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
April 30, 2007
Captain Judy's Saltwater Fishing Report
Live Fishing Reports by Captain Judy
WBMQ Radio around 6:57 AM daily
Savannah, Georgia
Award Winning Coastal Fishing with Captain Judy
TV Comcast Channel 7
Sunday 6:30, Tuesday 7:30, and Saturday 8:30
Tybee Island Pier Fishing Part Two!
Who needs a boat anyway!
For those that didn't read the report last week we talked about sheepshead fishing at the pier. This week's suggestions are going to be about those fish that love the taste of shrimp and are prone to hit artificial lures. I am talking about the summer trout and the spotted sea trout. It's funny about the way a trout feeds especially when combing the beachfronts in search of some sort of sport. Trout do what I call "staging" during this time. It works like this: First the ocean waves break on the beach. As the wave "rolls back" they drag all sorts of nutrients back to the ocean. This stuff attracts many small feeders such as minnows and shrimp, which by the way happens to be very high up on the spotted sea trout feeding chart. The fact of the matter is that this is a fish that sees first and then attacks it intended meal. They are called "sight feeders" for sure! Keeping in mind this scenario that I have outlined and you should be able to develop a plan of attack. All this free-floating food means that small fish are going to be putting on a "quick feeding bag!" Where you have small fish doing this your have spotted sea trout doing that, which is "staging." Trout will hold back in the first clear water that normally falls about the third or fourth wave back from the breaking ones. In other words they are "staging" in the swell part of the wave. The fact of the matter that you can see these fish as they "stage" waiting to have that prefect visual on their next intended meal. Take a walk down the pier till you get far enough out so that you can look parallel down the swell area. This is where your spotted sea trout are going to be "staging" to feed. Once the fish makes gets a visual, they shoot in, kill the meal with those two deadly like K-9 teeth, eat, and return back to the "staging point." Now that you know what to look for I suggest taking a "look see!"
Big Piling Hugging Red Fish!
Formula for getting that big red fish to the boat that keeps breaking your leader and bending your hooks. Normally when a fisherman complained of this I used to automatically think that their drag was too tight for the situation. However, things are never what they seem especially in the "fish catching department!" Firstly I must add if you are getting broke off and you do have the proper drag then I can only assume that you are fishing around some of serious structure. Red fish pick an area to stage, which offers any sort of vertical feeding such as dock piling. Broken off pilings meaning more than one, normally holds the interest of red fish. The reason being is that small fish/ crabs feel safe and also consider these areas great places to eat.
I have to add this point of view in regards to red fish that hang around broken off pilings. They know whether it's by instincts or by previous filed hookups that the pilings allow them some sort of freedom. This boil down too one big thing, which is when they feel unnatural pressure they are going to head straight for the pilings. This is just about the time that you are going to lose you fish. The best way to get your best chance at landing this fish is to try to disorient the fish at the first phase of the hookup.
Captain Rick and Captain Jeremy Reynolds of Miss Judy Charters are double-teaming the piling hugging red fish!
This is one father and son duo that has figured out how to win a combat with piling hugging red fish! Captain Rick found them and Captain Jeremy reeled them in. It was one of those days where Captain Rick lost a few fish before quickly realizing that changes needed to be made in regards to his leader. Captain Rick normally goes with a short leader when it comes to targeting red fish. The reason being is that structure and shallow water is normally involved when targeting the old smart especially in this case red fish. However, when pilings are involved along with lots of oyster barnacles, things can get real interesting with sort leaders. Since as I mentioned earlier, red fish that are feeding around this sort of structure, once hooked up, make an immediate "b-line" directly to the structure. The first few seconds of the hook up are crucial when trying to get control of your strong "direction determined fish!"
One of my young customers, an amateur bull rider, shared this line with me many years ago. After finding out his hobby and him showing me all of his healed over broken bones/cuts I had to ask the question. "Why bull riding?" His answer was short and to the point, "it's that first 8 seconds that keeps bringing me back!" According to him "that first 8-seconds was the greatest ride of his life!" With that being said, "the first 8-seconds when hooking up a piling red fish is crucial to successfully landing your fish!"
