“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

August 15, 2011

Saltwater Inshore, Offshore, Blue Water fishing reports, Freshies Suggestions, and “Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not story! Thanks for Reading!

Table of contents

Sounds, beachfronts, and near shore Casting can be “all most too much action!” Menhaden report

Big Red Fish In the Hot Water Grass

Welcome to Captain Judy’s of Miss Judy Charters own personal SHARK WEEK!

Sharks bites in the sounds and beachfronts

Artificial reefs Spanish mackerel at the KC Buoy yesterday August 9, 2011 Tuesday

August 10, 2011 Wednesday Captain Judy Helmey on Miss Judy Too

August 10, 2011 Wednesday Captain Wally our South Carolina Connection…South Carolina’s Beaufort 45

August 13, 2011Saturday Captain Judy and Captain Kathy turned a short bottom fishing trip into complete

Bottom fishing at the artificial reefs this past week! It’s time to join the “The fishermen that are now part

Scorpion fish colorful, intriguing, interesting, strange looking, and very dangerous!

Savannah Snapper Banks It’s the only place that I know where you can fish and catch a little of everything.

Gulf Stream Fishing Blue marlin Photo by Daniel Carter Sweatte Nice Blue Marlin, which was caught, fought, tagged, and released!

Freshies Report Tina Edwards holding nice salmon, which she caught while fishing in Grand Haven,

“Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not!” Mules, Trucks, and Cars

Sounds, beachfronts, and near shore

Casting can be “all most too much action!”

This past week proved to me once again that I fish in a very interesting area for sure!!

Attachment 200925

Captain Kathy Brown is being careful about where she is tying his cast net lead. It’s tied to the boat for that just in case a big fish gets in the cast net. Nice catch Captain KB!!

Menhaden Report

There are plenty of these bait fish to be caught in the sound, around the beachfronts, and even offshore passed the sea buoy area. Here’s the thing to catching menhaden you have to find them first. And believe me if they are in an area there is one bird that can help you with its eyes from the sky. That would be the pelican, which considers the menhaden one of their finest snacks. Fishermen call menhaden “Pelican Candy!” So therefore when looking for schooling menhaden on the surface look for diving or hanging around pelicans. For those that are not only looking to catch menhaden but also those fish feeding on them here is a suggestion that you can take right to the hook up bank. When pelicans are diving on menhaden there isn’t much leftovers for other birds to be interested by. However, if tarpon, shark, or jacks are feeding from down under there will be small sea birds getting involved. When a pelican feeds it basically swallows the fish whole leaving little left over feeding opportunity. However, when a 100 pound tarpon starts to make it runs through a school of menhaden lots of different size parts happen bringing on the interest of all sizes of sea birds. Believe me in this case where you have pelican and lot of sea birds feeding in one area your catch opportunity definitely increases.

With all this being said, “I saw about a 100 pound silver king better known as a tarpon crashing through as school of menhaden just as Captain Kathy was just about to throw the cast net!” The top side of this fish was about 12 inches thick and it had it feeding lights on bright. There were lots of different size sea birds. Had I stopped and fished this area I most likely could have scored some reel scorchers. Before I end this I need to suggest that instead of placing your cast net lead on your waist I suggest tying it to the boat. That way if a big fish happens to be under you net when it closes it can pull the boat around and not you overboard!!

Attachment 200917

In April 2011 I came upon this tightly schooled pod of trophy red fish, which I found about 27 miles offshore. They were all swimming in the cadence and all were over the 30 pound class size. I called this my once in a lifetime viewing offshore!

