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
http://www.missjudycharters.com/
February 19, 2007
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Freshies Report!
"Crappy Happy" Part Two
In last week's report we talked about small creek minnows being the best bait and float rig types doing the best job of delivering it. I also suggested fishing at night, because especially during this time frame these fish are "night owls" for sure.
When using small creek minnows for bait there are several methods in which to hook them up. When using the standard float as the method I suggest hooking your minnow up through the bottom of the lip out the top of the head or placing it through the top eye sockets. Both hook placements work. They allow your bait to swim more naturally. Here's a little inside information for those that just want to target a larger crappy. Live shiners are great bait when targeting a larger fish. However, as with anything else there is a down side to this suggestion. Firstly, shiners are not as hardy as the creek minnows, meaning they harder to keep lively. Secondly, when you start targeting a particular size fish you "down size your catching opportunity!" More to come!
Captain Jack McGowan Talks about "Fishing Cold Water!"
The last couple of weeks have been cold and winter like with not much fishing going on. Once the sun reappeared fishermen ventured out to find surface water temperatures from 47 to 50 degrees. That's pretty cold! Despite low temperatures, you can catch fish in cold water!
A couple of winter patterns Miss Judy and I spoke about (during her inshore school) were fishing up river and along mud flats. Both patterns can be effective! Those preferring to fish bait can find success fishing a mud minnow under a small float or live lining. Generally the smaller the float designs the better. When fishing a rattle float in clear calm water during the winter it's best to let the bait do the work, make little or no noise with your float. Jerk baits can be effective as well as a variety of small plastics. Lengthening and lighting your leader can be a plus in winter fishing. Cold temperatures impact the sea trout bite more than the reds.
Nonetheless, some fishermen caught sea trout (last week) in 47-degree water. If the sea trout bite is slow switch to redfish or stripers. Even though conditions are cold redfish can be found schooling and hungry!
Always go light on your catch of redfish. This week there have been good
catches in sounds as well as upriver. With redfish sometimes when you catch one the others in the school will literally turn on. When this happens these fish loose wariness and fishing is nothing more than popping bait out. Working an artificial can be a little trickier. A big red can literally pull a moving boat into the path of other fish blowing any chance for multi hook ups. In general fishing for reds has been good!
Sea trout action has been slow.
Captain Jack and Captain "Wild Bill Leaves No stone unturned!
Meet "Big Red!"
After catching some nice reds on plastics Capt. "Wild Bill" Jarrell and I were exploring a small creek. We saw a fish pushing awake that from the size could have easily have been a porpoise. The wake was well out of casting range. We were pitching plastic working down the bank. The fish sensed the disturbance caused by the plastic and swam from across the creek, zeroing in on the plastic following it all the way to boat. No doubt a large red (perhaps 20 pounds)! The big red inspected the plastic and mulled around it, allowing time to make another soft pitch, and then the fish was gone. What happened! As we worked the boat back up the creek we noticed a fish gasping for air along the bank. I thought it was likely a catfish because it looked so fat. Bill thought it was a trout. We preceded another 100 feet or so. Bill said we need to check out that fish, "leave no stone unturned" were his words. My expectation wasn't very high seeing a dying catfish. As we got to the fish we found out that it was a pretty large mullet, maybe a pound and half. The mullet's head had been crushed; blood was seeping from its gills. We concluded the big red was looking for his lost meal. Our plastics caught his attention but the large redfish had a bigger meal in mind! What was amazing was how acute the big red senses were. Bill pitched the mullet in open water maybe the big red would return and reclaim his feast. Both Bill and I agreed and this fish has likely broken more than a few lines and hearts.
Maybe we'll see big red another day! Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan
Bobby Stevens "Business Man/Catching Man!"
Bobby Stevens, "Critz" Buick GMC fishes with our charter boat company at least once a year. He takes those customers that want to have a unique offshore experience out for a day of "rod bending action!" However, for those friends that want a unique inshore experience he personally takes them himself! Bobby is young, but is from a family with old time fishing ways! His inshore knowledge "shows in continuous hookup patterns" especially when it comes to fishing his old stomping grounds! This area that he fishes is mostly to the south of the Savannah Yacht Club. Most "old time spots" that he fishes are found in the intercostals waterways and those creeks that feed off of it.
