CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
'Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956'
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921 912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
Captain Judy's email fishjudy2@aol.com
Captain Judy's Cell 912 429 7671
February 2, 2009
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
2009 Inshore and offshore Fishing School Dates
Offshore fishing class February 7, 2009
Inshore fishing class February 21, 2009 $90.00 each now taking reservations
Here's a lists of some of the information that we are going to cover in the offshore February 7, 2009 Fishing School
OFFSHORE FISHING CLASS
February 7, 2009
'Tricks of the Trade!'
Captain Judy's basic tackle used, best baits to purchase and use. How to catch, keep, use, and position your own bait Where to find which fish in the water column and how to catch it, special fishing techniques for fishing near shore artificial reefs and hard bottom areas such as the snapper banks. I will cover basic bottom fishing at its finest, trolling with catching in mind, (top water fish and big bottom fish) and drifting fishing for large bottom fish and top water fish.
2009 Offshore School Subjects:
Log Book Procedures
How to catch the best bait and when
How to keep your bait alive
How to cut your bait up
Baiting up techniques
How to rig up when using live and dead bait
Artificial Reef Fishing Techniques
Rigging a ballyhoo
Butter-flying a bait
Secret Bottom Rigs
High Speed Trolling
Targeting Large Bottom Fish
Basic trolling for the big boys with artificial and the real thing!
Advantages of shrimp boats to fishermen
Flat Lines
Offshore Sheepshead
New Style of Jigging
Trolling for grouper
How to Catch a Flounder Offshore
Cobia Fishing
How to fish a ledge!
How to find and fish wrecks!
How to fish rips!
Fish Cleaning
Gulf Stream Fishing both trolling and big bottom fishing
Ask any questions that you might have and we will try to answer them!
Unbelievable, but true catching stories
These fishing stories are so good that I couldn't even make them up!
How to sign up!
To sign up all you have to do is call 912 897 4921, email fishjudy2@aol.com, or write to Miss Judy Charters, POB 30771, Savannah, Georgia 31410, or carrier pigeon!
Please call 912 897 4921 now for reservations, Plenty of giveaways and discounts!
OFFSHORE SCHOOL
Date: February 7, 2009 Time: 8:00 AM ' 2:00 PM
INSHORE SCHOOL
February 21, 2009 Time: 8:00 AM ' 2:00 PM
Place: Tubby's Tank House 2909 River Drive, Thunderbolt, Georgia 31404
Cost: $90.00 (included one day class, breakfast, and lunch)
Please sign up as soon as possible! There is limited entry!
Just a note about the Black Sea bass 2009 Current regulations!
Black sea bass also known as black fish have the following limits: They need to be at least 12 inches (tail length) long to keep. I always try to keep 13-inch fish releasing those shorter. The bag limit is 15 per fisherman. I am sorry I published the wrong information in last week's fishing report! Thank to those that brought this to my attention!
Inshore fishing Report
Inshore and Near Shore Fishing Suggestions
With warming trends taking place fishing inshore as well as offshore can be very interesting'Here's a few quick suggestions'for inshore if you can get any live bait such a shrimp or mud minnows I suggest using these with the old time traditional float rig. If not go with some sort of artificial Berkley Baits and bounce them on the bottom with jig heads'believe me all fish love them'For offshore'bottom fishing at artificial reefs have been pretty good in regards to catching black sea bass, cold water sharks, and flounder'plain old cut squid or fish works great'for those that want to target the hard to get sheepshead this is a fish that can be found in both places. At this point the only thing you have to loose is your bait!
Cold Water Trolling for Spotted Sea Trout
Trolling for trout is a great way to take a boat ride, drag a lure, find, and catch fish. Back in the old days my father and I used to troll the banks of Bull River. Back then we used 'salty dogs' and 'Christmas Tree Lures' as our bait. Now we have paddle tails, screw tails, jerk baits and darting shad. The best news about all lures is when they make a pass by even a semi hungry fish 'strikes are going to happen!'
