CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY
'Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956'
POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921
912 897 3460 FAX
www.missjudycharters.com
July 21, 2008
Happy Fish Day!
Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and 'Little Miss Judy's story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
Inshore Report
Got to Fish No Problem!
Captain Ray has many theories when it comes to fish. In the hot season he likes to target red fish at the lower end of the tide. However, it seems according to Captain Ray that the red fish are spooked easy. When he approaches an area he does so quietly. The reason being is that red fish has a keen sense in regards to their surroundings for sure. According to Captain Ray it's like each outside noise that doesn't match the norm pushes them out and away from the area. The fact of the matter is the fish just sink down into their wintertime stealth mode!
So therefore every cast made to an active area might possibly be your last. So make all casts count, because according to Captain Ray you only get a few chances! He is catching quite a few large red fish up in the grass. However, after a few casts, he moves on to the next spot so as to give the fish spooked time to re-group. The bottom line to this suggestion is to have some sort of a plan. This means have in mind where you are going to move next. If you don't have other areas, then back off, and wait quietly for the fish to re-group. This is called at best 'the red fish watching game!'
During this time it's best to use the bait that suits the fisherman the best. Artificial baits that can be casts to the holding area are great. However, those casting have to understand the noise factor. The boils down to the cast need to have an 'Olympic dive pattern!' In other words the least amount of rings a possible. If you want that gold metal in the shape of a fish think quiet before casting.
Now for those that prefer to use the real thing it definitely works for sure. The reason being is that red fish have keen smelling sensors. This boils down if the bait used puts out a luring smell the red fish will come. Live bait or fresh dead bait under mini floats work great, because once cast all you have to do is to wait. Almost any bait will work as long as it matches the hatch of the fish. I know that's an old saying, 'Match the Hatch,' but I had to throw it in there. It's oh so true!
I am always saying to myself even though I fish all of the time, 'why didn't I think about using that bait?' Well, we can't remember everything all of the time that's why keeping fishing records is so important. I had an 'old fishing codger' tell me the other day that 'fresh mullet heads' are good red fish bait. After thinking about it, that sounds just like something my father would have tried. I have a great reasoning behind that last statement. Back in the old days my father ate a lot of fried or smoked mullet, which sometimes still had their heads intact. However, when we had mullet minus their heads I should have wondered why and now I might have just figured it out. After talking to that 'old fishing codger' it dawn on me that this was the only part of the fish that he was willing to give up, which was the head and parts attached! So therefore 'heads off means fresh bait on!'