While inshore fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters Cole Hayden Larance age 20 Ann Arbor, Michigan caught this red fish while using live shrimp as bait. Cole just finished his sophomore year at the University of Michigan! His proud grandfather Charles Larance Savannah, Georgia has been taking his grand boys fishing with us for many years
Inshore
Can you believe it, it is already July? Yep, this is the month that turns fishing up side downwards! Why? Fish think that fishermen! Why? Well, it is hot above the water and darn hot in it! And to top everything else off there is so much bait to be had by those that swim in it bites tends to get somewhat non-existence. But there is good news too! During this time the big jack crevalle show up! And not just on the ocean, but also on the beachfronts and the sounds and also in the rivers. So therefore if you have seen them before THEY ARE BACK!
While inshore fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters Ruel Larance age 14 Ann Arbor Michigan caught this nice red fish, which was caught fought and released back to the wild! His proud grandfather Charles Larance Savannah, Georgia has been taking his grand boys fishing with us for many years!
Getting the fish’s attention!
What does a Jack crevalle eat? Well, of course anything that it want and anything that triggers their desire to strike. What does this mean? Of course they are not going to turn down a live shrimp either rigged naked or under some sort of float, but as you know that have to see it or smell it to hit it. However, a top water plug cast into those Jacks schooling on the surface certainly will trigger a hit, but they have to see it! So therefore, a cast in front of them normally leads into a strike mode. Surface plugs that when retrieve push water are great lures for getting this fish’s attention! The best news is working the lure on the surface causes all kinds of surface activity from this fish!
Since Jack Crevalle isn’t too good as table fare I suggest catch and release. However, after a hard fight this fish needs to be revived. So therefore make sure you bring it back before setting it free. Best ways to bring them back...dragging them slowly with your boat while allowing the water to flow through the fish’s mouth is one way. Another is to gently lifting the fish up and down in the water will also force a water flow through the fish’s mouth and out his gills. Once the fish’s tail starts moving, give a little resistance until you feel that is can swim away and not just sink to the bottom! Big fish on most occasions after a long fight will take longer to bring back to a swimming state of mind. Please take the time bring them back!
Let’s talk about the bait situation!
Most of the bait shops in the Savannah area have just about given up on being on a dragging scheduled. The shrimp have taken to pretty hiding from those dragging and those that are throwing their own cast net. So here’s where we are when it comes to targeting any sort of inshore fish bite. First, you fishermen do have options and so do the fish. Creeks are holding finger mullet of all sizes, peanut menhaden, and mud minnows. These baits will get the attention of most fish. However, there are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to these baits. If you happen to catch or get to purchase any live shrimp do not mix them with the mud minnows. The muds will eat your shrimp one small piece at a time. Finger mullet and shrimp get along with no seemly side effects. Fiddler crabs, very juvenile blue crabs, small pieces of blue crab, or quartered pieces of blue crab are other good baits to use at this time of the year.
What fish eats what bait?
Well, you have heard, I am sure the old saying, “match the hatch?” The phase means try using the size of bait that will fit in the size of the fish’s mouth that might be in the area in which you are fishing! If you aren’t sure just given different sizes a try! Believe me you find out quick if the baits used are too small or too big. How? By the bites delivered! This is where being a bait watcher comes into play. Torn baits most likely mean they are too big for the particular fish that is chewing on them. When this happens you can continue to fish with large bait with the hopes that a bigger fish will happen by. Or down them to the size that will fit perfectly in the old fish’s mouth!
Most fish that are available at this time of the year will eat all the above bait with the exception of the black drum. The black drum prefers shrimp, fiddlers’ crabs, and crab parts only. The other fish such as the red fish, spotted sea trout, and flounder will eat just about all of the above, but as you know location, size of bait, and presentation is also going to be a factor! But if I were you I suggest not over thinking and fishing all baits anyway you like! Heck, you might just find out another favorite way to unlock an inshore bite pattern!