Inshore Fishing Report
Fishing Winter Time Deep Holes
I am forever suggesting that you fish any deep holes that you can to fish especially during the cold times of the year. It's known fact that all fish and what we call 'bait' hibernate together in these areas during this time. With that being said, 'this would be a great place to fish and catch!' There can be many different interpretations of a deep hole especially in this scenario. A deep hole is what I call the deepest spot in any give area. Lets say, 'you are cruising down the creek, which is predominately 15 to 20 feet, when all of a sudden you notice either on your fish or depth finder that you have crossed a ledge or drop off.' This is the sort of a hole that fish seek especially during the cold-water times. Make a note of this area. Another good area to look is where a creek or river meets another creek or river. In other words where you have a 'Y' in the flow of the water. This is where what I call 'washouts' is normally formed. These are great spots to fish especially when the current isn't moving. In other words when it's almost low and until the current starts to really move again. These are great areas to work all sorts of bait from artificial to the real thing. The secret is when using any type of bait is to cast or drop, let the bait settle, bounce it in place, and then retrieve slowly. Slow it the word!
Many of our creek and rivers have some real deep holes, which are over 50 feet. These spots are not only good areas to fish in during the winter, but also in the summer. I can't name a fish whether it's large of small that doesn't look for these areas. I have another suggestion for finding these spots and you don't even have to get into a boat. All you have to do is to pick up a chart of the area in which you want to fish and check out all of the 'Y Spots!' That's all I have to say about that!!
Striped Bass AKA Rock Fish
You best bait is going to be anything from a live shrimp to a menhaden. When using the live stuff I suggest putting them on a 'beefed up' traditional style trout rig. This rig allows you to suspense your bait at different depths, which helps finding the strike zone for this fish. Striped bass are large so when they feed they make lots of 'waste.' Where you have leftovers your fine-feathered friends will be there to help you with an eye from the sky. In other words where you find a bird hovering or feeding you are likely to find this fish feeding. For those fishermen that want to go with the artificial stuff I suggest rattle traps lures (noise makers) or popping corks with a loaded jig head in tow. Both style artificial bait situations will work. Throw these around any sort of structure during the last of the out going till the first of the incoming tide. One more thing where you have any sort of a formed rips 'fish them!' Savannah River and Ogeechee River has been the focus areas for these feeding fish!
There is another artificial lure that might get this fish's attention. It's made by Storm Lures and it's a 6 to 8 inch Storm paddle tail. It's made from soft plastic making it very flexible. I like pulling it behind the boat while look for any sort of fish signs. When you get a hit the sign is clear 'fish clear!'
I would like to note that we have not had a bonus catching striped bass season. However, I have this old saying, 'there aren't any bad days when you are out fishing.' I just love to go!
The Offshore Bite
Artificial Reefs
This is a great time to get to fish almost anywhere on the artificial reefs at any time. The reason being is there's not much 'boat action offshore!' Most fishers and boaters wait for that spring warming trend to get them going. However, for those that don't mind a little cold weather now is the time to do some exploring! Here are some suggestions:
Captain Judy's Pro Fish Chum
The bottom bite is normally good for black sea bass, trophy red fish, ocean perch, triggerfish, and flounder at the artificial reef areas. Anchoring over any or around any live bottom areas is going to offer some sort of a bite. For those that want to bring the bite straight to the boat I suggest tying a bag of offshore 'Pro Fish Chum' to your anchor rope before dropping it down. Heck, if you really want your presents known by those 'down under fish populations' tie a bag near the bottom, at middle water depth, and near the surface. The current flushes thought the chum bag distributing contents that brings on the attentions of all fish. You know the old saying, 'where you have fish you have fish!'
