“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

October 10, 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

Big Trophy Red Brought to by Christopher Miller

Spotted Sea Trout “A body built for speed!” Spotted Sea Trout Bite

Flounder bite This is one fish that sees like a rabbit is cunning like a fox, and strikes like a cobra

Artificial Reef Report Bottom fishing and trolling!

Savannah Snapper Banks Big Scamp Grouper! Steve Howell Style

King Mackerel is or is not!

Bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks

Here’s how I lost Steve Howell’s Cobia that he hooked up on Captain Cefus’s Whoop Ass Fishing Tackle lure, while the fish was swimming away from a leather back turtle, which was providing shade…Oh heck just read the story that follows about..The ocean’s shade, Operator Error, Here are three things I do know about what happened, what I know about a cobia…

Gulf Stream Gulf Stream Got to go to know!

Freshies report LOONS! Another great video by Bill Vanderford!

Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or not Story! CITY ALLIGATORS with tuxedo suits, top hats, and canes.”

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Big Trophy Red Brought to by

Christopher Miller

Christopher Miller of Cincinnati, Ohio is holding up a nice trophy red fish, which he caught while fishing with Captain Jack McGowan of Miss Judy Charters. This is a big trophy red fish measuring in at around 42 inches. This fish was caught, fought, and released unharmed!

During this time of the year inshore fishermen get the chance to catch big reds while doing plain old light tackle fishing. The best news is this event normally can last until the end of the year meaning when the cork or lures used gets dunked or pulled on hard “big fish bites can happen!” For those that want to specifically target these big fish I suggest picking areas in the sounds near or on the beachfronts. This fish’s main goal is to bulk up before heading to the offshore waters. When these fish take an easterly direction you could find yourself catching one of these fish in a rip, while fishing at the artificial reefs, live bottom areas at the Savannah Snapper Banks, or heck even the blue waters of the stream. The bottom line is when fishing in saltwater you really never know what you might catch and when! I am certainly glad it seems to be staying that way!!

Spotted Sea Trout “A body built for speed!”

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This spotted sea trout liked the way I was working this Strike King soft bait baby bass lure. (3XZTOO-55) I did notice when the fish hit the lure at first there was a bit of break before it came back in for the kill. It’s funny what you notice about a fish when trying to catch one. The trout is a sleek looking sight feeding fishing machine, which kills first what they are going to eat “right now!” A body built for speed!!

Spotted Sea Trout Bite

If you have been following any inshore fishing reports you already know that the spring and summer trout bite was a little off. Well, I can now report that this bite is back on with inshore fishermen getting an opportunity to practice on the smaller and also get to keep a fair share of the larger keeper fish. The best bait used when targeting trout is live shrimp, but here’s the thing “once the bite is gets-a-going you can pull a switch-a-roo to artificial shrimp patterns!”

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Flounder Bite

This is one fish that sees like a rabbit is cunning like a fox, and strikes like a cobra!

The fall flounder bite has been good! The best bait for this fish is going to be live shrimp, mud minnows, and finger mullet. Live bait has always been this fish’s favorite. However, strip belly baits will also work, because when in the current it looks as well as acts just like the real thing. Whatever you do when going inshore fishing especially during this time “don’t forget your dip net!”

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Black sea bass and Spanish mackerel! A winning combination!!

Artificial Reef Report

Bottom fishing and trolling!

The bottom fishing for black sea bass has picked up. The good news about this time of the year when fishing these areas is the fact that you could find yourself catching all kinds of different fish. Here’s the short list ..black sea bass, (all sizes) pig fish, flounder, blue fish, summer trout, spotted sea trout, trophy red fish, trigger fish, black drum, and many out bottom biters!

This past week…

I can report that a few Spanish mackerel were caught this past week while fishing the artificial reefs located in 45 to 50 feet of water. (KC Buoy, DUA Buoy, and SAV Buoy)

Some Spanish were caught

Captain Ken Kennickell and crew while fishing on the Obsession trolled and caught some nice Spanish mackerel. The bait that worked either pulled deep or on the surface was the Old time hard to beat Clark spoon! According to this report the fish were on the run but as long as they kept an eye on the whereabouts of the feeding birds bites happened.

After talking to Captain Ken about this report it seemed that they were plenty of Spanish feeding and schooling on the surface. However, the schools were continuously moving from one spot to another. The mackerel would push the bait to the surface, feed, and then just a quick as they arrived they would take dive. According to this report the only way to find was to keep an eye on the birds and their moves.

