CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956"
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921
912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
July 21, 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Captain Jack McGowan of Miss Judy Charters shared some real interesting suggestions with me this past week.
As he talked I couldn't help but marvel at a fishermen's way to catch a fish when all the odds are against them. During the hot times there is plenty of bait and the fish can gouge themselves at any time at will! Fish are normally where you find fish! I am going to explain that last statement. However, when I do you already knew it, but might have not thought about it quite this way.
Where you have any sort of schooling fish you have bite potential. As Captain Jack and I talked it become clear that fish are definitely going to be where fish are. The old rule of thumb 'bigger fish eat the smaller ones and so on is all so true.' With that being said, let me set the fish stage and suggest how to work it to your best catching advantage.
During this time of the year we are very fortunate to have all kinds of fish on the beachfronts and inshore. When the larger ocean porgies or mullet move inshore so do the fish that eat them. Those that are trying to eat them force these sometimes-large schools of fish to the surface. When this happens you can watch the feeding action as it unfolds. This is what I call a 'moving feeding zone,' which can provide us fishermen with lot of catching opportunity. Large fish such as tarpon, cobia, Jack crevalle, sharks, and others follow on the out skirts feeding at will. This is where I think 'same size large fish' even different species might work together. After all they are not eating each other. However, they are all working at eating on the same school of fish, which mean keeping them together is a "feeding asset" for sure.
Captain Jack's theory of working the schools of fish or should I say, 'fishing around the schools of fish works!' Here's the break down of Captain Jack's Personal Inshore Big Fish Catching Rig!
Captain Jack's Rod and reel Set up Shimano 'Teramar' 20 to 30 pound test rod, Reel saltwater Shimano 'Spheros' Shimano spinning reel loaded with 60-pound Power Pro Super braid line
Terminal gear used: Captain Jack uses a Blue water popping cork, which is definitely sized up from the trout used one. To the bottom of the float he ties on an in-line ' sinker, which adds needed stability for casting far. For a leader he uses 100-pound 'camo' line type, which he ties on a 7/0 Kale hook.
I know you must be thinking, 'Boy this sounds like a heavy rod, reel, and terminal gear situation, because it definitely is. The reason Captain Jack goes with this set up is that he had landed some nice 100-pound plus sharks and tarpon. The bottom line to this set up is that you get to really feel the strong fight provided by these hooked up fish. Yes, you could go with lighter use everything, but when the big fish calls you really do want to be prepared for absolute control.
For bait Captain Jack suggest going with the bigger stuff that you caught right in the area that you are fishing. Or if you happen to have caught it earlier in the fish week it will also work. After you have the bait hooked up your main goal should be to place it where the schools are located. However, if you don't want to chase the schools, which is another option, anchor up, just cast set, and wait for the fish to come to you.
Lets talk a little about 'chasing the schools!' As you already know especially at this time of the year, 'most of the time where you have bait, you have large fish holding or feeding in on the out skirts.' Lets assume you are watching a surface school of menhaden and there are birds feeding as well as holding. The area right under the birds is just about where the larger fish are holding.