Hey everyone- I have been lax on, well pretty much everything besides work, but to honor the anniversary of my dad's passing, I took my nephew fishing on Rodanthe Pier on Monday. I soaked a drum rod with mullet because there had been a good drum bite a couple of days prior, and hooked one sand tiger that my nephew got to fight for about six minutes before he bit off. Then a dolphin swam through and hit my line, proceeding to break my clicker. As for bottom fishing, he managed two blow toads (oddly enough, both on small chunks of mullet, which is a first for me) and I got a skate. Slow day, but nice to be close to my dad in one of his favorite places.
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Glad you got to do that and celebrate your family the way you want to. Making memories!
That being said, I looked at the thread title and:
Having spent a fair amount of time on the piers of the OBX in my youth with my dad, I can relate.
Fishing here is still limited, it seems, to holdover stripers of schoolie size. Obviously, my info is thin, but my Hokie neighbor Paul has been out a number of times in the last few weeks and has mostly reported 2-4 fish per outing, all but one stripers. He and his buddy got 12 one morning, all fat and healthy, so the food is here, but they were 17-19" fish. I figure the migratory trout, reds and whichever pan fish decides to show this year, be it croaker, spot or whitingroundheadseamullets, will show soon when the water settles to a warming trend. My neighbor might not be the first to catch them, but if they show, he'll be one of the first, I'm sure.
My knee replacement is progressing well and I'm ready to fish, but not excited by what's here at the moment. Hope you freshwater and more southern saltwater folk are getting the spring stuff.
Great time to catch a citation smallmouth, load up on crappie or whatever pops your tube or submerges your bobber. G'luck!
I fished for about 5 minutes taking my kid out on the boat a few weeks back. Caught a crappie and few shad at Rockahok. I wanted to fish for brookies two weeks ago and hiked up the Rose a good few miles but the girlfriend decided these weren't her preferred fish to chase, so I only made a few casts. The water was really low for spring time. That's the only fishing I've done since returning from Colorado. I have been neck deep in feathers trying to make a dollar. I really could use some time on the wet stuff.
Right now the list of work to the boat is a mile and a half long. I'd like to get it all done before getting on the water. We shall see if I'm able to make it out any time soon. I'd love to go chase from Bull Reds around Hatteras.
My Hokie buddy on Topsail said he was out a couple of miles yesterday and they got 20 Bonito. My Hokie buddy Paul here on the Middle Peninsula had a slow day yesterday morning, but did find two 18" reds. Maybe it's starting. Now, if my motor will just do the same...
Someone handed French the pole after it landed.... /s
Awesome that your mom is out there.
Checking in-
I went home to spend Easter weekend with my mom. When I got there she said she wanted to fish, so sans a trout license, I took her to Washington County Park on South Holston using some of Dad's rods.
We set up on a shale point adjacent to deep water on the left and a muddy cove on the right. She insisted on fishing for bluegills, so I got her a tub of mealworms and watched her feed about 40 to the baby bluegills. On my side I launched a chum slick of corn and, using a Carolina rig, 12 inches of 14lb leader, and a size 2 Eagle Claw, put nine carp on the beach in three hours. Dad had purchased one of the Amazon brand live liner spinning reels (Yokashiba I think) and it performed ok. I would have loved to use the live liner with circle hooks.
Mom ended up with two bluegill. After about 4 hours, we went to CC's Noodle Bar in Bristol and downed two bowls of Pho.
People were hooking bluefin and a few landed them with kayaks at Jennette's pier down here in nags head a few weeks ago, until the gubment put a stop to it
https://www.google.com/amp/s/myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/officials-en...
My buddy Jack hooked one off the pier but got dumped. Turk got the first kayak fish, then the feds showed up and said they need to have a vessel permit. Now, understand that A) you can't get a vessel permit for a kayak or a pier and B) state jurisdiction within three miles and C) this is a once in a lifetime phenomenon with next to no impact on the quota (unlike all the inshore boats that went and whacked them when the word got out) and this is a textbook example of why a lot of people are so fed up with federal oversight. They won't go after the menhaden boats decimating the Bay, but by god, you better not throw a sluggo off the end of the pier and hook the wrong thing!
Fished off the beach for three days at First Landing State Park last weekend. Not even a nibble until just before we packed up on the last day. Never been so happy to land a skate.
