Captain Judy fishing report ,Savannah, 12-13

[Fishing Report]

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

December 13, 2010



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



2011 Schools dates are

INSHORE FISHING CLINIC

Two Inshore School

Saturday February 19, 2011
Saturday March 12, 2011



One Offshore School

Saturday March 5, 2011



Time: 8:00AM – 2:00 PM

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

Cost: $100.00 (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 details on the school please go to…

http://missjudycharters.com/fishingclinic.shtml



Table of contents

Please report all right whales sightings!

Inshore Striped bass in the Savannah River and Ogeechee Rivers

Red Fish move to the flat

The stealthier baitfish

When Captain Jack McGowan’s speaks we listen..

A gift for me from Reggie Goldsmith! “Tybee Days” and “Sand Between Our Toes”

Offshore Artificial Reefs Weather Scenario

Sheepshead bite inshore and offshore

How to keep your fiddlers alive, well, and happy!

A sheepshead smile

Let talk a little about the sheepshead fight

Artificial reefs, Snapper Banks, to the Gulf Stream Blue Fin Tuna Alert has been posted!

Savannah Snapper Banks Just plain fishing is good right now! Bottom Fishing

Trolling or live lining

Seasons that are closed…

Gulf Stream Suggestions “If you get the chance, GO!”

Freshies Up Date On heck of a rest of the tail story! Mepps Squirrel Tail Recycling

Little Miss Judy’s Believe It or Not! Christmas morning at the Captain’s House

The little black Christmas pig!



Please report all right whales sightings!



A perfect tail of a right whale shot, at least in my book!



The right whale is protected by federal regulations.

It is illegal to approach a right whale within 500 yards. (50 CFR 224.03 I) Any vessels finding itself within the 500 yards buffer zone created by a surfacing right must depart immediately at a safe, slow speed.

To report on VHF marine Radio go to channel 16 “hale USCG Station Tybee” Or you can call 912 786 5440

Please report all sightings..so that this information can be broadcasted to other boaters to prevent collisions at sea with the whales!



Inshore



Striped bass in the Savannah River and Ogeechee Rivers



Now that coolness has arrived it’s a great time to give this fishery a try. After all the striped bass is one fish that lives to feed when it’s cold, windy, rainy, and/or sunny at the same time. These fish are strong fighters and lots of fun to catch. Please check all regulations before going into the keeping mode!



Did you know that when large striped bass or hybrid bass are feeding that on some occasions they end up being temporarily air born? Well, it’s true, if they find something live to heard or push sometimes they strike hard flinging themselves right up and out of the water. When this happens if you don’t see them you could possibly hear them. When this fish falls back into the water they do sort of a belly flop, which makes a sound like a muffled shotgun blast.



Michael Fresenburg is holding up a nice red fish, which he caught on Saturday, December 11, 2010 while fishing with a friend! According to the report, even though they thought it was too cold to catch fish they did in fact end up catching 20 red fish and one spotted sea trout. Now this is one fishing team that has proven once again, you don’t know unless you go! Congratulations Michael and thanks for the report!



Red Fish move to the flat

The red fish is one those types that does get affected by cooling temperatures and in more ways than one. The first thing that happens is the fact that cold water temperatures slow this fish down, which means they don’t have to eat as much to survive.



The second thing is timing is everything for the old red fish when it comes to survival. The dolphin sometimes referred to as porpoises prey on the red fish. The reason being is most baitfish has migrated out of the area or has become stealthier. When the baitfish moves out of the area the dolphin/porpoises turn their feeding sights toward the red fish.



The third thing that happens is the red fish becomes a “hugger of the flats!” This means not only do they feed as close and over the mud/sand bars as they can; they stay close to these areas. During cold times with the tide goes out and the sun shines there is a warming trend that takes place. The mud holds the heat and as soon as the red fish can get into these flooded areas they move in feeding on any crabs, snails, worms, shrimp, and anything else that calls this place their home.



The stealthier baitfish

For the record and I am sure some fishermen know that there is still quite a bit bait still in our area especially during the cold times. However, as with anything else that survives in the wild certain instincts take over. For instance the baitfish they stay in the back of creeks. The dolphin/porpoises know that they are there, but they don’t seem to bother them, that’s unless they can’t find them a school of red fish. During this time there are thousands of finger mullet that hold up in certain areas. And another thing that happens is large roe shrimp along with others that normally eat them go into the hibernation mode attaching themselves to the bottom and sides areas of deep holes. The definition of a deep hole when talking about rivers and creeks is drops offs or ledges where these creatures can burrow down out of the direct current.