Savannah Snapper Banks

Big Scamp Grouper! Steve Howell Style!
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Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters and Steve Howell also nicknamed as “Triple Trouble” in the fishing world is holding up a nice scamp grouper. This fish sucked in Steve’s live bait and then quickly lodged itself under the ledge. The reason I know this happened is take a look at the mid section of this fish it has the scars to prove it!!

With the water temperatures dropping “better bites happen!” Our bottom bites for this fishing year has been a little strange to say the least. We are fortunate to be able to catch a little of everything from top water to bottom fish while fishing the ever popular snapper banks. However, this year has been one for the record books for sure.

King Mackerel is or is not!

When it came time for the king mackerel to arrive all we got we yellow butterflies. The migration of the yellow butterflies takes place about the same time as the supposedly arrival of the king mackerel. Hence the saying, “When the yellow butterflies appear in the ocean this means the king mackerel are here!” Well, it didn’t happen so far in the 2011 fishing year. (At least so far and I am still hoping for a late fall run!) Back in the day Mahi Mahi was always considered a “bi-catch” for me when fishing at the banks. However, I can say, “I have caught more Mahi Mahi at the banks than I have King mackerel!” I guess in my case if you fish long enough changes are bound to take place!!

Bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks

The bottom bite has picked up! We can now add the larger fish to the catching arena. We have been catching some pretty nice scamps and gag grouper. However, the bite has been crazy from one day to the other. I guess that’s why it called “fishing not catching!”

The best baits have been the larger bait fish such as ruby red lip, vermilion snapper, scup, sand perch, pinfish, and rub red lips! I suggest putting these baits on the bottom and give them time to eat!!

Here’s how I lost Steve Howell Cobia that he hooked up on Captain Cefus’s Whoop Ass Fishing Tackle lure, while the fish was swimming away from a leather back turtle, which was providing shade…Oh heck just read the story that follows……..The ocean’s shade, Operator Error, Here are three things I do know about what happened, What I know about a cobia…

A smiling leather back turtle
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This is a leather back turtle. Normally when they are making way whether it’s on or under the surface this is one “shade” that holds the interest of quite a few fish.

Here’s what happened the other day while big bottom fishing with Steve Howell and Captain Kathy Brown at the Savannah Snapper banks. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something stick its head out of the water. After a few seconds I realized it was a large leather back turtle. With the water so clear and the seas as calm as they could be we got a pretty good look at all the fish “drafting” this turtle. There were about 8 cobia or assorted sizes and numerous pilot sharks also called remoras. When the blue bottom of the Miss Judy Too was spotted all following the turtle “jump ship.” Heading over to what the group thought would be a larger moving floating shade provider.

The ocean’s Shade

Ocean’s shade is produced when something is floating or basically making way. Fish are attracted to and want to get up and underneath the floating object. Thinking about it, I guess when a fish looks up if they see lots of light when the sun is shinning that would be normal. However, looking up and seeing a dark object above blocking the light offers them shade, which means in their nautical world some sort of safety as well as food! Bringing to light where you have structure “floating or not” you most likely will have fish and where you have fish you have fish. Even jelly fish from small to large offering up shade to which fish and shrimp are attracted to. Here’s list of live things that provide shade for all sizes of fish: sharks, whales, rays, jelly fish, ocean sun fish, and all types of turtles.

Operator Error!
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Here’s one heck of a nice cobia, which is definitely still swimming and it has my lure too! Here’s what happened…I call this picture Operator Error, but the lure as well as the angler, which was Steve Howell all played it right. However, the one trying to get this fish in the boat, which was me (Captain Judy) created the error.

Here are three things I do know about what happened…

Steve Howell, angler, upon seeing the approaching cobia cast a 2 ounce Whoop Ass “COBIA CANDY” blue/white jig head laced with a white eel, out in front of the fish. After the lure hit the water, Steve let it drop, and then he started working it back and forth in the water column. The cobia sucked the plastic eel in and then Steve set the hook placing the jig’s hook rig in the upper corner of the fish’s mouth. This was a good set, because it allowed Steve to fight the fish just right.
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My good friend Captain Cefus McRae of Nuts and Bolts fishing www.NutsAndBoltsFishing.com hooked me up with some of these “cobia can’t pass up lures!” The lure shown in the picture above is always tied to a reel that is loaded with 20 pound test line. I call it my “Light tackle king mackerel line set up!” Captain Cefus’s Whoop Ass Fishing Tackle lures are proven not only by fishermen, but also by fish! I am always talking about these jigs in regards to catching cobia. However, if you present this set up to most any fish that “strikes first” before it eats then you will be in a strong hook up situation!

