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
July 15, 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)
"BOTTOM FISHNG AND HOT WEATHER"
I would like to clear up any misunderstandings that any of my readers might have about the situation with the bottom fishing during the warmer months. I know it's confusing when we say, "bottom fishing is the best during the coolers months!" However, we should say, "but it also good year around," which is also a true statement. Bottom fish during the warmers months will push out and hold in the deeper water, such as the snapper banks area. The only actual difference from cool to warmer temperatures is that large amounts of bottom fish aren't usually found close. This means that the artificial reefs aren't holding as many during the warmer months. The other reason is that there is lots of different kind of food that the bottom fish can choose from during the warmer months. This situation alone makes it harder for a fisherman to get a bottom fish to take their bait especially when so much of the real thing is available to them. So I guess I should say, "it harder on the fishermen during this time to pick out the right bait, but it can be done!" All this boils down to a few things that are a must during the warmer months. You must plan on fishing a little deeper and with a more life like bait. It can still be done with great satisfaction. All I can say, "Your Boat or Mine!"
Our bottom fishing last week was tough with tides ripping. In some occasions it didn't matter whether you anchored or just drifted. Anchoring did seem to allow you to present your bait longer in one spot. Anchoring gives you the best shot at concentrating on one spot. I prefer making long drifts during this time. I have found some of the best fishing drops ever! With boat drifting so fast you get to cover a lot of bottom meaning you still get hits and catches. While I have the fast drift situation I always try to keep out a top water line and a deep live fish line. This situation offers lot of hook up opportunity!
Bait Department
The bait that we normally catch before making our run to the offshore waters has been a little tough to come by. There has been menhaden to substitute our cigar minnows and Spanish sardines. Menhaden are usually found in the sounds during early morning or late afternoon. There have also been some threadfin herring, which has also been pretty good, baits for large bottom fish such as red snapper, grouper, and amberjack. This bait also works well when using for king mackerel, barracuda, jack crevalle, and cobia. The bottom line in regards to this report is the fact that what we offshore fishermen didn't normally use as bait has turned out to be the only thing that we have! With that being said, "when live bait is the secret to getting a hookup go with what you have, because it probably will work."