OFFSHORE JUNE . 2005

“Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956”

POB 30771
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31410
912 897 4921

912 897 3460 FAX

June 20, 2005

Freshies and Saltwater Report

Freshies

Curve Appeal!

It’s time to think like a fish so that you can catch one! At this time of the year there is plenty of bait and other things that a fish can readily get without much trouble. So therefore your bait has to have “lots of fish appeal.” If the fish that you are targeting can’t pass up a bug of some type, then I suggest going with the real thing or a lure that looks and acts like one. I truly believe that the plastic worm was one of the greatest lures ever invented. It has proven itself many times over. Back in the old days, when the plastic worm first hit the tackle stores, it was a basic “dark red” in color. It was supposed to look like a worm and we all know what a basic worm looks like. In fact when this lure was first used you could catch all of the worm eating fish by just making a few short passes. However, as time went by the fish either communicated in regards to the old rubber worm or they just got tried of the whole show. Hang in there, I am going somewhere with this I promise. I started looking in the tackle stores for the old basic worm. It’s there, but it doesn’t seem to have much “fisherman appeal.” It’s not fancy with added bells and whistles. The fact of the matter is that it doesn’t even have fancy packaging. I know I am getting out there, but not once have I seen a fish shopping in a tackle store. If you want to catch a fish then you must think like a fish not a fisherman!

Inshore Fishing

New Kids on the Block!

Here’s a list of some of the top water plugs that you just might want to add to your tackle box. These drivers look and act like the real thing. Not only that, but they are proven! We have been catching Spanish mackerel, red fish, and trout this past month while pitching these lures. We have been using YO-ZURI floating/flottant lures sizes 3 5/8-inch Crystal Minnow DD. Give these styles a try: numbers R538 B, R538 CR, R538 GHIW, and R538 OK. They are great for pitching and trolling. These are "snappy type lures" with lots of fish appeal!

Fishy Bank areas, Rips, and Schooling Fish

Your best bet for using these lures is to work “fishy looking bank areas, rips, and surface schooling fish. My definition of a “fish looking banks” is a simple one. The first thing I like to see an array of live oyster beds. As all fishermen know where there is growth of any type fish of all sizes tend to migrate to feed in these areas. The next thing to look for is any bait action. The bottom line to this is if you have bait you are probably going to have bigger fish action. If this is taking place take a look to the sky, because most likely you are going to have bird action also. Believe me if you have just a couple of the signs that I have listed it’s going to be a great fish day around the old bank.

Rips
We have talked a little about rips over the past few weeks. It doesn’t matter whether you find these babies inshore or offshore they are great situations to find holding and feeding fish. Rips are basically formed when different current directions meet. When this happens a wall or what I call a “line” is formed. Rips can be considered one form of structure. It’s not the kind that you get your hook in hung on, but rather an area where small schooling fish either get pushed too or migrate too. Whatever the case fish normally are found in these areas. Feeding or hovering birds are once again good signs that fish are in the area. When a rip is formed it quite often has a two tone color line meaning that you could have clear on one side of the rip and dark on the other. I can’t officially say, “which side is better for holding fish,” but I suggest working both side so as to find out. Not all rips have fish on them, but once you start studying different rips patterns you will get better at being able to pick out a “fishy one.”

Rips can be found forming inshore, near shore, or offshore. This all boils down to almost anywhere you find current (tides) and wave action you are probably going to find a rip of some sort. When fishing inshore or near shore I suggest looking at those areas where creeks or rivers come together. A real good example of a great rip is where Wilmington River and Bull River dumps into the Warsaw sound area. Other forming rips can be found by mud or sands bars. Once you start looking you will get better aquatinted with their makeup!

Schooling Fish

When you are lucky enough to actually see fish on the surface whether they are small or large it’s a very good sign. I suggest once you find this ‘target rich environment” that you stand off and find the perimeter of the school. The reason being normally the large fish are going to be holding in the outskirts. I always suggest trolling these areas first before plowing over the top of the school. Let’s say you have found a school of surface holding Spanish mackerel. In your fishing mind you need to be thinking these things. The first thing is to congratulate yourself for getting to this point, because most likely “tight lines” are in your future. After padding yourself on the back you can now either cast directly into the school or troll the out skirts of the area. The YO-ZURI Crystal Series lures at this point will get the job done. I suggest using light tackle (15 to 20 pound test line) and tying the lure right on to the line. I know that you are scratching your head on that suggestion. Yes, you will lose more lures when you don’t use a leader. Here’s a question for you to answer. Do you want to get the opportunity to catch more fish or lures?

