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
September 29, 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and "Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Offshore Report
As I am writing this report I can't offer any actual landings for this past week due to the fact that the northeast winds have kept the offshore boat tied to the dock. However, since I have records on top of records of what should be here and biting here are a few suggestions…
The first thing you need to take into consideration is the fact that water temperature has dropped a bit. Now, it might "rise again," but that's will only be a temporary occurrence. The temperature isn't on the "Up swing, but whether on the down fall!" When this takes place "fall migrations" is put into place. So therefore it's time to go "Fall Fishing!"
Fall Fishing!
I love fall fishing, because with most fish on the move you really never know what you might catch and where! I will start with top water fish. Yes, we will have plenty of them this year. Before the change of the season we had a good steady bite. So therefore with the water temperatures falling the top water stocks will increase. I must sound a little like a stock assessor of sorts, but really just trying to get my point across.
A Trolling You Can Go!
Until the water temperature drops and stays below 75 degrees the toothy monsters will still roam and control most of the wrecks at the artificial reefs. However, once it drops and stays "they will be gone. At least until next year!" With water temperatures in the high seventies and low eighties barracudas will still rule the "wreck roost!" The bulk of the Spanish mackerel will stay around until the small glass minnows have faded away. After this the larger Spanish that can feed on the bigger baits will stay until there is bait not more! Just a short scenario of what is just about to happen in the next two months!
Right now top water fishing is going to be great with fishermen getting an opportunity to get their line stretched to the fullest. King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, little tunny, and Jack crevalle can be found from the Gulf Stream to the beachfronts. I already know what you must be thinking "lots of water to cover!" It really isn't, because these fish are "hold up at all water depths" they can be caught in any fishing area off our coast. So therefore all fishermen can be involved no matter how small or large their boat might be!
You can troll simple or you can get complicated. Here's my meaning for "trolling simple." All you need a 31/2 inch Drone Spoons and 2 to 21/2 Clark Spoons especially if you have "artificial baits" on the mind. Just rig them up, pull them behind the boat, and wait for some action. It's as simple as that.
During this time of the year you can pull the Drones spoons directly on the surface or deep behind number 3 planers. The top water pull doesn't work all of the time, but when it does "big king mackerel hook up happens!"
For those of you that want to pull some kind of real bait the most simple would be rigged ballyhoo. This is one of those baits that can be slowed trolled or medium trolled. You can dress it up with a skirt or just let it swim naked. You can add weight to it or basically pull it on the surface. The only thing you need to remember is that when this bait is rigged it needs when it's pulled through the water "to swim straight." I suggest after rigging every one that you pull it close behind the boat so that you can check the pulling pattern. When ballyhoo is rigged wrong it spins when pulled. I have always called this the "helicopter-ing affect!" This spin runs fish away! With that being said, the bottom line is "you can't catch a fish if it has left the area in which you are fishing!"
To find king or Spanish mackerel, little tunny, or Jack crevalle fish look at the artificial reefs, live bottom areas, rips, and any areas where you see "birds-a-diving or sitting!" This is a good time to get a trolling plan together such as ….trolling from W2 Warsaw Sea Buoy to KC Buoy (50 foot depth areas) or any other artificial reefs in this depth, trolling from CCA, J Buoy, or L Buoy towards the Savannah Snapper Banks, trolling around the naval towers, trolling from the Savannah Snapper banks toward the deeper waters of the gulf stream. This all boils down to where you start catching fish is where you need to stay until they stop biting…. it's a simple as that!
More next week on some serious bottom fishing avenues! This is going to be a great year for this type of fishing!