Captain Judy's Fishing Report

May 5, 2008

INSHORE

Captain Rick's Early Tarpon Experience!
Although it's a bit early tarpon are being seen jumping in the Warsaw Sound areas. For those that think that these sightings are might be something else it certainly is not! Fishermen while float fishing for trout and bottom fishing for whiting have had some interesting run ins with the "not supposed to be here yet tarpon!" One fisherman reported that while fishing for trout was a traditional float rig it basically took flight without much of notice. As they watched their cork for any movement from those down under a tarpon soared with the hook in its mouth. Everyone was so amazed that all watched as the fish never stopped ripping line off their reel!

Captain Rick Reynolds of Miss Judy Charters while helping his customers do a little trout fishing also had a serious fly by. He had just baited up his customer's hook, cast set it, and handed it over when it happened. What looked to be a 60-pound tarpon took the bait, which was a mud minnow on jig head, for a fast screaming ride. The first thing the tarpon did was to go ballistic ripping off about 150 yards of 30-pound test Power Pro braided line. As soon as the fish had pulled the braided line to the backing point the knot attaching it became logged, but for a tenth of a second, in the last guide on the rod. When this happened, the leader at the jig head broke. At this time all on board had seen what would be talked about for the rest of the day! Captain Rick reeled the 150 yards of line back on his reel, he rigged, and handed it back to the customer. While this was going on the other customers in Captain Rick's boat was catching trout after trout after trout!

The moral of this story at least from a tarpon's stand point is a simple one and it goes like this: "When a tarpon can't find what it usually eats out in the open waters of the sound it just moves into your fishing grounds!" The bottom line to this report is "if you want to see or maybe catch a tarpon, even thought it's early, now might just be the time! Thanks Captain Rick for this fine fishing report!

Captain Jack McGowan Inshore Fishing Report Shorts!
The reason this report isn't long is he that Captain Jack has been fishing not writing. However, even thought it's short, it certainly is to the point. Most of his fishing or should I say "catching" took place inside and way up the river. While using live shrimp and plastic bait he caught some nice spotted sea trout and red fish. Some of the trout landed weighted in at around 4 pounds and the red fish were over 31 inches long. The bottom line to this short report is "it's time to go, but be prepared with different kinds of baits!"

Captain Ray Crawley's Favorite Trout Bait!
That headline needs a little more explaining. Captain Ray is sharing with us some unbelievable fish catching suggestions. He as well as the fish has proved them! According to Captain Ray and many other inshore fishermen including myself agree that live shrimp is the best live bait to use to get a trout's attention. However, when you go with this suggested artificial bait I think as I did that a mind-changing thing just might take place.

Tackle recipe
Purchase some 5-inch Zulu Strike King flukes called "baby bass!" They are dark green and white in color. These soft style plastics are made with a new style of rubber, which is almost "blue fish bite resistance!" These bait are so elastic that you can pull them just like you do a rubber band. This helps keep the blue fish damage down in regards to these artificial baits.

The next thing on your tackle list should be 1/8 ounce red Cotee jig head. This brand of jig head really does make a statement, because it's made with two bait-holding barbs. The reason this is a plus is because when you slide your artificial bait up on the jig it hold you bait better. It better for casting and once you get that hard hit the bait still stay in place. Captain Ray is happy with this jig, but he still does a signature job on them before rigging them up. He scrapes the paint off the barbs. The reason being is that the bait really does stay no matter what…no bait super sliding here!

At the time you should have your intended bait and you red jig head in had. Now lets talk about how to thread your jig head on to your fluke. (Baby bass flukes) First take a good look at your artificial bait; it has a cavity on one side and it smooth on the other. The theory behind the cavity is that this is where you can hook up weed less. However, this is not what you are going to do, which would be the considered right way. Captain Ray does this particular rig backward. The jig's hook protrudes out the top, which now is considered the bottom. In other words the hook's isn't hidden in the cavity section. This is could be called "Captain Ray's backwards or up side down rigged bait!"

Captain Ray uses reel loaded with "fire line." It's considered his signature line. It's thin as thread, but it very strong. All of his rod/reel set have a small snap swivel attached so that he can quickly change up baits. In this case, he always used 20 inches of 25-pound test fluorocarbon leader, which he pre attached to his lure. This makes for quick bait change ups!

The White Background Zone!
Now that we are rigged, lets go fishing! Captain Ray Crawley continues to surprise me with his fish catching suggestions. Just when I think I have heard them all in comes yet another one that you aren't going to believe, but it definitely works! During this time spotted sea trout are moving, feeding, holding, and migrating. The boils down, especially when we are talking about the larger fish, that they fed on their way while making way. Here's Captain Ray Crawley's suggestion that going to make lots of sense. Not only that, but you are going to wish you had figured with one out. I know I do!

As you are riding around in the creek, rivers, and sounds I suggest that you start making any notes of where you see "white shell banks." Captain Ray fishes these areas with great success. I know this suggestion "flies all over what we normally suggest of fishing live oyster beds." Now those areas are still definitely good spots to fish for spotted sea trout. However, this suggestion can be an extra bonus plan. Not all banks that have white shell on them are holding fish. So therefore, there could be some experimenting taking place. However, once your figure this one out you are going to want to go with it!

