CAPTAIN JUDY HELMEY

“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

March 26, 2011

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

Short fishing report to follow school information

Table of Content

The whiting is biting!

While Fishing in the Sound

Suggestion while anchored up

360 Degree Line

Red Fish Section

Spotted Sea Trout

Offshore Artificial Reefs Reports

Inshore Sheepshead

Sheepshead fishing at the artificial reefs! March 21, 2011 Monday

My take on what the Sheepshead are doing! Offshore Sheepshead

Then there is the Sheepshead RUB..

Savannah Snapper Banks There is good news…as of April 1, 2011 the vermilion snapper

Circle Hooks Only!

Gulf Stream report “The Wahoo Heads!”

As of April 1 2011 Miss Judy Charters offering Offshore 13-hours Mega bottom fishing trip and trolling at the Gulf Stream

Dr HOO HOO Strikes again and the fish too!

Gulf Stream Fishing Deli Ledge Area March 18, 2011 Friday

Springtime Bass Fishing on the Savannah River by: Capt. Brian Gunn

Those fishermen that want to “GO FISH LAKE LANIER” Bill Vanderford is “Lake Lanier’s Legend!”

Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not! City Alligators dressed in suits, carrying canes, and wearing top hats!

The whiting is biting!

Attachment 190462

Captain Mark Jonas loves fishing especially at this time of the year. He’s holding up double header of whiting. The best news is that whiting are fun to catch on light tackle and they eat are good too!!!

While Fishing in the Sound

Now that the water temperature has finally gotten warm enough to support a biting fishery you really don’t know what you might catch. The reason being is the sound, which is where most fish end up sooner or later making it a great place to drop the old hook. The fishing or should I say catching has been good in the sound.

Suggestion while anchored up

Most fishermen do not know this, but we have a pretty good flounder fishery in this area. While anchored and you are waiting for the whiting to start biting I suggest giving this type of fishing a try, which is flounder fishing at it’s finest. Since the old flounder loves to strike at and kills what it eats I suggest “going Carolina Rig” on them. This rig is prefect when using live bait such as shrimp, mud minnows, or finger mullet. It’s easy to make and allows live bait to move more naturally.

360 Degree Line

Yes, this is what is called a standard Caroline rig, which can be used 360 degrees around the boat.

Attachment 190460

Photo by Captain Ray Crawley

This is called a “Carolina Style Rig!” It’s standard design, proven, and worked for many years over. Here’s the recipe.. Slide ½ oz egg sinker on to main line, slide on slip plastic bead, then tie on #5 black swivel, (swivel from 50 to 100 lb will work) then tie on 12 inches of 20lb fluorocarbon leader material, and then tie on a 1/0 to 2/0 silver Khale hook . When whiting fishing I suggest using #4 or #6 Khale thin tinned hook.

This set up is prefect of all size fish from whiting to large sharks. The secret is the design and how the rig works. It’s all about using the lightest you can or the heaviest leader material needed.

This is a great rig design inshore or offshore. When targeting larger fish all you have to do is to beef the rig up. When I am fishing offshore I use 80 to 100 pound test swivels and 50 to 100 lb fluorocarbon leader material. As far as best hook I use a circle hook 10/0 to 14/0.

Red fish also known as spot tail bass
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Red Fish Section

Our inshore captains are still chasing red fish and they are still running wild. The best news that I can tell you is as the water temperatures warm more bait will come offering the red fish a reprieve. As you know the old red fish is being fed on by the dolphins daily at least until the bait fish make their spring time arrival!

The main red fish bite took place this past week in less than two foot of water. The most preferred bait was finger mullet, which was lip hooked under a medium size adjustable float. Here’s one more tip that worked like a charm, once you have cast bait into strike zone, don’t hold the rod. The reason being is the red fish was picking up the bait carrying it a bit before eating it. Too often fishermen don’t give time to eat! So here’s the deal, place rod in holder, watch rod tip, and don’t watch the cork! Doesn’t worry when you get a fish on all on board will know it!

