SALTWATER JULY 2005

Freshies Report

It’s hot the water hot, which boils down to the fact that the fish have to be “hot.” A fish especially at this time of the year is going to situated itself to the closest place that provides not only shelter, but also food. The good news is that most places that any fish seeks shelter will also be a place where food can be found. It’s a two-part situation. I’m not just talking about a big fish, but rather all sizes of fish. One size attracts another and so on! It’s the old food chain event. For those that want to keep moving I suggest a little slow trolling or just plain old drifting might be your future. Once locating the fish, it will be up to you whether or not to stop, anchor, and sweat!

I was given a logbook that was kept during the early eighties in regards to large mouth bass. I am a firm believer that some of the older methods for catching fish should be put back in action. After all new fads work on some occasions, but the old stuff is already proven! I will start next week with some of the best old time equations for targeting large mouth bass when, where, and why.

Inshore Report

As with all type of saltwater fishing there are good, better, and best times. For instance, it’s a good time to just fish. A good time boils down too getting a bite and a hookup. It might not be the exact kind of fish that you want, but “you will get a tug on your line.” Most all fish that we catch in our inshore areas are represented at this time.

It’s Tarpon Time!

As you all know I am an avid offshore fisherman. I love to inshore fish, but I don’t get as much opportunity as I do when it comes to the offshore stuff. When offshore one of our most desired catches would be some sort of billfish. It’s always a “hook in your hat” instead of a “feather in your cap” when you catch one! When it comes to an exciting and desired fish inshore I believe that the tarpon falls into this category. When heading off shore at around 7:00 AM on July 14, 2005 I stopped my boat and we all watched as these “silver streaks” gray hounded through the schools of menhaden. The most action was seen south of the green #13 and green #11 cans in Warsaw Sound. (Between the sand bar and the cans.) I have seen tarpon rolling on the surface, which in itself is unbelievable sight. However, watching them in the attack and feed mode is another great sight. We watched as the tarpon actively pushed through the schools of menhaden so fast that dozens of baitfish were shredded and tossed into the air. The ones that didn’t have a heart attack or get hit in some shape or fashion become airborne on their own. This is one time that I know for a fact that a fish wished it was a bird. Tarpon are known for always duplicating their tracks. This means that where you have seen them once you will see them again. Keeping records in this case is a must. You must now only be just a watcher, but also a log keeper to target tarpon properly

The old school tarpon rig

Here are a few suggestions for basic tarpon fishing. We are using 7-foot ugly sticks type rods with Shimano and Calcutta reels. Your best line is going to be 20 to 30 (monofilament) pound test. However if your reel will allow you to load enough 30 to 40 pound test I suggest going with the heavier test line. The secret to catching this fish is to be able to have enough pound test control and also enough line so as to let the fish makes necessary runs. I must say, “a tarpon is probably one of the strongest pulling fish I have even dealt with!” As far as terminal gear we are using YO-ZURI H. D. Carbon supper soft fluorocarbon as leader material. We have found that from 80 to 130 pound test leaders work the best. Our hooks are Gamakatsu style 12053 9/0 big eye circle hook (9/0 in this style is actually a 12/0 to 13/0 circle size hook in other brands). As far a weight we are using an egg sinker, which basically slides freely on the main lines. The weight depends on the current. I suggest having ½ up to 8 ounces in your tackle box. Your rig should be put together like this. First slide on the desired weight, bead, and then 80-pound test swivel. Attach your 6 to 8 foot leader to swivel then add hook. Whatever you do don’t forget to sharpen you circle hook. (Even if it’s brand new) A sharp hook does two things. It gets set in easier. I’m not talking about setting a circle hook; because it’s design does that for you. However, when talking about hook points “sharper is better.” A sharp hook’s entry point is smaller making the hook tighter. Believe me when fighting a tarpon you need all the help you can get!

Bait for Tarpon

Get out the old cast net, because you are going to need it. We have been casting and catching our bait early in the morning prior to the fishing event. By bait, I am talking about menhaden and plenty of it. You are going to need some menhaden to use on your hooks and some for chum. Menhaden has got to be the smelliest and oil-est baitfish know to fisherman. Fish especially tarpon love them and the smelly fish trial that they produce. With that being said, “use this fish live whole or cut up dead as your bait.” After setting your lines out I suggest cutting up and tossing or grinding up your extra fish as chum. A good slick will get the appetite surges going in a tarpon. As far a waking up other appetites you could have some more visitors. Sharks and more sharks, but that’s normal especially when fishing for tarpon. Sharks and tarpon don’t school together, but they feed together on the same type of bait. I am always suggesting removing the hook from a released fish. However, in the case of the shark, I suggest only trying to remove the hook when it’s clear there isn’t any “present danger.” You best bet is going to be to cut your leader as close as you can to the hook. Sharks are very strong!

Anchoring Up for Tarpon

When anchoring make sure that “your “fish on” plan has been decided.” I suggest having a buoy tied to the end of your anchor line that you can just toss over, which will mark where you have left your anchor. Once hooked up you are going to have to be “movement flexible” because your fish sure is. Always try to keep your bow to the fish when possible. Try to keep the line taught, but not too tight as to break your fish off or pull the hook. A hooked tarpon is going to put on one heck of an air show. It doesn’t matter rather your fish is under or over the water you must keep your line taught!

Here’s a list of other baits that also will get a tarpon’s attention!

Sand perch also referred to as squirrelfish, place hook in front of dorsal fin or through lips. This a bait fish that is caught mostly offshore of the sound waters by hook/line and Sabiki gold hook rigs. Tarpon also have been known to eat ladyfish, catfish, blue crabs, and mullet. Whatever bait you decide or is available to use there is one definite secret when deciding. It has to fit inside the tarpon’s mouth “nice and easily” they don’t have teeth in which to chew. This fish basically sucks in its intended meal and then swallows it whole.

