    
Judy Helmey (Captjudy)
New member
Username: Captjudy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 6-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 5:48 am: | |
August 2, 2004
Saltwater Fishing Report!
Inshore
Bait Options
The good news about this time of the year is that you can purchase or catch your own bait. For those that have the time I suggest catching your own. For those that prefer to use mud minnows there's the old minnow trap. All you have to do is to bait your trap with canned cat food, raw chicken, hotdogs, or anything that you think will lure these small fish in to the trap. Now for those of you that prefer other baits such as finger mullet and shrimp you had best get out the old cast net. The good news about this catching method is that you might net enough shrimp to make yourself a nice shrimp cocktail. Not only shrimp but also there are chances of catching finger mullet, which also is great live bait for this time of the year. When casting any by-catch other than shrimp and finger mullet becomes a potential bait. This secret to all of the catching is that you must keep it alive; because basically that is about the only way it's going to work.
Rigging up for your bait options
All baits mentioned above can be presented in many ways. For instance, for those that want to just want to hook their bait up naked then this is your best start. I have gone as far as just tying on the hook and just putting on the live bait. There is an upside and a downside to this style of fishing. The upside is that you most likely will get a hit, because it appears to be a free swimming bait fish that is easily targeted by a hungry fish. However, the downside is that without some sort of a leader the line may or may not hold up to the tension and the teeth of the fish, but this is a sure way to get hooked up. Live bait also works when weighted and put on the bottom or suspended in the mid-water column, which is my favorite way to fish. I seem to always get a nice flounder when using the method of live fish on the bottom. Your last option, which is the most used, is the traditional trout (cork) rig. This allows you to adjust your bait to any depth that you wish.
The Versatile "Cajun Thunder"
These are suggestions for both inshore and offshore fishermen. Both inshore and offshore captains use the Cajun Thunder. The inshore set up is simple all you have to do is tie on a piece of leader and add your hook. You can use live, dead, or artificial baits with this style setup. This is a float and lure combination built into one, which means it, can be pulled or you can just float it. It's up to you. This cork comes complete with the bells and whistles. A sharp pull on the Cajun Thunder causes a clicking noise that imitates the same sound that a shrimp makes when it's fleeing. Believe me this is the noise that puts fish into the striking mood.
The offshore set up is also simple to make. I just take a cigar shaped float, tie on about 5 to 10 feet of 20-pound test monofilament line, and attach my lure. My favorite and most productive lure is the "0-RBMS Clark Spoon!" This is one of the best trolling lures that you can pull. However, with all lures there is an up and downside it. The upside is that you will most likely get a hit. The downside is that not only does the lure get the fish's attention, but also the float itself. So therefore I suggest purchasing more than one float, because sometimes one attack by a mackerel or little tunny is all it takes to destroy your float. Even though you do have to change up just think about all of that above-water entertainment! Fishes-a-jumping!
Most tackle stores carry these great versatile Cajun Thunders floats/lures. I personally use the yellow, green, and orange colored floats. As far as the shape, I prefer the Cigar and oval shaped ones the best. They are easy to spot just look for them mounted on a yellow card!
Spanish mackerel, where to go
If you indeed want a "Big Mack Attack" give the shipping channel a try, because it has definitely been the hotspot for about two weeks. The good news is that this bite should continue for a while. It's the most simplest and easiest fish to catch at this time of the year. You don't have to take a long boat ride to the fish and it doesn't take all day to find them. There's more, they taste good, and after the morning bite you have plenty of time to fix them for supper.
How to get you best shot at catching them
As far as methods to get this fish to the hook give these options a try. For those that want to drift and pitch it's available. However, stay out of the way of the ships. For those that want to troll we have been catching Spanish while pulling #1, #2, and #3 Sea Striker planers. Please remember to attach a snap swivel to the planer before you tie your leader on. By adding the snap swivel you help eliminating your leaders from curling so tightly. When this happens your lure is restricted to its movement, causing less fish attention. Your best bait to pull behind your planer is a Clark spoon. I am using both single 0 and double 00 RBMS Clark Spoons. I'm not saying that other type lures don't work. It's just that it the lure we all prefer to use. We are using lengths of 10 to 20 feet of 20, 30, or 40 pound test monofilament line as our leader. Please remember that it's best to tie your spoon directly on the leader. The added snap swivel on the backside of the planer should take care of any curling of the leader.
DUA Artificial Reef
Captain Frank Cullum and crew had pretty interesting day fishing at the old DUA reef. He decided to give this area a try and it turned out to be the right decision to make. The first thing that they did was to set out the light tackle to catch some Spanish mackerel. They were using the trolling method of Clark spoons behind #1 sea Strikers planers. Now for the good news, the bite was big in the Spanish mackerel department. The first Spanish landed looked more like a snake king. (A snake king is less than 7 pounds) It was approximately 27 inches long. The next couple of fish landed were big also. These fish averaged in length from 18 to 20 inches. While doing the semi-deep trolling they were also pulling rigged ballyhoo, which were getting plenty of action from the "toothy monsters!" (Barracuda) After having most of their rigs destroyed by the sea monsters they pulled out a good old stand by in my book. The ever-popular Cisco Kid, which also turned out to be the right thing to do. The fishing was good and so were the ideas to get them to bite the hook! Thanks for the report Captain Frank!
