“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 3, 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

Captain Alan Collins’s Hall of Red Fish Tagging Fame! Please meet last week’s winners

Charlie Swift visting from Scarsoalie, New York tagged two red fish, David Grigsby visiting from Tulsa, OK, and Angela Stokes visiting from Lyons, Georgia

The trick fish ordeal! By Captain Jack McGowan

Sound fishing is fun!! Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks, 100 Pound Rays, and Trophy Red Fish!!

Sunday September 25, 2011-09-26 Miss Judy Too Captain Kathy Brown and Captain Judy Helmey with

Gary and Darlene Oakes and Mike and Ann Robb

Walking with the fish

Darlene Oakes while fishing on Miss Judy Too tags a 40” red fish

Artificial Reefs Report “The bottom bite is getting better!”

Savannah Snapper Banks Report! The bottom bite better! In some case “just drop your hook and catch fish!

Big Grouper Bites Happened!!

Gulf Stream Report The eye of a sword fish! It’s time to make a find!!

Freshies Report! Shallow water bass!

Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or not Story! The planning that took place before, after, and during the time the liquor was loaded into the trucks………

Savannah Snapper Banks Report Saturday, September 24, 2011

While fishing on Miss Judy Too with Captain Kathy Brown and Captain Judy Helmey

Captain Alan Collins’s Hall of Red Fish Tagging Fame!

Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters has been in the tagging program for years and he is still doing it! Please meet some of last week’s winners! Charlie Swift visting from Scarsoalie, New York tagged two red fish, David Grigsby visiting from Tulsa, OK, and Angela Stokes visiting from Lyons, Georgia

All fishermen tagging a fish will receive certification from the Georgia Department of Resources. (GADNR) They will also get up dates on their particular fish such as when it was landed again, how far it moved, and how much it has grown. This is pretty cool stuff!

Wednesday September 21, 2011

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While fishing with Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters on Wednesday September 21, 2011 Charlie swift from Scarsoalie, New York caught, fought, and tagged this 33 inch trophy fish.

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Same fisherman, same day, but different fish!

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While fishing with Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters on Wednesday September 21, 2011 Charlie swift from Scarsoalie, New York caught, fought, and tagged this 24 inch trophy fish.

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Same trip, same day, different fisherman!

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While fishing with Captain Alan Collins of Miss Charters on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 David Grigsby of Tulsa, OK caught, fought, and tagged this 25 inch trophy red fish.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

While fishing with Captain Alan Collins of Miss Judy Charters on Saturday September 24, 2011 Angela Stokes from Lyons, Georgia caught, fought, and tagged this 30 inch trophy red fish.

Captain Jack McGowan of Miss Judy Charters is doing what he does best look, find, and catch fish!

The trick fish ordeal!

By Captain Jack McGowan

Fall is almost upon us! The autumnal equinox is on Friday September 23rd. A rough definition is when the day and night is approximately equal. As the fall proceeds the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. Changes in light periods as well temperature changes mark the change of season from the heat of summer to cool of fall. Cooler temperatures not only means more comfort but also better fishing as shrimp from the sounds move into the creeks and backwaters.

This year is no exception! Already there have been several of nice catches of sea trout and redfish! Lots of these are legal size. A good rule of thumb is that have to measure the fish (to determine if it is a keeper), then toss it back for another day. Fall is definitely in the air! That said there are lots of bait steelers around: pin fish, yellow tails, croakers, tomtates, pig fish, needle and the like. Until the water temperatures drops considerably bait steelers or as one client called them “trick fish” will be thick. Bait steelers can mean there is a food going on. Likely if have enough bait or patience you can some nice fish in that area. If “trick fish” are eating all your bait try pitching a plastic. When pitching for redfish work the edge of grass, a few feet off the grass can mean “trick fish.” The redfish bite has been pretty good! Fish will usually bite nicely just prior to the front. When front hits it typically takes a few day for things to pick up again. The bite has been good in the sounds, on the inside as well upriver or towards the heads of creeks and rivers. As fall progresses anticipate a better on the inside. For now the bite has been wide spread with some good catches of fish. If you are fishing shrimp take plenty of shrimp because there lots of “trick fish” out there!