Bobby has been having an amazing "spotted sea trout catching year!" Once the water temperatures reached the middle to low fifties he changed up his fishing gear and went deep! His favorite lure is the D.O.A ¼ ounce shrimp pattern. The color that he uses the most is off-white with silver glitter. His favorite tide to fish is two hours into the out going till about two hours into the incoming tide. His favorite spots are those that offer up holes that happen in the middle of "no where." With that being said, "I had best explain since I'm the one that came up with it!" As I listened to his report I realized that Bobby had truly found some very interesting spots! It seems that the areas that he is fishing especially during the cold times are "holes that just happened!" These are areas that we call when fishing offshore "fishing cities!" They are holes that you happen across when moving from spot to spot. That's why I am always telling you to watch the "old fish finder" for any type of breaks or drop offs! My definition of what Bobby is fishing is exactly that. Spots that are in the middle of "no where," which means unnoticeable by most. Here's how you find them: As you are motoring around keep an eye on your fish finder. Any quick depth changes should be thoroughly researched. The reason being is that you are looking for sides to these spots. All holes have sides are they can't be labeled as such! Areas or holes such as this provide a place for spotted sea trout to "semi-bury themselves in the bed/bottom of the hole." This provides them with protection; the same approximate water temperature throughout the ordeal, and occasionally push a meal or two their way.
Normally when finding such a situation the rule of them especially when targeting trout is pitch too and retrieve slow. If you get a hit, but miss it, we normally suggest retrieve slower so as to give the fish time to eat you bait. However, according to Bobby "slow is a NO, and fast is a GO!" When fishing this scenario such as this now you know that you have options! I suggest bring extra "D.O.A lures!" Bobby thanks for sharing this great report! Please keep them coming! Captain Judy
Captain Eric Traub's 2007 Valentine's Day Fishing Story
Yesterday I had yet another fishing lesson, this one administered by seven hungry bottlenose dolphins and a school of around fifty 5-6 lb. reds. As you know, yesterday was scary windy, with west winds hitting 30 knots. I had promised to take Rachel fishing for Valentine\'s Day, though, and she wanted to go in spite of the wind. A few weeks ago, I had seen a nice school of reds at low tide, on a shore that would be a little protected from the wind, although not entirely. The ride over would be pretty hairy, I knew, but once there we would be able to fish. Anyway, the short version is that we made it to the spot and fished for an hour without seeing anything, but a couple of world record mullet. I was up on the poling platform and the water was clear, except for when the wind would gust over the surface. We were at a creek mouth for the second time, still not seeing anything, when the dolphins first appeared; they were coming out of the very shallow creek. Their backs were out of the water as they cruised the shallows, and they made a wake that had to be two feet high. We were on the other shore from them about fifty feet away, in water too shallow for them to travel. When their wake hit our side that when a nice school of reds got up right in front of us. The dolphins\' wake had spooked the school. After a few seconds, the reds sat down and became invisible again. Never saw them again. We were all around that big school of big fish and never saw them until they got nervous and gave themselves away. Pretty darn stealthy, huh? If the dolphin hadn\'t come by, I would\'ve thought there weren\'t any fish there, even though we were apparently on top of them in pretty clear water... By the way, we lucked into four 17-18\" skinny trout and one 20\" red... All fish were caught in about 2 feet of water. One trout and the red fish gladly hit mud minnow presented with a float. The other trout hit "bass assassins! Fishing is Fun! Captain Eric!
Miss Judy Charters is now offering "Fly Fishing Lessons from the land or a boat!"
Miss Judy Charters "Fly Fishing Lessons Only"
$150.00
Two Hours
For up to two fly fishermen
Lessons offered are done from Miss Judy Charter's location. This is not a "fish catching opportunity event." It's a learning/teaching event! For those fishermen that prefer lessons from the boat, please go to the page that refers to "Fly-fishing Boat Trips"
All lessons are for parties up to two fishermen unless other arrangements are made. We do offer lessons for larger groups. Please call Miss Judy Charters for information. 912 897 4921 or 912 897 2478. For fly-fishing from a boat, please give us a call for details!