Big Red Fish In the Hot Water Grass

During this time of the year it’s is not unusual for inshore fishermen to get a chance at catching some really nice trophy red fish. This is one fish that likes what’s up in the grass and on some occasions get it self into too shallow of water conditions. It’s true in most cases when a fish has it’s sights on something to eat they follow it through even if it means bottoming out. Captain Ray Crawley of Miss Judy Charters found some really nice trophy size red fish this past week. According to this report the tails on these red fish were 14 inches across. Not only were their tails big, but also the bodies attached to them. He watched as a couple of fish skirted through such shallow water that he couldn’t get his flats boat near them. However, as he watched them feeding he planned his catching strategy. In his bait well were some lively finger mullet. While using his smallest adjustable float rig he lipped hooked the mullet up and cast it into place. As soon as the natural splash was made it got both fish’s attention. There is this thing about a red fish once hooked especially when it’s in the grass…well it hauls as*! And you already know the rest of the story! The spool might be emptied, but it’s hard to wipe that smile off the customers face!

Welcome to Captain Judy’s of Miss Judy Charters own personal SHARK WEEK!

Attachment 200921

Photos by Captain Judy Helmey

Meet Mr. Bull shark, which was caught, fought, and released, unharmed! This brings to light that this is one shark that is still eating and growing as we speak!

Sharks bites in the sounds and beachfronts

For those that want a short boat ride to some really big fish pulls “now is the time!” Best baits are going to be whiting, blue fish, Spanish mackerel, Boston mackerel, and large whole squid. Most sharks are hooked up near sand bars in less than15 feet of water. Here’s what I do know…if you hook up and the fish runs toward the deepest part of the river “it’s a real big shark!” I have been catching bulls, spinner sharks, large rays, and some fish that once they hit my bait have not stopped running yet. So therefore those fish that I didn’t get to the boat were the biggest ever and that’s my fish story and I am sticking with it!

Attachment 200920

Photos by Captain Judy Helmey

Here’s a mega size Sting ray, which was caught, fought, and released!

Attachment 200923

Photos by Captain Judy Helmey

Here’s the mid section of a spinner shark!

Attachment 200919

Photos by Captain Judy Helmey

Large spinner shark! Here’s the head! The tail follows many feet later!

Artificial reefs

Spanish mackerel at the KC Buoy yesterday

August 9, 2011 Tuesday

The catch reports for Spanish mackerel have been good one day and bad the next. However, while fishing offshore yesterday Captain Ken Kennickell and crew caught some really nice Spanish mackerel while trolling around the KC artificial reef areas. The preferred bait for this particular day was small to medium Clark spoon with was pulled behind #2 and #3 planers. Some spoons were pulled right on the surface behind Cajun popping corks. Several of the Spanish caught weighted in close to 10 pound range…now that’s some big Spanish mackerel for sure!

August 10, 2011 Wednesday

Captain Judy Helmey on Miss Judy Too

While I was plain old drifting and bottom fishing at KC Artificial reef I watched as Spanish mackerel passed right under the boat. While reeling in an assorted sizes of black sea bass, pig fish trigger fish, sharks, reef runners, and others biters Spanish followed most hooked fish right to the boat. I watched as a few bait pods were pushed to he surface around the reef. As I made way home I saw several bait balls rounded up by hungry Spanish mackerel. Who knows maybe this is it!! Top water time!

August 10, 2011 Wednesday

Captain Wally our South Carolina Connection…

South Carolina’s Beaufort 45 and General Gordon’s artificial Reef

Captain Wally on Sea Wolf reported catching 4 to 5 pound Spanish mackerel while trolling the South Carolina waters. According to this report his charter group caught a nice Spanish just about every time he pulled spoons over the structure. Hey, this fish might be late, but isn’t it great? Finally some top water action…

August 13, 2011Saturday

Captain Judy and Captain Kathy turned a short bottom fishing trip into complete success. Once arriving at the KC artificial reef buoy, hooks were baited, lines were dropped, and the catching of under sized black fish began. It was quickly noticed that not even one out of every ten black fish caught were even close to legal. So therefore we decided what the heck? Let just troll! With no birds in sight or top water action it seemed like our catching day might have been doomed! However, out of no where came a few birds with their feeding headlights on! I watched as they glided through occasionally making a surface feeding score. With a being said, “We followed the birds and caught some of the nicest Spanish mackerel that we have caught all year!! I told you bird watching could be a lot of fun and on this day it certainly was!