Fighting with the big boys! Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charter is holding a nice tarpon that Allison caught and fought for 90% of the time and her husband James whom finished and landed this beast! Allison and James Farmer Founders of Savannah Bourbon and Vodka Company! And believe me this stuff is smooth! I am not normally a bourbon drinking captain! However, I tried Savannah Sweet Tea Lemonade and it tasted great! How did I drink it? Poured straight over my personal chewy ice! It is distilled by Savannah Bourbon Company! Rumor has it; a Savannah Bourbon distillery might be coming soon to our area! Don’t know if it was the liquor talking or not! No matter the conversation was a good one!
What can I add about at this time? Well, this fish is clearly over 3 pounds, it fought like the dickens, it was released unharmed, and it is definitely tarpon catching time! What did it eat? A suspended live menhaden!
It’s Tarpon Time!
Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters has been staying on top of the tarpon feeding ways! So if you want to give this fish a try now is the time! Now, here’s a question, your boat or mine?
For those that want to give this type of fishing a try..here are a few pointers:
There are a few things that need to come into play so as to get your best shot at hooking up a tarpon.
You need to find some live bait. In this case menhaden is the ticket to this big fish catching ride.
Tackle used
As far as tackle … spinners or bait casters will work. The secret is to have a reel that has enough line available so that you can give this fish time to make its first move before reel setting the hook.
Ingredients need to make this rig
130 pound test barrel swivel
6 foot of 80 pound fluorocarbon leader (if you don’t have or want to use fluorocarbon leader regular monofilament will also work. The fact of the matter is I only use regular monofilament line on all of my leaders. However, I do change and check them out every time they get used.
9/0 to 12/0 Eagle Claw circle hook (This is the hook you don’t exactly set! All you do is, when it’s time, start reeling with rod tip not high or low, but in between!)
Bait Habits
Menhaden also known as pogies have a tendency to move with the current. So therefore the higher the tide the more it seems that they get pushed inshore into the river. With this being said, we have narrowed the bait catching field. All you have to do is get the old tide log out and take a look see. If the tide is almost high then you know that the menhaden are going to be pushed into the rivers. And you also know that when the tide turns so will the bait fish swimming in it. It seems that a big fish such as this always knows the best place to lay while in the ambush/feeding mode, which is just about where you need to anchor your boat.
Great Places to meet with a tarpon
Sand bars in the sound near the ocean are going to be great place for this fish to start its feeding affair. This fish loves feeding near the beach fronts and also the waters to the east of these areas. I suggest doing a little riding and looking before deciding exactly where to anchor.
Let’s do a little bird watching!
There is a one thing that shows you the way and that is bait on the surface and feeding sea birds. When pelicans are feeding tarpon could be lurking. However, please remember that pelican like to eat menhaden alive and kicking. The presences of smaller feeding/dive sea birds constitutes that parts of fish are floating to the surface. The means that there are bigger fish feeding down under and around the schools of bait. It could be sharks, Jack Crevalle, or heck even mackerel. It is hard to say, however there is one thing for sure, if the seabirds are diving, they are doing it to pick up fresh fish parts and oils.
Chumming or Not? Is the question!
Some fishermen like to use chum while others do not. For those that do, I suggest when casting for bait that you put some in the live well and some in a bucket. It is up to you how conservative or progressive you want to be when it comes to chumming. (No, we are not talking about politics!)
Those that chum on the conservative side are basically on the fence of whether or not to do it in the first place. A progressive chum-er is going to be vigilance when it comes to making a chum line appear behind their boat. Once you do this you bring in the attention of the toothy monsters better known as sharks. And there is not a thing wrong with going with this tactic.
Best time to fish for tarpon in the sounds and beachfronts is the hot months
Since tarpon like menhaden so much and consider it their favorite meal I suggest letting the bait be your guide. After catching some menhaden I suggest putting them in your live well and making a move to the beach fronts or sounds area around any sand bars. Once you have located a fishy spot then I suggest anchoring and making sure that you have a buoy that you can tie on to your anchor line. The reason being is once hooked up you are not going to have time to pull the anchor. However, you will have time to throw the buoy out that is tied to the end of your anchor line. After the fight you can return back to the spot where you started, retrieve your buoy, and tie your anchor line back to the bow cleat.
