    
Judy Helmey (Captjudy)
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Username: Captjudy
Post Number: 4
Registered: 6-2004
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Votes: 1 | | Posted on Monday, October 25, 2004 - 6:12 am: | |
Saltwater Fishing Report
October 25, 2004
From the Bank and Pier Report
Bridges and piers are great places to catch fish especially in our area. These places have structure such as pilings and rocks, which supports a great marine growth foundation. Marine growth is just another word for "food" in a fish's world. So look at these places as potential fast food places for fish to catch a quick meal. Most all public docks, bridges, and ocean piers provide a surface that offers both vertical and surface feeders (fish) opportunity to school and feed. I have reports from fishermen who are catching lot of spotted sea trout while fishing these areas with live/fresh dead shrimp and artificial lures. I must add a few technical points in this case. Keep in mind when fishing these areas that tide plays a big part on where the fish are going to be holding and feeding. So therefore when you find the fish in that certain area and they stop biting trying presenting your bait opposite from where you placed it before. When the tide changes the bait, on which the fish were feeding, always heads in a different direction. Bait has a tendency to swim against the current when re-locating. The fish know this routine. This only means when the fish bite slows all you have to do is to change sides. In this case the best news is the fact that you don't have to re-set your anchor! There are many advantages to "just fishing stationary!"
Dock Light fishing
In the past weeks I have written a lot about night fishing around the "old dock light." This is another area that when you get the access that they ought to take advantage of. The fishing is still great when it comes to this event! Just think of the light as the focus point and fish all points from that area. You are going find that there is a "pecking order" to be found in this arena. Mullet love the light. After taking a good look at them you will see why. They have the biggest roundest eyes for their size than most fish. So therefore they focus on the light and hone in on it. However, after a few attempts to swim to the light and they find they are attacked they have a tendency to just hold off while schooling up.
How to catch a mullet using a hook and line!
The primarily feed on just plain algae, but that will not stay on a hook. The meaning according to Webster's dictionary algae is any of numerous groups of eukaryotic one celled or colonial organisms that contain chlorophyll, which usually flourish in aquatic or damp environments. In other words they don't have roots, stems or leaves. So therefore we are talking about pond scum, seaweeds, and many types of plankton. I am glad I got that out of the way. Now you know why these things that mullet eat won't stay on the hook. However, as a small child my father and I caught lots of mullet right off our dock. We would use 6-pound line, add a small split shot, and tie on the smallest thin shank "J" hook that we would find. For bait we would use raw dough, balled up dry bread, marshmallows parts, or small pieces of the white part of raw smoked bacon. We even tried small pieces of lettuce. It was fun fishing off of our dock.
Just a note for all of you frustrated inshore fishermen that don't get to fish all of the time.
When it comes to fishing there are always problems to be had in the "catching department." This only means that you don't catch them all of the time. However, we all do try. Some of us have more experience than others, which means we have had more time to fish. The bottom line is that those of you out there that don't get to fish all of the time I suggest trying to step outside of the box. Those of you out there that get to fish sometimes probably always go to the same spots time after time. This can only mean that a high percentage of the time you probably don't catch a lot of fish or at least what you thought you should. I am suggesting that you move about more especially at this time of the year. Fish and bait are on the move. Think for a moment about the places that you fish now and use that information to think about where you can find a duplicate situation. You can be sure of one thing, "let a spot rest long enough and it will come back alive!
Bait Department Suggestions!
Danny Smith plus crew while fishing his boat "Sea Note" in about 100 feet of water off of Beaufort, South Carolina had an interesting day of fishing. His crew came up with some interesting bait experiments. While bottom fishing and using the normal bait they found themselves in a "Shark catching haven." However they weren't targeting sharks, but instead an entirely different species. They had gone to all of the trouble of catching the right bait for red snapper and grouper. As a fisherman I know that after a plan is made, bait is carefully caught, and the wrong fish bite takes place it can be very aggravating. After lunchtime the group decided to change from live to the plain old dead stuff as bait. The first fish that they caught was a nice 2 to 3 pound blackfish, which did put a smile of everyone's face. Danny's nephew having a little of his sandwich left decided to use it for bait. He took the provolone cheese/salami/ham off his sandwich and put it on his bottom hook. When his bait offering reached the bottom the biggest black fish of the day ate it. This is just about when the bait experimenting started. After ascertaining what else they might have on the boat to try as bait a "Slim Jim" was contributed. They cut the dry greasy sausage into suitable pieces, baited their hooks, and down to the bottom they sent it. As soon as it hit another large black sea bass hit it. As you can see these fishermen were on a serious "bait roll." The next double hook bottom rig dropped had one hook loaded with squid and the other with a piece of Slim Jim. Here's how it went. Out of three drops sporting the same bait proved that the "Slim Jim Ruled!" Thanks for the report!