Bottom fishing at the artificial reefs this past week!

A few keeper bottom black sea bass are being caught while just plain old drifting these areas. The reef located in 55 plus depth water is holding the most keeper bottom fish. The artificial reefs in less than 55 feet are holding a few fish. However, there are smaller ones that larger black sea bass. This is one of our offered “catch and release trips only where fishermen get the opportunity to reel in lots of fish! This is great catching trip on light tackle. The Atlantic Sharpnose shark population has found these spots and the feeding must be good! The old question how do you keep a shark interested? Is answered here “Plenty of feeding opportunity!”

I have my customers count the fish that they count while bottom fishing. On any given four to five hours artificial bottom fishing trip six customers could catch over 200 fish. Now I didn’t “keep I said catch and release!” No matter how you look at this “it’s a lot of fun especially on light tackle!” It’s time to join the “The fishermen that are now part of mega fish catching club!”

Scorpion fish colorful, intriguing, interesting, strange looking, and very dangerous!

Attachment 200922

This is a scorpion fish, which was caught while bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks. Please know that this fish is very dangerous and not only can it fin you the mucus covering the entire outside is also very toxic. In the mid nineties Captain Ali Young of Miss Judy Charter got finned by one of these fish. The pain from the small puncture wound was so great that she described it as been stung by 100 bees at one time in the same spot. After about 5 minutes after this happened her heart start racing and her pain was not manageable. At the time I was 50 miles offshore of the Wassaw Sea Buoy. After discussing with the Coast Guard while making way it was decided that Landing Harbor Marina would be my first as well as closest point to meet an ambulance. We talked about a Coast Guard helicopter pick up and arrival timing all would have been about the same.

With fish in a bag, Captain Ali loaded in an ambulance and sirens a blasting off to the hospital she went. It took four days of pumping strong antibiotics into her system so as to get control of the poisons that enter her body with one flick of scorpion’s top fin. Captain Ali made a full recovery from the ordeal.

Then there was this commercial boat

One of the local commercial boats while fishing caught a scorpion fish. Believe me they are well aware of the consequences if they touch this catch. However, a green horn, which in the commercial fishing world is a new man on the boat taking his first trip, didn’t ask, didn’t touch, but did remove and unusual way. After pulling this fish from the depths on his bandit rig instead of cutting his 400 pound monofilament leader he grabbed a discarded paper bag, clutched the fish, removed the hook, and tossed it back over board. As soon as this deal was done, he balled the paper bag up, got the mucus in the cuts that were on his hand, and off to the hospital he went. Since the 12 knots tops speed making way commercial boat was almost 75 miles offshore when this happened a Coast Guard Helicopter ride was taken.

With all this being said, “Don’t touch this fish, just cut the line!”

Savannah Snapper Banks

It’s the only place that I know where you can fish and catch a little of everything.

The bottom bite in regards to black sea bass, white grunt, vermilion snapper, trigger fish, rock bass, sand perch, ruby red lips, banded rudder fish, ocean perch, and an assortment of others bottom biters has been very good. However, although I don’t want to admit it, but need to since this is the fishing report the grouper bite has been slow. We have only caught a few scamps and gags over last week’s fishing trips.

Gulf Stream Fishing

Blue marlin

Attachment 200924

Photo by Daniel Carter Sweatte

Nice Blue Marlin, which was caught, fought, tagged, and released!

Normally I always suggest giving this area a try, because after all just fishing the blue waters of the stream is an amazing thing. And normally during this time it’s a hit and miss type of situation. However, after getting so many good catching reports from fishermen catch black fin tuna to yellow fin tuna to lots bill fish I guess you could say, “It’s time to go because now we know!”

Captain Judy’s Blue Water Suggestion for this week..

