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
September 3, 2007
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Which includes:
Inshore report, Offshore Report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!" (Story)
Inshore Fishing Report
Although it might not seem like it, but the "Taste of Fall Bite" is starting to take place. Captain Jack McGowan of Miss Judy Charters shared with me the full scoop in regards to actual inshore "goings ons!"
Red Fish
According to Captain Jack our fall run of red fish is going to be great, because the indications are strong! He has been catching his share of keeper red fish. However, it's running about two shorts to one when it comes to legal or not! Red fish AKA spot tail bass, channel bass, red drum, and stag bass have a legal slot limit of 14 to 23 inches. A lot of the fish landed are right at 13 inches. The good news is that during this time a bass grows about 1 inch in a thirty-day time span. So therefore when fall arrives so will the legal size fish. Fishermen need to be aware that "catch and release" especially where this fish is concerned is especially important, because they have a very slow growth rate overall. We are always suggesting keeping a few and safely releasing the rest.
Most of the red fish were caught while using popping corks with 18 to 24 inch leaders, and kale hooks. The baits of choice were as follows: live and fresh dead shrimp, mud minnows, finger mullet, stripped mullet, and bare hooks. I know that last listed bait of "bare hooks" had to get you're attention. However, I'm not kidding with that one. Captain Jack proved it! Once the bite started, he threw out an un-baited hook under a popping cork, popped it a few times, and hooked up a red fish on the bare hook! I am not suggesting that you don't use bait. I just trying to get you to understand the bite situation of "once it starts it can get real good!"
The best place to look for red fish especially during this feeding time is going to be "points and pockets!" The best way to explain this arena is to say, "not a straight bank oyster rake!" I'm not saying this scenario doesn't offer up a good place to fish. It's just when you add "points and pockets" into the mix you get "a great field of feeding opportunities for all sizes of fish!" When oyster point stick out in to the main current all sort of things are formed from small rips to back washes. Any break in the flow of water provides opportunities for small fish to hid and feel safe, which brings me directly to the reason the larger fish come to visit! When you find a situation like this it really doesn't matter whether the tide is rising or falling, because there will be fish!
Pockets are formed on the out skirts of the points, which means there are probably drop offs close by. These areas are what are known as ledges offshore. These areas hold feeding opportunity for the fish as well as the fishermen. Once you have decided what you are fishing over I suggest letting your cork provide you with water flow direction. Red fish are born bottom feeders meaning "a whole lot of rooting going on!" Areas such as this provide plenty of space for them to put on the old feedbag. Another fish the joins in on the feeding is going to be the bonnet head and black tips sharks. These are strong pullers and make great table fare.
Here's My Line Now Bite My Hook!
Captain Judy
"Fishing Physic!"