With location picked now it is time to fish!
Once anchored up in the spot of your choice I suggest setting out three lines. Hook up your menhaden free range style and let them swim! What is free range style? Leader only no weight! Some tarpon fishermen like to fish the last 3 hours of the tide, whether it is at the low or high stage.
Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters caught this triple tail last year!
It is triple tail time of the year!
During the hot months we get visits from the strangest fish known. At lease I think so! Back in the old days triple tail fish had several names. Yep, they were called triple tail, because they basically do have three tails. We also called them sunfish and eddy fish. My father called them sunfish! Why? He always targeted them around the buoys that lined the Tybee Road shipping channel. And he caught plenty of big ones too! According to my father these fish were mostly found on the surface hanging around the buoys seemly getting sun. He also called them eddy fish, because they always seemed to always find that spot near the buoy where the water was the calmest.
This is a picture taken 1959 by my father. This is George Gorman, our neighbor at the time, holding two nice triple tails. Both of these fish were caught on live pawn shrimp that were present under a larger traditional adjustable float cork. Where? While fishing a buoy at Tybee Roads! Which one? Black buoy 17! In the fifties and sixties had a big bell that gonged every time it was rocked by the waves. Back in the old days our green buoys now that line the channels were black! Check the sign out to the left of the picture, LIVE BAIT! Yep, that’s where my father got those live pawn shrimp from!
From my many years of observation the triple tail is the only fish that swims up or right on the surface to get away more so that down deep. I have seen them many a triple tail right under Sargasso weed at the stream. When you startle them their first tendency is to try to swim up into the grass not away from it. The fact of the matter is we basically dipped up a few in our net on several occasions. However, it seems this fish has evolved a bit horning its survival ways. I don’t see them on the surface around the buoys as much as we used too. Now I do see them occasionally on the surface seemly in a floating flat mode. They remind me of what a black trash bag that is floating right below the surface looks like.
Back in the old days we rode, checked each buoy for fish, and if we didn’t see them we just moved on. Now for this day and time I suggest rigging up was a traditional adjustable cork rig and using a beefed up trout rig. What does this mean? Your leader used should be more that 20 pound test! Why? Once hooked up you will need to be able to control this fish’s movement just enough to keep it from swimming around the buoy anchor chain.
When targeting triple tail around structure I suggest starting with buoys in the channel. Now I wouldn’t pass up a buoy I would fish it. It is kind of like cobia float fishing. Cast up current from the buoy and allow the current to be your guide. Allow your float, and you might lose a few, to bump the buoy if it will. This is where your leader used should not be longer than the distance between the buoy and the chain that holds it. Or you can just hope that your hook doesn’t get tangle in the chain. This is my thoughts, because basically that is exactly where the triple tails are feeding. Yep, up and down the vertical chain and right under the buoy.
Let’s talk a little about current..and this is where thinking like a fish will help you get the best chance at catching them.
The stronger the current the lower in the water column the fish is going to stage. Large fish such as the old triple tail is not going to want to fight a strong current to try to eat. It’s basically wasted energy for a fish. Just like we don’t like swimming against the current! So therefore less current is much better than more.
While fishing with Captain Judy Miss Judy Charters Ethan Hunter Hodnett age 16 Michigan caught this nice shark!
Swimming with the fishes!
I know you are very familiar with this phase “Swimming with the fishes!” What gangster hasn’t used this one? HA! During this time of the year if you fish where fishes swim you most likely are going to caught fish. After all it is a target rich environment for sure! While shark fishing the other day sometime happen that normally doesn’t happen when I am at anchor. There were hundreds upon hundreds of menhaden schooling, almost continuously, where my boat was anchored. Schools of menhaden also known as pogies were floating with the current allowing it to take them to different destinations offshore. As normal we were fishing with beefed up Caroline rigs baited up with whiting steaks and squid for large sharks and rays. We also were using light tackle Carolina rigs baited with small pieces of shrimp for whiting. We were catching some nice rays and bull whiting. The bite was good, but then I got to thinking. We were not catching any medium to large shark’s only juveniles.
