like. It's kind of up to you! This bite won't last much longer. So therefore those that want to go now is the time!
More Good News!
For those that don't want to troll there is other type of fish catching opportunities. With the "toothy monsters" (barracuda) gone going light tackle live bait for these fish is always an option. The best news is that you can fight them without the barracuda's trying to eat them. However, I did experience some difficulty with the large kings attacking the smaller ones, but that didn't happen every time when going into the light tackle mode.
You can always tell when the attack of kings on kings is taking place. You landed fish will have skin cuts and pin holes marks. Once looking at the ravaged fish I'm not sure whether these are attack or jealous marks. Whatever the case may be there is certainly a lot of action going on down under!
Light tackle fishing is a lot of fun, because you "strike the fish when it hits!" This boils down to you let it run as long as your think and then you set the hook. The best news is that first run is strong and it feels so good!
Here's a break down of my favorite king mackerel light tackle while using live bait set up. This is a traditional rod and reel combo. For the rod I am using Shakespeare Ugly Stik Custom USCB 1170M 15-30 LB. My reel of choice and always has been is the Shimano Speed master 6:1 super high speed retrieve loaded with 20 pound test monofilament line.
As far as my rig used this is a simple as it gets. I normally use a small lead hook, which also can be called "live bait or Short shank beak hook." Some light tackle fishermen go with a short shank hook with a needle or standard eye. I use what I have. The main goal making this rig is to make sure that you first hook used; "the lead or front hook" doesn't over power your bait. After all it has to swim in most cases to get the fish's attention. However, I have seen the bite where it really didn't matter, but as we fishermen know these situations don't go down very often. I like using an extra strong "J style" 2/0 to 3/0 lead hook. This is the hook that is going to be place in the bait's bottom lip, through the eyes, or through the nose. In some cases, if you want your bait to dive the lead/first hook needs to be placed behind the dorsal fin. This points them in the right direction.
For leader I normally used 20 to 30 pound test single strand wire. I attach swivel to one end or tie a haywire twist. The haywire twist allows you tie the main line directly to the leader without the aid of a swivel. The only thing that a haywire doesn't do that a swivel can is spin around and around. For those that are live lining will drifting this "non used swivel design" will work just find. However, if moving about is on your mind I suggest going with some sort of small in-line swivel. These work great in not allowing your leader as well as your main line twist. And the fish can't see the swivel. So therefore you don't drawn "a would be bite/hit" away from you bait.
We have the main hook or the lead/front hook in place now you need to add the "stinger hook." Believe it or not, but this is the hook that can seal the deal! The distance decided between the lead hook and stinger hook needs to determine by length of bait use. For instance: When using cigar minnow I suggest only have a few inches between the lead hook and stinger. However, if big baits such as pin fish, menhaden, mullet, blue runners, and their likes are being used you are going to have to lengthen that space between lead hook and stinger. (go with more than a two hook design set up)
Tandem Type Rigs
I guess I need to get this out of the way. If you are using long bait such as a "Ribbon Fish" then you need to go with a "tandem type rig," which is where you have more than two hooks involved. Longer baits require more hook coverage or you might fishing yourself fishing with bait's head and mid section only, meaning, "Tail is gone!" The bottom line to this suggestion is bait dictates the length and size of hooks use. Please remember small hooks and light leader have always caught big fish. The reason being big fish aren't stupid and are very cautious.
I know I needed to remind you of this ….when you catch a king mackerel while trolling with 31/2 inch spoon and sling the fish in the cooler here's a suggestion. Make sure that you slack the leader to the fish while it flipping and flopping about. If you wait a few extra seconds the fish will flounder around enough and throw the spoon right out of its mouth. Our customers look at us a little crazy when we tell them this. However, when they see how it works I watch them making sure the leader is slack so that the king will sling the hook, which means we don't waste time handling the fish. "No Mess here!" Now I'm not going to say, "this is happen every time, but more than not!"