When young, fishing the beaches of the OBX was a regular thing since we lived in Chesapeake and the beaches there were better fishing. I remember, though, those days when skates and dogfish (we called them sand sharks in those days) were all that was in the surf. Never liked it, pull or no pull, but about all we got when they were the predominant fish onshore was some blow toads. Once we learned how to clean them, though, we'd at least have some supper for momma to fix back at camp. Probably should have learned to eat the sharks, but we didn't know how good they could be on the table.
Soo, back to the present, I'm fishing tomorrow morning with my neighbor in the Mobjack. Report will come if warranted, and today, one of my old clients and present fishing buddies is on the New with a guided trip in Giles. He got his biggest smallie to date with me back in my guiding days, a 6 pound toad that came on a Teaser tube from a pocket eddy no bigger than a wheelbarrow and just about this time of year.
I've heard skate wing quite tasty. I told my wife that I'm going to keep the next one I catch. She's grossed out by it, but I'm doing it.
I tried it once.... yuuuch
your wife is correct
nm, double post
There was a rumor back when I was a kid about skate wings being stamped out and sold as scallops. Now, my father once even confronted a cook at a restaurant about that very thing and all I know is that our dinners were comped. My little bro and I ate 'em all up, but dad was convinced they weren't scallops and wouldn't eat more than his first bite. Don't recall mom's thoughts on the matter other than her giving dad a bit of a tongue lashing when we were back in the car. For embarrassing her in public, but dad was never less than cool, even when pissed, so her excoriation was weak and for our benefit, I think. I guess I've heard that a good cook can do minor miracles in the kitchen so I'll not rule it out, but I've never been moved to try it again.
Cownose rays are another attempt in this vein to get good food out of inauspicious beginnings. Around here, they were bowhunted pretty hard for a few years, but once killed, they were often just tossed back in the drink. When a couple of dozen washed up on a local beach, the outfitters were given enough shit about it that they stopped that and then watermen figured out that properly prepared, the rays wings were, in fact, better than palatable, but had no marketing ideas. They tried Chesapeake Ray, thinking name alone would advance their consumption, but alas...didn't make any headway on that. Apparently, their skin is their liver (sorta) and care had to be taken to skin out the wings without contaminating the flesh, so there was that. Again, not tempted myself, but if blowfish can be rebranded as "sugar toads" and sold for over 10 bucks a pound, well...
I have a very distinct memory of going out to a nice restaurant for my Moms birthday about fifteen years ago in Conshohocken outside Philly and getting skate wing. As you mentioned, a good chef can work wonders sometimes but I remember the meal being fantastic. It wasn't punched since they weren't trying to pass it off as something else but I do also remember the waiter saying the same scallop rumor after my dad asked what skate was like. Wish I could remember more about the preparation and have not seen it on a menu since.
Can confirm they're good. Just cook it like a scallop high heat and quick meat gets nasty and chewy/stringy quick
Out and back. We caught 6 stripers up to 20" and I got the dubious honor of hooking up with the first cownose ray of the season. Pulled like a champ, it did and we had to chase it down, but when you finally see those wings pop out of the water, the letdown is pretty real, although the improbable strength of the fish was awakening the skeptic in me already. Oh well, Super Flukes was the bait, Paul is better at working them and it showed, but at least I got my hands on my first fish of the season, and got my butt kicked by the first ray, so at least that's been taken care of.
I won't go on about this here, as I often do go on, but if you are near the New, you should be fishing. Big fish in pre-spawn, right now. if you want in, get a guide yesterday. It doesn't last too long.
What baits you throwing for spawning fish? Any particular tactics for bedded smallmouth? Don't have much experience fishing the spawn in rivers.
Edit: Just realized you noted they were pre spawn which I assume means they have the feed bag on before they go to bed. May try to make a trip this weekend if I can. Thanks for the info!