Captain Rick quickly decided that the smart red fish was rubbing his short leader around the piling and it was being cut. Not only that, once the leader gets wrapped the hook is going to bend allowing the red fish to swim right off the hook. With this scenario taking place the first thing you need to do is to lengthen your leaders to about 5 feet of so. Fluorocarbon comes to mind since it's abrasion resistance. You might have to step up your pound test from 20 to 30. However, sometimes-heavier leaders will run fish away. Even though they look like they are stupid they aren't. Bait hanging on the end of a leader hands them a sign, which is "don't eat this, it looks a little strange!"
After lengthening their leaders Captain Jeremy stepped in with his "disorienting the fish method!" Once the fish took their bait offering of large prawn shrimp, he quickly changed the fish's direction by "putting-pulling pressure on" with exact timing. According to Captain Jeremy a quick change up of his rod's tip direction turns your hooked fish ever so slightly, which is all you need to disorient the hooked fish.
Now I am going to play "fisherman's devil advocate." All of these suggestions are great especially in regards to getting that piling hugging fish successfully to your boat. However, as with all good suggestions there is always some sort of hook. In this case it might not be a good one. Changing your rod tip direction can cause you too loose your fish, because once this is preformed "slack in the line is produced!" Basically all this pre-hooked fish has to do is to swim immediately to the slack in the line and freedom normally is accomplished. However, if the fish hasn't been hooked before patterns of this design would have not been set up. All this boils down too is timing and the right hooked fish! I think that you get the point!
Inshore
"Be a fishing hero and keep zero!"
There quite a bite changes going on this time of the year. Fish are migrating to familiar spots where they were be set in for a while. Take for instance, the spotted sea trout, which during this time can almost be found any where from the creeks to the sounds. However, there is sort of a separation-taking place within the sizes of spotted sea trout. The larger ones, which are normally the females, make their way to the beachfronts to spawn. This movement lasts till about the end of August, which is when the push will be in the opposite direction. It's very important to release any of these females that you might catch. Although they might look and are tasty think of this action as releasing hundreds of fish at one time!
The good news is that there are plenty of spotted sea trout to catch. The better news is that they are feeding and schooling in the creeks, rivers and sounds. For those that don't know where to start when targeting these fish here are a few suggestions: As you are looking for fishing areas it's best to pick spots that offer some sort of current, clear water, and structure. Currents could be anything from the tide moving in and out to rips that form as they are doing so. Clear water could be located right next to the muddy stuff. After all it has to start somewhere. As far as structure the first thing that comes to mind is going to be oyster beds/rakes. However, as you know there are plenty of those around this area. The fact of the matter is most of our creeks and rivers have lots lining them. The best oyster rakes are those that don't run in a straight line and offer points along with some sort of slough drains.
Crabs-a-part!
Don't panic I'm not suggesting that you go crabbing. However, I do suggest giving this a try especially if you want to go with some different smelling bait. Crab scent is one of those smells that do get the attentions of many fish. First when a crab normally puts out a long reaching scent it has been injured meaning to the fish "simple lunch!" Small live blue crab work great as bait. All you have to do is to remove the claws, drive a hook through one of the crab's shell two end points and then you will have yourself "a fine live bait." Large fish that are born crushers and they love to eat crabs! However to get a fish to eat you must either do one of two things: See the fish and present the bait or bring the fish to you!" Seeing the fish means you get the ultimate opportunity to show them what you got. Whether or not they take you up on your offering is the question of all questions!
Bringing the fish to you has what I call "meat on the bones!" The reason being is that when the fish does come, it comes to eat not to look, because you have brought the fish to your bait by sending a scent. Smell is the trigger and your have the gun! The best way to promote this type of bite is to take that crab and back it, meaning remove the outer shell. I have left the claws and legs intact in some cases in others I remove it all. Once you have gotten to this stage I suggest cracking the shell-less body in half. In some cases, depending on the size of the crab, we have cracked them into quarters giving us four baits to use. The act of cracking in this case meets "getting those scents alive!" Not only does it provide scent, but also makes the bait easier to eat. Crushed crab parts are probably the most forgotten bait on the fishing planet!
Working our Offshore Naval Towers
Make it the center of your universe
We have several of these naval towers, which are great sources for fishing. Working a tower can be as complicated or as simple as fishermen would like. I have been a fishermen for a long time so therefore I like to dab a little into the whys, when's, and where's in regards to the Naval Towers.