Spotted Sea Trout

Attachment 190470

The spotted sea trout is born to kill first and then eat. The two K-9 type teeth tell the story and it goes something like this: Once the trout decides what it’s going to kill it makes the hit grabbing it with two front teeth. Once it has latched on to its prey it spins it around to the head first position and down the hatch it goes. The reasoning behind all this is due the fact that “the teeth or the eyes don’t lie!

A few were caught this past week. However, no bite patterns have been established as of yet!

Offshore

Artificial Reefs Report

Attachment 190468

Please meet the mouth design of a Sheepshead. Their teeth are most of the time broken and missing from feeding around hard surfaces such as barnacles, oysters, and mussels. Their entire mouth is basically covered with crushing teeth, which is supposed to take care of any shell parts headed their way. So therefore it’s suggested to not stick your finger in the mouth or lip hold this fish. Once the Sheepshead decides what it’s going to eat especially if it is wrapped in a shell it does so very fast. So fast that this fish can suck it insides out of a fiddler crab leaving only the bare shell hanging on your hook.

Attachment 190463

Here’s an example of what a Sheepshead face looks like after it has made a couple of hits and misses. They quite often have scars to show for it. The location of a fish’s eyes says a lot about their feeding ways. With that being said, this fish swims up or down with it’s eye side facing the possible food source. So therefore they feed side to side, but not necessarily head on. Heck, maybe that is where they get the scars from!

Artificial Reefs Reports

The Sheepshead bite continues, but now it’s not as good as it was. Before I cover exactly what the Sheepshead bite is doing I would like to explain what I think is happening. Over the years it has been said or should I say, “Passed down” that Sheepshead stay mostly inshore from Mid April till about Mid December. From Mid December they are mostly an offshore schooling fish that finds the near shore artificial reefs their temporary home.

Inshore Sheepshead

When the Sheepshead is inshore they are scattered over the area holding on vertical structure as well as oyster rakes. In other words while trout and bass fishing with live shrimp you could find yourself catching a Sheepshead. This can and happens all of the time, but it is not usually a consistence bite.

Sheepshead fishing at the artificial reefs!

March 21, 2011 Monday

As you can see from this picture (below) the sea was calm and the sun was shinning. It was just a beautiful day to be out on the ocean!
Attachment 190467

Please meet Kevin Parsons Sheepshead slayer! Kevin along with his crew Benji Hoover, Tom Kelly, and Phillip Trusty took the Sheepshead plunge! I have to admit it was beautiful on this fish day, but the fish didn’t seem to think so. The bite was erratic and in most cases non-existence. Most of the Sheepshead caught was small with the exception of the one that Kevin is holding. This fish fought hard using the strong current to its advantage. Benji hooked up something that we fought for about 30 minutes. Benji could get about 15 feet of line in and then the big fish would take it right back. Being an accomplished fresh water bass fisherman, Benji didn’t try to stop the fish when it tried to take line. He just reeled when he could and let the big fish run when it wanted. The end result was the fish finally managed to throw the hook leaving all of us with one heck of a fish tale!!

My take on what the Sheepshead are doing!

Offshore Sheepshead

When these fish take to the ocean they get tightly schooled over vertical structure. Fishermen get the opportunity to target as well as catch them. The bottom line during the cold months is when nothing else bites you can just about count on a Sheepshead bite. However, it not like fishing for black sea bass you have to be situated over where the fish are to catch them. And not only that, but you have to use bait that they like. Here’s the short list…which is fiddler crab, small stone crabs, oyster barnacles, green mussel, or anything the comes wrapped in a shell.

Then there is the Sheepshead RUB..

When I say, “RUB,” I am not talking about something to put on the fish when cooking it. I am talking about the goings on of the Sheepshead…. To recap In the winter when the water is below 60 degrees you can find Sheepshead offshore at the near shore artificial reefs. When the sea surface temperatures get 65 degrees and above Sheepshead make their move, which is their migration back inshore. Now just as it is when these fish head offshore it’s all about water temperatures and the fish that seek it. So there is a gray area of time where the Sheepshead migration is in a parcel state, meaning on the way, but not there yet. So therefore now that I have thoroughly confused you, “it’s that time where the Sheepshead could be in both places, which offshore and inshore!” So now this should explain “Why the Sheepshead bite may or may not be good consistently!” Just so you know we are at this point!

