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
June 11, 2007
Inshore Fishing Report
It a known fact that when you have a "lack of natural bait" that when in the "fishing game mode" moving about is going to be in your future. With that piece of information the handwriting is definitely on the wall. Fisherman after fisherman has reported that the fishing has been good, but the method in which they have been using to catch them has been a little on the different side. I am always suggesting that when you plan on going inshore fishing that you take along a cast net. Casting a little during the low tide stage can certainly add a few good old baits to your live well. When performing this task I suggest keeping any small fish that you can for live bait. Since there isn't much bait any small fish caught will work. The rule of thumb is to use a bait that will comfortably fit into your targeted fish's mouth!
As I said earlier moving a lot might just be in your fishing future. This just means that fish need to eat and sometimes what they prefer to eat isn't staying in one place. Natural baits such as shrimp are far and few between. So therefore the other baits that fall into the juvenile sector are high up on the targeted list. Large and peanut menhaden make great bait. We call the smaller menhaden "peanuts." They make great baits and quite often will fit right into most fish's mouth without any problem. Other menhaden that are much too large to fit can be cut in sections and used. These cut parts offer up a natural scent that fish basically "home" in on. Using cut baits on the bottom normally will get you a solid bite or two! Throwing your cast net right over the school can normally catch menhaden. When menhaden school on the surface it a noticeable event. I always look for the flips that are made by a chose few. The rule of thumb is "where you see a few flips normally is the correct momentarily location of the menhaden school. I suggest quickly casting on this temporarily marked area. We always cast, let the net fall to the bottom and then retrieve. This particular baitfish when spooked will quickly dive in cadence. As soon as your net hit the bottom tighten up and quickly retrieve. If your net try to swim off you probably "have a load!" Please don't keep more than you need!
Another good baitfish to target at this time of the year is going to be the old "finger mullet!" These fish can be found feeding especially during the low tide stage in the "back of creeks!" Once again your cast net will be needed to catch yourself some of these great baits. This is another baitfish that can come in finger to large sizes. The rule of thumb when using this type of bait is "if it the size of your finger, "use whole!" If it's bigger get out your knife, because filleting or chopping up is going to be in your future.
Most live baits that I have mention work great when used while alive. The livelier the bait used the better your chances are for a "strong big fish hook up!" As you all know a big fish didn't get that way, because it's stupid! The hooking your bait theory especially when using live bait such as those listed is very important. The hook should be placed, if possible, so that bait can swim as normal as it can. There are several way to place your hook here are a few: through the lip, behind the dorsal, and underneath behind the belly area. Any of these hook placements normally allows your bait to swim naturally enough to get the attentions of a big fish!