On Land Fly Fishing Lessons Information
Lessons are strictly for those that want the opportunity to learn the following in regards to fly-fishing: Introduction: What to expect, why fly-fish? Introduction to gear: Rods, reels, lines, leaders, flies, and knots Introduction to casting Skills: Rod, grip, stopping and starting, timing, picking up line, false casting, and presentation Hands on Casting:
Getting the feel of the rod, line pick up, understanding the left and right hand skills, false casting, understanding timing, practicing presentation, and where to go from here. The fishermen taking this course decides the "degree," in which it\'s taught Thanks, Captain Judy
Captain Judy's Surplus Tackle "Sale!"
I have quite a bite of leftover tackle that I would like to sell. The tackle consists of grapnels anchors for both up to 23 foot ($53.00 unrigged $85 rigged) and over 24 feet plus ($65.00 unrigged and $95.00 rigged) size boats. (They are pre-rigged with 100-foot anchor ropes and ready to go. I can just ship anchors unrigged. I have several different size double hook bottom rigs ranging from 20, 50, and 80 pound test. ($2.00 each) All you have to add is water, sinker, and fish. I have numerous different size pre-rigged shark rigs that would work for large shark from 5 feet to up to 10 feet long. ($5.00 to $9.00 each) Our largest shark caught last year weight in at around 400 pounds and was about 11 feet long. I have also had custom-made mackerel bug lures, which work quite well when trolling for both Spanish and kings. ($2.00 Each) They come in Junior and Senior sizes. These lures are pre-rigged with leader wire and come with complete instructions for proper usage. I have also a tarpon/large bottom fish rigs in stock. ($2.00 each) My old-time two-hook flounder bottom rig has made a hit with the fish as well as the fisherman still in stock. ($2.00 each) I have a few 360 degree rig left going for $2.00 each. I have my old time Cobia jig for $2.00 each. Spanish Mackerel top water trolling rigs $5.00 each. I have a few spec rigs, which I use inshore bottom fishing for whiting and sea trout. Believe it or not, but the spec's also work for vermilion snapper offshore for $2.00 each. My "tooth pick rig," which is a wonder in itself is $1.00 each. All lures come with instructions on how to use them so as to get the best biting results. For those that want a detailed list of these lures I will be happy to mail it to you. Thanks, Captain Judy
Getting Inside A Black fish's Mind!
There is a lot to be said about this time of the year in regards to "a fish bite!" As you all know there is a lot going in the "black fish catching department!' These fish especially with schooled up will hit just about anything that you throw at them from the old bait department. For those of you that don't want to mess with bait here's a suggestion: Black fish love cut squid as well as cut pieces of fillet of fish. With that being said, "I'm always suggesting that you try to match baits to what any particular fish is eating/hitting." In this case it's squid, which is high up on the black fish's food chart. With that being said, "take a good look at a piece of squid." It's not hard to make a correct assumption that it's just a chunk of cut bait with absolutely not a thing to offer, but maybe a little smell factor. However, I'm not sure if it's the smell or the color that they are after. The reason that I made that last statement is that the black fish hits the bait so fast especially when group feeding there probably wasn't time for any sort of smelling. It's a known fact that black sea bass are especially jealous of one another's food. The fact of the matter is and I have seen this first hand, their jealousy rage! I have seen black fish actually dropping what it hadn't already swallowed and charge its feeding counter part. I call this act not "road rage," but whether "bait rage!"
With us ascertaining that a black fish just might hit anything especially if it's something in another fish's mouth I suggest considering using something off the wall. This has worked many times especially in the old days! My suggestion is to go with a jig head, which you have hooked on a strip of white cloth. A strip taken from the tail of your white t-shirt comes to mind first!
Let's talk about rigging up this style of bait. My first suggestion is to go with light tackle meaning 20 to 40 pound test main line. As far as the jig I would suggest one that has a white head. However, if that's not an option, once adding the white strip I think that you will be in business. Red headed jigs will work also with white strips. Jigs work great, because if you have dropped it where the fish are they normally hit it on the fall. My thoughts are that you are basically hitting them on the head. The "jig factor" has worked for me on many occasions while using the white strip. However, if you don't feel confident using this bait, just add squid instead of cloth.
