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 8, 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)
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
My friend Captain Johnny "Rudy" Cole
"Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs!"
1930-2007
Johnny Cole and I go back many years! I started running fishing charters when I was about 15 year old. During this time frame the United States Coast Guard respectfully requested that I obtain "Letters of competence" from persons qualified to attest to my abilities. Johnny Cole was one of the first to step forward to compose a letter and sign on the dotted line. This letter became part of the documents that were in my file, which was labeled "the illegal captain!"
Over the years Johnny and I worked together on many things from television to fishing. One day Johnny Cole became "Captain Cole" and became a member of "Miss Judy Charters Fishing Team." He bought himself a boat to which he named "Miss Molly." It was a great 24-foot boat with inshore and near shore capabilities. He fixed her up in "Johnny Cole Style!" During this time frame, he took many interesting people fishing. Occasionally he was asked to just take customers on plain boat rides! I remember this one time in particular where he was asked to take a young just married "good looking" couple out for a ride through the intercostals waterway. The chartered boat ride started out normal. However, I wouldn't be mentioning this if that were the case. About one hour into the "sunny day riding affair" the couple asked, "Could they sun in the nude?" Captain Cole, even though this was exciting, wasn't sure exactly how to answer, but it came out anyhow, "yes of course!" According to the story, at least Captain Cole version, "clothes started flying off!" As Johnny made his way down the waterway, not trying to look, while passing under one of Turner Creek bridges his wife at the time caught a glimpse of the "bare facts!" You know the old saying, "news travels fast, but real good news flies faster than the news man!" The only way that I can correctly sum this story up is to report the facts: Everyone everywhere knew before Captain Cole returned back to the dock! The phones were ringing and the VHF radios were humming! Some one should have taken a picture!
Then there was this time when Captain Cole was "taking a personal fishing holiday!" He and a small group had decided to head out to the beachfront so as to do a little Spanish and king mackerel fishing. The fishing trip turned out great with all on deck catching quite a few fish. When all were tired including Captain Cole sights were set for home, as Captain Cole rounded "red marker 16" in Warsaw Sound he lined up with "red marker 20." Had it not been real low tide this story would have not needed to be told! As he made his way at 21 knots and as soon as the "Miss Molly" ran out of water she grounded on the sand bar. The good news was that no one was hurt and the boat wasn't damaged! However, navigator Captain Cole called up the powers that be and strongly suggested that another navigational aid be placed between the two red markers. It didn't take long before the Coast Guard buoy tender made way to the area and placed the badly needed day marker. From this day the navigational aid became known as and is still called the "Johnny Cole Marker!"
My first mate of over thirty years Captain Ali Young and Captain Cole had an understanding. They both basically said what they thought and thought what they said was "right on!" However, the bad news is that I can't print many of the subjects that they talked about! So I will do what I do best, which is tell most of the facts. He was forever asking Captain Ali, which he always referred to as "Miss Turner Creek," questions that he knew he couldn't use the answers on the air. However, the show always went on, but the tape was never used! However, I do have a clip of interviews with Captain Johnny Cole and Miss Turner's Creek. It's pretty entertaining! And by the way I was called "the other woman!" Stories with Captain Cole, Miss Turner's Creek, and the other woman were always interesting, informative, and most of the time officially un-reportable! The bottom line to this situation was that we had lots of fun making these wonderful memories!
I could go on and on with great stories about my wonderful Johnny Cole. I would just like to say, "if there wasn't a Johnny, many a smile and laugh would have been lost for sure!" Many will miss Johnny Cole! I bet he has "got a big fish hooked up right now!"
Captain Judy
"Fish Whisperer!"
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