Your edit is the clue. Yep, they're feeding up but will still be found in proximity to their spawning site. Best bet is to assume they're in the eddies in general and go from there. I had a lot of go-tos baitwise, but it was dependant on water level and clarity. If nothing worked on the eddies, we went to spinnerbaits and suspending jerkbaits like the Lucky Craft Pointers, but mainly this time of year, they were in or around those eddies and my go to evolved from jig 'n pig to big tubes, but in the end, my biggest fish guiding all came on Mizmo Teaser Tubes with custom jig heads. These came to my fishing via clients who fished yearly with Ken Penrod on the Susquehanna in March. The heads are made by Johnny Cunningham who runs a campground at the confluence of the Susky and the Juniata in Duncannon PA. The proof was in the pudding, and those little tubes were incredibly productive for me. This time of year on the New, it was one bait that I knew would catch the big ones with the added bonus that when, not if but when that musky takes off with it, you can afford to put on a new one without dinging your day with losing a $16-20 lure. I also believe in relatively light line. I seldom used anything but 8lb test mono and while muskies are an iffy proposition anytime you're bass fishing, breakoffs were rare and generally angler error. Nowadays, I'd probably end up with braid and a flourocarbon leader, but back then, Bass Pro XL (or was it Excel? One Berkley, one BP) was cheap quality line I kept fresh through the year and never had reason to change. Not because it was cheap, and all of my clients would have to attest to the fact that I didn't skimp on anythig when I was guiding, be it line, rod&reels, baits, lunches or my most exellent Maravia raft.
Anyway, sorry to go off, but I do that. Best of luck if you get out and please let us know how you did.
Interesting everybody I know looking for strippers in Claytor lake is having zero luck. They are having to go all the way to Allosonia to have any luck.
My buddy who lives on the lake is catching catfish and walleye, but hasn't been chasing the stripers lately. And Allisonia is part of the lake, so they're likely spawning mode fish that moved up there following that run upriver urge.
Toppless mermaids?
That's unfortunate......but I also wouldn't think to go to Claytor lake for the strippers.
Another trip, not much action. Paul got 2 small stripers and lost one to a break off on a piling. I got two bites and didn't stick nuthin'. Did avoid the rays myself, though Paul got hooked up on one, but there were a bunch of them around. Also, saw three skates obviously mating, which I'd never seen before. It was a glorious morning to be on the water, light breeze, pretty clear water and nobody else fishing. But while I can honestly say I seldom get skunked, I did today.
Well, the softball team is toast, the baseball team wishes it was that good. The horse races have been interesting. The fishing? Today's trip was an early morning affair, and before the wind blew up we caught a few in the Mobjack area. Ended up with 11 fish...9 rockfish, three were actually keepers and we kept our limit of one each, and two trout, both legal and tagged and released. Oh, and a dink croaker not much bigger than the fluke it hit. Another incredibly beautiful morning on the water while things were relatively calm. All fish on Zoom Salty Super Flukes and all on white pearl. Two good fish lost, one definitely a good trout Paul lost at the boat, and another that bit me off after a hard strike and heavy pull.
I realize things change and we're all otherwise engaged these days, but I'd like to thank all who have participated in the fishing thread the past few years. I came to TKP for the Hokie takes, but I stayed for the fishing thread. I am winding down my fishing life, and while I still love to fish, it's not with the same drive and fire I had in the day, and truthfully, I grow old and physically can't do what I used to be able to do. Also, where I live
has changed, fishing wise, and some of the fisheries have deteriorated and sapped some of my enthusiasm.
Right now, I'm pissed off at the 757 for holding on to the redfish I'm begging to show up and keep my fishing spirits up. Never get tired of dock reds and hope I never do.
I've got nothing besides an ok report on the New from three weeks ago when I went down to fish for 3 days. I'm working twice as hard on my business as I ever have and I'm making half the money that I was two years ago. Fishing has taken a far back seat, probably to the detriment of my mental health. My boat needs a new trolling motor ($2800) and I'm not sure I'll be able to spend much of the summer and fall at Cape Lookout like the past four years due to having to move my camper. The annual Memorial Day camping trip I do every year for foot long bluegills, which I leave for tomorrow, is blown out. The recent rains have the flood control lake that we camp at up 30 feet. My campsite is under 10 feet of water with two more inches on the way the next three days. I'll take the fly rod, but it will likely be a lot of standing in the woods drinking beer, which is fun nonetheless. But I was looking forward to the much needed pullage of giant bluegills. I am going to Colorado for a visit mid summer for an earring selling event, so I'll hopefully get a few hours of trout fishing in. Glad you caught the stripers. It's great to hear a few of those are still around. I too came for Hokie talk and stuck around for the fishing. I haven't been this disinterested in VT, ever. Maybe I can get a new trolling motor and make it out to Mobjack this summer to look for a redfish at New Point. I'll let you know!
Pics from the New
Hey man. Foot long 'gills are a blast on a fly rod, and bedding fish are a popping bugger's dream. One of my favorite things of all time in the fishing world, for sure.