The bottom line to this red fish report is you can use artificial or you can use live bait. If you can’t buy it you can certainly catch it. All you have to do is to take a little time and do a little scouting. As far as finding a red fish bite…I suggest watching the dolphin to see where they are mostly holding up during the low tide stage. If red fish are schooling in the shallow areas and the porpoise can’t get to them, they wait patiently and basically push in with the tide. To successfully catch a red fish during this time you need to move quietly into the area, which means turn the radio off and when you drop anchoring do so gently. Once you find them you can simply observe or you can fish. If you fish I suggest using the smallest adjustable float that you can rig. The lighter the float the smaller the splash down!



Captain Jack McGowan is holding up a nice sheepshead that he caught while fishing in the near shore reefs! It’s time to go!



When Captain Jack McGowan’s speaks we listen..

Fishing has been good! We’re into December and conditions are cold. This is the first the sustained cold wave of the season. Don’t despair; there will likely be some good if not great fishing in the coming weeks. Fishermen up and down the coast are reporting large catches of small sea trout. The prevailing thought is this could be a sign for good sea trout fishing next year. As 2010 comes to a close anticipate lots of small sea trout with some nicer ones showing up as the season winds down. The redfish bite should continue to be good! Cold temperatures will mean redfish on the flats! Lots of time bite during winter fishermen will experience a bump rather than a strong hit. If you feel a bump tighten up! As conditions warm the bite can turn on! One whiting fisherman said he caught 32 whiting one day last week. Unfortunately he said like the sea trout his whiting were a little undersized. Lots of small whiting on the bars can mean stag bass (large red drum)!
With cold conditions the water in many areas is taking on greenish hue. On many day it’s possible to see several feet down into the water. This cold clean water looks like prefect water for sea trout and it can be. It’s possible while fishing some rips to get a sea trout on literally every cast! At that rate one would think it only a matter of minuets to limit out. Not so. Most of these fish are just a little undersized. After lots of smaller sea trout, a larger sea trout will bite every now and then. There are larger sea trout. Lately it’s another thing to stay on larger fish due to so many smaller ones. There is a thought that big fish; larger sea trout will follow the smaller ones. This is general statement that has some applicability. The main thing is having fun! Fish the conditions not where fish were yesterday or even just a little while ago. My exception to fishing the conditions is when there are bunches of boats. It’s simply not my preference to fish with lots of company especially since we have miles and miles of waterways. Even with lots on the water it easy to be encroached on or get too close to another fisherman. It can happen. Try to leave plenty of room between your boats and be courteous.


Adams Bait shop has plenty of shrimp. Mike at Tybee Island Bait and Tackle says they are well supplied with shrimp, fiddler crabs and mud minnows. With cold temperatures if you’re fishing shrimp putting a few in a plastic bucket with water will not work. The plastic becomes extremely cold and almost as soon your shrimp hits the water in the bucket they will die. While fishing live shrimp during cold days the simplest alternative is to dip out of your live well. When its impossible to keep your shrimp alive, switch to mud minnows



Still a few whiting out there to catch!
As conditions turn cold few fishermen think of flounders, but its not unusual for an occasional fishermen to catch several nice flounders in a creek. Last week what was unusual was one fisherman landed a 23-inch and 27 inch flounder! Both of these are exceptional fish! This fisherman was using live shrimp fishing close to the bottom. White plastic curl tail grubs are another good flounder bait as well as mud minnows. During the colder months it’s always best to consider it a lucky day if you catch one or two flounders. Most inshore flounder fishing is during the warmer months. Some cast netters are reporting good results from deep water shrimping. Likely spots are deep holes close to mouth of a creek.


During the cold times fishermen do get the opportunity to catch flounder. Most fishermen don’t think that this is possible, because this is a fish that is mostly targeted during warmer temperatures. As far as places to look at this time of the year, I suggest warming pond areas. The definition of warming pond for me is any area found in the marsh that still holds water at low tide. Most of the time flounder will seek areas like this to burrow down in the mud so as to wait for any potential feeding opportunities. And they are also looking to be warmed a bit as soon as the sun does its job.



Tides this week are subsiding from a high on Sunday December 4th of 8.4 feet. Despite high tides and cold conditions we still caught some dandy redfish in tough conditions on the 4th. Tides will be steady improving throughout the remainder of this week as well as through the coming week. Tides fall into the 5-foot range. It could be time to start thinking about inshore or offshore sheepshead fishing! But that’s next week.
Tip of week. In cold conditions try trolling for sea trout, fishing for reds or sheepshead!
Hope this of help and interest! Fish On! Capt. Jack McGowan



Gifts for me from Reggie Goldsmith!



