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
October 22, 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)
Offshore Report
Cat Buoy and All artificial reefs located in less than 50 feet of water!
Jackie Sommers along with Frances Pawloski took a rough ride to the CAT buoy this past week. Their plans were to go out a little further, but high wind and rough sea conditions prevailed keeping them closer to shore. They decided to fish the closest artificial reef, which was the CAT buoy. This reef is located in about 35 to 45 feet of water and can offer up some real interesting "fish catching possibilities!"
This artificial reef is made up mostly of what I called "low relief additions." These concrete additions hold the interest of many types of fish from bottom to the top water species. The good news about this time of the year is that when fish are migrating their instincts lead them to these so called "refueling stations." According to the report there was plenty of "bird action" along with some surface baits. As you all know where you have bait and birds you have some sort of "feeding taking place down under!"
Jackie and Frances executed a trolling event, which turned into a catching affair. After a few passes through what looked like "little tunny" it was confirmed with a couple of solid hook ups. When they decreased the engine's RPM's to fight the hooked fish Atlantic sharp nose sharks moved in and devoured all baits that were left in the water. They ended up with a little tunny and a serious shark bite.
Although this wasn't the fish that they were targeting there was plenty of "rod bending action" to be had! The bottom line to this report even though they couldn't make it to the area intended they made the best out of what they had to deal with. I have to say, "If you have fished this area very long, you probably already know that!"
Here are a few suggestions for fishing the artificial reefs especially during this time frame. The first thing you have to realize is that there are all kinds of "catch opportunities" in regards to these spots. The first thing that I would do is to "pull the area first!" It doesn't matter whether you prefer "downriggers or planers as your means of getting bait deep, because both methods with work. Since I am from the "old school" I am a serious planer fisherman. It's not that you can't teach this old dog new tricks, it's just I prefer to use what works for me!
My rig pulled is simple. I am using a #3 planer, 90 pound snap swivel attached on backside, 15 feet of 20 pound test monofilament leader tied to swivel, and then I tie my OO-RMBS 2"2/0 hook or O-RMBS 2 1/2 2/0 hook Clark spoon directly onto the leader. I don't use any sort of wire leader, because this restricts "movement needed" in regards to the spoon. The secret to this spoon is that the inventor has the imitation fish like movement needed down, but it has to be able to work to deliver. Wire isn't as flexible as monofilament. You will lose more spoons using monofilament than you do with wire. The good news is that you get more attention from the fish with monofilament leader meaning "more chances at a hook up!"
To my trolling spread I always add some sort of surface pulled bait. This can be any type of surface pulled lure. My favorite is a Clark spoon pulled 10 feet behind a 2-ounce trout type sinker. The leader size used is most always standard 20-pound test unless I am experiencing a lot of "spoon lost age!" When this occurs it normally means you are dealing with much larger fish. I then increase the leader size to about 30 pound test. Sometimes I will switch to fluorocarbon leader material using 20 to 40 pound test. Switching over to fluorocarbon allows you more pound test with less size diameter.
I have another favorite and that's the "old Cajun Thunder with a spoon in tow!" For those that don't know these floats aren't just used for trout fishing. When these floats first came out it was suggested on the package how to set them up. This boiled down to adding a length of leader, suggesting not more than 4 feet, and then tying on your hook or lure. One day when fishing inshore while moving from one spot to another, I forget to pull my line in, and I got a hit. This set the old fish catching wheel into motion! From this moment on, "Clark spoons being pulled behind a Cajun Thunder became very popular."
While I am pulling the artificial area I am keeping one eye on the fish finder making notes of any large build up of bottom fish or bait. Some of the largest Spanish mackerel that I have ever caught was done so at this time of the year using this method. Large Spanish mackerel, even though you can't see them on the surface, feed off of the minnows that find the low relief structure places to school up. My next suggestion is to always bring a dip net to the catching event, because you are going to need one!
There are other fish that find these areas a "target rich environment!" Summer trout and spotted sea trout love to school up in these areas at this time. It's not unusual to catch a couple dozen of these fish when bottom fishing while using plain old squid as bait. Another fish to add to the list is the "flounder," which makes a great showing during this time. The best bait to use to get this fish's attention is going to be a small live fish such as a sand perch or mud minnows. In other words, "match the hatch!"