Stripers here now are holdovers and have been around all winter and spring. Just not in numbers. Two guys might fish three or four hours and get maybe 2-4 fish, but that's improving as the fish move closer to the dock structure we fish. The reds, sadly, are so far ghosting us, but reports of them on Poquoson Flats indicate a beginning of the Bay migration. At least we hope so. No doubt owing to the big chill kills this winter, the specs are sparse, but starting to show with the few females fat with roe. Good size, though, no real dinks among them, just not many of them around so far.
We tried for flounder around Gwynn's Island the other day and came close to getting skunked but for a small striper and a short red. Water's warm enough, there's bait galore, but nobody coming to the table.
Yes, they are a blast, if you can fish for them! The lake was up close to 20 feet and probably dropped ten during the five day camping trip. The water was a weird greenish brown and smelled awful. 3000 acre watershed flows into this lake. I didn't see a single rise. In normal years you will see Bass chasing bait in inches of water and the bull bluegills waking over their beds. I did see some bluegill beds that had been built in gravel along the road where the water was up but had now receded to leave them high and dry. First year that I have not fished.
Simone at Current Culture is getting into the Reds on the flats around Poquoson.
I've heard about the reds at Poquoson, just waiting for them to come to me. We've continued to catch small to mid 20 stripers with an occasional trout and hardly any drum, and none of size.
Your story reminds me of a trip I took decades ago to Kerr. I was looking to get into a bunch of crappie, with a good chance of getting into big'uns. Rained a torrent before the trip and the lake got waaaaay up, making it tough to deal with. I had a motel room and rental boat, so I was going anyway. Asked the grizzled old veteran at the tackle shop where would be a good area to go to try to find some spawning crappie. His reply? The parking lots. I didn't catch a fish in two days and never went back.
Headed back to Ontario for a 5 day remote fly in trip here in a couple of weeks. In past trips we've split time between two lakes, however this trip we are staying at one lake and focusing on musky, with some lake trout mixed in when they aren't biting. We've done fairly well at this lake in the past, however we've always only had a few days to spend there and I'm excited to get some extra opportunities and refine my focus a bit. Hoping to put a 50"+ in one of the boats and have multiple fish days, but would be happy with a couple of good fish. I'll post some updates as I get ready to head out and will share some pictures when we return.
Would love to have gotten on the river to chase some smallies this spring but my timing and the weather just haven't cooperated. This weekend is when we would traditionally head to Lake Erie to chase them in Presque Isle Bay, but it looks like it'll be next year before we have that opportunity. If anyone likes to catch big smallmouth in open water, it's a heck of a trip. I'd be happy to share some waypoints and tips if anyone heads up that way. There's always a few fish to find, and every few years you catch the spawn just right and load the boat. Fun, relatively easy trip that's worth the drive.
I envy you your northern experiences. One of my first bucket list items from nearly 40 years ago was to go to the NW Territories to Kasba Lake and fish with Deborah Johannson for muskies and lakers. Alas, times change and I'm dead certain that item will not be fulfilled, but while I'm ambivalent about muskies, I really would love to get into a light tackle approach to lakers versus the northern way of trolling for the bigguns. Add in the remote location and it is the epitome of my version of the northern thing.
Best of luck and please do treat us to pictures and reports. Vicarious fishing ain't that bad!
Where in Ontario? I've done fly in fishing out of red lake, far northwest, you actually fly in and out of Winnipeg to drive up. Caught a ton of walleye and pike and had a blast.
I have a nephew who lives in Winnipeg on a some lake up there and while he doesn't fish, he says the lake is the typical clear to the bottom, drink the water safely kind of deal the area sports. One day I'll get up there. One day.
We fly into International Falls MN then cross the border in a shuttle van at Fort Francis. The outfitter is located on Off Lake north of Emo, and we'll be flying into and fishing Meggisi Lake which is about 60 miles northeast of there. The cabin is located on a small island in the middle of the lake and is the only cabin on the lake. In the past we've caught good musky and lake trout there, but this will be the first time we've spent our entire trip on the one lake as we usually split it up with a walleye lake.
I'm anxious to move some toothy fish. We didn't catch a ton of musky last trip but did catch some nice ones. I caught a beautiful 45" on a 9" doc spook that absolutely crushed topwater as the fog was rolling off early one morning. It was the type of strike you remember all your life. Hope to put a 50" fish in the boat but more than that just hope to be safe and enjoy some good weather.
