CAPT JUDY JULY 2008

July 7, 2008

Happy Fish Day!

Saltwater inshore, offshore, blue water fishing report, Freshies Suggestions, and “Little Miss Judy’s story! Thanks for reading! Captain Judy

Inshore

It’s hot, which means the inshore bite patterns can be a little crazy as well as frustrating. So therefore here are a few suggestions that can help you with our now hot weather conditions, which can sometime prompt some real strange bite patterns!

Fish Naked

Fishing naked is the most popular fishing tip that I talk about. This is one of those suggestions that not only has an “interesting name,” but also gets the attentions of fish! It’s the simplest rig design of all times to put together. All you have to do is to tie your hook directly on to your main line; place hook in live bait used, and cast out. The bait seeks what it thinks is the safe zone and the larger fish are there to eat it. It has always amazed me about “the goings on” down under!

For those of you that are using any sort of braided main line, I suggest using at least an 18” fluorocarbon or monofilament leader. The reason being is that it has been ascertained that in some cases fish will be drawn away from your bait, because they can see the braided line and follow it. They might still hit it your bait, but it won’t be as direct.
The Value of Using Your Cast Net!
I am always suggesting especially at this time of the year to take along your cast net. Casting is a lot of fun and you really never know what you might catch. If you happen to hit an area that is holding lots of prefect size bait or eating shrimp it’s certainly will be a bonus fishing day for sure. It’s a “no brainer” about what to do with your caught shrimp. However, those other small fish caught especially if kept alive can be your “catching asset” for the day. Small fish such as yellow tail, croaker, finger mullet, peanut menhaden or others work great when using them to “fish naked!” The secret to using this style bait is that it needs to be as lively as possible. Believe me the larger fish will take it from there!

Plain old bottom fishing

I had someone ask me the other day, what’s the easiest way to catch a fish inshore or offshore? My answer to this question was “plain old bottom fishing.” All you need to perform this fishing act is to get yourself some frozen shrimp, squid, or cut fish, and put it on the bottom. It doesn’t matter whether the rig you use is sinker first or last as long as it keeps the hooks close to the bottom. It’s a known fact that all fish visit the bottom frequently in search of food.

As far as what bait to use for this type of fishing affair I suggest going with what you have. If it’s live hook it up and let it do the natural thing, which is trying to get off the hook. However, live bait under these conditions might not last too long. So therefore “changing up” of your bait needs to be often. That is and only if you want direct attentions from those fish that might be swimming by!

This is where thinking about what a fish wants and what makes them eat count!

Now let get talk about the dead stuff. This is a type of bait that offers “not a thing in the way of natural movement!” However, if presented properly it can work like the live baits, for sure. Lets say, “the only thing you have for bait is cut fish!” Cut fish is great, because has the real smell factor. However, just a cut chunk of fish is isn’t going to last too long when it comes to the “goings on in the smell department.” So therefore you need to come up with you own dead bait design. This is where thinking about what a fish wants and what makes them want to eat!

We have already talked about live bait, which is great, but it might not last too long. When the bait is basically dead it doesn’t have much to offer up in the luring department. However, if you are using whole fish as your bait and it dies you still have options: It called this “butter flying your bait!” Once doing this to your dead bait it comes alive with the help of currents down under.

Butter Flying Your Dead Fish!

Here how to you accomplish the act f “butter flying your bait!” (One day I am going to learn how to draw with a computer!) Take the fish and lay it on its side. You will need a sharp fillet knife. Place the point of the knife in the meat behind the anal hole and stick it completely through the fish from one side to the other kind of like you are going to fillet it. Make sure you are on the topside of the backbone. Once getting you knife in the right spot fillet from this point. When finished you should have a still attached fillet. Do this on both sides of the fish. After accomplishing this, hold you fish up and it plain to see that you now have three tails instead of one that doesn’t really work anymore. When the current flows through the attach parts it looks once again like it’s trying to escape.
Leave the Tail/Backbone Section or Not!

