Inshore fishing report!

What is on tap in the fishing world?

Well, since we did not receive any sort of sunshine until Friday January 16, 2015 and cold temperatures prevailed fishing the first of this week was a little at a stand by…However with the showing of Saturday’s sun…..

However, on Saturday January 17, 2015 we had inshore boats do a little searching.



A few of the inshore boats took advantage of the sun peeping through the clouds and it did pay off. During this time when water temperatures are a little on the cold side going fishing can sometimes result in catching and keeping fish or not!

For the inshore report some fishermen caught assorted sizes of red fish while using live shrimp and finger mullet as bait. When the live baits (shrimp and mullet) expired or parts or pieces of each were available they were cut up and put on the hook. At this time of the year red fish, spotted sea trout, and flounder will eat just about anything as long as it something that they can get at with the least amount of energy. None of us over here at Miss Judy Charters caught any spotted sea trout. However, that doesn’t mean that they have gone into to hibernation! I suggest still looking and still trying!

Winter cold water Bait options!

Some options: Mud minnows are the best live inshore bait to use at this time and here’s why! This is bait that doesn’t seem to be affected by the cold water temperatures. So this is good for you in the transporting department and better for the fish that eat them. I am not going to say that live mud minnows are better than live shrimp used as bait, because they are not. However, here’s what I will say, “If this is all you have then I suggest using it, because a fish prefers live even if it is a mud minnow!”

Now if you don’t have any live bait there are still some pretty good catching options, but this is where you have to think like a fish. So therefore, into your cold water bait equation to need to consider this: At your local seafood department or maybe in your own freezer you most like can find some frozen shrimp. The only thing is that you need to make sure that the shrimp used for bait is wild not farm raised. It has come to my attention as well as my taste buds that farm raise shrimp don’t taste nor does it have the consistency as the wild ones do. And I also know that in most cases when it comes to farm raised shrimp, not even good cocktail sauce can make the difference in eating them or not! Now, don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are some that will say, “They taste the same! Well, when you live in Savannah and have eaten fresh seafood all of your life, they do not!” My point being, fish has lived in the water and eaten the wild stuff all of their life, so therefore you best chances are to give it to them.

So when using dead wild shrimp as bait here are some suggestions! If the shrimp are large ones better known as pawns I suggest peeling and then cutting them up in small size bite pieces. Now, not your bite size pieces, but the size a fish would like. With it being cold fish don’t want to spend a lot of time getting their soon to be dinner in their mouth! Also once you have cut your bait up I suggest not putting it back into your cooler, leave it out so that it can air/sun dry. The secret about air/sun drying is so simple, it seals in the juices only letting them out once introduce back into the water and this is when is becomes a prize bait.


Artificial Reefs




Some sheepshead just don’t fit in a 5 gallon bucket! And to catch these fish I suggest using purple back fiddlers!
The artificial reefs at this time of the year are basically “Short Boat Rides To Offshore Fish!” I sy this all of the time about these areas, because it is true. The nearshore artifiical reefs, which are located in 40 to 50 feet of water, are holding lots of bite oportuntiy. For those that just like plain old bottom fishing the black sea bass will gladly entertain you by hitting your bait just about every time you drop. The best bait for this job would be anything from squid to shrimp to artifical to a piece of your shirt tail!

T-Shirt Tail Bait!


Forgeting the bait back in the old days!

I learned a lesson when I was very young in regards to forgetting the bait. On this particular fish day, my father had told me several times to get the bait out of the freezer. And then he ask if I had and of course being a uninterest child at the moment I didn’t say no and didn’t say yes! Well, after arriving at fishing spot, daddy said or better yet, hollowed cut the bait up! While heading to the stern to do just that it then dawn on me that I have forgotton the bait! So before thinking I turned and said, “Daddy I forgot the bait!” All along knowing some more screaming and hollowing just might take place. To my amazement, he said, “Pull your shirt tail out!” Which I did, and he wacked a piece of it off, cut it into strips, and hung it on our double hook bottom rigs. (And as I remember it was one of my favorite sort of still white t-shirts!) As soon as our sinkers hit the bottom we hooked up and brought in some nice hump back black sea bass. As soon as we caught a small bait he cut that up for bait and added pieces of the fish to the t-shirt bait. This all worked without screaming or hollowing!

PS:I had already experienced the cutting of my shirt tail when I had shot my first deer. So I wasn’t too shocked about this move. However, what did shock me was the fact that the stripped t-shirt worked as well as real bait! Go figure!!

Savannah Snapper Banks
When you drop a hook in this area, you really never know what you might catch! And this would be a very good thing!

Gulf stream
A gulf stream trip at this time can always be an adventure! So if you go, please let me know!
These areas can be very interesting! The reason being is you really never know what you might catch much less see!

It’s time to wet a line.
Bill Vanderford is “Lake Lanier’s Legend!”
Lake Lanier Fishing Secrets Revealed [Kindle Edition]
Bill Vanderford (Author, Photographer)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOW2A18
http://www.georgiafishing.com/
If you want to go, it’s time to make your spring time plans!
For more about my long time friend Bill Vanderford as well as his accomplishments, his freshwater charter trips or wildlife tours, books written and his special line up of tackle offered, please visit his site http://www.fishinglanier.com/contact.html for all the details! For more details go http://stores.ebay.com/Fishy-Racer http://www.youtube.com/fishyracer




It’s time to sign up for 2015 Captain Judy inshore and offshore fishing schools. Here are the dates:
2015 Inshore and Offshore Fishing Clinics
Inshore Fishing Clinics
February 21, 2015 Saturday in classroom
$90.00 per person Continental breakfast and lunch included
Place: Tubby’s Tank House 2909 River Drive, Thunderbolt, Georgia 31404
Time: 8:00 AM till 2:00 PM

February 22, 2015 Sunday on inshore boats in the water
$125.00 per person
Time: 8:00AM till12:00 NOON
Snacks and drinks provided by Captain Judy
Place: Miss Judy Charters dock
202 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, Georgia 31410
Offshore Fishing Clinic
On the boats only
March 7, 2015 Saturday
March 8, 2015 Sunday
$125.00 per person
Time: 8 AM till 12:00 NOON
Place: Miss Judy Charter dock
202 Wilmington Island Road
Savannah, Georgia 31410
Snacks and drinks provided by Captain Judy
To make reservations please contact Captain Judy Helmey
912 897 4921 office