Just trolling! Here’s what my plan would be…

After picking an area to set my compass heading on such as the Deli, Triple, or South Ledge I would take a take a heading in that direction. However, I would stop long before arriving to any of these destinations. Once I passed the depth where the first set of Naval Towers are locate, which is around 110 feet I would put out high speed trolling lures. The lures that I have can be pulled at 19 knots. However, I suggest pulling at around 12 knots and when you do get a hit pull back on the throttles as soon as possible. While making way with lures out I suggest looking for bird activity. I always used to look for any sea birds below the horizon line. It’s my opinion that these sea bird glide near the surface taking advantage of the low winds while looking for that prefect meal. Keeping an east direction in mind, only change course to south or north if you see some sort of bird feeding activity. Believe me if you want to be a good blue water fishermen you have to “go to the birds!”

If you get a hit it could be any thing from a Mahi Mahi to Wahoo to king mackerel to a tuna. The bottom line is this: Please remember the water they you catch a fish out of when high speed trolling would have been an area that you would have just made way right over. As my father used to say, “To catch a fish you have to set traps better yet pull a hook!”

Freshies Report

Attachment 200926

Tina Edwards holding nice salmon, which she caught while fishing in Grand Haven, Michigan. According to Tina “the fight was just right and a whole lot of fun!”

Those fishermen that want to “GO FISH LAKE LANIER”

Bill Vanderford is “Lake Lanier’s Legend!”

For more about my long time friend Bill Vanderford as well as his accomplishments, his freshwater charter trips or wildlife tours, books written and his special line up of tackle offered, please visit his site http://www.fishinglanier.com/contact.html for all the details! For more details go http://stores.ebay.com/Fishy-Racer http://www.youtube.com/fishyracer www.cafepress.com/grapefruitshop

“Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not!”
Mules, Trucks, and Cars

Attachment 200918
This is one of daddy workers working on a damaged radiator. According to “AT” my father had a stack of radiator in the back of his shop that was easily over a story building high. Here’s this story and it’s an interesting one too! My father had come up with a way to fix damaged radiators. As AT talked I was thinking, “What the heck was he talking about?” Then it all surfaced…he said, “Those radiators that had been damaged in possible hunting accidents!” Then he said, “Your father’s shop was a dangerous place to work!” And then AT said, “At first it was about hunting accidents and then it was about shoot outs!”

If you have been following my stories then you already know that my father wasn’t just a fisherman. Before my time, during the forties he also had a most interesting career in the automobile repair industry. At least that’s what I was told. Upon meeting my new friend, “AT” of whom worked for my father in the mid forties, things might have been a little different. I knew that daddy repaired and fixed wrecked cars, but he never told me about his “wrecker business!” After thinking about it I guess he needed a wrecker to bring in the damaged or wrecked cars. My thoughts were that he just hired some other business to take care of that. I was very wrong. My father had one of the biggest wrecker’s services in Savannah. He could haul everything from a “Mule Cart to a Large 18 wheeler Truck!” My new source “A T” never mentioned what they did with the mules. I must ask that question when I meet with him again.

At any rate, according to “A T” (one of my father’s trusted employee of the mid forties) the wrecker business was handled a little differently back in the good old days. When a wreck was reported an officer was sent to the scene and it was up to him to contact a wrecker service. In other words, it was his choice. According to the story back in the old days those companies that paid the most got the “most wrecked car calls.” I had to wonder how the police called the wrecker service. After all cell phones weren’t invented at this time. I then found out that the larger wrecker services had short wave radios right in the shop. Back in the old days you could hear all conversations. The police’s frequency was out there for everyone to listen too and they did. Payment for calls and tips came in the form of clothes, liquor, and just plain money. However, I feel that there were other things that were offered, but I don’t think “A T” wanted to share them with me. (Now is the time to use your imagination!) After hearing this story “I wonder if anything in that particular business world has changed.” It’s my opinion that “I think not!”

“Here’s My Line Now Bite My Hook!” Captain Judy

Captain Judy Helmey
missjudycharters.com
912 897 4921