This report reminds me to remind you of a few things!
"Shark Feeding Frenzies"
Quite often while we are bottom fishing us charter boat captains find ourselves in this dilemma. Sharks are fun to catch. However, after a few keepers and near misses from their genuine bite ethic enough is enough. Sharks go into the feeding frenzy stage when they have something to feed on. Many things could prompt this occurrence. The number one reason is if the fish on the ledge have been in some sort of feeding frenzy. Lots of fish movement along with noises that fish makes when they are feeding attracts sharks. They have a keen sense "period." Blood in the water, which can be attributed due to the fact that you are throwing over your fish carcass's from your bait board. This trail alone will get them going. We don't throw anything overboard when we are cutting bait. We have a bucket that we throw all discarded bait parts in. We discard part when we are moving down current of the ledge.
South Carolina Artificial Reefs
Chris, while fishing a king mackerel tournament, covered some ground. The good news is that while doing so he shared the information with us. According to the report, Betsy Ross held lots of barracuda, which gladly took him up on any bait offering that he was offering. He was using all types of bait from top water to deep action. He was looking for a king bite, but instead found the "toothy monsters" jumping on everything that he put out. He then moved the artificial reef "Eagles Nest," which also proved to be slow. However, when he reached this area, the tide was slack. We as fishermen always say, "a king fish loves that tide moving!" Chris was aware of that, but he had to try it anyway. After pulling and searching he decided to do what all fishermen do when "their backs are up against a wall!" He went where he knew there wasn't any fish, which is usually the most likely place. The Hilton head Reef, which is also referred to as the "Tire Drop." He put out his bait offering of trolled mid-column rigged "Ribbon fish" and went for it. A lonely king fish, which turned into a third place contender hit the bait. I take my hat off to this fisherman. He did what it took to find the fish, which was to move around without getting discouraged. As you follow this story you find that he had to move over three different artificial reefs to find his targeted species of king mackerel. Rule of thumb when fishing an area that his lots of live bottom or in this case artificial reefs "you have to stay on the move, because the fish sure do!" Thanks for the report! Please keep them coming!
Georgia's Artificial Reefs
Ed Field and crew (Sam Durham) while fishing his boat, "White Knight," had a "fish catching kind of a day!" He fished the artificial reef "L," which is located about 18 miles off of the coast. Captain Ed found lots of snakes kings holding over the higher structure. He method was best one and my most favorites. The pulling of the old drone spoon, which has been a old proven lure for many years. According to the report king mackerel wasn't the only fish interested in this lure. In fact an 8-foot shark hit one of his spoons, which ensued a fun fight that lasted about 30 minutes. Just goes to show you that an artificial lure at an artificial reef really does work! Thanks for the report.
King Mackerel
Find your bait in the tackle box not the freezer! This year's winter king mackerel run could turn out to be the best that we have seen in years. According to the reports that I have been getting artificial reefs located in both South Carolina and Georgia have been "Hotspots" for this fish. The good news is that the fall/winter migration mackerel run usually lasts until about the first week in December. For those of you that want to use light tackle or slow/fast troll now is the time to sharpen your hooks. My most favorite style of fishing for king mackerel is a simple one. It's not considered light tackle, because it's too fast. Here's how I do it. I am pulling a wire line on the starboard and a monofilament on the port. The starboard wire is my long line. The port is short and is what we considered closest to the boat. I am pulling a #3 Sea Striker planer with lure from both rods. My planer has a swivel attached, 30 foot of 80-pound test leader, another swivel attached, and then a 31/2-inch Drone spoon. I prefer plain silver or black and green combination spoons. However, I have gotten several reports of blue/silver combination also being a hot lure. The bottom line to selecting a color is to pick one that has worked for you in the past. It is my belief that boats and their noises that they make demand a certain color combination. In my case "blue" isn't in my combination code. Many captains in my company have proven without a doubt that the blue spoon does work. It's just not my boat's color, but I always keep one on board just in case.