Attachment 190458

Vermilion snapper also known as b-liner

Savannah Snapper Banks

There is good news…as of April 1, 2011 the vermilion snapper also know b-liner season will be open!

Vermilion Snapper also known as B-liners Season

Our vermilion snapper season will open April 1, 2011 till October 31, 2011

Circle Hook Only!

The requirement to used non-stainless circle hooks north of 28 degree N. Latitude is goes into effect March 3, 2011

You can use regular “J” hooks at the Savannah River Jetties, the inshore waters, and beachfronts, but when you move to the offshore waters all hooks when targeting fish listed in the snapper grouper complex must use circle hooks.

For more information http://safmc.net/

Gulf Stream report

Attachment 190461

The Wahoo Heads!!

As of April 1 2011 Miss Judy Charters is once again offering their 13 hours Extreme Bottom fishing and trolling trip!

Offshore 13-hours Mega bottom fishing trip and trolling at the Gulf Stream

$ 1,600.00 with tip included $ 1,840.00

If you want to go “big and deep bottom fishing,” we are the company to call. These 13 hours offshore trips are not for those fishermen that want a “short ride to the fish!” It’s more for the fishermen that don’t mind the ride or spending this many hours on a boat. The bottom line to this fishing trip is “if you go, it’s a long ride, but once you arrive riding will be the last thing on your mind!” It’s a “fish catching opportunity of a lifetime!”

The ride could be 3 to 4 hours. These fishing grounds are located in 130 to 200 feet of water and are approximately 75 miles from the dock. We won’t make the run to this fishing area unless the sea conditions will allow us. The departure time is around 6:00 AM. If the weather/sea conditions won’t let us make the run to the deepest waters we just change our heading to a closer bottom fishing area where you have the option of down sizing to a shorter trip.

While bottom fishing our captains will put out what is normally called a “flat line.” This is a separate line that “calls in the bite from the larger blue water fish.” The top water fish caught in this area, such as Wahoo, dolphin, mako shark, and tuna, can be well over 50 pounds. The biggest Wahoo I have caught while bottom fishing and drifting bait has been 110 pounds. Believe me it took a while to land it!

As far as what you catch on the bottom while fishing this depth of water here’s a list: All kinds of snapper including vermilion snapper, porgy, vermilion, and triggerfish, which come in large sizes. In the grouper department there are red, gag, and scamp, which normally make a showing. Then there are those species that require the unleashing of the old fish identifications book. If the fish caught isn’t listed you then become a “catcher of something that no one has seen, much less named!” We do catch some black sea bass, which can be on the large side. Sand tile, which falls into the grouper family, are great fighters as well an excellent table fare. However, I must admit they are a little on the ugly side. The fact of the matter is “you really don’t know what you might catch!” The rule of thumb in regards to this trip is that the fish are plentiful and larger than the norm. However, it a long ride, but well worth it!”

Dr HOO HOO Strikes again and the fish too!

Attachment 190464

Please meet Dr HOO HOO holding a nice black fin tuna, which he caught Sunday on February 27, 2011. It tuna time off Georgia!!

Gulf Stream Fishing

Deli Ledge Area March 18, 2011 Friday

Attachment 190469

Eleven dolphin, two Wahoo, and one black fin tuna

Dr HOO HOO also known as Dr. Juha Jaakkola while fishing with Kevin O’Shea, Ray Raphiel and David Peterson took to the blue waters of the stream on Friday March 18, 2011. From the report received from Dr HOO HOO and crew a plan was had from the get go! While looking at a satellite picture of the area they found a 10 degree temperature break at the Deli Ledge area. Once arriving to this area they started trolling and quickly caught one 20 pound black fin tuna and few bonito on cedar plugs. After a few more turns they caught a couple slinger dolphins. While making way they found a nice rip and pulled two 40-45 Wahoo on rigged ballyhoo/Ilanders. Dolphin hits were steady keeping action in the cockpit. The bottom line to this report is if you get a good calm day I suggest making a blue water run! Please keep the reports coming

Freshies Report

Attachment 190459

Please meet Pat Paquet also known as the Grizzly Alaskan Captain holding up a large mouth bass!

