CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
'Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956'
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921 912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
Captain Judy's email fishjudy2@aol.com
Captain Judy's Cell 912 429 7671
January 5, 2009
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Part Two
Captain Jack McGowan's Inshore report!
January 2, 2009
Hard to believe 2009 is already here! The weather has been a seesawing: cold fronts followed by unseasonably mild weather. However, on the whole this is not all bad. Mild temperatures mean no fish kills and bait, shrimp, is available (at Adams). The bite in recent days has been primarily in the sounds, beachfronts creeks and sloughs. Storms that crossed northern Georgia dumped large amounts of rain, which in turn flowed to the coast. The Savannah River system normally offers a strong winter fishery is off while rainwater dissipates. Fishing will heat up in the Savannah River system as salinity rises. For now the best fishing has been in near the sounds. Inshore sheepshead and black drum bite is still on! Many fishermen have said and are saying this appears to be one of the strongest years for black drum. When the sea trout and redfish bite is slow sheepshead and black drum can provide plenty of bites and some quality fish!
Despite challenging conditions during winter it is possible to catch some nice fish! One fisherman today reported catching lots of redfish and sea trout. These fish can be waded up! A big catch one day can produce little or nothing the next. The best fishing has been towards the sounds. Those trolling plastics are doing well in the intra coastal. Nonetheless, fishing is fishing; one fisherman said he caught twenty nice sea trout while his fishing companion caught only two. That's just the peculiarity of any given day. The short of this report is there are good fish to be found! Even fishing an ideal drop on an ideal tide could produce a bunch or a bust.
When sea trout and redfish can't be located fishing for sheepshead and black drum is an alternative that can likely provide lots of bites as well as quality fish. When fishing for sheepshead around heavy structure a drop shot can work well. Likely hot spots for sheepshead are close to rocks, fallen trees, docks, and bridge pilings. Check your bait often. This is not the type of fishing where your bait will have to soak for half an hour. Typically the bite is within a matter of seconds.
During the winter one day can perfectly suited for pitching artificial or a fly on the flats for redfish. While another day could provide a good sea trout bite. Yet another day is more aptly suited for sheepshead and black drum. The sounds are filling with mergansers, a migratory sea duck. Cormorants can be seen swimming in the rivers in search of baitfish. Egrets can be seen standing along marshy bank waiting for an unsuspecting minnow. Porpoises are in search of red drum; the main stay of their wintertime diet. There are fewer boats are on the water. Most are fishing for sheepshead. Some are just taking winter jaunt. Winter fishing while mercurial can still fun and rewarding! Anticipate the best bite on mild sunny days.
Hope this of help! Hope to see you out there! Be sure to catch at least one of Miss Judy's two Inshore Seminars this winter! We are looking forward to teaching the classes! Good Fishing! Captain Jack McGowan
Inshore Reports
The inshore bite has been 'Hot and Cold!' The reason being is that fish aren't sure just like us fishermen what's going on! Once day it will be cold and the next it will be warm. I don't know about you, but just dressing in the morning has been a trek. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it's definitely has to take a toll on those down under.
This wintertime warming trends prompts lots of good fish bites. Spotted seat trout and red fish are certainly easier to deal with in the hooking up program. Even though the water temperatures are still on the cool side just reel setting instead of actual hard setting of the hook is preferred. Artificial scented jerk baits, screw tails and paddle tail types are prefect baits to use, because 'real time' competition baits aren't around to confuse the issue. This all boils down to the fact if it looks and acts real it's a sealed biting deal!
Mud Minnows
While the bait shops are still carrying live shrimp I suggest using them. However, the best cold water bait is one that's use to just that. The mud minnow is great live bait. It can be retrieved over and over again surviving the 'goings and comings!' I like having both live shrimp and mud minnows when I 'go fish,' because you just never know which bait is going to work when!