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)
Blue Water Suggestions
Captain Ken's Blue Water Weekend July 8, 2007
I wrote a little about Captain Ken blue water weekend, but didn't go into any great detail about how it came about. Please find listed below events that took place along with how he got the fish to the hook in the first place.
Big Fish Catching Recipe
Four fishermen, Four Hours, One Fish!
Big Marlin!
The lure that got the blue marlin's attention was "custom put together" lure by Captain Ken. The just of the lure when something like this: Firstly as I printed before it was basically a blue and white color combination lure. It looked like what was called yesteryear a "bird/hooker combination. However, it wasn't quite that. Captain Ken took a soft plastic bird and rigged a hard head "Outlaw" type lure, which he pulled in tow. There was about 4 feet between the soft bird and rigged lure. When looking through this fish's eye I can only assume that it looked like one fish chasing another. With the rig set up as it was, it left plenty of room between the bird and the lure for "batting practice."
Just a note: When you rig two lures (one behind each other) you need to make sure that there is enough distance just in case a "bill, bills it." The last thing that you want is the fish to get tangled into the leader. If the lures are pulled too close together "batting practice" will become a "tangling event."
The blue marlin approached the lure with its "lights on!" When a billfish is ready to eat it turns on it own personal lights. These fish light up like a billboard showing distinct colors that you won't soon forget! As the fish batted at the lure the rod was picked up with the angler dropping the bait back a bit. The rest is hooked up catching history. It took four fishermen, four hours to land this majestic fish. All on the boat had a fighting affair whether they held the rod or not! Anticipation played the strongest part of this fight. I know when I get a big fish on I really get anxious and try to foresee the catching out come, but it's not over till it over! This fish came to the boat many times before it was caught and successfully released!
The line up "rod men" goes like this: Ashton Pritcher, Bailey Pritcher, John Curry, Jr., Captain Ken Kennickell, and John again.
When the blue was finally brought to the boat Bailey Prichard grabbed the bill at the stern of the boat. When this took place the fish began thrashing making "big blue marlin signature" marks on "Obsession decal," which by the way will never be repaired! It has become the greatest conversation piece ever! Once again the bottom line to this report is a most simple one. "Sometimes a slow trolling morning can turn out to be a bonus catching afternoon!"
I had a customer ask me the other day this question: "How hard does a marlin pull?" My answer went something like this: "Back your truck up, tied on your line with 30 pounds of drag, have someone floor it, and try to turn it!" The first few seconds of this staged take off is just about how a marlin feels when it's taking your bait for a spin! The good news is that you can turn a marlin, but believe some real good strategy does have to come into to play!
When the marlin was hooked up Captain Ken hit the cockpit, Captain Deidra took the helm, and Aston took the rod. The first angler's fight lasted about two hours. The rod was passed over to Bailey for 1-½ hours, then John. Once the fish started it's circling event Captain Ken held the rod so as the keep the fish from lying on the line. I have to add that while all of this was going on Jerry Hillis did a great job of shooting great action photos.
The bottom line to this 10-foot blue marlin is a simple one: "It's the ocean and lots of big things live in it, which will hit the smallest and strangest pulled baits!"
Captain Ken Kennickell Blue Water Weekend was truly a memorable one!
75-Pound Wahoo
July 7, 2007
Donald Lawson as I reported last week is quite a fish catching fisherman! He has luck, experience, and certainly the right attitude. Captain Ken Kennickell, Captain Deidra Jeffcoat of Miss Judy Charters took Donald Lawson on a whirlwind blue water-fishing trip. It started out normal with lines being set out with lots of water being covered. The morning bite wasn't "hot," but still a few fish were caught. When it reached high noon sights were set for shallower water with bottom fishing on the mind. At the present they found them selves in "no fish land!"
The Wahoo current spread
Captain Ken pulls high-speed heavy-duty #4 planers. His rig consists of about 30 feet of 120-pound test leader material and then they loop-to-loop the lure to the monofilament leader. This application works well, because it eliminates the use of any sort of snap swivel. Planers are pulled at different depths so as to attract those fish feeding down under in the water column. This part of the spread didn't produce or even get a hit or miss.
So therefore changes were made. The planers were pulled in and set aside. Captain Deidra attached two 8-ounce trolling sinkers in line, added 30 feet of 120-pound test monofilament leader, and then the lure. She also duplicated the same rig on the other rod, but used double in-line 6-ounce trolling sinkers. The lures pulled were dark combinations such as red/black and purple/black. Red and black was a first place winner.
Rigged Lures Used
Ilander Lures have been around a long time. However, they have come out with another style, which has been doing well in the "catching big fish department." Captain Deidra Jeffcoat does quite a bit cruising in the tackle department. She found these new Flashers Ilander lures, which come with different head styles and colors. This fish hit a bullet head style head, which had a red and black skirt. This lures comes in many other colors combinations and a few other head styles. Some push water while others produce smoke trail, or just swim fast while being trolling at speeds of 6 to 10 knots.
The fish took bait with the change!
While fishing north of the Deli Ledge in around 900 feet of water the big Wahoo slammed and ate one of the sinker-trolled baits red/black lures. Donald Lawson had control of the rod, but the fish was another story. Wahoo are known for being able to change directions fast, which can put a serious "bag in the line." This is where the fish is able to swim off the hook. So therefore when hooked up with a fish like this you should keep your boat in some sort of "forward motion," which should helps keep the line from bagging.
*Bagging in the line is caused when the hooked fish swims faster than the "rod man" can reel. Keeping the boat heading and moving in the opposite direction is the best way to keep from losing the fish. Wahoo are known for their erratic moves and behavior! After several minutes of screaming line and hard reeling the Wahoo was brought to the gaff!