    
CaptainJudyHelmey (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
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Votes: 0 | | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 4:58 am: | |
NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Right Whale Sighting
On Monday (October 25, 2004) while coming home from a fishing trip we got a great surprise. We spotted a pair of adult right whales about 8 miles southeast of the Warsaw Sea buoy. The two whales were cruising together in a southerly direction. They didn't seem to be in any kind of hurry. They never once changed their heading. It was clear that they were on some sort of a whale mission. We watch from a distance as they surfaced, blew making that wonderful whale sound, arched their backs, and tail saluted us. Over the many years I have been fortunate to see many of these wonderful creatures. However, it really doesn't matter every time is like the first! I still get as excited as my customers. Here are a few suggestions on what to do if you find yourself in the same watching mode or if a whale comes to you.
If a whale comes to you, please don't put your boat in gear. Just remain calm and as quick as they arrived they should leave. However, the good news is that there are no rules that specify that you can't take pictures. Please take all you can, because what is happening to you doesn't happen to but a few. The very next thing that you need to do is to contact the coast guard or have someone relay coordinates of your whale encounter. The reason is very simple, BUT VERY IMPORTANT "IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE." The coast guard will then contact proper sources so that coordinates can be sent to ships that are navigating in the area of the sighting. Right whales especially when swimming with their calves will quite often lay on the surface for long periods at a time. This normal act unfortunately can put them right in the path of large vessels or should I say, " IN HARMS WAY!"
For right whale that you happen up on please keep your distance. You are required by law to stay the distance of at least 500 yards. The reason being there aren't that many of these precious mammals left. A collision with one might cause serious injury or death to the whale. At last count there were less than 300 left in the world. Once again when you spot a right whale please contact the Coast Guard on Channel 16 of your marine radio.
A right whale has two blowholes. So therefore when they blow, the water comes out in a "V" shape. This view is only possible from a front or rear angle of the whale. I have had the opportunity to see quite a few "V" shaped spouts in my lifetime. These spouts can be seen from a great distance. If timed right even an average camera can take a decent shot.
This area is a critical habitat for the right whale. This is their calving ground. They skirt Georgia's Coast and the offshore waters from the middle of November to the end of April. During November they are usually headed to the south to have their young. During the spring they are making their way back to the northern areas bringing with them their new young calves.
Take a look at these measurements. The adult right whale grows to approximately 55 to 60 feet long. The adult female whale is usually a few feet longer than the male. Their weight runs about 200,000 pounds. A calf (baby whale) is normally 13-15 feet long and weights in at about 2,000 pounds. All right whale rather young or old have a flat back with no dorsal fin.
The bottom line when it comes to spotting a whale is to do the following:
Contact the coast guard on channel 16 of your VHF radio and report coordinates and time of encounter.
For whale reporting Cell Phone usage:
Savannah Coast Guard 1 912 786 5440 (Tybee Island coast guard)
Brunswick Coast Guard 1 912 267 7999
Charleston Coast Guard 1 843 724 7616
Another good source to report is Leigh Youngner, Georgia DNR 1 912 262 3141 direct line.
Inshore
The winter inshore bite has certainly taken off. Our inshore catches of prime fish continue to be goods one. Spotted sea trout are being caught in great numbers with them being well over the legal size of 13 inches (tail length). Spot Tai bass also known as red fish, channel bass, and stag bass are being caught with a higher numbers being over the size limit. The bass legal slot size is 14 TL to 23 TL. (bag limit of 5 fish per day). So therefore all fish that are over 23 inches must be released. There are a lot of these fish being caught and released. The flounder have also made a good showing this fall season. These fish have to be 12 inches TL to be legal.
Weed less grubs and screw tails
For those of you that like to pitch to or in the grass you all know how easy it is get tangled with the sea shrubs. Here's suggestion: instead of pushing that hook point out of your grub or screw tail simple turn you hook around. Once you turn it around and keep the hook point embedded in the lure it will glide throw the grass. Once you have preformed the art of backwards rigging throwing way up into the grass will be a pleasure and not a fear! As far as I am concerned with backwards rigging you have just increased your chances of hooking up the big one, because that's where they are especially when the full moon rises.
Whiting
Whiting also known as our southern kingfish are on wide-open mode. This is a fish that doesn't require a lot of planning or rigging. All you need a small hooks and bait to fit this fish's needs. Most of the whiting that are being caught are being found in the sound areas. However, I have had some reports of pier, river, and creeks catches. However, if you can get to the sound I suggest it. These fish love the taste of shrimp. The good news is that one shrimp will go a long way when it comes to the whiting bite. They prefer it peeled and will gladly take without hesitation small pieces on the hook. When putting your bait on your hook remember especially in this case, that the closer the meat is to the hook the better your chances are for a solid hook up. When peeling your shrimp don't discard the shells, keep then in a pile. This is going to be your whiting chum especially when the tide slacks. This fish puts up a great fight especially on light tackle. It's a child pleaser no matter what age they happen to be!