There is another bait that I can suggest, which I have already tried and it's the "DOA" shrimp pattern lure. When I was fishing the other day, I tied a ¼ ounce lure directly on my 20-pound main line and cast it out towards the targeted area. It didn't reach the bottom before I was hooked up with an 18-inch black sea bass. When the drift picked up I slipped a 3/8-egg sinker on to my main line then tie the DOA lure on. This helped to give my lure the natural fall it needed. For those that are wonder why I am using ¼ ounce lure instead of heavier ones it's because this is also the size I am using for inshore fishing. I have been catching quite a few spotted sea trout while pitching this lure inshore around docks and deep holes.
Before I stared using the DOA drop style design offshore I was using another type rig. It was simple, but the down side was it needed bait added. I don't mine using natural bait, but when I can get away without it I'm all for it. The old style drop method was also simple. The formula to the "drop in rig' is simple. All I do is slide on either a 3/8 or ½ ounce egg sinker, depending on the speed of my drift, and then tie on my hook of choice. For bait I cut a small piece of squid or fish up in a fashion so that it was drop as naturally as possible through the water column.
It's my opinion that when we drop our heavy two hook bottom rigs that we elevate our potential opportunity to get hits from the upper bite zone. This style rig drops so quickly and unnaturally that most fish are pushed away not drawn to it as it passes through the water column. A piece of bait that floats down from above drops slowly catching suspended fish off guard causing them to strike first before really taking a good look. It's now not just my opinion, but a proven fact that a lure dropping through the water column that looks like a fish type should and does get those suspended fish's attention! As far a what color DOA lure to purchase I suggest picking out what works inshore and use it offshore, because that's what works for me! Thanks, Captain Judy
Savannah Snapper Banks
Jackson gave me a call the other day to give me an update on the whereabouts of fish in regards to the Savannah Snapper banks. He and his fishing group headed out making their first bottom fishing drop in around 80 feet of water. The spot that they stopped is what I call "right before the snapper banks." The bottom in our area is pretty much barren with the exception of only a few hints of exposed bottom here and there. Those areas are great spots once found to stop, drop, catch, and then move on. The fishing in these brief stopped spots usually doesn't last long, because constant drifting over or anchor above scattered the heavily concentrated fish. I call these "refueling points for migrating fish." During the migration time, which as far as I am concerned, has different phases all during the year, meaning some fishes move and others stay put for most of their lives. This all boils down to the fact if you let it, fish and their desires to move or stay will make you crazy!
At any rate, Jackson stopped dropped and the three passengers on board all caught their limit of nice size black sea bass in less than one hour. The current bag limit on black sea bass is 15. They have to be at least 11 inches in length to keep. According to Jackson most all black bass caught were over 12 to 14 inches with less then 10 hookups being short. These fish were released healthy so that we could all get the opportunity to catch them again. Once achieving their goal of black sea bass fishing they moved from their current 80 feet of water to the deeper stuff in around 95 to 105. At this depth the fishing wasn't too good in any direction from which they moved. As I listened, I knew especially at this time of the year I have been there and done that. It seems that most bottom holding fish especially when the water temperature is below sixty degrees; find the deeper water a little more accommodating. As Jackson and group had already found black sea bass in 80 feet of water on spotted live bottom areas they also heard while listening to the radio chatter that the artificial areas were also covered with them. Here's a few other unconfirmed reports: According to the radio chatter quite a few short genuine red snapper were caught in 92 to 105 feet water while bottom fishing. Jackson also heard that a few larger red snapper were caught in a little deeper water up to the south. If I had to guess it probably was the Grand Banks area, which is located in about 115 feet of water. In our world adding 10 feet to the water depth means traveling another 5 to 6 miles offshore. Red snapper have to be at least 20 inches long to keep and carry a bag limit of 2 per person. Jackson also heard that there was a few fish caught at the stream. He couldn't hear everything said on the radio, but it sounded like a Wahoo bite and a few black fins were caught. Thanks, Captain Judy
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
Going Shopping
As I was heading out the door to make a trip to the store I would always ask my father, "can I bring you anything?" His standard answer was "a quarter's worth of five dollar bills!" I have always wondered what isle that was on?
Here's My Line Now Bite My Hook!
Captain Judy
"Fishing Physic!"