“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

January 2, 2012

Happy New Year!

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

Saying goodbye to of our brightest stars! A J Collins Jr February 15, 1987- December 25, 2011

Call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit http://www.joinrfa.org/ “JUST DO IT!”

2012 INSHORE and OFFSHORE FISHING CLINICS Dates have been set

Surf Fishing Report

Inshore and offshore shorts! First fishing report for 2012

Spotted Sea Trout Secrets to getting that “slow to go” cold water bite!

Three Red fish tagged at the artificial reefs

Blue water fishing report Blue Fin Hook up or Not!

Freshies report

Little Miss Judy’s Believe it or not..will continue next week

Saying goodbye to one of our brightest stars!

Saying goodbye to one of our brightest stars! Our AJ (Alan Jr) was Captain Alan Collin’s son!

Attachment 210606

A J Collins Jr

February 15, 1987- December 25, 2011

The first time that I met AJ also known by me as “Alan Collins, JR” I knew I was going like him. He had a wonderful smile and plenty enough of a southern gentlemen up bringing. When AJ answered a question there was always a no ma’am or yes ma’am attached to it.

I came to know AJ through his father Captain Alan Collins that works with us over here at Miss Judy Charters. His father loved and adored his son that looked so much like him. I will have to admit AJ was a good looking man for sure. On more than a couple of occasions AJ would accompany his father on a charter trip. It used to make me smile to see them together being that I fished with my father too!! I always thought it was a very good thing for their relationship even though that deal was sealed many years ago.

Alan and AJ Jr spent a lot of time together just going fishing. Heck, Alan even had custom rods made for him and AJ. Believe me these rods were only used by them when they would go fishing. I loved the way that AJ always caught the biggest fish even when he didn’t! My father would have called AJ a “CARD,” which meant one heck of a cool guy!

I got to tell you when AJ drove down my driveway I knew it before he arrived. I could tell by the roar of his car’s engine. It might have been a compact type vehicle, but it certainly did not run much less sound like one. AJ would always be doing something to that car to either make it faster or just plain louder!! Boy, I am going to miss that car coming down my driveway!

One day while sitting on the dock AJ and I had a wonderful conversation. It was all about fishing and the wonderful times that he had with his father. I would always laugh at him, because AJ would say, “You know I can fish better than him on any old day!!” And Then I would say, “Where did you learn to fish?” AJ would then smile that smile that everyone loved so much. Then he said, “If I ever get the chance can I come and fish with your company?” And of course I replied “Heck yah especially since you are better than your father!” We both laughed and I would pat him on his back and say “Any time, just let me know!”

Although AJ had to leave us much too soon I have to believe in my heart that the fisherman upstairs has a plan! He will be missed by far more people than anyone would expect for such a young man. I am among those that will miss AJ “Alan Collins JR” the most!! Captain Judy Helmey

Attachment 210607

AJ Jr and his father Captain Alan Collins holding up the largest lemon shark caught in the 2011 fishing season. AJ was Captain Alan Collins’s son!

Attachment 210608

“JUST DO IT!”

If you want to keep catching these ..join the Recreational Fishing Alliance NOW!!

Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters is holding up a nice genuine red snapper, which was caught at the Savannah Snapper banks. We do not have a genuine snapper season in the south east. At this time you can only catch and release this fish!! Please do so as carefully as possible!! Boy, I remember the good old days when we could keep them. They amazed me then and they still amaze me now!! There is something about this fish that makes you smile!!

Recreational Fishing Alliance

POB 98263

Washington, DC 20077-7581

Call 888-JOIN-RFA or visit http://www.joinrfa.org/

I am willing to fight for my right to fish….Here’s what I like about this organization….their stated mission is “To safeguard the rights of Saltwater anglers, protect marine, boat, and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s saltwater fisheries!”

Please join the RFA today! A one year membership is only $ 35.00!

http://www.joinrfa.org/About_Us.htm

2012 INSHORE and OFFSHORE FISHING CLINICS

Dates have been set

Our newly revised inshore handout material is going to be considered “priceless!” We are going to give you the best times to fish for what, when, and where for the entire year of 2012.

Any inshore fisherman that is considering going offshore they need to attend my offshore class. For more details scroll down …

One Inshore School
Saturday February 4, 2012

One Offshore School

Saturday February 11, 2012

Time: 8:00AM – 2:00 PM

Place: Tubby’s Tank House 2909 River Drive, Thunderbolt, Georgia 31404

Cost: $ 90.00 (included one day class, breakfast, and lunch)

Please call 912 897 4921 now for reservations

Please sign up as soon as possible! There is limited entry!