As I watched all size of sea birds feeing over and around these moving schools of menhaden it dawned on me that the larger fish were feeding up not down. Why? That is exactly where the food source is! So I quickly rigged up a few blue water popping corks with 6 foot 80 pound test monofilament leaders and tied on 8/0 circle hooks! For bait I was using fresh cut whiting steaks. I broke out one 4/0 and one 6/0 reel loaded with line, attached the popping cork and baited them up. I allowed the current to take the bait away from the boat say about 100 feet, set a medium drag, and put the rods in the holder. The rest is fish catching history the father son duo (Ethan Hodnett and his father Jon) that I had on the boat caught 20 plus nice sharks getting a great arm work out. And what do I call this besides A Grand Fish Catching Success? Un-locking the bite makes it all right!
While fishing with Captain Judy Miss Judy Charters Ethan Hunter Hodnett age 16 Michigan and his father Jon Robert Hodnett Kentucky caught this nice shark!
Artificial Reefs located in less than 50 feet of water and over!
These areas are holding a few Spanish, king mackerel, little tunny, and barracuda, but the bite is not too predictable! If possible, I suggest heading to the artificial reefs that are in more than 50 feet of water that are located about 12 miles offshore. These areas, at least for this last week, have been more dependable! We caught some nice king mackerel, barracuda, little tunny, and Spanish mackerel while trolling spoons yesterday. We caught Spanish mackerel on 0 and 00 Clark spoons trolled 15 feet behind #1 and #2 planers. The king mackerel and some of the barracudas were hitting 31/2 Drone spoon trolled behind 30 feet #3 planers. As far as the best color Drone spoons, we found that they all worked from pink to black to blue to silver. We did pull some rigged ballyhoo, which worked quite well in the barracuda catching department. However, the color Judy Jig (looks like a old time Sea Witch, just Judy-ized) used that worked this day was red and white hair with a tinsel mix.
We caught king mackerel in the snake size, which are less than 10 pounds. We also caught a few in the teenage size, which weighted in the teens. (13, 14, and 15 pounds) The toothy monsters better known as barracuda ranged from small to medium to large. However they all seemed to have one thing in common and what was that? Big white sharp teeth! As the trip time ended little tunny were pushed to the surface by a school of dolphin (mammals). These fish gladly hit our 0 and 00 Clark spoons offering our customers one heck of a fight! All and all it was a great time to be on the ocean!
A young lady and her shark!
After 29 minutes of reeling Raley Truitt age 9 Harlem, Georgia finally gets up close and personal with her catch! This was a nice shark for sure! It was bigger than Raley, but that didn’t scare her she just kept reeling!
Savannah Snapper Banks
It is always a good time to spend a fishing day at the snapper banks. And this up coming weekend is genuine snapper keeping weekend. July 12, Friday, July 13, Saturday, and July 14, Sunday 2019! Give us a call 912 897 4921 ..we still have a few dates open!!
And here’s the thing, no matter what, you can always catch fish in this area! Lots of different species of fish with different kinds of feeding habits!
While inshore fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters Hayden Larance age 16 Ann Arbor Michigan caught this sheepshead also sometimes called a convict fish! His proud grandfather Charles Larance Savannah, Georgia has been taking his grand boys fishing with us for many years!
Back row : Gracyn Gurley (age 14), Logan Gurley (age 20) Mark Whitaker, Chris Gurley and Jason Truitt Front row: Alli DeYoung, Raley Truitt (age 9), and Captain Kathy Brown (All fishermen are from Harlem, Georgia)
While inshore fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters grandfather Charles Larance Savannah Georgia caught this nice pinfish sometimes referred to as a sailor’s choice. Anyhow Mr. Larance has been taking his very good looking grand boys Ruel, Hayden, and Cole fishing with Captain Garrett for many years! And we hope this continues!
Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
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