Whiting Bait Suggestion
When I can't get dead bait at the old bait/tackle store I go to the grocery store. Most seafood sections have different prices of shrimp. I choose the less expensive and I normally purchase a pound or two. These shrimp are fresh and easy to peel, as you need them. I always keep all of my bait carefully on ice, because in this case what is not bait will surely be used for that afternoon shrimp cocktail! Bon appetite!
OFFSHORE
Artificial Reefs
King Mackerel
For those of you that want to target this fish, it's time. It has been two years since our areas has had a good fall/winter run of king mackerel. Your best bet is to fish the artificial reefs located in 50 to 60 feet of water. We have been fishing the CCA reef and L Buoy artificial reefs. However, I have gotten good catch reports from those reefs located in South Carolina (Betsy Ross and Eagles Nest) and Georgia. The king mackerel run usually last in these areas till about the first week in December. After that the last of the kings can be found till about the second to third week holding at Gray Reef. They are pretty much at all reefs at this time, but will make their push to the south starting the first of December. So therefore you still have time to make your plans to go with us or to break out your own boat.
We are catching snakes and teenagers at this moment. The big kings haven't arrived to these areas as of yet. This big fish run will take place in about two weeks. The first migration of kings are normally made up of the kings that run from 5 to 10 pounds, better known as "snakes." Almost at the same time the "teenagers" arrives. Most all of these fish weights fall into the teen pounds. Most snakes and teenager kings can be caught trolling at 4 to 6 knots while using Drone spoons as bait. In about two weeks the "Smokers" will arrive and they will hit just about anything. However, it's hard to land a 30 to 40 pound king while trolling at 4 to 6 knots especially while pulling a planer. The reason is that when you pull a planer the drag is always semi-tight, because if it isn't with the speed you are pulling will cause your line to continuously advance out. So therefore a semi-tight drag is needed to pull your rig and to keep your line on your reel from feeding out. Now if a big king hits it, which is going to happen and you are not watching it your spoon will be gone. This is due to the fact that your leader can't possibly hold the fast drag of the spoon and the initial hit of the big king. However, if you are watching when the fish hits, loosen the drag, and slow the boat down you could be in luck. It best during this time to be a rod watcher!
In less than two weeks most amberjack and barracuda will have migrated out of these artificial reefs areas. This means for those of you that want to live line it's just about time. I'm not saying you can't do it now. However, we had tried and most of the fish if we get them to the boat have been mangled. My customers aren't too fond of "fish head soup." However it can be tasty, but boiling the head of a fish just doesn't seem like such a good idea. Here's one for you. Most people at this time of the year want their kings fillet rather than cut in to steaks. I have had customers request from the fish cleaners to keep the skeleton part of the fish that the fillets were cut from. According to my customers once you trim the fins off, wash, season, batter, and fry the skeleton of the fish it's the best part. I though about it and they do have a point. There is lots of meat left on the skeleton no matter how you fillet it. I haven't tried it, so therefore I can't disagree or agree with this type of cooking project. However, if you do try it, please let us know how it turns out!
South Carolina Artificial Reefs and North Snapper Banks
I received a fine two-day fishing report from James West this past week. He alone with his crew braved the rough sea conditions and took the plunge. His first day of fishing started with Naval Tower R 7. This is the spot where he loaded up on some badly needed bait. After securing enough of this fare he moved on to the north snapper banks to do a little bottom fishing. According to the report his caught a little of everything from amberjack to red snapper. However, his bottom bite with the red snapper turned out to be a bite more practicing than keeping. Most of the genuine red snapper didn't make the cut of 20 inches plus. However as you all know they are lots of fun to catch. All fish that didn't make the legal size were caught and released properly.
In his second fishing adventure he fished South Carolina's artificial reef "Betsy Ross." This area was loaded up with the fall/winter run of king mackerel. He caught his limit while trolling the ever-popular Clark spoon behind planers. The king bite was steady. Mixed in with king schools was surface feeding false albacore. They managed to catch a few of these fish, which were immediately released unharmed. These fish are fun to catch, because they are such strong runners. Thanks again for the report!
Bottom fishing tricks of the trade at the old snapper banks
After many years of constant fishing certain facts come into play in regards to fish. It is a known fact that fish follow a pattern year after year. In fact I call it the "fish's blueprint." The only way that this information was ascertained was by the keeping of continuous records. After years of what seemed like insignificant moves by fish it all came into play. We now know about where, when, and why fish migrate. My records for this area are "priceless" to me and probably to many others especially if they could read my writing. I have narrowed down many things that fish do during feeding, resting, and migrating. Feeding is one of the most interesting accomplishments of a fish. Not only do they have to find their own next meal, but also catch it. While this is going on with one fish, many others from the very smallest to the largest fish are doing the same exact thing.