Clark Spoon

Another good old time lure to use is going to be the “Clark Spoon.” I use both the small and medium size spoon. They come sliver and gold. I prefer the silver to the gold color spoons. I’m not saying the gold doesn’t work. I saying, “I have caught more fish with the silver!” What ever you do when purchasing your spoons make sure that they are “Clark Spoons.” These spoons have a red bead attached right behind the swivel. It’s the lure’s personal signature and a sign for fish to feed here! You can pitch or trolling this lure surface or deep style.

Old Time Bait

Part One

I guess if you have fished long enough during your lifetime as I have, you get the chance to look at the entire picture of a fish’s life. I have been fishing since the age of 6 years old. I’m not going to say at this time of my young life that I was trying to get inside the old fish’s head. This time frame is just considered my personal fishing career starting point. However, as time went on fishing did become a “quest for me!” Heck, if it hadn’t I wouldn’t be here right now writing this article. As time passed I have come to notice different types of a fish’s behavior. If I think back to what I learned from fishing all these years it truly is unbelievable. As of right now I am narrowing down what I am going to write about and it boils down to “just plain old bait!”

Back in the old days, bait was really bait. At first it all boiled down to one main type of bait, which was shrimp. There was live and dead shrimp available. We transported our live shrimp in our boxes attached to the stern of our boats. These “great inventions” allowed some water to flow through when the boat was sitting still. When the boat was moving the seawater was forced through the holes that were drilled in the box. There were all kinds of drilling pattern used for these boxes. All fishermen including us had drilling pattern. Some fishermen put more holes on the bottom while others put only holes on the sides of their boxes. The attached live bait boxes were painted the same color as the boats and the bottom of them were coated with anti-fouling paint. Back in those days “red” was the color of bottom paint. The many colors of bottom paint hadn’t been invented at that time. At any rate, shrimp was the main bait. As I said earlier we had live and dead shrimp. Shrimp came in different sizes depending on the moon. According to my father “the fuller the moon the bigger the shrimp.” He also said that “shrimp developed what is called “red legs” right before the full moon. With the red legs came movement. Shrimp once getting to this stage would walk/migrate towards the sound. As a child, I vision the shrimp lining up and basically marching their way to the deep waters of the ocean. I didn’t once think that the shrimp boat operators such as my father would be trying to catch them in nets. We used prawn shrimp, which were the large ones and the smaller ones were referred to as “hard heads.” In the heat of the summer we would put a portion of our block ice in the attached live well. This help keep “almost standing still water” in your live box a little cooler. Daddy always had something attached to the bottom of his live box in which he would cover with burlap. According to Daddy this gave the shrimp something to grab hold of. According to Daddy a shrimp that was continuously swimming wasn’t going to last long. Not only that, but he wanted them lively when he hooked them up. As a small child I tried not to think about that part. I know I am rambling, but there is so much to talk about where bait is concerned. Over the next couple of weeks I am going to break down different baits that we have used over the past years. Next week I am going to write about small fish as bait. Back in the old days believe it or not shrimp was just about the only type of live bait used.

Top Water Fish

Spanish and King mackerel season is in full swing

Most all-sound areas are holding Spanish mackerel and king mackerel. I suggest pitching or trolling rip areas. The beachfronts are also good spots. Keep an eye to sky for feeding or hovering birds. Once you leave the sound area and get to about 35 to 40 feet water you can also find schooling Spanish and King mackerel. It’s a known fact that where you have schooling Spanish you could very easily have king mackerel hanging in the perimeter. Tybee Roads and Port Royal sounds areas are holding both types of mackerel. The artificial reefs are also great target rich environments for these fish. I’m not going to say you won’t catch Spanish in over 60 feet of water, because you might. However, your best depth especially at this time of the year for Spanish is going to be 60 feet and under. King mackerel are actively being caught from the beachfronts to the Gulf Stream. This all boils down to the fact that all boats from small to large have a shot at catching these fish!