White shell banks that get the same water coverage with the falling a rising tide offer trout especially the largest ones an opportunity to get some extra feeding in. As you know you need good water movement and of course it needs to be good and clear. After all trout are mostly sight feeders. In this case, they are really are. White shells offer protection for several small fish, but the main one is the "mud minnow." As you know, especially during this time most fishermen change from the easy to get mud minnows and start using live shrimp. Believe me this is the right bait to use especially when fishing over live oyster beds.

When a large trout is scouting to feed it basically looks hard in these areas, because it offer a wealth of feeding opportunities. Larger trout can spook even the most confident hidden mud minnow. Once the minnows is spooked, it moves, and then it eaten! I think that you get this picture that I am trying to send!

As far as how to work you new found bait suggestion of "baby bass color" it all so very simple: cast to subject area and make a slow retrieve, with every turn of the reel handle "twitch once!"

OFFSHORE

The artificial reefs are holding Spanish mackerel and blue fish. There are two different catching methods, which offer us fishermen options. Trolling 2 to 2 ½ inch Clark spoons deep with planers is always a solid way to get hooked up. Another suggestion is stop and vertical drop small shinny jigs with light tackle. This is a lot of fun and the hook up ratio is also good. The best spots to troll or jig over are areas with structure such as wrecks or concrete. Most of the Spanish mackerel that we caught this past weekend was over 12 to 18 inches.

Red Snapper
Before a red snapper can be kept it has to be 20 inches plus in length. You are allowed to keep two fish. They are fun to catch and very good to eat. During this time of the year the Savannah Snapper banks is probably the best natural live bottom area to target this fish. The best baits to use can be anything from live bait such as cigar minnows to plain old cut squid! They school in same sizes meaning if you start catching fish that are too small to legally keep it's time to try another spot. Larger red snapper are called "Sows," and to be honest "some times school alone." The larger fish prefer live bait such as sand perch, vermilion snapper, and rock bass. When targeting the bigger fish, give them time to eat before setting that hook!

Jackson Walker Fishing Team
Jackson Walker offered up a great fishing report this past week. While fishing the live bottom areas at the artificial reef "J Buoy" he had some interesting visitors. The first thing that he reported was that he along with his fishing crew caught some nice keeper red snapper. While drifting the live bottom area, Jackson marked what looked like red snapper on his bottom machine. All on board loaded their hooks with bait and dropped their hooks to the bottom. As soon as the bait hit the bottom and bounced one time they were all hooked up with red snapper. The good news is that all snapper were over 22 inches, which in the fish catching world is a good thing.

Now lets talk about the bait Jackson used for a minute. As you know, live baits such as cigar minnows and Spanish sardines haven't been making much of a showing lately. Live baits such as these will get a red snapper bottom bite "a-going!" In Jackson's case there weren't any live bait to catch or any frozen cigar minnow to purchase so therefore he improvised. He decided to use the most stinky bait known, which is "refrozen several times over large menhaden." Believe me if a fish is around with a nose for stink, it's going to arrive as soon as this hits the water.

Jackson cut the old menhaden up into small pieces and put it on his hook. It was mushy to the point that it would hardly stay put once threaded onto the hook. So it was decided early in the fish day to keep it frozen as long as possible, cut it in small pieces, and try not to get it all over you. As soon as these small chunks made it to the bottom red snapper came-a-running with mouths open!

Here's the conclusion to what we know about fish. Firstly, when there isn't any live bait such as cigar minnows or Spanish sardines, baits that are less likely to work will. In this case, probably year old menhaden "crab bait quality" worked with every drop. It's a known fact that those down under like to get a smell of what they are eating. When the bait is alive, the fish are triggered to eat quick, but when the offering made is dead it's best for it to be sporting some sort of smell

GULF STREAM

Red Hot, Red Hot Red Hot!
Our blue water fish catching season just gets better…dolphin also known as Mahi Mahi are being caught in unbelievable numbers. I had interesting call from Chris Newton of which fish with Jeff Stafford and crew on Jeff's boat "Reel Busy 2." While fishing north of the South Ledge in a broken weed line fish were hauled over the gunnels in great numbers. The catching line up went like this…12, 25, 30, 40, and 50 pounders were slung in and gaffed with some fish requiring more efforts than others. Pulled daisy chains with naked rigged ballyhoo in tow was the ticket to this ride! All this leads into the fact that now we know that "not only is it time, but also a must to go!"

As with all reports it time to go a little technical trolling. When you are trolling it's a known fact that colors do matter. It been proven by many and I even know for this to be true my own self. On this particular blue water day of fishing Chris with every hit he made a mental note of what was working and what wasn't. Serious fishermen do this all of the time with some doing it without even being aware of hit. Most fishermen always use the lure that works over and over again. It's not superstitious, but rather "bite realistic!"

