Stella Ross (age 4) and her sister Chyler (age 10) fishing catching abilities don’t fall far from the family tree...their father Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters showed them the way!

Mike Liedike San Diego, California, Captain Kevin Rose of Miss Judy Charters and Mark Grubaugh, Buckhead, Georgia did a little inshore fishing. Yes, the wind was blowing and blowing hard! However, they caught fought released and kept quite a few! Loaded
Inshore Fishing report
The inshore bite continues to evade some fishermen while others catch them every time...I guess it has a lot to do with timing and bait...so therefore if you can get live shrimp I suggest doing so ..the price might hurt your pocket a bit, but the up side is your chances for catching are better than not! If you can’t get live shrimp there are always mud minnows and finger mullet. Please whatever you do, when you find dead shrimp in your live well or parts and pieces left over from that last fish bite...I suggest keeping all fresh dead whole/parts...best way to keep them is to store in an empty plastic water bottle and throw back in cooler....and yes they will freeze like this too...no freezer burns and the scent stays in the bottle on the shrimp...in some cases, when using live shrimp, once you get the bite going, you can switch to artificial shrimp patterns and or fresh dead shrimp whole/parts! As far as what’s biting...well our captains caught some nice slots reds, spotted sea trout, flounder, whiting, black drum, and sheepshead...it is a mixed bag catching affair, but OH so fun!
For those that want to get a little inshore fishing in before the 2017 New Year, there is still plenty of time left. So all I have to say now is, “Your boat or mine?!”

Offshore Fishing Report
Captain Deidra Jeffcoat holding up a nice trophy red fish!
Winter Time Fishing suggestions for trophy red fish from Captain Judy Helmey
I get a lot of phone calls at this time of the year wanting information about spring, summer, and fall inshore and offshore fishing. It seems that most folks don’t know that they are quite a fish catching opportunity in this area during the cold or so called winter months! Here are a few offshore options for those that have their own boat and for those that might want to use our charter fishing services! Once again, “Your boat or mine!”
Trophy red fish in the hundreds have made way to the offshore waters of this area. You could find them schooling/feeding in rips right off the beachfronts, around any sort of structure whether it is low or high relief at the artificial reefs. And your also could find them on the way to these areas. The best signs to look for are sea birds. In the case of red fish, when this fish is moving, schooling, or feeding there are most always birds-a-hovering. So therefore with this being said, “If you see sea birds of any size I suggest give this area a try!” What’s best to use for bait? Well, just about anything will work from squid to cut fish to dead shrimp. And if you want to go artificial I suggest 3 ounce diamond jigs with either red or green tube tails. Or and I like using these are the https://www.nutsandboltsfishing.com/...tackle-company
Please remember that trophy red fish are on the catch and release list only!

Winter Time Fishing suggestions for sheepshead from Captain Judy Helmey


Captain Kathy Brown nice sheepshead!
Captain Steve “Triple Trouble” Howell and Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters is holding a nice sheepshead that Steve caught, tried to bring on board, it fell off hook, he looked for the side found it was floating, he then screamed get the dip net, and finally I did!
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By the time that the month of December has rolled around the bulk of those migrating sheepshead would have made way to the near shore artificial reefs. And if you happen to know the location of any unmarked wrecks, rocks piles, or debris they are basically loaded up with hungry from traveling offshore sheepshead. What is best bait for sheepshead? The answer is simple and it goes like this “Just about anything that comes wrapped in a shell will get the feeding attentions of this fish! Here’s a few: purple back fiddlers, black back fiddlers, small rock crabs, green mussels, barnacles, clams, and I think you get the picture. Shrimp parts will also work especially the head section. And then there is the bugged out shrimp, which all sheepshead fishermen must give a try at one time or the other. Over the years I have offered up a few other suggestions, which most people laugh about, but I can assure you this bait does not! It is the cricket! Those fishermen that have tried it are not going to share the results! The reason being is that they don’t believe this bait works even though it does! And then there are the blood worms, which are another, as you already know, is great fresh water bait! Once again you don’t have to tell anyone you tried much less used this bait!






Winter Time Fishing suggestions for flounder from Captain Judy Helmey



Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters is holding a nice flounder, which was caught while fishing at the L Buoy!

