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
November 23, 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Lets talk about those 'Windy Conditions!'
I am always suggesting that to get your best chance catching fish under any situation is that you need to find and fish 'clear water!' We all know that clear water is harder to find when the wind machine is up and running. However, lets put a big twist on factoring the 'wind values!' Most inshore fishermen when adding in the 'wind machine' say, 'A lot of my spots will be eliminated right off the bat!' This basically means when the wind is blowing some key fishing spots are eliminated, because muddy water conditions prevail under these conditions. Don't worry I am getting to a point and soon.
So therefore when the wind blows hard from any given direction you need to always find and fish the 'leeward shores!' These are areas that the wind doesn't hit 'dead on.' This boils down to the fact that one side of the creek, river, or sound won't be a good area to fish. This is due to the fact that we have mud bottom, which is slit covered and any turbulence offered caused muddy water conditions.
The good news is that fish are 'on the hunt too' as much as you are. The bottom line is that bait and all that surrounds it finds its way to these areas. These areas are not only gathering spots, but also areas to feed.
For instance this past week..
Captain Rick Reynolds of Miss Judy Charters had an inshore trip on Monday (October 13, 2008). The northeast winds were humping at about 18 to 20 plus knots. Captain Rick knew that he might have to do some looking before he could do some catching. When he found a spot that was calm meaning 'not facing the wind' he found plenty of fish. The winds hsd pushed the bait (shrimp and small fish) into the area where all larger fish were having a 'feeding field day!' Now as soon as this statement flew out of his mouth about finding the fish he said, ' the spot was perfect for hiding under these conditions. Had Captain Rick not have had such a windy day this spot might have not offered up one hit.
So therefore on your next windy fish day be happy, because you now have a plan to put into affect! I wish I could reason out a way to fish offshore with windy conditions. Lately a larger boat isn't even going to help! However there is that's old southern saying 'there is always tomorrow!'
Spotted Sea Trout and Red Fish Rig and Bait for the day!
Spotted Sea Trout
The rig for this fish day was a mini traditional float, which had 15-pound test fluorocarbon leader and a small Kale hook. Live shrimp hooked under the horn worked best for trout and flounder. Both of these fish are sight feeders. So therefore you need to get your bait into their strike zone. One good strike zone for a spotted sea trout as well as the old bottom hugging flounder can be a couple of inches to one foot above the bottom. Trout are also known for corralling up live bait or schooling themselves so they can feed together. When feeding trout are in the schools mode the circle is tight. Their space used is about the size of the mouth of a 5-gallon bucket. With this being said, 'where you get one bite/hit/hook up, there is a possibility of more!' Make sure you make another or several passes with your cork to make sure you have penetrated the strike zone.
Flounder
Flounder are known for situating themselves face first in the current, burrow down cover all, but leaving their eyes exposed. Any small fish or crabs passing their way are sure to be a 'quick snack' for this fish. As the tide flows the 'old oyster bar' these fish will advance situating themselves for a quicker feeding opportunity. I have always said, 'A flounder is cunning like a fox, sees like a rabbit, and strikes like a cobra!' The best suggestion is let this fish eat, because they are known for attacking bait almost to large to fit in their mouth. This is a great time to give the 'old 360-degree line' a chance.
Red Fish
While using the traditional trout rig they also caught some nice red fish. (Adjustable float, 15 pound test fluorocarbon leader, and small Kale hooks) However, they tweaked the bait a bit to accommodate the red's fish quest for smelling first and eating next appetite. They basically used the same bait. For shrimp they semi crush the shrimp's head and hooked it up sideways through the tail. Another method when using shrimp would be what I call 'threading it on a the hook.' You need to make sure that you semi-crush the shrimp's head when going this baiting up route.
When it came to the mud minnows they worked when lipped hooked. Mud minnows are great bait for a fish that's has the power to pick up on vibrations made. Two mud minnows on the same hook is also a good bait to use. A few non-life threatening slices on the mud minnow does get the 'come here and eat juices' going.
'360 Degree Line!'
Recipe for getting the attention of that one big inshore fish Rig
10/0 circle hook or 'J' hook rigged up weed less (meaning hiding the hook's point in the bait used)
3 to 6 feet 20 pound leader
#7 swivel (40 to 80 pound test swivel)
1-ounce slip sinker
1-gaff or large dip net, camera
This rig is called my searching for that one big fish rig. You don't have to hold your rod, because you don't set the hook while using the 'old circle hook.' Or if you prefer to go 'J' weed less style,' this will work too! This rig works with both live and dead bait. I prefer live bait such as mullet, menhaden, yellow tail, or croaker. For dead go with stripped stomach wall, first dead small fish sliced on both sides to get juices going, or any bait that have. All you have to do is cast it out, put in rod holder, set drag to medium to light, turn clicker on, and wait for the noise that we all love to hear. One you are hooked up you could find yourself catching anything. The good news is that it's normally on the large side.