Chris noticed that out of all the rigged baits there was a definite bite pattern. Lures that were blue were the top attention getters with pink coming in at second with the most hits had. Lures with "yellow took no fella!" Naked rigged ballyhoo pulled behind blue daisy chains worked like a charm.

When I used to do a lot of blue water fishing trolling patterns were discussed heading out, in, and even onshore. The thing about trolling patterns is that sea conditions, water clarity as well as color, temperature, sunny or cloudy conditions prevailing, wind direction, and etc can dictate how a spread is designed. We use to make notes of what we used under which conditions handed. You would be surprised what we found out. This is one suggestion that should be practiced a lot!

My favorite pulled lure was a plastic bird with a blue/white squid feather in tow. The new name for this lure is Dolphin Delight. It's a rubber skirt type with feathers. We always rigged with 3/8 to ½ ounce egg weight inside the head section. It comes in blue with white feathers, pink with white feathers, and green with yellow feathers. It didn't matter what color the bird was. I attach a 4-foot of 150-pound test monofilament line, and added a blue and white squid feather. The hook used was a single 8/0 "J" hook. We sharpen this hook as much as possible, because when we did get a hit we wanted it to stick!

FRESHIES REPORT

My dear old friend Bill Vanderford has offered us yet another great Lake Lanier fishing report.
For those of you that want to read some interesting proven by "Bill Vanderford" fresh water tips…. as well as take a closer look at the artificial lure that "fish can't pass up" …..now is your chance. Bill's lure is called "Swirleybirds!" Here's Bill's contact information: email: jfish51@aol.com phone: 770-289-1543 Web : http://www.fishinglanier.com/
Log on and received his personal fishing reports as well as offered fishing opportunities. Bill has written several books, which are currently for sale on his web site. Believe me I have read them all, they are very good, and make great additions to a fisherman library! Buy now and read them as soon as possible!

Fishing Lanier with Bill Vanderford Newsletter
Surface temperatures at Lake Lanier are creeping above 60 degrees, and the lake level is about 15 feet below normal pool and rising. Spring has finally arrived and Lake Lanier's fish are feeding heavily, especially bass, stripers, and crappies.

Stripers are being caught in 5 to 20 feet of water on live herring and 1/4-ounce "Swirleybird spinners" near the backs of major creek channels. Crappies have moved into "the brush" all over the lake, and are beginning to spawn. The big spotted bass are going nuts chasing 3/16th and 1/8th ounce "Swirleybirds" in less than 10 feet of water, and "Swirleybird Season" has begun and will get better as the water warms! Order some of these bait now!

Bill is actively booking jet boat trips for walleyes, stripers, and shoal bass on the upper Chattahoochee River. We're also beginning to book father/son or mother/daughter trips to see the wildlife and seasonal changes with the jet boat.
Trout fishing in the Chattahoochee River below the dam for both rainbow and browns has been fantastic! Most trout are being caught during lower water levels on "Swirleybird spinners," small spoons, and smaller crank baits. "Jet boat trips are great for this type of fishing," just call 770-289-1543.

"Little Miss Judy Believe It or Not!"

Old Time Out Riggers!
While picking up some extra rod holders at River Services I ran into Dan Spencer. He was purchasing some outriggers parts, which turned into a conversation. The conversation quickly changed to "in the old days, Daddy used too….

Back in the old days before I even knew what a real set of outriggers looked like we had what was called "Sherman Style!" I guess for those that don't know about out riggers in the first place I should maybe explain a bit about their function. The best way to describe outriggers for those that have never seen them is too think about a boat with thin out right wings. On these wings is a clothesline or flag pole design with a pin/clip that holds your line and allows you to pull it to the end the rigger. These riggers extend out and away from the boat allowing us fishermen to pull more lines or I should say, "baits!" The good news is that once you have dropped back your bait to the desire distance from your boat, your can clip it, and clothes line it to the top of the riggers. Not only does the rigger allow you to pull more baits, it also keeps them out of the prop wash and outside of the boat's noise.

Dragging lots of bait send a schooling type signal gets a fish's attention, which most of the time triggers some sort of bite. When the fish hits the baits, which is being trolled behind the outrigger the clip holding the line releases. The extra slack, which happens immediately, allows the fish to run, but for "seconds only" with it newly found kill. With outriggers installed on your boat you can pull two to three extra baits. If you add baits being pulled from the cockpit and outriggers possibilities you really could have your own personal moving school of baitfish, which you are in full control of. Outrigger costs can vary from $500.00 to $5,000.00 plus dollars…. However, "Sherman Style Outriggers" did the same thing, but certainly didn't cost as much.

My father knew about outriggers and their concept. However, he wasn't about to pay for those that were already made. He was a man of many means; after all he had built cars so that they didn't look loaded down, even when they were. So therefore outriggers were a "basic walk in the park!" Daddy visited our local hardware store, which was "Woo's" at the time, and purchased needed parts. He asked for the longest ½ thin walled aluminum pipe that they had. Length was important, because if they didn't have what he wanted, daddy would just piece it together with inserts. I will finish the outrigger story next week and you aren't going to believe this one!

Thanks for reading! Captain Judy