Reggie Goldsmith and me! (Captain Judy)

My newfound friend Reggie Goldsmith, past member of the secretive HOO HOO Lumberman’s Club, sent me two wonderful gifts; Reggie went inshore fishing with Captain Jerry Bowen of Miss Judy Charters this fall bringing along his friend Rick Blass. According to the fishing tale that Reggie shared, “Rick caught them all, which was his pleasure for sure!” As Reggie and I went through the list of HOO HOO names we found that we had a whole lot in common; we both knew most of the members of the Savannah’s HOO HOO Club!





Reggie took this picture of me (Captain Judy) holding the official HOO HOO code of ethics. Although you can’t read the print, please know most of these ethics became significant guidelines to follow. However, the most interesting part was all the member’s names had been signed on the back of the document. While reading the long list of names, signed in pencil, we both took a stroll down memory lane. As Reggie read the names one by one I could tell that each one sparked memories of grand proportions. While standing there, we knew new memories were in the making!



Here are the two great books that Reggie sent me…



https://epay.kennesaw.edu/C20923_ust...?PRODUCTID=761



http://www.kennesaw.edu/ksupress/SBOT_Tybee.shtml

Two great books to purchase

“Tybee Days” by Ellen Lyle Taber & Polly Wylly Cooper and “Sand Between Our Toes” by Polly Wylly Cooper & Ellen Lyle Taber



These would be great gifts for any occasion or an exceptional addition to your coffee table. As for me, they are way up on my list of best book to collect.



If you have been reading any of my Little Miss Judy Stories, you already know that they are pulled straight out of my yesteryear achieves. With that being said, the two books Reggie gave me are about Tybee’s yesteryears. Not only that, they are packed full of photographs everyone loves to see. I particularity like the “Bathing Suit Era” which is about when bathing suits actually covered more than your regular clothing era.



Offshore Artificial Reefs

Artificial Reefs Weather Scenario

The cold normally changes the black sea bass into a strong sheepshead bite



The offshore artificial reefs are still holding lots of all size black sea bass, triggerfish, flounder, black drum, sheepshead, blue fish, and etc. The bottom line is this…no matter what fishing is it’s still a whole lot of fun! This current cold snap will most likely will bring the sheepshead bite back. The sheepshead never left. It just when the reefs are still holding lots of black sea bass, pig fish, blue fish, pinfish and others too much team feeding occurs. The sheepshead is an aggressive feeder when it comes to sucking the insides out of a fiddler, oyster, mussel, or barnacle. However, it’s hard for them to compete with the fast swimming action of fish that school to feed.

Sheepshead bite inshore and offshore



For some reason this fish doesn’t seem as popular as I think it should be. And sometimes when I mention that the season for this fish is in the “Wide Open Mode!” I don’t get the same reaction that I do from most targeted fish. So I though I would share with you some of my thoughts on this fish that you may or may not know.



Sheepshead are both inshore and offshore fish. However, to catch this fish you need to know a little about their personal travels. From about April till November the sheepshead are mostly inshore. You can catch them feeding around any sort of vertical structure that support any sort of marine life. Here’s a short lists of fishing possibilities: pilings, bridge uprights, wrecks, rocks, and etc



The secret to catching sheepshead while inshore is to track them by their actual feeding habits. When one or more sheepshead is feeding in one area there are signs. The best time to look for feeding signs is during the low tide stage. Since our tide stages moves anywhere from 6 to 8 feet of water there is plenty of surface areas exposed during these times. When looking directly at vertical growth on a piling it all looks blended in with the color of the piling. However, if you were to chip some of the marine growth off it’s very noticeable. Sometimes it leaves a white area while other times the growth is broken up just enough to catch your eye. Taking slow rides near vertical structure at the low tide stage is a good time to look for areas where sheepsheads are feeding. The barnacle is one of the most favorite marine growths that the old sheepshead loves. The reason being is one barnacle equal a tasty chunk to eat all in one. The barnacle is easily pulled off the piling and cracking them open is one of the sheepshead specialties.



How to keep your fiddlers alive, well, and happy!



