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
October 1, 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)
Red October Can Be a Lot of Bulls by Capt. Wild Bill
Capt. Jack McGowan, of Savannah, shared with me his colorful introduction during the mid-80's to the large bull reds on the beach. His mentor was Spanky Schley (pronounced: Sly) a salty seasoned fisherman that grew up on the Back River behind Tybee Island. Jack told me, "Spank's up bringing was playing with those big reds on those sandbars off Tybee and Little Tybee."
Spanky and Jack traditionally started their September and October fishing adventures at the crack of dawn with a large meal at The Breakfast Club on Tybee to make sure they had plenty of energy for the day. After breakfast, they'd climb into Spank's 9-foot Boston Whaler and head out across Back River and cast for mullet.
Once they gathered their bait, they'd move to the beach and anchored up in the sheltered area on the inside of a sandbar, get out of the tiny boat and wade to an outer bar to fish. Spanky typically had the better catch of the giant reds, which was surprising because some of his tackle appeared as old as him, but Jack pointed out, "Spank's a darn good surf fisherman." Capt. Jack learned a lot in those days about tying knots, setting drags and fighting fish.
More than a few years ago, during October of 97, I received my first lesson from a good teacher (Capt. Spud Woodward) on how-to catch those big stags off the beach. On my first bull red trip we caught eight large reds up to 44.5 inches. Spud, a very knowledgeable and passionate fisherman, now is the Assistant Director for Marine Fisheries of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The most important thing I learned from Spud was how the big reds will gorge themselves on baitfish and crabs by moving into the channels of the troughs between the sandbars off the beach.
Here is a list of some of the other things I've learned about fishing for big reds... I like targeting them through September and October. Their season starts at the tail end of August and ends during the beginning of November. October is best! All stages of the tides can produce, but I've been most successful during the last of the outgoing and the first of the incoming. I'll then work the rest of the incoming.
I use a large spinning reel, such as Shimano's "Spheros 8000" spooled with 30-lb test line. Lighter line will work, but stiffer tackle makes for a shorter fight, and this increases the bull red's survival. A 7-foot spinning rod matching my reel has served me well.
My bait of choice is fresh cut fish like mullet, menhaden, bluefish, and ladyfish. I like my bait fresh and still leaking juices, never frozen, and I recommend changing it out every 15-minutes. Blue crab is great bait too. Make sure your crab is live, and then cut it in half. Break off its legs, break the legs up and toss them in the current as if chumming.
Fresh cut bait, approximately 3-inches, is matched to the size of the hook, which normally is a size 11/0 to 13/0 circle hook. I attach my hook to a 3-foot long 80-lb mono leader, a swivel and egg sinker. The weight of the egg sinker will vary according to the strength of the current. I'd start with a 5 or 6-ounce egg sinker.
When using a circle hook don't snatch the rod when you get a hit, just tighten the line and allow the hook to hang the fish. If your reel is spooled with braided line, using "uni to uni knots," attach a mono shock leader (maybe 10 to 12-feet) to help absorb the shock of a strong jolt. And, if you want to use a lighter sinker, try a fish finder rig with a 3 or 4-ounce pyramid sinker.
This is definitely the type of fishing that provides thrills and gives you a good shot at a trophy fish that makes an awesome photo. Remember, Red October on the Georgia Coast can be a lot of bulls, just ask ole' Spank.