Capt Judy’s email fishjudy2@aol.com

Capt Judy’s Cell 912 429 7671

For more detailed information go to

www.missjudycharters.com OR GIVE US A CALL 912 897 4921

To sign up just give us a call or email fishjudy2@aol.com and we will put you on the list. After the first of the year we will contact to check the status! Thanks and hope to hear from you soon! Captain Judy

Surf Report

Still not a thing to report…maybe next year!!

Inshore and offshore shorts!

First fishing report for 2012

Attachment 210609

This is a nice striped bass, which was caught while using live shrimp under a traditional adjustable float.

Inshore and offshore shorts!

First fishing report for 2012

Well this is the first fishing report for 2012 and here’s what happening…For inshore a few striped bass are being caught in the Savannah River. The red fish bite has been off one day and on the next. A few spotted sea trout are being caught on live shrimp. As far as offshore the artificial reefs are holding some nice Sheepshead, black drum, and flounder. Sounds to me like the fish are starting the 2012 fishing season off just right!

Spotted Sea Trout

Secrets to getting that “slow to go” cold water bite!

Attachment 210610

With water temperature dipping into the mid fifties it is more than likely that the spotted sea trout have gone into their winter time hibernation mode. When the water gets cold spotted sea trout go into their burrowing mode. This is where the fish finds a suitable it its likely a suitable deep hole or ledge and basically lays belly down on the bottom. Since most of what we have on the bottom is mud it plays a plus in regards to a trout trying to anchor itself.

When a trout finds where it’s going to winter it basically lays on the bottom and wiggles back and forth until there is some sort of suction. The suction is created when the trout belly sinks more into the mud. Once the suction process has taken place the spotted sea trout can then just lay their without floating away. I guess you could say, “The trout anchors itself!” The fish may or may not for some time. However, if something happens by they just might make an eating pass at it.

Now here’s where you the fishermen comes in…

If you know of such a hole where you think that would hold the interest of hibernating trout I suggest giving these suggestions a try. First thing is you can forget any sort of normally hit, because nine times out of ten this is not going to happen. However, this what can happen if you try using 4 to 8 pound test main line and small freshwater jigs rigged with screw tails or grubs. The secret to catching is you have to work the lure really slow meaning cast into the hole, let it fall to the bottom, and turn the reel handle one revolution slowly one time. After this just wait and don’t do anything for a few minutes then turn the reel handle again and wait. It’s a process to catch a trout that is basically sleeping. However, I have seen many a nice trout being caught out of a deep hole in the creeks, rivers, and sounds.

Three Red fish tagged at the artificial reefs

Attachment 210611

Ken Marharaj holding with one of his three tagged red fish! Along with Captain Judy Helmey

Artificial Reefs

Friday December 23, 2011 Ken Maharaj, his son Justin, Glenn Kurban, and Larry Lambert…

While plain old bottom fishing at the artificial reefs we this group has a pretty interesting fish day. With offshore water temperatures dropping to the mid fifties it would seem that the black fish population would have moved out to deeper water. However, for some reason these fish are still here eating anything that they can find.

Normally during this time we offshore fishermen get a pretty good chance at catching some very nice Sheepshead, black drum, and flounder. During this time of the year the red fish move offshore. They vary in sizes to 22 to 42 inches. This is a great time to do a little red fish tagging, which really can add lots of bragging rights to a fisherman’s day.

Attachment 210612

Just about every fish that we caught was pack full with glass minnows. We kept seeing the seabirds diving and now we know what this was all about!!

First red fish tagged

On this particular day the water was very calm offshore. There was a little scattered light rain, which only lasted for a few minutes. You know the kind of rain that really doesn’t stop the fishermen from fishing. On my first drop I hung nicely on the Olympic Barge located at the KC artificial reef. This barge has been known for its Sheepshead attracting appeal. So I felt pretty good about catching some nice Sheepshead. However, on our first drop we all hooked up with a nice black sea bass. On our second, third, fourth, fifth, and so on we found ourselves catching some of the largest sea bass that I have seen in years. Then all of sudden we stop catching black sea bass. It was then my though that now would be the time that we would be catching some Sheepshead. Well, we didn’t catch any Sheepshead. However, Ken got hooked up and we all knew from the way the fish was acting this was “no black sea bass.” Just before Ken hooked up I had taken a glance at my fish finder. I now was marking individual fish down under. Since we were fishing with very light tackle it took a few runs before the fish got a little tried. We all had pretty much figured out that this must be a nice red fish, which it was. While Ken was working the fish I got the tag and tape measure ready. As soon as we netted the fish, it was put on the deck, and I carefully set the tag. As soon as that deal was done I then measured the fish, which ended up being 26 inches.