The New Bait
Menhaden/porgies

In my world there are two types of menhaden. There are the big ones and then there are the smaller ones. At this time I am casting/catching the larger ones in the outer sounds and ocean areas. The smaller ones of which we refer to as “peanuts” are normally found “popping” in the creeks and rivers. We have started using this fish as one of our primary “live bottom baits” for offshore especially in 100 feet of water. It’s not the perfect bait, but it does work and it’s accessible. I guess I should back up and say, “net-able.” At any rate, every morning on my way out I am looking for surface schooling menhaden. Not only am I looking, but encourage the customers to also help. The quicker we acquire the bait the quicker we can head offshore. I normally don’t start looking for these schools till I get right where the sound meets the ocean. It seems that the larger ones are always east of this imaginary line. The first thing that my customers always asked, “what do you look for?” My standard answer is “pelicans diving or hovering.” All eyes onboard are looking towards the horizon and the sky. At the first sight of a bird diving everyone get excited and starts pointing. This is when I have to explain the difference between a “pelican and a regular sea bird. I don’t go into detail about the color of the feathers. I cut to the chase by saying, “pelicans are noticeably larger and mostly feed on menhaden.” Once I have narrowed the field down we all go back to the “watching board.” After spotting a pelican I head over and take a look. Normally the menhaden are right where the bird was or is still at that moment. During the time when menhaden are surface schooling some members of the school “flip and pop,” making that familiar noise.

Big Bottom Fishing

As most king fishermen know, live menhaden are great when trying to catch a big king mackerel better known as a “Smoker.” This baitfish is still the one to use for king fishing especially when targeting them closer to shore. Heck, they will even work offshore in the deeper waters. Get yourself some light tackle, lip hook them, and slow troll them deep. For you offshore anglers that want to bottom fish and target the larger species I suggest giving this fish a try. We have been using them when targeting grouper and red snapper in 100 feet of water. As I have said before it’s not a bait that will work on the bottom all of the time, but when it does it truly amazing.

Bottom Rigging
Slow to no current means a shorter leader

I am rigging the larger menhaden with a circle hook. My monofilament leader is around 15 to 25 feet of long. I am using 80 to 100 pound test. There are a few determining factors that suggest, which set your length and pound size of your leader. I am using a shorter 100-pound test leader when the drift is slow or dead. The reason being is that when there isn’t much drift a big bottom fish can grab your bait and get right back to the ledge even before you know it. Using a shorter leader at least gives you some sort of opportunity to know that a fish is eating your bait. It’s tough to catch a big fish on a longer leader when there isn’t much drift. My rule of thumb is that a short leader requires a heavier pound test. This is due to the fact that it’s almost guaranteed that your leader will come in contact with some sort of bottom structure. This normally happens when the big bottom fish has taken you up on your bait offering. The higher test allows you to fish with “more drag” on your reel. This allows you a bit more control of your fish, which means you will get a better chance of keeping it from ducking back into the ledge. Once hooking your big bottom fish up the action taken within seconds will dictate whether or not you can control the fish enough from going back into the ledge. The action taken in the first few seconds of your hook up is crucial to whether or not you get your fish to the cooler. You first action should to start reeling as soon as possible. You drag should be semi-tight so as to get control of the fish, but not too tight to break your line. While doing all of this you need to try to disoriented the fish. The best ways to accomplish this goal is to quickly pull your rod from one side and to the other, but don’t do it erratically. A few good turns on the reel added with this movement will get you closer to landing your big bottom fish.

Moving current means a longer leader

I use a longer leader when the current is moving pretty good. The definition of pretty good is more than .8 knots but less than 1.5 knots. There a special rule when drifting over 1.5 knots and it called “open you bale with the current.” This means that you situate the boat up-current of your intended spot, let you bait offering drop into this areas, once landing, open your bale, and free spool. You have to be a rod holder, but not rod setter in this case. Please remember you are not supposed to set the hook on a circle hook.

Spanish and King Mackerel

We are at the height of the summer Spanish mackerel season. You can find then holding in rips, around wrecks, and surface schooling. Rips are formed where different currents collide together. Large fish know that the baitfish get pushed and feel safe in this formed water column fish holding area. There are two ways to determine if a rip is “ripe with fish.” The most visible would be the presents of hovering, sitting, or diving seabirds. The last but certainly by no means the least would be “fish smells!” When fish feed a certain amount of oil from the “feeding frenzy” floats to the surface. Not only is there a signature smell, but also you can see “oils” on the surface. Oil basically has a calming affect on water. A little fish oil goes a long way.

Migrating fish know where every wreck is located in the ocean. This has to be a true statement, because I have never found any sort of underwater debris that didn’t hold fish. The old saying, “where there is a fish there is a fish!”

Gulf Stream
I don’t like saying it, but the action at the stream is a little slow. I have had some reports, but they are scattered over the pasted few weeks. The bottom line to this time of the year is that most all-surface temperatures are about the same. This boils down to any fish whether it’s considered blue or green water could be found feeding from the shoreline to the Gulf Stream’s edge. Whatever you do don’t forget to take a picture.

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

Sapphire

The definition of sapphire, which I have taken straight from Webster’s dictionary, is as follows: Any gem variety of corundum other than the ruby. It’s the gem considered one of the blue varieties. You all know the old saying “sapphire blue.”

One of my father’s famous saying was “sapphire!” He would always speak it out loudly when he came in contact with a beautiful woman or what he considered a fine fish! In my father’s case catching also had two meanings! He was the “Card of all Cards!”

Here’s My Line Now Bite My Hook!

Captain Judy

Thank You,
Captain Judy
Miss Judy Charters
912-897-4921
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