Whys
These structures are big, meaning they have a lot to offer feeding fish as well as us fishing fishermen. Now that's was a line of sure! The up rights alone that hold these monstrosities provide many square feet of feeding possibilities. The naval towers offer feeding possibilities to all fish from the lower, middle, and upper water column. The platforms alone offer quite a bit of shade, which changes with the location of the sun. The wind generator alone offers up a humming noise that might just ring some sort of dinner bell for fish. Once arriving to this area it certainly is easy to decide, which way the current is moving. I have been fishing a long time and when winds are thrown in with currents sometimes it's hard to figure for sure. The towers provide fish with staging value, which I will get into more detail later in this article.
When's
I can't say, "that I have ever visited one of these structure where I haven't seen some sort of fish-a-live!" So the "when's" category can be anytime. However, as we know migrations of fish take place all year. Some fish will show during some times while other won't be present. Here are some of the instances when I knew there would be certain fish possibilities. During the wintertime all types of bottom fish such as vermilion, red snapper, grouper, black sea bass, and many other migrating fish use these towers as re-fueling stations. Top water fish could be caught in these areas whether or not it's the season for them. Some fish just visit while others find it's proper to stay permanently. The fish that stayed are known as "residents!" No migrations here!
Where
There are several ways to work an area like this. There is the "by myself theory" and then there is the "lots of boats taking turns." When the latter of two scenario happens all I can suggest is to get in line, make your pass when it's your turn, and stay until you get tired of catching not much. The more continuous outside different engine noise the more the fish are aware, scare, and gone! I will say that I have worked the outskirts when too many boats were fishing the tower and had some pretty good luck. However, the fish aren't in a staging mode any longer making them offer up more "half than full hits!"
Let's talk about the prefect world for a moment. Here you are with tower on the horizon and no boats whatsoever. This means that you have the tower all to your self. Now the options are yours and yours alone. You can drive right up there, work the tower pulling your favorite stuff, and normally catch fish. The bad side of this discussion is that it won't last long. However, the good side is too just pull the tower until the bite has disappeared, move to the outskirts, and troll a while. You should have luck when using the tower as the center of your universe.
If you were looking to catch some live bait this would be the best source. You might see the baitfish on the surface or you could find them schooling in the depths around the tower legs. Whatever the case my be you can count of "bait normally here!"
The "coiling affect!" This is the "hands down" best way to fish a naval tower platform type when trolling is your fish game for the day. Work your way in by tightening up your continuous circle towards the tower, which gets your coverage 360 degrees worth of fishing value.
King Fish, King Fish
I have been catching quite few king fish this past month. The fact of the matter is that I am doing this with all metal and absolutely none of the natural bait stuff. I guess you could say, "I'm putting the steel to them and they are eating it up!" The steel that I am talking about is about 31/2 inches long and it's called "A Drone Spoon!" I am pulling them fast meaning over 6 knots plus. The good news is that this is working! The bad news is that I am giving my rod/reels a real-hard time. For those of you that want to give this semi-high speed trolling a try I suggest making sure that the rod used is solid fiberglass and comes with a metal butt! If not I suggest tying your rod/reel combo to the boat, because "when the butt breaks the reel she falls into the water!" The reason being is that I am pulling along with the Drone spoon a #3 planer, which puts a lot of pressure on your rod. The faster you pull the more the planer digs giving you that extra depth you need to get to the fish. However, it's a lot of pressure and most standard rods will not hold up. With this point driven home I think you get the picture!
Bait Suppressed Syndrome!
How did you like that title? It's a good one for sure! It seems since I have been fishing almost every other day that the bait has found the lower column of water the place to stage. With that being said, "so have the fish." This makes for an interesting set up in regards to your planer. To get to the fish you have to let out a lot of line so that it can dive deep! As I write this I am wondering if I should be sharing all these secrets of the trade. Well, the answer is yes, because you all need to catch a fish! And believe me you will especially if you try what I am suggesting!
The bad news is that when you do hook up the old king fish at this speed it's mouth is going to get torn up quite a bite. So therefore forward motion in regards to your boat has to be taking place or your fish will swim right off the hook. Believe me, I hear this everyday from my customers, "why do you have to let this much line out?" My standard answer, which is the truth, is "because that's where the fish are and to catch them the bait has to be placed in the strike zone!"