What I know about a cobia…

This is one strong pulling fish and it has the beefy body to back this up. However, there are something’s that if you know you can use to your advantage. The first is they travel in pairs and then they are known for joining up with others duos. My father used to always say, “Count them like this 2, 4, and 6, because they school and travel this way!” Once hooked up this fish will pull as long as you pull and seemly does not tire too quickly. However, here a few tricks of the trade about cobia. The first is if you slack your line a bit the cobia will quit pulling. If you reel slower the fish will quit pulling. If you “crab the line in one inch at a time” the fish will basically swim to the boat. Once you get the fish to the boat if you gaff it, it goes crazy. However, if you can net this fish it won’t make a move at least until you sit it on the deck. In my defense I don’t like to gaff these fish, because if they are not big enough to keep or if the angler wants to release there is not point. This particular fish that Steve caught, fought, and properly brought to the boat refused to be put in the net. As I tried the fish was more experience at getting away than being caught. Being in the moment I did what no fisherman ever wants to admit “I held the line to tight not allowing for it to slip and it broke off!” There I said it!! Since I have put a large fish in the net hundreds of times I really didn’t think this very legal cobia would have been a problem…however, as I said, “It’s still swimming and I owe “Triple Trouble” one very legal cobia fish!

Gulf Stream

Got to go to know!

This is one bill fish that is trying to bank left!!

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Blue water fish are on the move and so is the water that they are swimming in. It’s that time of year where ledges located in 150 foot plus as well as wrecks or man made reefs hold the attention of lot of different kinds of baits. The old saying of “where you got fish you got fish” is still true today. Where you have small fish you most likely got larger fish! It’s time to do a little strolling and trolling at the Gulf Stream!

Freshies report

LOONS!

Another great video by Bill Vanderford!

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 Story!

CITY ALLIGATORS with tuxedo suits, top hats, and canes.”

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewer_alligator

Surfing the web can offer up some amazing information. Here I am writing a story about “City Alligators” and it seems that there were others that felt the exact same way…so therefore I suggest reading my story and then for more information go to the address listed under the picture!!

“CITY ALLIGATORS”

Daddy was a great explainer and the best storyteller of all times. He could take just plain regular information, add a little spice to it, and make it a real interesting story. This is one story that needs to be shared. My father and I traveled highway 17 south a lot. He loved visiting Florida so much that we were down there quite a bit. On our way we would stop at most of the roadside stands. In fact daddy knew a lot of the Indians that ran them. These roadside shops had everything from porcelain figures to snacks. I especially loved the one that had live things for sale. It wasn’t unusual for these places to have turtles, snakes, topical birds, or even alligators out in plan view as well as touching range. In fact according to my father a lot of their income depended on these wildlife sales.

I always wanted a pet alligator, but daddy never would let me have one. I think he knew that he would end up having to take care of it. According to my father alligator sales were good. He said that a lot of tourists from up north were purchasing them as they made their way back home. Upon making it to northern lands they then became known as “CITY ALLIGATORS.” After hearing that statement my 6 year old mind went into double time. All I could vision was alligators dressed in tuxedo suits and top hats dancing while holding on to their canes. When Daddy started talking again it brought me back to the real world.

My father then told me something that really sparked my interest. Occasionally when alligator owners up north got tired of their pets they quite often just flushed them down the toilet. My father then said, (quick fashion too) “Now you must understand, that didn’t kill the alligators it just released them into the underground sewers.” According to my father they did just as well living in that environment. For some reason our conversation got sidetracked to another subject and he basically left this idea in my head.

As we all know there aren’t any alligators being sold on highway 17 south any longer. In fact as you go south there aren’t many roadside shops that sell such wild and interesting things as they did back in the old days. However, to this day I still think about those “CITY ALLIGATORS with tuxedo suits, top hats, and canes.”

Thanks for reading! Captain Judy

Captain Judy Helmey
missjudycharters.com
912 897 4921