One good indicator of large redfish in the surf are orange butter flies. In recent days orange butter flies can seen while fishing. Those wanting to fish for large stag bass, fall is an excellent time to fish for stag bass! Sea trout fishermen say when you the tassels on the marsh grass its time to fish for sea trout! Tassels are beginning to appear and sea trout are starting to bite! Fishing has been pretty good on the coast and will likely be getting hotter as we head into the fall!

As we head into this week low pressure is holding on the coast with the forecast of improving weather by the weekend. Typically fish with heavy scales bite better during a falling barometer. The thought is these sturdier fish are less susceptible to pressure changes. For those venturing out this week there should be some nice fish to catch!

Hope this of interest and help! Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan

Sound fishing is fun!!

Atlantic Sharpnose Sharks, 100 Pound Rays, and Trophy Red Fish!!

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Clear nose skate! This fish hit a small piece of shrimp and offered up quite a fight while using light tackle. This looks like a stingray, but it different. The reason being is that it doesn’t sport that dangerous spike on the tail. However, I still don’t suggest handling this fish! We try to get the hook out, but if we can’t we just cut the leader. Our hooks are very small and so are the leaders!!

Sunday September 25, 2011-09-26

4 hours inshore sound trip on Miss Judy Too Captain Kathy Brown and Captain Judy Helmey with

Gary and Darlene Oakes and Mike and Ann Robb

7:00 AM departure

6:30 AM high tide 1:00 PM Low tide

My regulars “Ann and Mike Robb” booked my boat for a 4 hour inshore shark fishing trip. Their guests were Darlene and Gary Oakes, which were visiting from Westville, Illinois. The reason I call Ann and Mike “My regulars” is because they fish with me a lot and I am very thankful for the business. The fact of the matter is while fishing with them I have met some real interesting people from all over. Believe me this is one duo team that understands why it’s called fishing and not catching! Although we always have fun, sometimes the fish don’t comply with our wishes of catching as well as keeping.

However, on Sunday September 25, 2011 at 7:00 AM when Ann, Robb, Darlene, and Gary arrived I felt it just might be one of my lucky fish catching days. After boarding the Miss Judy Too and after the safety speech off we went to catch the fish of the day! There is one thing that I can always say about Ann and Mike and that is “it’s always going to be a good day whether the fish bite or not! Believe me with this kind of attitude big bites and fights can happen! And they did on this particular day!

After getting anchored up in the “Old Wassaw Sound shark hole” we began baiting hooks and dropping lines. The tide has just started going out and the current weren’t too bad. However, about one hour into the trip the current was so strong that we had to add sinkers to the light as well as the bigger lines. On these types of trips we normally used light tackle such as small spinner rod/reels as well as open face type set ups. This gives our customers a choice on what type of tackle that they want to use. For bait we take shrimp and any leftover frozen fish from past fishing trips. Today I had some nice local caught headless shrimp, a lady fish, blue fish, and a couple of old whiting. My first goal is to get the light tackle out with hopes of catching some whiting, croaker, or pin fish. For bait I used small pieces of peeled and not peeled shrimp. All on board, got a rod, dropped their baited hooks to the bottom, and waited anxiously for any sort of a hit. While they were fishing I cut up the school blue fish, put half on one shark rod and half on the other. I set one big rod close to the boat and the other rod I set out about 100 feet from the boat.

It took about 15 minutes before the first whiting was hooked up. I quickly removed it from the hook, cut it in half, pulled in the close big rod, re-baited, and put it back out. In less then 10 minutes we had our first big fish on for the morning. Gary was first up so he picked up the rod and after a few minutes reeled in a nice keeper Atlantic Sharpnose.

Attachment 205735

Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charter is holding the Atlantic sharpnose’s head and Gary Oakes is holding the tail.