Light Tackle King Mackerel Fishing
I'm not taking about using live bait, because during these conditions this sort of style doesn't work too well. Now that I have made that statement I had better explain. Firstly, when using light tackle and live bait even if you use some sort of weight the bait is going to swim up not down. Even if it does get to the bottom there isn't a king fish alive and feeding that going to hit it! The reason being is that there are cigar minnows holding deep that are so great that not even I believe it. I guess I don't need to make that strong of a statement. You can try light line live bait fishing for kings and it might work, but why go to all of the trouble? Because what I am about to share with you will make live bait light tackle king fishing a chore from the past!
After locating the schools of king mackerel, which have been staging on different ledges, write the coordinates down. This becomes your "king mackerel hot spot!" Heck, to be sure drag the old spoon across them and if you get a hit you have arrived! Now after you have landed your hooked fish, pull back over the spot. Here's what you do now: First let's get in this set up mode!
Any rod will work! However, I suggest using 20-pound test or some sort of braided line in the 30 to 80 pound test range. Whatever you have will work. I am using what I call a "Mac Daddy" rig of all times. For the rod: I am using a jigging style SHIMANO Trevala Jigging casting, TVC 66 MH Length: 6'6" .
The power is medium heavy and the action is medium fast. The reel is a SHIMAN0 TORIUM 20, which has bearings, which is loaded with "Power Pro" 80-pound test braided line. I also have a lighter tackle set up, which offers a lot more actions. It's a SHIMANO TVC-70L length 7' jigging rod. The reel is a SH1MINO 6:1 Speed Master IV reel, which is loaded with 30-pound test "Power Pro."
Both jigging reels have 50 to 80 pound test "Wind-Leaders." These can be purchase ready to install or you can simply tie in a piece of 25 feet of fluorocarbon leader. The good news about the purchase of "Wind-On leaders" is that they can be attached loop-to-loop. This means, you don't have to worry whether or not your main line to fluorocarbon leader knot worked. (To tie your own line-to-line knot it's best to use the UNI-KNOT system.)
For artificial bait for the king mackerel I am using is a SHIMANO "Butterfly" jigging lures. These jigs have an incredible side-to-side movement on the retrieve and a unique "roll and wobble" action on the fall. They come in all sizes from small to large. The best color to pick is the one that you think will appeal to the fish that you are targeting. For king mackerel I suggest the "cigar minnow like color lure." There are Butter Fly regular and Butter Fly long type of jigs. I just picked the ones that appealed to me. The good news is that all have worked in the "fish-appealing department."
The lures come hook-less. You will need to purchase split rings and what I call "assist hooks!" Split rings come in different size test weight. I suggest matching ring size to the lures that you have picked. For assist hooks also known and call by OWNER "dancing Stinger" I am using 3/0 to 5/0 sizes. Once again you need to get a feel for exactly the size that you think will work with the lures that you have decided to go with.
Setting Your Lure Up
After taking a good look at your jig you will notice that it has a place for hooks at both ends. It is suggested that this lure has two stinger hooks placed on the head end. I have tried both ends and
the head it definitely the spot to put your hooks. After thinking about it the fish normally takes it intended meal by the head. So therefore, I say, "why wait for the your big fish to make a circle or another bite?" Get you fish at it most venerable time, which is at its "first strike!"
I need to add that some fish also don't hit the head, but the tail so as to disable them. It's a toss up on, which big fish does what, but the bottom line is that the head placed hook have been working in this case. I didn't want you to think that the head section was the only place that the larger fish, hit because it's not!
Dead Ringers
Many tackle companies make split rings. I am using both SPRO AND OWNER style split rings. In my book, a ring is a ring! There are all different sizes and weight. It's up to you to pick the right size hook for your lure set up. You need to keep in mind when building your lure that the more natural it looks the more attention you are going to get from the fish.