Springtime Bass Fishing on the Savannah River

By: Capt. Brian Gunn

As the cold winter comes to an end, the bass in the Savannah River have started making a move and the action is getting better. The places that you will want to look for are the backwater lakes and sloughs off the main river. These types of places offer slack water and abundant cover in the form of cypress trees, stumps, logs, willow trees, lily pads and other forms of aquatic vegetation. Bass are cover oriented fish so do not be afraid to cast your baits right into the thickest cover. I often tell people that I take fishing, if you are not getting hung up you are not fishing in the right places. Some bass are resident fish, meaning they seldom leave these backwater areas unless there is an extreme change in water conditions. However, many bass migrate to these types of areas in the spring to spawn. The old oxbows and sloughs off the main river offer the best habitat for bass to spawn. Bass typically seek out hard bottom areas to build a nest, often referred to as a bed, and will defend this area once the eggs have been laid. Once the eggs hatch the abundant cover in these backwater areas serve as a nursery for the newly hatched bass fry. They can hide in thick heavy cover to avoid predators and ensure that greater numbers survive. Typically, the male bass will hang around and guard the fry and will usually be quite aggressive.

Some types of lures that work good for me are spinnerbaits, shallow running crankbaits, topwater plugs and an assortment of soft plastics. Remember, do not be afraid to fish tight to cover, this is where the bass will be. Try using different lures and retrieve speeds until you start getting bites. The bass will tell you what to do. Pay close attention, and when you get a strike try to duplicate it in similar types of places. Once the water temperature gets into the mid to upper sixties topwater presentations are my favorites. Try using topwater lures that represent small baitfish or frogs as these are the types of forage that bass will be looking for. I recommend using monofilament line for topwater lures and I go no less than 14 lb. test. If I am fishing over lily pads or other thick aquatic vegetation I will use braided fishing line in 30 lb. test or more. This will help get a big bass out of heavy cover if it gets hung up. Sometime bass may short strike or miss a topwater lure, which can be frustrating. A tip, that works good for me, is to have another rod rigged up with some type of soft plastic worm and when I miss a fish I immediately cast back into the same spot with the worm and most times a bass will bite the worm. This may help you catch a few extra fish in a day.

Spring is one of the best times to get out on the Savannah River and bass fish. There are good numbers as well and big bass to be caught this time of year. So head for the back water sloughs and oxbows up the river where the tidal influence is not as great and get ready for some fantastic topwater fishing this spring! For information call Capt. Brian Gunnv Low Country Bassin’ cell# (912) 663-6779 or email: bassingunn@aol.com

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!

Photo by Sandra Nicklas

Big alligator up and walking! Who knows this just might be one of those that I released many years ago! I really do think that I might recognize this one. However, you know the old saying, “Once they get all grown up they all look alike!” At any rate, that’s my story and I am sticking to it!

City Alligators dressed in suits, carrying canes, and wearing top hats!

Attachment 190465

Daddy was an explainer and storyteller of sorts. He could take just 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 all of the roadside stands. In fact daddy knew a lot of the Indians that ran them. These roadsides 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 and in touching range. In fact according to my father a lot of their income depended on these wildlife sales.

I always got at least one or two pet alligator’s per trip. However, as soon as the cute little alligator grew a bit it was released back to the wild. Heck, as I remember some of the gators were released way before we got home. 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 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. 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 “DARN UNDERGROUND CITY ALLIGATORS.” It’s now your turn!!

Thanks for reading! Captain Judy

Captain Judy Helmey
missjudycharters.com
912 897 4921

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