The artificial reefs that normally hold the kings at this time of the year are usually in less than 70 feet but more than 40 feet of water. You are going to have to ascertain by trial and error how much line to let out. Too much line can trip the planer when it hits the ocean floor. Please keep in mind that while trolling these areas that you have high structure to deal with. Keep that in mind when you plan on trolling close to the ocean floor. Tangling with one of these can cost you an entire rig outfit! My boat speed around 5 to 6 knots. This is fast, but necessary in my situation. Once we hook up I only slow the boat down to idle speed forward. Whatever you do when using a planer don't take the boat out of gear. You increase your chances for loosing your fish. King mackerel normally hit your trolled spoon at a great speed ripping quite a hole in the hook-set area. Any amount of slack in the line can result in releasing your already hooked fish. So therefore keep your boat moving at all times.
The good news about using an eighty-pound test leader is the fact that you can just drag your fish in over the gunwale and throw it directly into the cooler. For those bigger fish that need gaffing it takes three fishermen. It takes one to hold the rod, one to pull in the leader, and one to gaff the fish. Have a plan and stick to it or someone might get hurt. Always have the rod angler hold the rod to the side over the water. If the fish decides to make a run the leader man is going to have to let go. If you rod isn't placed properly the planner could hit the leader man on the head or even worst hit them behind the ear. I don't think I need to explain what this could mean! (Ear-less in Georgia)
A king mackerel's make-up
Things you need know about this fish. King mackerel have to swim all of the time. So therefore their first couple of runs especially when using light tackle are going to be strong ones. Once you get the fish under control and headed your way, the fish will get tired quickly. They normally start swimming in a circular motion, which is also know as the "death roll." At this time don't try to horse (pump, pull erratically) your fish. The speed at which your king hit has probably caused the hooks to rip a big hole. This means that any slack what so ever will allow your not so embedded hooks free. So therefore as long as you keep the line tight and steady coming you should be able to land your fish.
Genuine Red Snapper
I have to say, "that this is the most fish requested" in the bottom fishing department. They are strong pullers, good to eat, and you don't catch them everyday. I have to admit that since we have started back fishing the action for this fish has been great. As all fishermen know during hurricane season we had about a month of "no fishing" especially at the Savannah Snapper Banks.
The red snapper have definitely started their winter migration. In the fall/winter large schools of all sizes migrate closer to shore. This includes all sizes from small to large. A small red snapper, which is less than 12 inches long, is called a "peanut." Red snapper that range from 13 to 19 3/4 inches are called "juveniles." The ones that are 20 to 25 inches are called "legal." According to federal rules and regulations red snapper have to be 20" plus to keep. They carry a legal bag limit of 2 (two) per day. Any red snapper larger are called "sows." I am always looking for this fish. It's my favorite!
You are just as likely to catch a red snapper in 120 feet as you are in 30 feet of water especially at this time of the year. Snapper that you find in the shallow water areas or in areas that you normally don't find them will be easy to catch. They are migrating and hungry. The bad news is that they could be there today and gone tomorrow. However, keep records of where you find them and when, because they should arrive at about the same time in early spring. (I consider the fall push as being the strongest.) As the fish move some will find that they like a certain area and make it their new home. This happens all along the migration trail. These fish then become what is known as "residents!"
Gulf Stream
The time has come, but the rough ocean hasn't let up. According to numerous good reports the "South Ledge" is the spot. Wahoo in a range of sizes where caught while trolling and live lining this area last week. To add to the mix black fin tuna are also sharing the same area. It rough, but it's time! Find yourself a big boat and take that ride.
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
GNATS
Here's one of these suggestions that I don't suggest using. However, I had to share it with you. Long before bug spray of any type there was the "old smudge pot method." My father used this method to ward off gnats quite bit in the old days. He would take a metal bucket, lined it with a brown paper bag, throw in some damp marsh grass, set it on fire, and boy did it smoke a lot. This day and time this task would definitely not be a safe thing to do so for several reasons. Most of our buckets are made of plastic and we aren't fishing from a wooden rowboat. Our metal bucket just floated around in the water that was in the bottom of the rowboat. This would keep the smoke flowing un-consistently and keep the bottom of the bucket cool, which means no fires elsewhere along with absolutely no gnats!
Here's My Line Now Bite My Hook!
Captain Judy
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