Attachment 210613

Larry Lambert holding a nice black sea bass and Captain Judy

Second red fish tagged

After that excitement Ken baited up and back in the water his line went. I looked at fish finder and I was still marking individual fish on the screen. After a few small black fish, Ken hooked up again, but this time he knew for a fact it was a red fish. I began getting ready so that I could quickly go through the tagging and measuring process. As soon as Ken brought this fish to the surface we netted and brought it on board. I tagged and measured it. This red fish was 22 inches. It was successfully tagged and release healthy.

Third red fish tagged

Once again Ken baited his hook and as soon as he got on the bottom he caught small black fish. We took it off his hook, baited up yet another fiddler, and out he went. Sure enough it was, but about 10 minutes when Ken said, “I have got another red fish hooked up!” Before I could catch myself I said, “You are kidding, right?” Ken was not kidding he really did have another red fish on. However, he said, “This one is the smallest red fish so far!” Sure enough his third tagged fish measured in at 21 inches.

Attachment 210614

Ken holding the first red fish tagged, which measured in at 26 inches.

I can truthfully say, “I have never tagged three red fish on the same fish day with the same fishermen! Ken you are in!! And Congratulations!!

Blue water fishing report

Attachment 210615

Captain Tommy Williams is holding up a nice Wahoo, which was caught on Friday December 16, 2011 with the NOFC crew. At his feet are black fin tuna, dolphin, and king mackerel. It was a heck of a blue water fish catching day!

December 18, 2011 Sunday

Captain Scott Abernathy, Frank Scarborough, and crew on board “Dr. Feelgood!”

According to this blue water report they caught some fish, but the crew had to brave rough sea conditions sometimes topping out to 5 to 7 Foot Seas. On the way out they had a northeast winds ,which slowed the heading to the South ledge down to about 16 knots, which under normal conditions “Dr. Feelgood” cruises at 22 to 23 knots. As if this wasn’t enough the winds turned to the west for the ride home and what normally takes three hours took five hours. Captain Scott said, “For five hours he had water over the helm!” So now that you know this crew wanted to really go fishing here’s what they caught..

Attachment 210616

This is an old photo of a blue fin tuna that was hooked up and landed while trolling off the coast of Savannah. It was caught about the same time of the year.

Blue Fin Hook Up Or Not!

While trolling the south ledges they caught one Wahoo and had a couple of cut offs. Then it was decided to make way inshore to the Naval Tower and give it a pass or two. And this is where it got real exciting. They hooked up a very big fish that took quite a bit of line. After clearing the other lines they concentrated on the fish that they had hooked up. After 20 minutes the fish, which never stopped taking line finally pulled the hook. Now here’s the rub….Captain Scott said, “It just might have been a big blue fin tuna!” And he ought to know he has been there before!!

What I know about blue fin tuna off Savannah’s coast!

Normally if we have any sort of blue fin tuna run I start getting reports of sightings from December till about mid March. Over years these reports have been from fishermen that would know when they see a blue fin jump or when they have one on the line. So therefore “this could be the beginning of our 2011 blue fin tuna run!

I would have to say it’s now time to consider…

Tuna Permit or not!!

Please find listed below web sites where you can get information on whether or not you need to have an Atlantic tunas permit. Other fish are included in this permit. Please read information so that you will know!

https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/Default.asp

https://hmspermits.noaa.gov/initialapp.asp

How to report a right whale sighting!

When the crew on “DR. Feelgood” got about two miles from the Wassaw Sea Buoy they observed two right whales flopping on the surface.

If you happen to see a right whale on the surface “steer clear” it’s suggested to steer clear of the area.

To report a right whale sighting call USCG via channel 16 or 1 877 433 8299

Please go to

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike/

Commonly referred to as the 500 yard rule!

(staying away from the right whales!)

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/mm/righ…nservation.htm

Freshies Report

Attachment 210617

Photo by Corey Reed

Now this is what I called a find mess of Walleye!

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.. will continue next week

Thanks for reading! Captain Judy

Captain Judy Helmey
missjudycharters.com
912 897 4921