When I am going with the “butter flying my bait” routine I sometimes remove the middle tail section. To accomplish this goal I simply cut the backbone out from where the fillet starts and the middle section comes with it. The two cut side fillets flow great in the current. This step is not necessary, but allows a little more movement when the current is introduced.

Catching billfish in green waters


During this time of the year it’s not unusual to catch billfish in green waters. In my fishing lifetime I have actually caught more sailfish in 60 to 100 feet between the months of July and August than I have in the deeper blue water. The biggest secret to hooking up a billfish is to understand their “bating practice.” Before this fish eats, it uses its bill to stunt its prey. The means they actually use their bill like a bat to knock out what they are basically going to inhale next!

These home run hitters once in batting practice mode will sometimes go to great lengths to kill what they think that they want to eat. The secret is to know what to do when. For instance, if you happen to be watching your trolled lines and you happen to see something strange like a “bill up,” act promptly. This means the billfish has most likely already hit at the bait that you are pulling. The best thing to do is to drop the bait back as if it has been stunt and let it fall. This is just about when the billfish normally goes into the charge mode and tries to inhale it!

Burnt Thumbs and Backlashes

This is a great tip, but there are some drawbacks such as burnt thumbs and back lash reels. When the fish hits your bait, which you are dropping back some things can go wrong.

Dropping Back Bait!

Dropping back your hit bait is simple or not! To drop back properly your reel needs to be in free spool. Just loosening up the star drag all the way won’t get this job done quick enough. To drop back properly and smoothly you need to open your bail and free spool your bait. I’m not talking about just letting is scream back without control either! You are going to have to lightly put your thumb on the reel so as to control it from back lashing.

Back lashing is where the line on the reel gets so tangled that a bird could land in it and have room to be make a nest. There are “degrees of bird nesting” in the charter boat business. The first is just a “bird’s nest,” which is small and can be cleared up with a few pulls of the tangled loops on the reel. It’s simple enough due to the fact that you don’t have a large fish on the line complicating things. The next stages, which are the worst, are the “Eagles Nests,” which look like the line of the reel has had an explosion! This mean line is sticking way outside of the reel. Not only that, but under all this mess is a series of knots, which only a knife can get out. Now add “fish on” to this mess and you have “fish off quick!” The end result is broken line, lost lure, as well as lost fish.

Burnt Thumb

I will admit and get this out of the way, “it has happened to me on several occasions. That is why I know how painful it really is. Once you open the bail and place that thumb on it, you are in “committed control mode.” If you hold the old thumb to tight on the spoon, when the fish hits your bait, “you are going to get burnt!” There is a middle of the road, but with things happening so quick you get stupid like I have on many occasions. I try to lightly hold my thumb just enough to control the reel from over spinning, because believe me when the “billfish picks your free spooled bait back” line is going to fly off your reel. The fact of the matter is I have seen the line spin off so fast that no matter what you do the old thumb’s face is going to get burnt. Lets assume this has happened to you. Here’s what you do after you have hooked up your billfish, fought it, caught it, and released it. Your thumb is going to hurt badly. The best first aid is a cup of ice water. Submerge your thumb in it! The best news is that you still got the bite thrill of a lifetime as well as a small price to pay!

The bad news is that the first couple of layers of your skin on your thumb will eventually peel off leaving it most touchy. The good news is that this pain won’t last as long as the story attached to it!

Blue Water Fishing Report

Although we haven’t been lately due to rough sea conditions I can offer up a few suggestions for getting a solid blue water bite. Firstly, I wouldn’t set my sights on trying to find the edge of the stream, because during this time it’s not as easy to locate. This boils down to the fact that the waters on the west side of the stream seem to be blending due to the fact that all water temperatures are just about the same. Blue water fish such as dolphin, tuna, Wahoo, and billfish spread out looking for the prefect feeding opportunity. This means it’s not unusual to see as well as catch blue water fish in green waters.

