CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956"
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921
912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
August 18 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
King Mackerel Fishing Suggestions
Wip McCuen along with Kevin Broderick and Mark Lofton make a fine offshore fishing crew. The bottom line is that they know their stuff especially when a king mackerel is involved. Without a do, I will get right to the point of what is best done to hook up your bait as well as you big king fish.
The best place to do this kind of fishing during the hot months is their "old stand spot," which is 300 yards plus southwest of the CCA artificial reef buoy. Once this information was shared with me I got to thinking how many times that I have stopped in the same area to catch myself some bait fish. For some unknown reason rips form in this area, which in turn holds the attentions of baitfish bringing on a much more serious big bite pattern.
Go to the CCA Buoy and…
Go southwest to west, look for rips, and fish…then go northeast tracking east and then west for more bite opportunity!
There is also another good area at the CCA Reef. This spot wasn't put there its natural meaning no artificial stuff here. If you take heading of due north east from the buoy trolling a little west then east as you making your way northeast you will cross a nice live bottom ridge. This area holds the interest of baitfish and top water fish especially during the hot times.
Now for the part you have been waiting for, which is Wip's bait plan!
Wip has been using the standard gold hook Sabiki bait rigs to catch Spanish sardines and Cigar minnows. He hooks them up light tackle style and just plain drifts. If he happens to hook up a Spanish mackerel, he leaves that on the hook, and waits for the bigger fish hit, which normally comes in the form of a real large king mackerel! Whatever you do don't forget you gaff!
Wip's Gold Mine Suggestion!
After talking with Wip it occurred to me that he had figured out what could be a "gold mine suggestion" for all of us. Once he hooks up a Spanish mackerel on the light tackle rig, which is also a king mackerel rig, he doesn't touch the fish. This makes lots of sense, because once the Spanish is touched or held the surface of the fish changes. This just sent one more "stay away signal to those that might be watching from down below!"
So let re-cap Wip's King Mackerel Theory
Wip catches bait the same way we all do and puts them in a live well, which has plenty of water circulation. He hooks these freshly caught extra lively baits up on a standard light tackle king mackerel rig. A standard king mackerel rig is made with 30 inches or less single strand wire, small live bait short shank "J" style hook, and then a small treble hook in tow. This treble hook is sometimes called a "trailer or a stinger hook." Some fishermen add some sort of small skirt to the leader of this rig. In Wip's case, he goes natural with no additions. Once he is hooked up and if it's a king mackerel he lands it. However, if his hook up is a Spanish mackerel, he retrieves it, takes a look, and if its semi hooked up, he lets it swim off. He doesn't try to re-hook up the now used baitfish, because he doesn't want to touch the Spanish. By this way these are real good suggestion!
Lets talk about what Wip does when he hooks up his own live Spanish mackerel. He uses what might be called a "ribbon fish rig." The light tackle rig used when Spanish mackerel is bait does need to be a little longer. You can still go with the first hook being a live bait "J" style hook and the rest in-line hooks should be small trebles. The live bait hook or the first hook should be placed through the top lip. Some fishermen like to put the first hook through the bottom and out the top of the lip, which is also good. However, when using a Spanish mackerel as bait it will last longer if you place the first hook in the top lip only. Some fishermen prefer placing the first hook through the nose area, which also a good location. However, when using a lively Spanish mackerel as bait they will pull free from this set up.
Good size for a short shank live bait "J" style hook is #2, #4, and #6,
Now that we have gotten the first hook or should I say the "leading hook placement" out of the way let talks about those treble hooks that follow. The first thing is that thin tinned treble hooks are better for the bait, but not good for a big fishhook up. They will work, but when hooked up, you need to know what you are dealing with so that you don't set that drag too tight. I have this old saying, "when the drag set to tight the hook might pull loose and if it's set to light there not much of a fight!" Boy, the decisions us fishermen have to make!
The best size thin tinned treble hooks are size 12, 10 and 8. I think a 1/0 treble is a little big, but it will definitely work in the holding department. You decide what is best for you. I prefer to use about three treble hooks when going what is sometimes referred to as "ribbon fish rig." The space between the hook should only be inches. The placement of hooks in the Spanish should be along the sides not the top. This set up is going to be the less noticeable application and the baitfish is not too affected by this type of hook placement. When using large baits and small hooks it's necessary to let the fish eat well before setting that hook! Thanks Wip and crew for sharing these great king mackerel catching secrets!
CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956"
POB 30771