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
September 24, 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)
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
The Sea Monster with long Hairy Arms!
In the late nineties this actually happened to me. With that being said, "it could happen to you!" While trolling for Spanish mackerel at the artificial reef "KC" Buoy I experienced an event that I won't soon forget! It was pretty rough on this particular day. The ocean had been in a continuous roll from the sustained northeast winds of 15 knots plus for about three days. All this turbulent made the water clarity very cloudy.
When the ocean has wind values from the same direction for two to three days everything in the water column "gets in step!" I call this the "domino effect." This basically means objects that aren't attached to the bottom or those that are floating in the mid-column are "rhythmically pushed to the surface." I equate it to my "up welling theory." Waves pushed down continuously eventually hit the bottom and form an up welling of sorts. It's a reversal meaning what can take you down can bring you back to the surface!
While trolling I was pulling over mostly areas that were holding some sort of structure such as barges and pallet balls. When in 50 feet of water or less most of the "on purpose" sunk wrecks are barges. This is due to the fact that they don't stick to high up into the water column. When making artificial wrecks in deeper water higher added structure such as dredges or tug boats are sent to the bottom. These sunken "on purpose wrecks" become great places for fish to create their own underwater flourishing cities!
I was slow-trolling and making my way over this particular sunken barge when my "engine knocked loud and shut down." For the second, "stalled came to mind first!" However, that turned out to be only part of my now serious problem. Why the engine was so abruptly shut down was the current mystery. However, as this thought entered my mind my boat was quickly being pulled around "stern-too to the sea conditions!" All I can say, "Too much was happening at once."
I need to make sure that you are getting all that I am trying to relate. Firstly, my engine was stalled and now my boat was being pulled "by what, definitely not sure" stern too into the sea conditions. If you know boats especially when rough sea conditions prevail "stern-too into the sea conditions" will get you a sunken boat quicker than you think. I am always suggesting especially to those that don't anchor a lot offshore to make sure that they don't get their under-water gear tangled in their anchor line. The reason being is that when the tangled rope tightens the stern will be pulled down. When your boat is pulled down from the stern waves can roll right into your cockpit.
As the "Miss Judy Too" was being pulled around I knew what the out come of "stern too into the waves might means!" However, not knowing what was pulling me around was definitely another problem. This so-called problem was coming straight out of the "scarcest things in my mind." After all, I was "born and bread" on sea monsters stories both good and bad. And right now all those things that my father had told me as a small child was jumping free from the old memory banks! I can't lie; I was scared to say the least! Too much was happening at one time with absolutely "not-a-thing" making any sense!
As soon as the boat was tight against the sea, waves started crashing into the stern. At this point what was actually happening was straight out of one of those "Daddy stories!" I watched out the stern, as all on board wished in their minds that being somewhere else certainly would be a PLUS! As I watched it became clearer that now something was appearing from under the surface. For the moment it looked like whatever it was "had hair!" Not only that, but it was big, dark, and looked very long. As I watch it looked like it was stretching up from the bottom. At this moment, for lack of ways to describe it, "I had to grab my mind." After all I was the captain and if I am thinking these strange things I can only wonder what the customers might be thinking! The good news is that their fathers probably hadn't told them about sea monsters such as large hungry squid or giant eight-legged octopuses!
My seafaring father told me this story one time about a ship that I will never forget it. According to him this story was passed down from generation to generation. Back in the whaling days fishermen stayed weeks and even months on their ships out in the sea. While everyone on board was sleeping a giant squid or octopus's arm reached inside the ship grabbing a fishermen right out of his swaying hammock. The loud screaming made by the abducted fishermen was unbelievable. All now awakened fishermen watched as he was taken away while being squeezed to death. According to daddy the lifeless body was then pulled over the gunnels into the water by this long arm.
It was reported they no one knew and really didn't want to see what the arm might be attached too. According to my father once this story was told those fishermen having "night duty," never considered shutting their eyes! Once again I need to pull myself back in so that I can finish my personal so-called sea monster story!
As I said, earlier in this story, "this monster thing had me!" Whatever had me acted just like daddy had described the thing that basically has grabbed the fishermen and pulled him right off the boat! I will re-cap what exactly was going on….The so-called arm had me, the boat was stern into the waves, which allowed them to break right into the cockpit. When a wave would hit the stern the boat lunged forward, but was then pulled back throwing us all down. All of this "mind boggling action" was keeping us all wondering what was going to happen next!" In my case, especially since daddy had already explained in great detail my mind was certainly racing!
After about four good large waves over the stern later, whatever had us let us go! We started drifting in step with the waves, meaning with an almost normal pattern. However, the boat seemed to be floating heavier than usual. I know you must think I am crazy coming up with all of the things like "heavier that usual." The Miss Judy Too wasn't full of water she was dragging something and it was big. Another mystery that I'm sure or should I say, "not sure" that I am going to have to deal with.
As the boat drifted away from said so-called "underwater attack" I starting collecting myself quietly as I walked to the stern of my boat. As I looked down I could see much better what exactly had hold of our vessel. Yes, it was long and it did look hairy, but it now took on a new shape. However, at a quick glance, it still looked like an underwater monster's arm!
As I looked I determined, especially since sinking wasn't emanate, it was in fact the largest piece of rope that I seen! It was over 10 inches in diameter! After regaining my senses I leaned over the stern and took a better look. The rope was hanging from the bottom of my boat about four under the water. It was lodged between the rudder and the wheel. Now I knew why the engine stalled! Although it was still rough the boat was now laying, as she should in the sea with starboard side to the wind. We were basically "in-step' with the waves making for a much better drift. The rope that we were tangled with was acting like a "sea anchor.' I can't lie we all breathed a big sigh of relief!
As I looked at the rope my thoughts went from relief to sheer madness! Had this rope not broken loose from what it was attached too the boat have been sunk! As my mind was racing it came to me exactly what this rope was. It had to be some sort of towrope. Right before I became entangled with it I had just trolled over a sunken barge. Since I had some dealing in the past with "sinking barges and such" I knew how it was supposed to work. The vessel that was to be sunk was towed with such a rope. After the vessel in question was sunk the driver removed and retrieved the towrope. The reason being was "if they didn't the towrope could get pushed up into the water column becoming a navigational hazard!
The navigational hazard that was now attached to the under gear of my boat had to be removed so that I could ascertain damages if any! I reached for a gaff and stuck it in the dragging rope. I soon became aware that not only was the rope very heavy, but also very long. One of my customers grabbed another gaff and a tugging we all did! Foot after foot of large towrope was pulled over the side of my boat. There were plenty of barnacles and mussels attached to this piece of long rope. Small marine creatures started falling out of the rope's hemp as it was dropped on the deck. My aft deck was quickly filling up with rope, which was so heavy that my stern was forced down. Now my scuppers were underwater allowing once again "lots of water into the boat." At this point I could say, "sinking again." However, this type of taking on water is very controllable. All we had to do was plug the scuppers up, which was done "quick fashion."
While pulling the 100-foot plus of rope the part lodged between the wheel and rudder floated out from under the boat. After we pulled in the last part of the rope we all breathed another sigh of relief. My next move was to see if the engine would crank and then check out any unusual vibrations. Not only did the "Miss Judy Too crank, she ran "vibrations free!"
In the case of this almost disaster I have to admit knowing the outcome allows me to make this statement of "I'm glad it happened in the first place!" I learned a lot from this almost "great remembered sea disaster"…. "Sea monsters especially from down under can come in many forms and they just might have long hairy reaching arms!"
Thanks for Reading My Reports!
Captain Judy
"Fish Physic!"