Yellow Fin Tuna

Yellow fin tuna are normally caught while fishing near or in the blue waters of the Gulf Stream. However, about five years ago during the month of July I caught a yellow fin tuna while trolling for king mackerel at the CCA Buoy. The tuna hit a 31/2 silver Drone spoon, which was being pulled behind a #3 planer. The yellow fin tuna hit the spoon with such force that it cracked the rod butt. On this day we saw numerous schools of yellow fin tuna feeding on the surface. This brings to light that blue water fish can be caught in green waters especially during the time of the year.

Schools of barracuda have taken over the blue water

When the Gulf Stream’s temperature matches the waters to the west it seems that the barracudas are everywhere. Marlin AKA “The Cracker” reported that on his last stream trip that they received more attacks from barracuda than they did actual blue water fish. The crew tried to get away from the attentions of these toothy monsters, but it seemed these packs of barracuda were found thick from130 to 200 feet of water. According to the report the five dolphins that they hooked up as well as their dozens of rigged baits weren’t spared from the sharp working teeth of the barracuda!

Freshies Suggestions

Crappie Happy!

If you want to be a happy crappy fisherman know this:

Crappy no matter what size they are especially during this time they “bite light!” Those fishermen that have experience this sort of bite can sometimes see it before it happens! Movements made by the fish below cause your line to twitch or your cork to give you a heads up! This is the time of the year to be a “serious fish watcher!”

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

Captain Al’s UFO’S or Not!

Over the years I have seen some pretty strange things while out on the ocean. There were many times that lights appeared and then disappeared right on the surface basically as if they never existed in the first place. In other words, strange unexplained things happen a lot!

I was talking with Captain Al Hirsch the other day and we got into a conversation about “the real old times.” At first it was about fishing and then the subject changed to “strange things that happened to us in the ocean. This is a very interesting story!

Back many years ago Captain Al was an avid charter boat captain as well an accomplished commercial fisherman. He had plenty of proven fish catching tricks and basically knew lots about fish in general. This boiled down to the fact that he caught many fish in his fishing career! When I am lucky enough to strike up a conversation with an old-time successful saltwater fisherman such as this I always ask, “got a good story to tell?” And just like me when I’m asked this same question a story pops up in my mind and I tell it. Well, this story that I am going to tell you is about as interesting as it gets especially if you even remotely believed in beings from outer space…..

In the late seventies Captain Al was in his “Hay-day” of fishing. He basically ate and drank fishing to it’s fullest. One afternoon it was decided by him and his fishing friend Steve Jones to do a little commercial fishing. Back in the old days it was the normal thing for us charter boat captains to do, which was to sale part of our catch. The fact of the matter was it was part of our income. In Captain Al’s case it was his real job and he was very good at it!

At any rate, the decision was made to head out that evening and once arriving to said location they were going to fish all night. As Captain Al was making way through the darkness he kept one eye on the Pitch-black Ocean and other on the fish finder. When I heard this I knew exactly what he was talking about. I am forever in the fish finder watching mode all of the time. It’s a given especially for us seasoned fishermen that no matter how many times you travel over an area that there is always a possibility of some sort of catching potential. The reason being is that the ocean is full of all sorts of migrating inhabitants!

As they made-way he saw some interesting markings on his fish finder. He slowed down made a few circles and knew that he had found the “mother lode.” This basically means “fish under the boat and lots of them!” Captain Al and Steve anchored their vessel so as to set up for a catching affair. When the boat settled at- anchor their stern faced due north offering up them a beautiful clear sky watch.

It was quickly ascertained that they had found a “staying school of king mackerel,” which worked for both of them. Rigs were brought out, baited up, and cast out. As soon as the baits hit the water, king mackerel were hooked up and thrown over the gunnels into the fish box.