I'm not saying that this lure is the only one that works, because you might have a few in the old tackle box that will also get the job done. The main thing is to modify what you do have already. As I said, earlier this new style lure works for several reasons and one for sure is the hook location, which can't be denied. For those of you that have lead lures with hooks located at the tail section I can suggest modifying them a bit. In other word, "flip the hooks and place them at the head area. Don't worry if the lure doesn't provide a spot for the hooks. After all it was made that way in the first place. Let the rings assist you in attaching your hooks. The rings will assist you in getting your hooks to the head of the class. I call it building the "real deal!"
The Bottom Line!
The absolute bottom line to all tackle and bait is that you need to be where the fish are in the first place. I haven't seen a lure that
will bring a fish from long distances with just a drop or a jerk. So therefore, you need to do your homework no matter what type of bait or system such as this that you are planning on using. These are just a few things that need to be considered when trying to find a fish.
Structure is your best friend in the fishing catching world. This could be anything from a wreck to a rip! Schools of baitfish are another good "target rich environment." I always suggest spending a little time on land at a stable-table and take a good look-see at the area that you are going to fish. Believe me, once you get where you are headed it won't look the same as it does on land and paper.
However, knowing a little about the location of the wrecks you are planning on fishing in regards to the buoy that marks the area certainly does help. Even when fishing live bottom areas, which aren't marked, it sure does help to make your own imaginary boundary lines up. I accomplish this feat by deciding the degrees (coordinates) in which I am going to fish on a particular day. I call it my "work it over area!"
The point and reason to my suggestions is a simple one! I have been fishing a long time and it's still very frustrating to me exactly why a fish finds "what and where" so desirable! "You would think that after 50 years of fishing I would have gotten all of these things under control by now!"
There is one more thing that you need to know about the "Butter Fly Jigs." They were designed for getting a fish's attention and then bringing them to the hook. There are plenty "knock offs and look-a-likes" out there on the tackle shelves. Here's how to check the lure that you think is going to work if it's not the original butter fly brand. Pick up one and lay them side-by-side. This is about the time that the inventory of angles and bends needs to be assessed. If it hasn't got the right curves, believe me it not going to work!
Red Snapper
Yes we are catching a lot of them! Now I'm not going to say, "all of them are legal, because they are not!" However, the presents of all of the juvenile red snapper tells us an even greater story, which I am going to share with you. This is our bumper crop for years to come. With the legal keep limit being 20 inches all the fish not making the grade are being released. Hopefully making it back with a low mortality rate. I suggest that while bottom fishing that if all you are catching is juvenile red snapper that you move to another spot. It's a known fact by me that if that's all you are catching, "that's all you are goanna catch is that size fish." In other words "take the pressure off of the fish put it on you!" The way I look at it is the more you move away from them the more fish we are going to have for years to come. This presents of all of these juvenile fish means for sure that the limits are working!
Juvenile Red Snapper
Back in the old days, because we didn't know any better and there weren't any rules, we kept them all! This all sounded good at least until we actually "caught them all," causing the red snapper fishery in this area to collapse! Even though this was taking place there were still fishermen out there saying, "we don't need limits, because there are plenty of fish!" I now hand you this line straight from the movie Forrest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does!" With that being said, "move when you are catching the juveniles, because I can guarantee it's to your advantage as well as others! I have been there and done that!
Freshies Suggestion
Large mouth bass and clear water
With a title like that you know where I am and should be going. Firstly, to catch a fish when seriously clear water conditions are present you had better put your thinking cap on or your fish that was once there will be gone! When picking your tackle you had best go with the lightest design. This goes for the main line used too! In other words, if you normally use 15-pound test I suggest going with half of that now. Another option is to go with some kind of fluorocarbon disappearing line. As you all know I like using YO-ZURI H D CARBON, because it has always worked for me in regards to fooling the fish. You want to use a line that doesn't put the fish on notice that their intended meal is suspended by a hook and line. If the fish hesitates the bite as well as "your opportunity to catch" will be gone! With all this talk about clear water your absolute best bite is going to be "dawn and dust!" However, over cast or cloudy days might offer a longer bite pattern!
Little Miss Judy Believe It or Not!
"Traveling or not with dear old dad! "
My father used to say, "People who forget where they come from often can't get where they are going!" Since my father was a true fisherman I don't know if he was talking about getting lost in the ocean or life itself!
Here's my line Now Bite My Hook!
Captain Judy
Fish Physic