After landing the shark all on board went back to catching bait, which in this case is just caught whiting, blue fish, and croakers. As soon as they hooked one up, we would take it off the hook put it right into the live well. By this time the current was really run strong and it was difficult keeping our small and big baits on the bottom. I decided it was time to add more weight. It’s a known fact that when the current is running hard most bites will occur close to the bottom. All size fish are forced to the bottom or on the surface to keep from fighting against a strong current. In this case since the current was “screaming” I would need to keep our big bait on the bottom to get any sort of action. The best news is before the current got to going to fast my fish catching crew caught some nice whiting and croaker. All I had to do was to keep changing the bait out. When the current is running hard any baits from small to large get what I called “washed out!” This means that the scent value is almost non-existence. So therefore where there is no scent the fish have to run into the bait, which for me isn’t a good thing. So therefore I am constantly reeling lines in and changing baits.

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The next big hit occurred about 9:30 AM with the reel screaming as almost all of the line was peeled right off. It was Ann’s turn so we quickly got the fighting belt situated and placed the rod butt in the proper place. While all this was going on the monster fish continued pulling line out at very steady pace. Ann quickly tried to get control, but just reeling in wasn’t going to work. So we moved to what I call “walking with the fish!” This is a great way to get a big fish to change directions and even in some cases cause it to swim back towards the boat. Believe me we definitely needed this fish to swim back towards the boat, because we were quickly running out of line. Ann was down to ¼ spool and even with the drag tighten to almost 30 pounds the monster fish was still taking line. I dared not to tighten the drag any more for fear of pulling the hook. With that being said, “Ann started walking with the fish!” After about 15 minutes into this intense fish fight I knew we might need to put a fighting vest on Ann. At this time Ann would reel in about 2 feet and the fish then would take 6 feet back. On some occasions she would get back about 20 feet, which made me feel a bunch better about the almost empty spool. While all of this was going on we were trying to get the vest set up properly on Ann. Ann was a real trooper! She listened and was so focused on catching this fish that no wild moves were made, which is nine times out of ten something that looses a fish.

The current was still raging and this big fish was using this to its advantage. After about 35 minutes into the fight we started making some head way meaning taking in more line than the fish was pulling out. Little by little the reel started getting fuller. While all of this was going on we were wiping Ann’s eyes, face, and arms off, because it was so humid that multiple streams of sweat was rolling down. Ann now was in step with the fish and was making some good reeling head way.

With the water so muddy I told Ann that even when we got to the sinker she probably would not be able to see the fish. The big fish then took another detour back out to way yonder and away from the boat. It swam way out to the starboard side of the boat pulling close to the surface. It was at this time we could identify the big fish on the end of the line. It was a giant ray with a tail that extended out about 8 feet. It was a big one for sure. Just from what I could see I looked to be way over 100 pounds. Mike, Kathy, and I both agree easily over 100 pounds. So a plan was devised to whom would do what.

Walking with the fish

This is a term that I used when we have a big fish on such as a big ray that knows how to use the bottom and the current to its advantage. The first thing is a big fish such as a ray have an unusually large wing span, meaning once completely expand it can put one heck of a drag on a line. Not understanding this usually either breaks the line or pulls the hook right out of the fish. When you can’t just reel the fish in by turning the handle or much less set the drag tight enough it’s time to go “walking with the fish!” The first thing that I try to do is to make sure that the angler is comfortable with the way they are standing as well as holding the rod. Then I tell them to back up on the deck slowly putting more pressure on the line. When the drag starting peeling out again I say “stop” and then walk forward back toward the fish. Once in this mode I suggest reeling while walking forward. All of this has to be done without offering any slack sometimes referred to as “Bagging” in the line.

I have noticed when an angler can walk with the fish it seems to help their confidence in regards to actually landing the fish. I feel there is nothing worst for a fishermen than the “not knowing” actually what is going on. It seems when they move with the fish they get more in touch. While the walking is occurring I am explaining exactly what the fish is doing, which also help to fishermen to get in touch with the connection between them, the line, and the fish! Believe me on this particular day, the more Ann became aware the better she felt about the possibilities of landing her fish!!

Once Ann got the fish back close to the boat for about the sixth time I had a feeling that the fight would soon be over. The fish was wearing a bit meaning leaning in more than away from the pressure delivered by Ann’s now grand ability to control the fish better. Boy, by the time Ann got the ray to the boat she was in full control. Once she got the leader to the boat I grabbed it lightly letting it run through my finger. Oops I forgot to say, “I had my thick fishing gloves on!” When targeting larger fish I used a lot of cable and if you are not careful it will cut you easily.