The purple back fiddler, flat black fiddler, and the mud fiddler work great when used as bait for sheepshead. These are great baits and are called “sheepshead candy!” I keep my fiddlers in five-gallon bucket, which I have drilled ¼ holes in the bottom. I also add a nice clump of moss, which I change out every couple of days. The secret to keeping your fiddlers healthy is to wash them out two times a day. They secrete a lot of urine, which is very toxic to them if you let the fiddlers sit in it.



It helps if you can use saltwater as your wash. However, I have used fresh, it seems to work well, too. I don’t suggest using a spray nozzle and hitting them directly. I suggest using a steady stream of water, which will wash them and drain right out of the holes in the bucket. If you happen to live on salt water, which I do, I simply walk down to my and sit the bucket in the water filling it up from the bottom. Once it’s about ½ full I take out of the water and let the fiddler drain. It’s best to throw a saltine cracker in the bucket, but don’t over do it. One cracker goes a lot way. If you have a sunny day, put the fiddlers out in the sun and let them dry a bit. If you aren’t going to use them, please let them go!



For those fishermen looking to purchase fiddler crabs… please give Tybee Island Bait and Tackle a call 912 786 7472. I suggest calling to make sure ahead of time for availability and winter hours.

A sheepshead smile



Check out the teeth on this sheepshead. They are broken, crooked, and un-usually spaced. The reason being that most of what they eat comes wrapped in some sort of shell, which means lots of collateral teeth damage. This fish looks to have had a lot of break shells up experiences!



Let talk a little about the sheepshead fight

Once you figure out how to hook one up the action is pretty darn good. The old saying still stands true in regards to “You have to set the hook before the fish takes a bite!” When fishing for sheepshead with fiddler crabs it’s best if you get the feel of the way the sheepshead takes a light hold of the fiddler while sucking the crab’s insides out. Now we are not talking about “in seconds” we are talking about “Tenths of seconds.” I like using a Carolina type rig, which is egg sinker above the swivel then leader with hook attached. I stick the hook into the crab’s leg socket and push in slowing right pass the barb. By hooking the fiddler up this way it gives the sheepshead a 360-degree bird’s eye view of your bait. This would be the prefect scenario for catching sheepshead!



As far as being able to feel the sheepshead taking your fiddler and knowing when it’s best to set the hook, here are a few suggestions:



Drop you sinker all the way to the bottom and then reel up enough so that your fiddler is suspended off the bottom. Slowly lift rod up and lower so as to feel any pressure, which would be the sheepshead possibly grabbing your fiddler. If you happen to move your bait when the sheepshead is trying to suck in the insides out of your fiddler you will most likely get hooked up. However, if you set the hook to soon or not soon enough it will be time to reel up and re-bait. I know what you have just read sounds that there is “no pen point time” to set the hook. However, once you get the feel of the sheepshead as it attempts to take your bait you should be able to establish your own signature setting the hook moves.

In next week’s report…I will cover how to catch sheepshead offshore…











Artificial reefs, Snapper Banks, to the Gulf Stream

Blue Fin Tuna Alert has been posted!



Big blue fin, which was hooked up off the Georgia/South Caroline coast!

Blue Fin Tuna Alert has been posted. No sightings yet, but anytime now…will keep you posted…



Savannah Snapper Banks

Just plain fishing is good right now!

Bottom Fishing

Bottom fishing for black sea bass, triggerfish, white bone porgy, knobbed porgy, red porgy, banded rudder fish, gag grouper, scamp grouper, red grouper, mutton snapper, flounder, almaco jack, amberjack, tomtate, rock bass, scup, and etc…



Trolling or live lining

While trolling or live lining the catching possibilities at this time are very good. Last week king mackerel, amberjack, dolphin, and black jacks were caught.



Seasons that are closed…

Can’t keep vermilion snapper (closed November-March)

Can’t keep genuine red snapper (closed 2010 with possible closure extensions)



Gulf Stream Suggestions “If you get the chance, GO!”

My suggestion is especially at this time…if you get good weather be prepared to go…boats have gone during this time in the past and have done quite well in the catching department while doing just a little trolling and strolling! Whatever you do if you get to go, what the heck, give bottom fishing a try! Here’s the best line ever, “You won’t know unless you go!”







Pacific sailfish, which was caught and released by Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters, while fishing in Costa Rica for three days in 1991



All sailfish hit a split tail mullet rigged with a small chin weight, which the first mate brought on board packed in rock salt. The first mate pulled these baits all day and they did not wash out or fall apart. On or first day we caught and released about 5 sailfish. Too add to the 5 sails brought to the boat we had numerous hits, misses, and runs. When our first fish day was over, the first mate reeled in all baits, unhooked leaders from main lines, and put rigged mullet back in the salt generously covering them up. On day two, when it was time to troll first mate pulled yesterday’s rigged mullet out of the salt, hooked them to our main lines, and put them out.