It’s that time of the year where purposefully targeting flounder is a good thing. The old flounder, especially during the cold months, finds the offshore artificial reefs points of interest. Way back in the old days, when I did a little scuba diving, I got to watch the ways of a flounder in this sort of habitat. And here’s what I came up with: Firstly, flounder when they are resting, at least that is what I am calling it; stack up in areas such as wrecks or ledges, just like plates. I called it at one time the “Ostrich Effect!” The reason being is a flounder swims its whole body into/under the structure, but leaves its tail section completely out. And this tail section waves in the current. I think that they know by their tail movement any changes made in current meaning whether it’s time to eat or not! Now, and there is more, when the flounder backs out, it then situates itself on the outskirts of the structure that is just left. Heck, if I wasn’t watching I wouldn’t have known if the flounder was there are not. As you all know flounder are the greatest when it comes to specializing in personal camouflage. So what does this information offer to those that fish from above? When flounder fed they are mostly situated on the outskirts of the structure. So here’s your sign, “Fish Here!” What is best to use for bait? In the live bait department I suggest jumbo mud minnows, finger mullet (dead or alive) shrimp (dead or alive) and any small live fish such as a sand perch, rock bass, etc. These baits can be when used alive can be lipped hook on to a Carolina rig type or some sort of a jig. When using live bait and once place on the bottom the bait causes a sand storm, which most always get this fish’s attention. And it doesn’t matter whether you are using dead or alive bait; the secret to this type of fishing is some sort of movement. So therefore once anchored up in the right position I suggest casting your rig as far as you can away from the structure and letting your bait hit the bottom. Once on the bottom, let out more slack, and put your rod in a holder. Then I suggest that every couple of minutes that you either reel in a few turn or lift your rod up its length and take in the slack. By relocating your bait you are able to get more bottom coverage. If you don’t get a hit or you don’t feel good about your location, reel in, and cast different degrees from your boat.

Winter Time Fishing suggestions for catching black sea bass from Captain Judy Helmey

Terrell Gooding and Captain Kathy Brown holding a nice black sea bass! November 9 2016
During this time of the year black sea bass also known as black fish, can be found from the near shore reefs all the way out to the blue water of the Gulf Stream. Best news for us is the fact that we can offer short boats rides to the fish. The bottom fishing for sea bass is great in 45 to 60 feet of water meaning artificial reefs located at this depth are great places to start your fishing fest. These fish are fun to catch, great to eat, and offer up a grand fight on almost any size tackle used! The best news is once you find them you most likely can catch them! The best bait can be anything from squid to cut fish to shrimp to just about anything that will fit in their mouth. They fall into the glutton fish group, meaning they will eat until they gorge themselves to death.

I told you that a black fish would eat just about anything that would fit in its mouth!
Check out picture...
Well, when we caught this black fish and it had black feathers hanging out of its mouth. And of course I had to pull on one of the feathers. As you can see from photo above I pulled an out a full still intact bird out of this fish’s stomach. I have always said that the old black fish is gluten meaning they will try to eat anything that will fit or not in their mouths. Over the years I have found bubble gum, other smaller fish types, and large sea cucumbers either hanging out or packed in their stomachs. By habit, I am always looking in their mouth to see what treasures that they are holding on too! On some occasions they would have swallowed a fish that is half the size of them and the tail is hanging out. And yes of course I always try to grab it and pull it out. I remember this one time, many years ago, that one of my customers was reeling in a black fish and they remarked, “Looks like this one is smoking a cigar!” Well, of course this certainly got my attention! What were they looking at? This black fish had tried to eat a discarded fried drum stick chicken bone. Well, apparently it could only swallow it but so far, so the end of the brown colored bone was hanging out of the fish’s mouth. And yes it did in fact look like the fish had a cigar in his mouth. Heck, the only thing missing was fire and smoke!




Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters is holding up a very nice spotted sea trout!

December 2, 2016 Friday While fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charter Daniel Newell Savannah Georgia and James Reid-Newell Kayton Georgia had a great inshore catching day!

Daniel Newell of Savannah Georgia and James Reid Newell of Kayton Georgia showing off one of the 21 inch spotted sea trout caught on this fish day!

While fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters, Daniel Newell of Savannah Georgia James Reid Newell of Kayton Georgia had a fine inshore catching day! He kept a few and released a few!

Captain Garrett Ross took Sean Varner and his father Gary Varner (both from Johnson City, Tennessee) inshore fishing, which as you can see turned into a whole bunch of big time catching! Loaded
Gary Varner fighting a nice trophy red fish. His son Sean is assisting!
Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charters is holding Gary Varner’s trophy red fish, which was just caught, fought, and released!


Sean Varner holding up a nice spotted sea trout!


