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
August 6, 2007
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Which includes:
Inshore report, Offshore Report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!" (Story)
Blue Water Suggestions
Marlin Man!
Once again Captain Ken Kennickell of Miss Judy Charters has shown us " if you don't go you won't know!" While just-a-fishing and dragging lines at 150-pound plus "a blue" also known as the "Man in the blue suit" came a calling. It has been said many times that billfish use their bills to basically club their intended meal to death. I called it "just softening the meal up before devouring it!" After all billfish don't have teeth!
However, as with all fishing stories especially this one it seems that there has been a slight change in the way a marlin feeds. In the last month Captain Ken has successfully hooked up, fought, landed, and released two marlin. Both fish never batted once at the bait. They basically "slammed it so hard" that the fish almost pulled the rod out of its holder. So therefore no drop back was needed in either one of these hook ups. However, if you do get the attentions of a billfish and it taking "batting practice on your bait" I suggest you dropping back as soon as possible. This is just about when the fish is going to pick it up and take it for a "fast ride!"
The last two fish as I said earlier, "slammed the bait, ate it while it was being pulled by the boat, and could have cared less about softening it up or killing it!" (Another mouth full) This last fish blue slammed and ate a dolphin colored "Outlaw Lure!" This rig had a single 8/0 to 9/0 hook, which he rigged on a medium ballyhoo. Captain Ken prefers to use about a six-foot leader on his blue water lures. The leader is made from 200-pound test monofilament line.
As described earlier the marlin slammed the bat that was being pulled 50 feet behind the boat. He was using a "flat line set up." Captain Ken has been successfully fishing the Deli Ledge area for the last few weeks. Now you know where to go!
Simple Fisherman's Recipe for a Flat Line
After attaching rigged lure to your main line, let it out to desired length, which is this case is around 45 feet. Grab the line from the tip of the rod and put it down to the reel's handle. Hold it level with the handle, loop rubber band around the held line, and loop rubber bands ends over the handle of the reel. You now have what is called "flat line set up." When the fish hits the bait the rubber band breaks giving that extra bit of slack needed for the fish to think it has successfully got a mouth full. The best size rubber band is going to be ¼ inch thick by 31/2 inches. However, most any will do! In other words use what you have!