This is a picture of an old shrimp boat wreck, which is located in Turner Creek. The wreck when it was at this stage was totally exposed at low and half covered at high tide stage. As the days go by more and more of this wreck has broken apart. However, as it’s trying to break apart daily, marine life is still attaching itself holding parts together. Since I am not a marine biologist, I don’t know the names of certain growths, but here’s what I do know. In my world of observation, I have come up with my personal conclusions in regard to marine growth and those that fish that feed on it. We have four tides a day in our area. As the tide rises and falls certain marine growth are exposed for numerous hours during this time frame. Marine creatures that can only survive under water attach themselves to surfaces that don’t get left high and dry. Some marine growth can survive out of the water and its part of their life cycle to do so. Stay with me I am going somewhere with all this. Fish that feed either directly on the marine’s growth or on those creatures that live in it are already privy to all of this information. I call this “fish instincts.” Even though we have four tides, which means the water level changes continuously there is still much opportunity for feeding around a wreck.
This wreck is what I call parallel to the bank, which means lots of feeding opportunity during the higher tide stage. Fish will feed some on the outgoing tide but will be more comfortable feeding on the incoming. The reason being is that not only is this a place to feed, but it also offers a certain amount of protection. However, this is an incoming feeding event mostly. Now wrecks that are perpendicular to the bank, which partially still remain in the water at low tide offer a different feeding pattern. This situation offers a continuous-feeding pattern.
Here’s an update on this wreck: Leftovers from this wreck better known as the debris field can be found both to the left and right on the bank. And don’t forget about the pieces that broke off that are always under water. I suggest checking this wreck out at a low tide stage! Also drifting bait presented under a cork to the offshore side of the wreck is a grand idea!
Suggestion of how to fish Offshore Wrecks!
As you know I have been fishing all of my life. My father was an avid inshore and offshore fisherman. But here’s the strange thing, on most occasions we only fished inshore, because we couldn’t go offshore. Normally this meant it was too darn rough to brave the sea conditions. So therefore we got pretty darn good at catching inshore fish out of our big boats, because let’s face it “no shallow water fishing here.” My father came up with the great ideas and while fishing with him all of the time I learned them too! When we fished an offshore wreck we normally anchor up current and let our bait offering be delivered as naturally as possible. I guess you could say, “We let our bait float directly into the strike zone.” On some occasions we anchor right on the wreck with the aid of a wreck anchor, which offers all kinds of fish catching opportunities. The bottom line to this report is that where you have structure you got fish-a-feeding and that’s a big 10-4!
Captain Jim Price of Miss Judy Charters took Brian Bacon and Richard North (both fishers from Savannah) on a whirl wind fish catching day! While using mud minnows, live shrimp, and artificial shrimp patterns this duo did the catching deed! As you can see they kept some nice size spotted sea trout and released the rest! Why? Got to leave some for seed!
Inshore Wrecks
So when we fished an inshore wreck we basically did the same thing, which was to anchor up current. The best news about anchoring up current especially when using some sort of a float is you will be able to find the bite just by letting the current move your float. When fishing a wreck on an incoming tide you might have to readjust you anchor position a few times. However, until that point you can still cast up current taking full advantage of this fishing arena. Now that I have you thinking about it, which inshore wreck are you going to fish first?
Offshore artificial reefs where the sheepshead is king!
During these real cold times I am not suggesting that you go offshore fishing. However, if you must and this is the plan I suggest picking a day where sea conditions are calm with light winds prevailing. During these cold-water times the sheepshead as a rule isn’t affected too much and still goes about its daily feeding pattern. The best bait is going to be the purple back fiddler. However, obtaining the bait just might be harder than catching the fish. So therefore always makes plans ahead of time for obtaining bait. The bottom line is to catching fish is you might have to start looking for bait such as this days before actually going fishing.
Captain Judy Helmey
Kicking Fish Tail Since 1956!
124 Palmetto Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31410
www.missjudycharters.com
912 897 4921or 912 897 2478
912 897 3460 fax
Fishjudy2@aol.com
January 24 2022 Captain Judy inshore offshore fishing report and A garfish’s fight!