More to come next week!



Freshies Up Date

On heck of a rest of the tail story!







Mepps Aglia Dressed Spinner

Best colors are silver/gray, hot firetiger/brown, and browntourt/brown

http://www.mepps.com/information/agl...23#description

Also Bass Pro Shops carry this lure in 20 different colors and styles

For those interested Aglia dressed spinner is no longer just considered a freshwater lure it has also been “tried and proven in saltwater” for spotted sea trout as well as others. For those interested, Mepps does offer some lures that are strictly set up for saltwater.

Mepps Squirrel Tail Recycling Program Up Date

In my November 29 2010 weekly fishing report I published an article about Little Captain Ray Crawley. The story was about when Ray was a child selling dried squirrel tails to Mepps Tackle, which they used to make their famous lures. Well, I sent the article to Mepps and shep@mepps.com emailed me back with this information………



According to Shep, Mepps tackle was believed to be one of the first companies to recycle a by-product such as dried squirrel tails. This started way over 40 years ago and Mepps is still are recycling squirrel tails. For complete details on this program go to http://www.mepps.com/programs/squirrel-tail/ Shep also stated that with the decline in the number of squirrel hunters they are not getting the number the quality of tails that the company needs. For those who are interested they pay $.20 cents for each good quality tail and will reimburse on shipping first class of 50 or more tails.



For 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!



Christmas morning at the Captain’s House



The little black Christmas pig!



Photo by Santa Claus

Here’s a little Miss Judy picture, which was found by me many years ago. Apparently taken by Good Old Saint Nick himself. As the story goes, at least the one told to me, Santa worked hard putting out all of my gifts. Then he sat down opened up a can of Vienna sausage, drank some ice tea, picked up his bag, opened the door (since we didn’t have a chimney), and off into the night he went.



Now lets see and believe me I can’t remember all the toys I got, but some do ring a bell. For instance, the black pig, which was a large piggy bank. As time went on the pig got heavier and heavier, because when daddy’s friends would stop by I always mentioned the pig had to be paid. It seemed the later the night or should I say, “As the spirits flowed coins turned into dollar bills!” The pig brought quite a bit of entertainment to daddy’s visitors. As with all things especially the good ones have to come to an end. Well, the pig got so full that I couldn’t longer carry it much less stuff another dollar bill in it. So daddy suggested that we open it. To open it we had to crack it, which we did with one light tap with the hammer. And to this day I have never seen so much change and dollars bills stuffed into one pig! And probably will never again!

“Snacks for Santa!”

When I was a small child Christmas was a very interesting time of the year for me. Being an only child I pretty much was very fortunate to get what I wanted most all of the time. However, Christmas was a whole other story. It wasn’t a see and purchase thing it was more of circling thing.



Every year about a month before Christmas the Levy’s catalog would arrive. Believe me, this was one piece of mail that I was definitely interested in receiving. Once it arrived my father would hand it over while saying, “circle what you want and I will see to it that it gets to Santa Clause in time for Christmas.” After handing it over he would always say, “remember you shouldn’t spent over $25.00.” I basically would dive into the magazine and ending up staying for hours. After loads of contemplation I then got my pencil/paper and started adding up what I had decided that I might want. As normal my eyes couldn’t add correctly and when the additions was made quite a bit of subtracting started taking place. During this time I had to rule out what I really didn’t want that much. It was so tormenting to me, but someone had to do it. As soon as I got the combination of toys prices as close to $25.00 as I could I was finished. It was time to hand over my circled toys list to my father.



The night before Christmas I as well as millions of other children left a treat out for Santa. I have seen on television where most children left cookies or candy as a midnight snack. This was something that wasn’t found much around my house. As soon as they arrived I ate them. My father would always suggest a more practical snack. According to him Santa needed a snack that would travel well. Not only that, Santa probably had already eaten tons of snacks before he had gotten to our house. I now called this “Captain Daddy at Christmas Time Logic!”



So we decided to leave old Santa canned goods along with a can opener by the tree! As a child this made me excited to know that we were doing something different for the man in the red suit.



Merry Christmas to all! And thanks for reading…. Captain Judy






Thank You,
Captain Judy
"Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!"
1 912 897 4921 office
1 877 500 3363 toll free
Miss Judy Charters