While fishing with Captain Garrett Ross of Miss Judy Charter...they caught, they released and they kept a few! Gary Varner’s taking a look at their catch....and it was a good one too!
I took the Ron Thomas fishing team to do a little offshore fishing! Great bunch of fishermen and yes we did catch some fish! And we enjoyed taking everyone fishing! Thanks Captain Judy

Alex Alon is holding a nice little tunny, which was caught while trolling a 2 inch Drone spoon behind a #2 planer!

Captain Kathy Brown is holding Ron Thomas Claxton, Georgia just caught sea bass also known as a black fish!
I took the Collingwood, Anderson, Pennington fishing team to the snapper banks for a grand day of fishing! Were that great fishermen? YES! And of course we enjoyed taking everyone fishing! Thanks Captain Judy
November 21 2016

Larry Collingwood and Captain Kathy Brown holding up a nice almaco jack loaded

Jack Anderson Atlanta, Georgia

Randy and Cindy Collingwood and Captain Kathy! Both are holding a nice trigger fish!


Ryan Anderson Atlanta, Georgia holding up a nice vermilion snapper also known as a b-liner!



Mike Collingwood!



Captain Kathy Brown of Miss Judy Charters is assisting Jack Anderson in holding up his just caught fought and soon to be release amberjack...also known as a reef donkey!

Randy Pennington Smyrna Georgia holding a nice amberjack
“Little Miss Judy’s Believe it Or Not”
Part one!

“Christmas in the Fifties with Dear old Captain Dad!”


As a child, like most, I loved Christmas. I knew that Santa Clause was the real thing and that hopefully he was going to visit my house. Every year my father would tell all of us children that he was going to set a trap so as to catch old Saint Nick. In this department I wasn’t too popular with the neighborhood kids. This was due to the fact that Daddy was a great hunter and could possibly set a trap that just might work. So as you can see we were all in a dilemma at Christmas time.
We would talk about it among ourselves and came up with some pretty convincing reasons why we shouldn’t worry too much about Daddy’s old trap. The number one reason was that we knew for a fact that Santa was very smart. So therefore he would see right through any trap. The other and best reason was that we knew for a fact was that if Santa could get into houses without chimneys he could easily escape. After a few minutes us six year olds would get tired of worrying about this and basically forgot about it. At least until Daddy brought it up again, which was quite often on Christmas Eve!


Captain Little Miss Judy Blinded By The Light! Here I am early Christmas morning with doll in hand, eyes closed half asleep, and just happy as can be that daddy didn’t catch Santa Clause! That flash that you see in the background was made by a Brownie Kodak Camera!

As an only child I was very fortunate to get lots things during the year. So therefore when Christmas arrived I needed more after all a child needs lots of things to survive. Back in the old days we received only a few catalogs. Not like today where your mailbox is packed full everyday for months before the big event. I would always be anxiously waiting for the “Levy’s” catalog to arrive. This was my Christmas list in picture form. My father would tell me that I could circle what I wanted and he would pass it on to Santa. Now this is the funny thing. He always told me not to spend any more than $25.00 on all of my gifts. So the process of picking the presents and then adding their costs up began with hopes that what I had picked didn’t go over the designated amount.
Until I got older I didn’t understand what money and Santa Clause had in common. After doing all of this work and making my final decision I would hand over my picture Christmas list to Daddy. He would hopefully as he promised, pass it on to Santa Clause. However, I never forgot for one moment that he might catch the rascal before he got to our house. I wasn’t the only child worried about this.
Most people leave cookies and milk. However, my father and I decided to make a few changes. Over the years we left sardines and saltines, Vienna sausage and Ritz’s, and one time we left sea rations of can cookies and jelly. As far as something to drink we left what we had on hand at the time, which could have been anything from water straight out the faucet to something that came in a bottle. It seemed that no matter what we left Santa he always seemed to eat it all.
When Christmas morning finally arrived I jumped out of bed, ran into the living room, and got a big letdown. There wasn’t any presents or toys to be found. I couldn’t believe it Daddy had actually caught Santa Clause. I ran to daddy’s bedroom almost in tears and woke him up. He rose up half asleep and asked, “What’s wrong?” I replied, “Santa didn’t come!” He quickly replied, “Oh Santa and I got to talking about fishing, eating snacks, and he left all of your presents in my closet!”
Once again my father saved the day with just a few words putting Christmas morning back into motion!

Thanks for reading! And Happy Holiday! Captain Judy