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
September 15, 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Turbulent Weather Statement
Although we really haven't had any real serious weather such as a direct hit from a hurricane in years we have had some turbulent conditions. It really doesn't matter, in this case whether you are inshore or offshore fishermen. The reason being is when our area has rough conditions for any length of time 'all fish move into a different kind of a mode!' This means after a hard blow delivering any sort of turbulent weather the 'fish finding game is on!' Believe me it doesn't matter, which fish that you are targeting, 'it's still can be a looking game!' Fishing after a storm just might be where the term 'pre-fishing' came from!
Both a Green and Blue Water fishing Report
Offshore Fishing Blueprint to follow
September 7, 2008
Michael Moy of Hilton Head, South Carolina along with any single crew Justin went on a 'fact finding mission!' Michael's boat 'Island Dog,' is a 28-foot Hydro sport, which is capable of great amounts of speed. On this particular fish he had the capability to move fast and fish many good quality fishing spots. Here's how the day started out and finished up!
On there way to the fishing grounds one serious cast of the net was made at 'South Beach,' which provided them with bait needed for the entire fish day. According to this bait report there were porgies and more pogies surface schooling on the beachfront on this particular fish day. Once these baits were dumped into their live well, Michael headed off into the direction of the R 7 Naval Tower.
R 7 Naval Tower
Just to keep the weather record straight the sea conditions were rough. With that being said, 'flying like the wind' was out of the question. However, the DUO made way toward the 'R 7 Tower of Power!'
Right before arriving to the big yellow 'oil rig looking like tower,' Michael noticed a sea turtle cruising on the surface. He pulled back and took a look. To his amazement the turtle was holding the attentions of two large cobia. As soon as Michael comprehended what he had seen he went into what I call 'the cobia dance!'
Although I wasn't on the boat with Michael, I have been there and done this hundreds of times. This is when; even though you are a seasoned charter boat captain there is not a rig suitable to rig up quick! However, in Michael case, he was ready. He quickly hooked up a live pogy AKA menhaden, cast it out in front of the fish, and the first fish 'ate it like candy.' Once the fish was hooked, it swam to the boat with hook in mouth, and Michael landed it with the gaff. This fish weight it at 40 pounds. The second fish became a little hook wary and stayed around a bit, but wouldn't eat any thing. When Michael told me 'anything' that meant that he thrown all he had from live to dead to artificial and not a thing worked. Been there done that many times!
For those that don't know what turtles and cobia have in common I will share what was going on here'.Cobia love shade, because the possibility of food always exists where this situation is provided. The turtle provides what is called as 'moving shade.' All fish that are seekers of some sort of structure 'moving or not' sometimes take a ride under a turtle. Here's something else to 'hang your hook on!' All those followers in this case cobia will go where the turtle goes at least until their personal so called ride is over.
Moving structure such as turtles, rays, whale sharks, sharks, large fish, and etc. are consider 'shade providers.' All is well with the ride at least until those following eat something that's part of the 'swimming hanging gang!' Feeding can scatter the holding school and those same fish might not school us again. Once the feeding frenzy is over the 'shade gathers' get back to working together as 'followers again.'
Here one for you'On one of my fish days (Captain Judy) I saw a turtle floating on the surface, I held back so as to observe and found out some interesting things. The turtle acted as if it was sleeping, but the birds sitting on his back was steady feeding away. I approached as quiet as possible so as not to 'spook this feeding affair.' Once I got in Seeing Eye range I saw small baitfish, large fish, and then there were plenty of hungry dolphin. I think you get the picture behind this story. The rest wouldn't be called history in this case but rather 'fish in the box!' Back to the fish catching story at hand!
Back to the R 7 and R 8 Naval Report
After landing the 40-pound cobia the next stop would be the R 7 naval tower. With one quick past it was clear not only by the markings on the fish finder, but also by the surface action that there were lots of fishing opportunities to be had! There was lots of surface bait such as cigar minnows and Spanish sardines. The larger fish holding down under were in the fish feeding frenzy. They would feed, hold up the baitfish, and then charge them again! All this was done with the larger fish seemly working quite well together.
They rigged up Carolina style bottom rigs, baited up, and great action was had by all! I asked Michael to explain in detail rig used:
He was using 30-pound test monofilament main line with egg sinker (4 0r 6 ounce, which ever size keep the bait more vertical) above the swivel. (80 to 100 pound test swivel) To the swivel he tied 5 to 6 feet of 80 to 100 pound test leader. As far as the hook he was using what I called a '6/0 half circle hook.' These hooks are not too big, don't over power the bait, and are strong. You can set the hook, but really don't have too. Just raising the rod a bit with get the hooking up job done! The half circle hooks, which looks like the standard 'J' styles types has just a little more 'curve value.' These hooks work great for the fisherman that wants set slow and some time regular set the hook.
For bait, you guessed, they were using live pogies, which were hooked above the nose. This style of 'rigged up bait' swims great and will most always go down and not up. However, if a nose hooked bait keeps swimming to the surface it can only mean one thing 'there is a bigger fish down under.'
The plan was to bait up and just drift the R 7 Naval Tower. As soon their single hooked pogies made it to the 'strike zone' both rods were bent over double. Here's a list of the fish that they caught'amberjack with one weighting in at around 70 pounds, jack crevalle in the 10 to 12 pound weight range, barracuda both large and small, little tunny, and last but not least 'African Pompano.'
African Pompano Time
Lets give way to the 'African Pompano' report for a second. For many years especially during this time, fishermen have had off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina a run of these fish during this time frame. There is more'during the winter months these fish have been reported holding at the R 3 and R 8 naval towers. I know it sounds crazy, but oh so true. The fish that Michael and Justin caught weighted in at a little over 30 pounds, which in this world are big fish! They caught two African pompanos at R 7 Naval tower.
Now after this catching bonanza the duo was tried from all the reeling. However, Michael wanted to make one more 'fishing-chasing run.' He headed out to the R 8 Naval tower, which is what we call blue water. Once reaching this area the scene was about the same with lots of surface bait and large fish feeding down below. The fact of the matter is it was a carbon copy catching event. All fish types caught at R 7 were also found at R 8 tower. So therefore 'the fish bite is on!'