As far as bait and method for catching these fish the sky is the limit. From artificial to the real thing all will work on both fish. However, I suggest artificial for the Spanish and live for the king mackerel. Just remember when targeting the larger kings your best bet is going to be a live bait such as menhaden, blue runner, Spanish sardines, Spanish mackerel, or any other shiny bait fish that you might come across. Methods for catching Spanish are best pitching or trolling. For kings your options are anchoring or drifting with live bait, slow or fast trolling deep or on the surface. Whatever you decide to do, please make sure it’s something that’s fun to you, because it will all work especially at this time of the year!

Savannah Snapper Banks

Most all fish are represented in this area at this time of the year. It doesn’t matter what type of fishing your prefer. Trolling or just plain old bottom fishing will work! You can get as “fish technical” as you would like. You can load your hooks up with just plain old squid and still get the chance to catch a big one. It’s one thing for sure you will catch a fish in this area when you drop that old baited hook.

My specialty and passion is big bottom fishing

Over the years I have perfected a way to get the best shot at a big bottom fish. I have been catching quite a few large grouper and red snapper while fishing the snapper banks area this past month. I am using long leaders and 9/0 to 12/0 circle hooks (Gamakatsu big eye circle 9/0 #12053) to get the job done. It’s my opinion that when catching a large bottom fish that “hook placement” in regards to your bait is very important!

I always place my circle hook through the lips of my live bait. I push the hook through from the bottom of the lip out through the top of the lip area. This hook placement allows my bait to swim and act as normal as possible. Some fishermen prefer to place the hook through the top of the eyes. This is also a good hook up procedure. However, I have had trouble with my bait spinning when dropped into bottom current. We have a name for spinning bait. (We call it “helicopter-ing.”) When bait spins out of control it normally will also cause your leader to twist a bit. Even with the aid of a snap swivel your bait will not be acting as it would normally. So therefore I place the hook under the lip and through the top of the head method. Here’s my theory:

When live bait is hooked up through the lip it allows the bait to move naturally. This is one of the main things that you need to get a big fish’s attention and that’s “natural movement.” I use a long leader behind the sinker. It can be as short a 6 feet and as long as 30 feet. I love the longer leaders the best. The longer leader allows the bait more freedom. A large bottom fish normally eats closer to the bottom. A big fish is smart or it would have already been caught. Let’s say you are using a rock bass for bait. You have hooked your bait up and have dropped in into the target area. The rock bass is going to seek safe shelter and normally this comes in the shape of a ledge or rock. By the way this is just about where your big fish is going to be hanging especially if it’s a day where it’s feeding close to the bottom. (On some occasions big bottom fish are up and swimming the ledge area, but that’s another story.) Once the big fish gets what I call “eye lock” on your bait, moves are made in that direction. Once your big fish get in position to take your bait, it tries to take it by the head section first. When the fish takes this action this will be your first sign that you have fish-a-waiting. With the hook being in the head the fish 9 times out of 10 is going to do what I call “rub the line.” You will feel this, as it is taking place, whatever you do don’t move. The reason for the rubbing is when the fish tries to take the bait the line normally gets in the way. This unsuspected feel shocks the fish and won’t allow it take the bait the natural way, which is “head first.” The big fish will then foolishly hit the bait by the tail. While this is going on I give the fish some slack so that it doesn’t feel any tension. The first gulp takes the bait to the half waypoint making the second one sucking the bait in. As this happens the circle hook normally gets embedded in the sturdy lip area. At this point you had better start reeling hard and fast. The reason being is because you are already close to the ledge. Believe me your fish is going to head straightaway into that direction. I work on them hard while moving the slowly rod side to side so as to disoriented them to the direction back home. The first few seconds of this game tells the story whether there is a big fish landing or not! More to come in next weeks report!

Gulf Stream

It was as well as other that thought that the stream catching might be going to slow a bit, but after listening to the radio this past week I might have been wrong.

Radio Chatter
I heard several boats in 160 to 650 feet of water reporting to each other that several billfish were caught and release. There seemed to have been one blue water boat that had several sailfish on, landed, and released. One transmission relayed that they were going over to a boat that had a large blue marlin hooked up. There seemed to have been lots of dolphin in all sizes caught and some nice Wahoo. About the only fish I didn’t hear anything about was the tuna fish.