Right before I knew it was going to be time to get the hook out of this big 100 pound plus ray I asked “Mike, if he didn’t mind working the bolt cutters?” With the quick answer of yes still hanging in the air he grabbed a pair of gloves, the bolt cutters and got into position. Instead of trying to cut or pull the hook out we take a large pair of bolt cutters and “cut the hook’s shank.” This way the hook can easily fall or work it’s way out causing the least amount of pressure to the fish. Mike and I leader-ed the ray to the surface and he handed it off to me. Mike then grabbed the bolt cutters and snapped the hook’s shank right in half allowing the ray to swim off as if nothing had happened! Now all there was left was to hug, throw up some high fives, congratulate big time, and then there was this other thing. That thing was to figure out how to disconnect Ann from the harness that she wore so well!!

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This was Darlene’s first fish. She called it “cute!” Believe it or not but this size whiting makes for good trophy red fish bait!

After getting the boat back into order I re-set the large lines out using live tail less whiting as bait. I know you must be scratching your head on that one!! It’s the simplest and most attention getting bait that there is. You take a live whiting and cut the tail section off. Believe me a fish can live without its tail at least until another fish eats it. Once I got the line set I asked, “Who is up if we are lucky enough to get another big fish hooked up?” “All onboard said, “It was Darlene’s turn!” With that being said, we all sat and leaned around the back of the boat. After about 10 minutes into the waiting mode I watched as the big rod look as thought something was messing with it. I picked it up while turning the noise maker to the off mode. (reel clicker) I free spooled a bit letting the fish get a better hold on the bait. As soon as I felt a strong solid pull I yelled “fish on!” We scurried trying to get the fight belt adjusted on Darlene. While getting it set up Darlene never missed a beat. She reeled “rock steady!” I grabbed my gloves, because I knew it wasn’t going to take her long to get this fish to the boat. It made a few runs taking line off the reel, but Darlene managed good control and got her line back quickly. Once I saw the leader surface I grabbed it and pulled on it. To my amazement Darlene had on a big trophy red fish, which changed everything and quick. I quickly loosen the drag a bit allowing the fish to swim head on in the current while giving me time to grab the big net. While doing this I knew I had to get the tagging kit out and be ready to set the tag. The reason being is once the fish is removed from the water the time clock starts ticking! In fast time we tagged, measured, took pictures, and released a health trophy red fish back to the wild!

Darlene Oakes while fishing on Miss Judy Too tags a 40” red fish

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Captain Judy and Darlene Oakes look on as Mike Robb is just about to set her fish back into the wild. Darlene caught it caught, fought, tagged it, and released it! It was a day that none of us will soon forget!

The bottom line to this story is this…

When there is a plan to go fishing you really never know what you might catch and where! In this case Ann/Mike Robb, Darlene/Gary Oakes, Captain Kathy Brown, and Captain Judy when leaving the dock for a short four hour trip in the sound didn’t have a clue on how the trip would end. However, here’s what all of them did know…They were going to go fishing and they were going to have a good time no matter what!! And this is just exactly what they did! Thanks again for all the continued support! Captain Judy

Artificial Reefs Report

Artificial Reefs Report “The bottom bite is getting better!”

I saw a few Spanish mackerel schooling on the surface this pass week! Who knows they might show up after all…

With water temperature falling fishing should be moving about more. The reason being is so are the baits that they eat! With that being said, “Pick an artificial reef to fish and stick with it until you find the bite!”

Savannah Snapper Banks Report

The bottom bite is a whole bunch better! In some case “just drop your hook and catch fish!

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Vermilion snapper and black sea bass are doing a great job of decorating this cooler with some real good color! Back in the old days when it was legal to keep genuine red snapper this was always the question asked on the marine radio, “Got any color in the box?”

Savanna Snapper Banks is a good place to fish especially at this time of the year!

The bottom fishing continues to get better as the water temperature falls a few degrees. Believe me even if it goes back up a bit, it’s not going to matter, because “fall is in the air and the fish are aware!”