Tarpon bites and tales
Here's another great story fishing stories straight from the fisherman. Carter Mobley and friends were fishing the local Savannah Sport Fishing Club Tarpon Tournament when this happened. According to the story they had jumped three tarpon and finally hooked one. After about 30 minutes into the fight they all observed a huge brown dorsal fin of a big hammerhead heading toward their hooked tarpon. Carter told me that the shark had to have fit in the 12 to 14 feet range. As soon as the shark starting attacking the tarpon the light tackle line broke. According to the story it appeared that the tarpon did escape the jaws of the shark. All of this action took place in less than 10 feet of water and within good eyesight of the barrier island. According to Carter, a shark like this will make you think twice about swimming off of Tybee. Thanks Carter and we are certainly glad that the shark didn't jump into your boat!
It's Shark Season
I hate to be the first one to holler "SHARK," but it's now time. I have received many fishing reports regarding sharks, which has warranted me wanting to give all of you fishermen a "HEADS UP!" Normally sharks don't just attack on sight. However, when a fish is hooked up, which generally causes the smell of blood and the fear is in the water it can definitely happen. With all the right ingredients a shark's natural eating switch" is flipped to the "ON POSITION!" Please don't get me wrong I'm not trying to scare you I am trying to make you aware of our current situation. Anytime that you hook up there is a great potential of attracting a shark that might try to attack your catch. This is what they do, because they are eating machines.
Best places to look or to avoid sharks
1. Directly behind where a shrimp boat is or had dumped it's by-catch
2. The outskirts of surface feeding bait or deep holding bait
3. Concentrated fishing and catching areas such as piers, docks, boats
4. Inlets that lead to the open ocean
5. In the creeks and rivers sharks hang out in the deep holes
6. Offshore anywhere where there is water
Bottom Fishing at the Savannah Snapper Banks
It continues to be good with strong catches of multiple bottom species are being brought back to the dock. The good news at this time of the year is that you could catch a big fish as well as small fish while using the same bait. It's a known fact that large fish do like the larger baits. However during this time all fish just eat according to what puts them in the mood. When the water is cooler there is much less bait so therefore the bite is more predictable. It's easier for fishing professionals and those individuals that fish a lot to figure out the bite pattern. However, as I said, "during the warmer months, when targeting a specific species, it can be hero or zero!" The good news for all of us whether we are the all timers or the some timers in the fishing department there are plenty options open for all. I suggest using live or fresh dead bait such as cigar minnows and Spanish sardines while fishing on the bottom. Don't forget to take along your old stand-by bait of squid. It always works for all sizes of fish.
Gulf Stream
I heard of a few fishing rumbles from this area. The roomers were sketchy, but I believe them to be true. A few boats went and tried the trolling thing, which resulted in a great amount of frustration. However, there was a few large bull dolphin caught while trolling a weed line just east of the B-liner hole. The fish weren't landed, but identifications were made. The trolling bite was slow, but once they dropped to the bottom they had a blast pulling in one after the other. The bottom fishing in 150 to 200 feet of water was "Red Hot!" They did the right thing they switched to an "Alternative Style of Fishing."
Bottom fishing is good at the snapper banks, which is located in l00 to 120 feet of water. However, when the water is on the warm side such as it is now the bite can get a little nostalgic. The good news is that the deeper water at the Gulf Stream isn't too affected by the warm water conditions. This only means that the bottom bite should be good year around in this area. I would like to add one more thing to the already good situation. This area gets less fishing pressure.
"Little Miss Judy's Believe it or Not!"
Achieves fishing for the Allusive Sunfish #3
I have been writing about the allusive sunfish for a couple of weeks now. I have had a great many fishermen, young and old; suggest that I might be talking about a tripletail. I don't think so, but I am keeping that door open. I received a report from yet another fishing elder that also believes in, has seen, and has caught sunfish. Buddy Nail of Cobbtown, Georgia has fished the Shellman's bluff area for about 30 years. According to his report he occasionally spots sunfish in or near the grass mostly during the high tide stage. You have to really look for them in this situation. This fish has a tenancy to lie a little on it's side especially while holding in the grass. Here's how he got them to take a hook. Mr. Nail suggests that if you spot a sunfish, pitch your bait right in front of the fish. Once the fish identifies it as something to eat, you had best hold on. The best bait to use according to Mr. Nail is shrimp or finger mullet. He and his wife have caught several sunfish in there fishing lifetime. I am concurring with Mr. Nail. Yes, there were sunfish in our area at one time. Thank you for sending me the information!
"Here's My Hook Now Bite My Hook!"
Captain Judy
|
