Georgia Saltwater Fishing Report December 2013

Saltwater: Inshore: Guide Capt. Judy Helmey reports, “All fish from spotted sea trout to flounder to redfish are doing what they do best, and that’s bulking up for those unpredictable cold-weather patterns. It’s also a great time to be a weather watcher. Normally the inshore bite will turn on big time when there is an approaching cold front. The fish usually feed hard 18 to 24 hours before the big weather change. The best natural bait is live shrimp, and the best artificial bait is those that imitate shrimp. These baits will work under popping and traditional corks or just plain naked, meaning using a hook only (no weights, no floats, only a small leader). Most spotted sea trout and flounder will take a chance on a shrimp even if it does looks a little fishy. From a fish’s point of view, the shrimp is easy to catch, easy to eat and easy on the stomach. And once you get the bite going on the live or fresh dead shrimp, it’s easy to change to artificial such as DOAs. Copper penny, baby bass or ice flukes made by Strike King (ZTOO) rigged weedless and cast right into the grass also makes for an interesting redfish catch. Here are a few tips you can use: When the water gets cooler, it’s clearer, which means if you can see the fish, it most likely can see you, too. The clearer the water, the lighter the leader. And lastly, on cloudy days, use the darker artificial, and on sunny days go with the lighter colors.”

Offshore: Capt. Judy reports, “December is the month to visit the nearshore artificial reefs. Sheepshead, black drum, trophy redfish, flounder and cold-water sharks put these areas on their list of places to school up to bulk up for winter migrations. Best baits for sheepshead, black drum and trophy redfish are going to be the purple-back fiddler and green mussels. Small pieces of shrimp will also work. These fish love anything wrapped in a shell or the meat that is removed from one. Flounder are known for situating themselves on the outskirts of the structure when the tide is slack while waiting for that prefect meal. Best baits for the flounder are jumbo mud minnows or small sand perch placed on a Carolina-style bottom rig. Cast to the outskirts of the structure, set drag to medium, place rod in holder, and when you get a hit, don’t pick the rod up until the flounder situates the bait in its mouth. Give these flatfish time to eat because they are fast on the hit and slow on the eat. As far as the sharks go, take along some squid or cut a sheepshead belly strip out, and put it on the bottom near the structure. Vermilion snapper, trigger fish, white grunt, red porgy, white bone porgy, knobbed porgy, banded rudder fish, almaco Jack, amberjack, scup, flounder and cobia can be caught. At the Gulf Stream, blackfin tuna will be holding over the ledges in 180 to 250 feet of water or you might just happen to find a school holding in the upper water column that has rounded up a school of bait. Best lures that fit into what is called old school are cedar plugs pre-soaked in menhaden oil. I am not talking about colored cedar plugs. I am suggesting the actual cedar plug made with cedar showing, not the ones that are painted. These plugs will absorb the menhaden oil quick and will hold it longer producing ‘happy fishy trails’ when trolled. For those fishermen who have to troll with bait, I suggest Ilander Trackers juniors rigged with dink ballyhoo baits. The trick here is to rig the Ilander Trackers with 60-lb. test fluorocarbon and small short shank extra strong 4/0 to 5/0 hooks. This style rig works well when rigging with dink (small) ballyhoo. While heading to the Stream, why not fish all the way there. To accomplish this, I suggest pulling a high speed lure. The best on the market is made and sold by www.ballyhood.com/wahoo_lures.htm.”