Before I get into the most interesting part of this story and being a fisherman I have to explain the commercial rig used. When it came too commercial fishing, Captain Al was a no-nonsense guy, which meant he always used the right tackle that was suitable for any particular fish catching job. In this case, his set up went like this: Captain Al’s customized commercial “hands only no rod and reels needed rig” was made with 30 feet of 300 pound test monofilament line to which he attach a single “J” style 6/0 “really sharpen” hook. According to this Captain Al, “no weights were needed for this particular rig.” For bait he had what he called “selects.” He was using whole squid, which was caught locally. It’s a known fact that squid caught in this area by local shrimpers are really tough, which boils down to they stay on the hook longer. This means, “more hook up possibilities!” The single hook was placed in the tail section not the end one with the tentacles, and cast out from the boat. Believe it or not, but this question in regards to a squid is asked all of the time, which end is the bow?” The reason being is that they swim tail first!

As the duo fished they couldn’t help but notice a golf ball size object that looked like it basically appeared from down under! At first glance, it looked like it was a considerable distance away from them. At this point Captain Al simply thought, since his stern was facing Charleston, that it might be some sort of planned nighttime military maneuvers. That thought was completely shot down when whatever this object was headed straight for them. As this round object approached it kept getting bigger and bigger. At first neither one said anything, but as the light it was sporting got closer the conversation subject changed. It wasn’t about,” did you see how big that last one was? To what the heck is that red light? And why does it look like it’s headed this way?” Captain Hirsch and Steve watched as the red glowing light got closer and closer. As it approached it got bigger. Once whatever it was got over them it basically stopped moving.

Once whatever it was pulled over them at about 2,500 feet it appeared to become stationary. Captain Al quickly noticed that the deck as well as the water around them all had a “reddish tint.” With some serious outlandish thoughts rushing through there heads the first thing that came to mine was to go below and just sit quietly. In other words “out of sight out of mind.” Captain Al said, “I have to say, we were both scared to death!” With that thought they both headed into the cabin. The sat down and wondered what was going to happen next. At this time both fishermen unknowingly took a nap. This was very strange since neither one especially under these strange conditions could have been sleepy.

After about 45 minutes of un-knowing sleep they both woke up at the same time, walked out on the deck, and everything seemed to be back to normal. They both looked at each other with a blank, “I’m not sure what just happened stare!” After taking a quick look at the fish finder it was quickly decided to get back to fishing both knowing that they would have a great story to tell later. As they were fishing for the second time that night, the red light appeared as it had before, and repeated all the “same said before movements.” As soon as whatever it was assumed a direct overhead position, it hovered once again causing everything around them to have them to have the same “reddish tint!” At this time they both felt the same way, wanted to get the heck out of there, but didn’t. They decided to do what they had done before, which was to go into the cabin. Then it happened again just as it did before they unknowingly took another 45 minutes nap, woke up at the same time, went out on deck, all was normal, and the fish were still holding. However, they looked at each other and said, “ lets get the heck out of here!”

Captain Al was known for keeping great records. The fact of the matter is he kept a very detailed logbook. This happening as well as numerous other fishing trips over the years was entered into the logbook. When Captain Al went to review this particular day he was quite surprised at what he found. All the pages, which he personally had logged in detailed information about this particular occurrence, were completely blank. To this day, logbook entries before and after this particular day are still complete. However, the pages with this date are completely empty.

Over the years there have been things that have happened to me that just can’t be explained. It’s also a known fact that all fishermen have stories to tell, it’s our nature to sometimes say, “you won’t believe the one that got away!” However, when it comes to these types of stories no one especially in our line of work could or would make such things up just to make the story more interesting. The fact of the matter all kinds of different unbelievable things such as this happen all of the time out in the ocean. This brings to light that the fish is not all we fishermen are after! Thanks Captain Al for such a great story!

Thanks for Reading!

Captain Judy