Savannah Snapper Banks
The bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper banks this pasted week was very dependable. From around 80 to 105 feet large black sea bass and occasional red snapper has been the standard catch. Cut squid and fish are great baits for this depth. Once moving out to around 130 feet red snapper and grouper can be found schooling around small broken live bottom areas. The best baits are going to be fresh caught cigar minnows or Spanish sardines. If those baits aren't accessible pull out last year's still in the freezer baits, they will work too!
Gulf Stream
Black fin tuna!
In the next few weeks I am going to be writing a lot about the good blue water fishing that's just about to take place. However, we are still experiencing a pretty solid black fin tuna bite at the South Ledge. The good news if you have ever caught any sort of tuna they are very strong fighters. And they aren't bad table fare either! The best news is where you have one fish although you might not see them there are more! It's that time where plain old cedar plugs and rigged small naked ballyhoo work like a charm! It's time to go! Call me I need a report!
Freshies Report
Winter Time Large Mouth Bass
Here's a few'did you knows about winter time large mouth bass'
Fact One!
To catch one of these trophy bass, 10 pounds plus, you need to be fishing in the right area. This means not all ponds, lakes, and rivers hold these fish 'do your homework!
Fact Two!
For a large mouth bass to maintain it 'real big' status it has to feed to feed. In other words, especially in the winter a real large mouth bass has to feed a lot so that it will be able to chase down it's next meal. The bottom line to this craziness is the colder it gets the more true trophy sized large mouth bass have to feed to fatten up.
Fact Three!
Big bass are smart, don't like un-natural surface noise, and have a memory like an elephant! This boils down to the fact that they relocated even it's only on the outskirts of the area that they preferred at least until the noise moves on.
Fact Four
Large mouth bass don't blink, because they don't have eyelids. This could mean that they just might be sensitive to the light and can't see as well when it's bright. So therefore this brings to light that fishing shady areas when it's bright is a good idea! The fish might be found feeding in the shadows instead of around it.
The bottom line is you need to know where to go as well as understand their feeding habits. Even being privy to all this information still might not get you that big bass hook up, but it sure will increase your chances. With that being said, 'do your whereabouts homework, approach quietly, fish areas where there are no other fishermen, cloudy days are the best, and don't tell anyone you know all of this!
Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!'
As You Get Older It's Funny How Well You Remember The Past!
It's truly is amazing what you remember as you get older. As I was riding in the Miss Judy Too this past week my mind took a backward stroll right into the fifties. In my mind I could see Daddy's old boat just as if I had just stepped on to it as it sat at the dock! I have to share with you some of the fond memories in regards to dear old dad's wooden boats.
I remember so many things that I really don't know where to start. My father had so much stuff on his boat that when he took everything off of it, the boat floated about 3 inches higher out of the water. We found things such as quarts of oil made of out of metal, which had rusted completely through. Now you already know where the contents of the cans went, which was straight into the bilge. According to my father this helped oil the wood, which preserved it better. Then we found old cans that we made with metal ends and cardboard bodies. These were also busted and the contents had run down into the bilge. Same deal here! Changing from one type of oil container to another certainly was an era.
He normally had so much stuff on board that when boats were in need while offshore he was the first that they visited. If they were stranded he would bring the floating repair shop to them. If he couldn't fix the problem he would take the stranded vessel 'in tow.'
There were drawers and drawers full of bass and stainless steel screws, which he used to put the boat, back together. She was forever springing all kinds of links from small to large. I remember this one time where a bottom plank in the old Miss Jerry almost came completely out. Before I tell you how he saved the old wooden boat let me give you the dimensions of a standard Miss Jerry plank. They were about 4 inches wide and 24 inches long. When this happened all he really said was 'if the plank pops completely out she is going straight to the bottom!'
I really never saw him panic even when water was pouring in. I guess he always had a plan, which was to beach her and we did! Come to think about it I never really though any thing about it either. It was our way of life in the boating world meaning one unbelievable adventure after another!
Thanks for reading!
Captain Judy