Savannah’s local offshore fishing business will be the focus of the CCA of Skidaway’s November meeting and seminar on Monday, November 11, at St. Peter’s Church beginning at 7 p.m. Captain Judy Helmey of Miss Judy Charters will give an update on the local offshore fishing business, talk about the history of her charter business, and recount some of her outlandish fishing stories.

She will present some of the simplest rigs to make along with techniques that she has been using for years, covering trophy redfish, flounder, Spanish/king mackerel, and grouper at the artificial reefs!

Captain Sherman Helmey, Judy’s father, started his fishing charter business in 1948. It was considered one of the first deep-sea fishing charter services in Savannah. Captain Judy took over the business in the mid-’60s and has been a successful charter boat captain for more than 54 years.

She is a self-taught author and columnist, writing for many weekly and monthly publications. For more than 25 years, she has provided the Southeast with current weekly fishing conditions. She also is known for her publications of numerous popular fishing stories, all based on actual accounts of her thousands of fishing experiences. In 2009, she published three how-to booklets entitled Spotted Sea Trout Booklet, Spinner Shark Fishing Booklet, and Trophy Red Fish Booklet, all of which are packed full of great color pictures showing fishers just how to go about getting the catching job done.

According to Captain Judy, fall and winter are the best seasons for bottom fishing. It’s the time when all anglers, whether they have small or large boats, get the chance to catch a so-called deep-water fish in shallow water.

Her company has hosted three generations of customers. With her new regime of professional captains and nine charter boats, she hopes to serve the fourth and fifth generations of fishing enthusiasts.

The raffle prize for the November 11 CCA program will be a half-day inshore fishing charter for two people with Miss Judy Charters fishing for trout, redfish, and flounder. The charter will be on a 22’ center console and will leave from Landings Harbor. This month’s raffle prize is valued at $350.

CCA is a nonprofit organization with chapters on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts. For more information about CCA of Skidaway, call Joe Tyson (598-8765). For more information about CCA’s Georgia District, call Tom Rood (598-9753). For information about November’s meeting and seminar, call Dave Devore (330-329-6457). Area residents are invited to attend the CCA of Skidaway meetings and seminars held on the second Monday of the month at St. Peter’s Church.