100 pound plus Wahoo

I talked with Captain Eric Traub “Cotton Picker” and he reported that the blue water is still doing its thing! According to the report on the day that they fished he found the western edge of the stream in about 2000 feet of water. The edge was prefect lined with blue water and a defined rip. Along the rip he found plenty of sport with the dolphin. The edge had it all to offer other blue water fish, but the dolphin ranging from peanuts to bulls were there for the picking. After boating all of these fish that he cared too they started their westward motion towards home. After a little discussion they decided to spend some of that ride home doing what is called “high speed trolling.”

My definition of “High Speed Trolling” is a simple one. It enables you the fisherman an opportunity to catch fish while moving at a higher speed than you normally do while performing basic trolling. In other words, as long as you have a line out your have a chance to catch a fish!

Captain Eric pulled out his array of plastic lures and tightens his outrigger clips. One of his favorite plastic lures is made by Mold Craft. It’s called “Super Chugger.” His preferred color lure is the ones that sport dolphin colors. For hook design you best bet is the COM stock style, which is two large stainless steel (9/0 to 11/0) hooks together, but facing exact different directions (180 degrees). This is not a rig that you add any sort of bait too. You basically pull it naked. By using this style hook set up you can almost bet that any fish travel at a high rate of speed is going to get hooked. I use the same exact setup when I am high speed trolling. I normally pull about the same thing. I am pulling a lure with a sharp head design with the same hook style. When seas conditions slow our headway down I always put a high-speed lure out. It gives the customers something to look at and a chance to catch something while on the move. I have pulled these lures up 15 knots. Not only that but I have caught fish at these speeds. It wasn’t pretty, but we got our fish. On one particular occasion we had a 30-pound king mackerel hit one of our lures at 15 knots and it immediately broke the fish’s neck. There wasn’t much fight, but we got our fish!

After getting his spread out, he put his autopilot on, and off they went at 9 knots. They started they’re high speed trolling plight in 2,000 feet of water. When they reached the magic depth of 650 things got real interesting. They had two large hits. The first one almost emptied a 50 wide before freeing itself. The second fish did empty a 50 twice, did a couple of 180-degree turns under the boat, and flashed them once. It was about a 100-pound “Tail Cutting Wahoo!” This fish wasn’t ready to be landed either, but at least they did get a pretty decent fight out of it. The bottom line to this type of fishing is that it gives us fishermen more chances to catch that big one!

“Little Miss Judy’s Believe it or Not!”

Hurricane Survival Kit
Right before hurricane David hit a little south of our area my father decided that he didn’t want to evacuate the island. I didn’t really care except I certainly did want to attend the hurricane party that my friends were going to have in town. However, I couldn’t leave my father “home alone!” I called before heading over to his house to ask if I needed to bring anything. Of course I should have known already what his standard answer was “no honey, I have everything we need.” Not thinking I made my way to house. After settling in at my old bedroom memories soared. However, with a hurricane knocking at our door there was a lot of work to be done. Back in the old days during fifties, sixties, and seventies we anchored our boats out in the creek. As it rained the boats filled up, daddy took the old wooden rowboat, rowed across the creek, almost getting throw out of the boat on several occasions, and pumped the old wooden boats out. When the eighties hit along with hurricane David daddy had installed automatic bilge pumps on all of our boats. It’s strange when we didn’t have the automatic pumps we anchored out. When we had them we kept the boats at the dock.

After checking the boats and watching the weather, as it was getting worst I headed back to the house. It was late and I was getting a little hungry. I asked, “What was for supper?” Daddy replied “pork’n beans and white bread.” After taking a look the beans were out of date and the bread was molded. The only saving grace was the fact that he had beautiful red apples!

The boats made it through the hurricane without any problem. A tree fell into our living room giving us both quite a scare. However, it still wasn’t as scary as daddy proposed hurricane survival kit.

Here’s My Line Now Bite My Hook!

Captain Judy

Thank You,
Captain Judy
Miss Judy Charters
912-897-4921
Miss Judy's Charter Information