CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
'Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956'
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921 912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
Capt Judy's email fishjudy2@aol.com
Capt Judy's Cell 912 429 7671
December 8, 2008
Happy Fishing To All!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Offshore Report
Near shore artificial Reefs
These areas are holding the interests of some 'fun to catch as well as eat fish.' During this migration time, which is right now, large black sea bass, flounder, blue fish, ocean perch, and many more highlight the reef area. It's can be a looking game, but when you find them you find them big! Pick a reef such as KC, DUA, CAT, or SAV and spent the day cruising it until you find the fish! Believe me, the fish are there and the bottom line is that they are hungry too!
Savannah Snapper Banks
Profile of a Red Snapper
It's my opinion that red snapper aren't just bottom feeders, because they like nervous baits. It's stands to reason that if a nervous bait doesn't want to get eaten by a bottom fish all they have to do is to school up not down on the live reef. However, red snapper school at all depths in and over the reef allowing them full coverage of the feeding possibilities. With that being said'let talk a little about red snapper'
It's my opinion that red snapper 'same size school.' This means that if you are catching 5 to 8 pound red snapper in one area that's all that in this particular school, which is most of the time true. When red snapper are schooling they do so in the shape of a tornado feeding in somewhat of a circular motion. I have caught all size snapper in the same area, but just not at the same depth. This basically means smaller fish might be closer to the bottom and the larger ones are staging up in the water column. The bottom line is where you have snapper you can have all sizes, because it's very possible. However, if you are only catching illegal fish, less then 20 inches, I suggest moving to your next fishing spot. The reason being is, 'that's all you might catch.' If you just want to stay put in this one spot 'go to larger live baits.' Large baits will scare off the smaller fish and you will at least get a chance for a bigger style hook up. No matter what you do, you need to make a note of what you caught where. The reason being is that next time you fish this same area a larger as well as a strong bite just might happen. Bottom line where you have snapper you have snapper!
I have also noticed that fish switch up ledges quite often meaning here to day gone tomorrow. It would seem that it's all about the food source, because it is. Eating in the case of red snapper is more important than being safe. So therefore if you can do what I call 'tracking' you will be in catching heaven. Keeping a log of what you caught where as well as when is going to help you tract fish. For instance this past week I fished the same areas I fish the trip before. There were fish, but not the same size. I move a little more east, where the water was warmer and caught fish. One degree in surface temperature made all the difference in the big bite pattern.
There are many types of bait that will get a red snapper's attention and this bite pattern can change from day to day. After all if it didn't 'what fun would that be?' All fishermen have their favorite bait used. I have two different categories of bait that I prefer. On the nervous bait side, we have cigar minnow and Spanish sardines types I have my favorites. When I have the choice between cigars and Spanish I go to 'Spanish sardines.' This bait has smell, scents, and comes complete with it chumming system. One way to determine why any bait might be better is to do the smell test. It goes something like this: take a bait in each hand and do what is called 'the live smell test.' Believe me hand downs you are going to select the Spanish sardine over the cigar minnow. These nervous types baits are the ones that don't have an air bladder. This means that they can move freely up and down in the water column with ease.
For a picture of a cigar minnow go to
http://www.landbigfish.com/saltwater/baitfish/CigarMinnow.cfm
For a picture of a Spanish sardine go to
http://www.landbigfish.com/saltwater/baitfish/SpanishSardine.cfm
The next type of bait, which makes a hit with the old red snapper are those with air bladders. This baits that fall into this category is sand perch, small vermilion, rock bass, small ruby red lips, and pin fish.
For a picture of a Sand perch go to http://www.dto.com/swfishing/species/speciesnostate.jsp?speciesid=469
For a picture of a vermilion snapper also known as B-liner go to
http://www.landbigfish.com/fish/fish.cfm?ID=164
For a picture of a bank bass to go
http://www.floridaconservation.org/marine/FishID/sbassban.html
For a picture of Ruby red lips also known as tomtate and fire mouth go to
http://www.safmc.net/FishIDandRegs/FishGallery/Tomtate/tabid/334/Default.aspx
For a picture of a pinfish also known as a 'sailor's choice' go to
http://www.floridaconservation.org/marine/fishid/porgpinfish.html
More next week'..