In 95 to 110 feet of water there is what I call "Captain Judy's Pecking Order!" I need to set the stage so that you can understand where I am coming from. I fish a lot of isolated spots, which I call "fish cities." This reason that I call them this is because all the different types of fish are living and surviving in one spot. This spot is usually a small type of live bottom area that has rocks, some sort of coral, and vegetation. It's a place that's perfect for a lot of marine life to survive. This area is normally surrounded by not a thing but sand. All types of fish from large to small live here. Here's some of my important information that I have ascertained about this kind of area.
I am always talking about sand perch. This is a fish that red snapper love to eat. They don't get a lot if them because sand perch don't live inside the fish city. Their home is on the outskirts in the sand. Now if you catch one of these fish you are probably are fishing over sand. However, when you do catch one you had best save it, because it is great bait for red snapper and grouper. When a sand perch is pulled up from 95 to 110 feet of water it develops the fish bends. This is where the fish's air bladder gets too full of air and needs to be deflated. If you don't release the air your fine bait will die. Dead bait is of no absolute value when you are targeting a big bottom fish. Here's another tip. As you are drifting over your fish city your first indication that you have left and arrived on the out skirts is the fact that you are catching sand perch. So therefore you should have learned that when you are catch sand perch you are basically fishing over sand.
Here's another piece of information that I have gathered over the years by keeping records. I have noticed this after fishing a particular isolated bottom spot for while. When you start catching white bone porgy it's an indication that the bite is over at least in the particular area that you are fishing. So therefore when I am fishing an area and we catch a white bone porgy I move on to another area. Now here's the rub. If you are just dropping down in an area for the first time, catch a white bone it's up to use to ascertain whether the bite is over or just beginning in this particular area. I always suggest just going fishing and leaving all of these unbelievable calculations to others.
GULF STREAM
Captain Tim Gaylor of Miss Judy Charters and the "Old Cracker" teamed up and took that blue water ride this past week. They started their fishing debut trolling their bait offerings at the South Ledge area. Due to the weather pattern up north of the area large sea swells and waves were present during this fishing trip. However that didn't stop this team from pushing forward to the fishing grounds. They ended with several nice dolphins, few Wahoo, and some real good hard runs. The bite was soft leaving the action good, but the hookup ratio hard to accomplish. However, the trip was a success, because they wanted to go!
For those of you out there that want to make the blue water run catching can always be in your future. The reason being is that if the top water fish don't bite you can always drop to the bottom. Bottom fishing in this area isn't and shouldn't be considered boring. This is due to the fact that any type of fish both top water and bottom fish might take you up on your bait offering. As far as the best bait, the sky is the limit. I have used with success the follow baits on the bottom: unrigged cut horse ballyhoo pieces, the whole ballyhoo, mullet whole or cut, squid, outer cuts of the stomach wall from my landed top water fish, and any type of live bait fish.
"Little Miss Judy's Believe It or Not!"
Wolf Fish and all that implies!
My new friend and northern connection Tom McGee sent me a picture of a wolf fish. Many years ago daddy use to tell me some unbelievable stories about this fish. The wolf fish looked exactly like daddy had described.
My father had shared with me some pretty graphic descriptions of this fish. Since he called it a "wolf fish" I assumed it had to look like a dog or wolf without hair, but having large teeth. According to daddy this fish had a very bad attitude. Back in the old days, before mechanical power was invented, there was rowing; sailing, or drifting with the current for marine movement. My father used to tell me stories about oarsmen's and their troubles in regards to "wolf fish." This fish supposedly would attack the oars and latch on. As you all know it hard enough to row, but with a large fish attached things in the movement department would definitely be slower. So therefore the six-year old mind vision that I had was a simple one. All I could see was large fish with big teeth attacking and holding on to my set of oars. As I rowed by boat I had to wonder when this would happen to me. It never did but the though of it never left me.
Tom has some interesting things to say about the old wolf fish. They are a by-catch fish that are usually caught while targeting cod or haddock. Wolf fish are normally found in 150 to 230 feet of water. They have a fine set of choppers that are very sharp. If this fish isn't handled properly it can deliver a nasty bite. According to Tom if you can get pass the snapping teeth and are able to clean it, the meat of this fish is very good. As of this moment there have been no documented wolf fish attacks in his area. However, as of this date Tom has been put on the alert mode. He has promised to send us complete details of any "wolf fish attacks!" Just to let you know Tom, "we will always be standing by!" Thanks
Here's my line now bite my hook!
Captain Judy
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