I have had a few reports that there were a few king mackerel caught while trolling and live lining around the naval towers. Just the fact that I am hearing about “king mackerel” at all is a good thing. The reason being is that our 2011 mackerel season including both kings and Spanish has not taken place, but there is always hope.

I always used to say, “When you start seeing the yellow butterflies, it’s time to fish for king mackerel.” It’s true and it has been confirmed that the yellow butterflies and the king mackerel do have something in common, which is that migrate at the same time. Well, the yellow butterflies did migrate, but as of yet the kings have not at least through this area!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

While fishing on Miss Judy Too with Captain Kathy Brown and Captain Judy Helmey

Big Grouper Bites Happened!!

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Natasha is holding a nice gag grouper, which she caught while plain old bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks. Captain Kathy assisted by getting the fish in dip net at just the right time!

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Shantel is holding up a nice scamp grouper, which hammered a live cigar minnow while bottom fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks!

Gulf Stream Report

The eye of a sword fish! It’s time to make a find!
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Photo by Captain Chris Team E-TA-SEA

This is a close up picture of the eye of a sword fish!

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

Shallow water bass!

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Photo by Bill Vanderford

A few lures that will work while targeting shallow water bass!

My friend Bill Vanderford knows the ways of a bass. With that being said, “Get some of these lures today!”

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

to find freshwater pictures from Bill Freshwater pictures in fishing report pictures five

Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or not Story!

The planning that took place before, after, and during the time the liquor was loaded into the trucks………

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Boy, if this loading ramp could talk. This is where daddy worked on his customer’s cars and trucks. According to him this invention in his shop helped out a lot. Mechanics could work on the vehicles while standing up. This was way before lifts just picked the cars up so that the mechanics could walk under them to do their work. The person in the right hand corner of this picture is Charles Eden whom worked on and off with my father for many years. This picture was found tucked in my baby book with this top portion cut out. I wish I knew what was cut out of the picture!

According to the stories told to me when it came to the supposedly illegal transportation of liquor my father was involved from the ocean to the lands that butted up to it!

If you have been keeping up with my “Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not Stories” you most likely already know that my father was a Colorful Coastal Character for sure! I will try to sum up how he got this title. My father was married 8 times and never stopped dating. He allegedly worked for Big Al Capone as well as spent time with Fidel Castro. According to his story he had lunch with him at the downtown Desoto Hotel. He was man of many means, he could fix anything that had to do with cars and could just about get out of any situation that he was in. My father was the type that knew what to say and when! He always dressed like a millionaire, smoked a big cigar, carried a big roll of money, and drove loud colored cars with profound fins. My father was always held the attentions of beautiful women especially those with a very spirited side. If there was an ideal that he needed to come up with this would end up being called “his specialty.” For instance: If there was a big crowd in the bar and he needed to get through quick all he would say, “Wet paint coming through!” And according to my father with that being said “the crowds parted!”

Once the cases of liquor were unloaded from the boats into the secret room located in Greens the cars and trucks were then loaded.

Here’s what was taken care of before the transporting of the liquor began…

According to my father those involved would be notified and then they would tell those that needed to know. Persons involved were to notify their contacts at the police department so that heads could be turned! Believe me according to my father a lot of people were involved in this movement. Those on the force not involved were not on duty or sent to cover other areas of town.

Now here’s where my father came in…He modified the cars and trucks either furnished by Big Al or the ones that he picked up. Daddy then beefed up the vehicle support system so that they didn’t look unusually loaded. Then it was decided to put white marks on the tires so that those not looking could turn their heads easier. According to my father those policemen that weren’t on the payroll normally sent those that weren’t to other areas of town to police. The routes run from the Island to the inland were set in stone. At least until something happened. Back in these days, according to my father there were so many involved that it kinds of made things run a whole lot smoother.

Wrecker service on call!!

All wreckers services involved would be on stand by so as to keep the convoy moving. My father said one time that a car broke down; the wrecker just hooked it up, and kept moving to the destination point. From the way my father explained it to me it was lots of fun to be involved and really not dangerous at all. However, since I was a child and my father hadn’t gotten hurt, shot at and hit, or been put in jail the stories were told of a lighter persuasion.