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 22, 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)
Inshore Fishing
TROUT, SPOT TAIL BASS, FLOUNDER, WHITING AND SHARK
Trout, spot tail bass, flounder, whiting, shark, blue fish, croaker, and the old so-called "Yellow tails and spots" are in their full season swing. Trout, bass, and flounder are what I consider the "High Maintenance Fish." In other words these fish are very bait sensitive. They prefer live shrimp or mud minnows, which can either be purchased or caught by you. There are all kinds of changes that you can make to get your best shot at catching these "sexy fish!" The first thing you need to address is if you aren't getting any hits from that prefect bait that you are using you should lighten your leader material. In other words, if you are using 20 pound test change to 10. I am always talking about fluorocarbon leader material and how it basically disappears once dropped into the water, which is a good thing. However, I have found that in some instances that regular old stand by monofilament line also works especially in this case at this time. So therefore let's assume that you have lighten you leader pound test and still no bite results. Then I would suggest just "going naked." I'm not telling you to fish in the nude; however, it certainly is hot enough for that particular move. I am suggesting that you simply go with 8 to 10 pound test main line and tie that hook directly on. This means all you have is your main line, the hook, the bait, and you. There is a lot to be said about bait that's not dangling from something above or anchored from down below. The main thing that needs to be brought out is the fact that fish will have less to look at and will be more fixed on the bait opposed to the cork or sinker.
Spotted sea trout seem to prefer holding deeper at low tide, which means fish away from the bank. Now I am not talking about any bank, but one that has some sort of structure such as live oysters rakes. Spotted sea trout, red fish, and flounder will often stay close to the area in which they are going to advance to as the tide rises. With that being said, "anchor up and present your bait in the most unlikely places.
Sharks and Whiting
As we move down the line you see I have added whiting and shark. They are those fish that don't necessarily hang together, but can be caught in about the same area. The whiting lay low on the bottom to feed while the sharks move about looking for food that is moving in the upper water column. Whiting do prefer fresh dead shrimp, but will eat the old stuff. In this case where you find the whiting you will probably find the sharks. So therefore your catch of whiting can be your bait for the sharks. Either way you win!
Over the last week we have an influx of sharks move into our sounds, beachfronts, and near shore artificial reefs. Prior to this mid-size shark invasion we had quite a few encounters with large mega ones. However, while fishing for the big boys not many of the smaller sharks seem to around. Now the small, medium, large, and mega sharks have arrived your choices in catching has increased. Sharks are fun to fight and great to eat! However, if all you are looking for is a "strong-long fight" please released unharmed!
YELLOW TAILS AND SPOTS
I know you are dieing to hear about the spots and yellow tails. These are the simplest fish of all to catch. All you need is light line, small hooks, small pieces of bait, and some water to drop all of this tied together in! In other words pull yourself up a floating dock or boat and give it a try. You haven't a thing to lose, but your bait! There is more good news when it comes to this catch. These fish make great baits when used live or cut up. I prefer using them alive and in the "free styling mode!"