Summing up my last few trips out this spring here in the Mobjack and a couple of trips to the Piankatank, it seems that a few holdover trout and stripers are there, but trout are only a little more prevalent than the very few reds we've found. It's nice to have the stripers around, but when they comprise more than half of the few fish we've caught, well they fight well at least. Salty Super Flukes is still the main producer for us, but the continuing lack of migratory fish from the southern climes combined with the winter kills are making for a sparse spring so far. Other than one Spanish and one black drum, nothing of note for me though Paul had a good morning with a handful of trout, including a couple over 20, but that was the banner day for him. C'mon reds, I need ya!
What was the size of that black drum?
Tagged and released, but I forget what Paul said was its length. I think I remember 24 pr 25", but we both agreed it was between 8-9 lbs. Fought like a champ, not as good as a red, but still. Beautifully marked as they are as youths, and unusual for us fishing docks. Even at that age, it was already growing that wide, deep body that makes them turn into behemoths later in life.
Haven't fished much at all this spring, got offshore yesterday out of Wilmington. Slow start to the day, bite picked up throughout the day and the swell went down as well. Jacks on jigs, assortment of small bottom fish, a couple of nice white trevally, small blackfin tuna trolling plugs, mahi on a plug and then they circled our boat for ten minutes of chaos of bailing mahi.
This is always a blast.
So we are in the brief window for decent catch and release cobia fishing at Buckroe Pier in Hampton VA. Unfortunately the weather has messed things up. I have fished five days since the Thursday prior to Memorial Day. The first four I didn't see a fish, although a couple of those days bottom fishing for spot and sea mullet was pretty good.
Yesterday things turned on a bit. I saw 9 cobia landed, although the biggest is only 41 inches, which would not have kept during the season. However, the hookup rate was awful. On incoming tide, by myself I had five runs. Each time the fish would take off with the bait, I would come tight and set the hook, and the fish would immediately come up top and roll to spit the hook. I would blame angler error, but the exact same thing happened at least 20 more times from other anglers. Part of the issue was that most of the cobia were really small (you could see them up top- 30-33 inch fish) but I can't remember seeing that many near misses.
We also have a huge green leatherback turtle hanging around the pier. I used to see them oceanfront pretty often but that was a first for me in the Bay.
So, I am 0 for my targeted species so far in the salt this year. I am going to try again early next week before the season official opens and things turn into a dumpster fire at Buckroe.
What else is new....
Getting towed back in during a monster thunderstorm
You have the worst luck with boats.
As I'm getting ready to head back north, that picture reminds me of the time me and a buddy were in a 16' aluminum johnboat about 5 miles from the cabin on a fly in lake in BFE Canada. It was a beautiful day and all of a sudden the wind picked up and the sky turned black. We were fumbling around trying to pull start the 15hp yamaha to get out of dodge when a waterspout started up a few hundred yards away from us. The thing was massive and seemed to be hundreds of feet tall with the wind breaking trees on the bank. It was the most scared I have ever been in my adult life, and I literally thought we were going to die. We laid in the bottom of the boat amidst the beer cans awaiting our impending doom and everything seemed to clear up as quickly as it got bad. To this day I have irrational anxiety of some sharknado storm carrying me off while I chug one last beer.
Been there, it sucks. at least they let you in the tow boat. My last tow they had me in sit in my boat and when we had to come through Caxambas Pass in Marco Island as a storm was whipping up. Guy radio'd me and told me to put life preservers on and "hold on" as we shot over some 5' standing waves in the inlet, full on air born with back realignment landings. Whatever hadn't broke in that boat yet broke that day.
Caught in a violent thunderstorm in mid-float on the New on a guided trip, all three of us were hollering for mommy as lightening hit the trees on the bank and limbs were falling from trees. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, we hunkered down below a rapid and I dropped anchor to keep us away from the damage. The wind was so fierce, it blew us up part of the rapid before the anchor stopped that. We started talking about dying that day. One guy said he'd miss his family, or that they'd miss him. I said I didn't want to leave the world yet because I didn't want my little dog to be without her daddy, oh, and of course, the wife. The third guy said he didn't want to die that day because he was afraid his wife would sell all the hunting and fishing gear he owned for what he told her he paid for it. We all laughed at that and it broke the tension of the moment.
The storm was bad, power lines down and a boy scout troop who were in canoes (despite numerous weather reports about the storms) lost a couple of boats and had to call the rescue squad for a couple of scouts that had panic attacks as they knelt in a field to ride out the storm. We were grown adults and were aware we'd get a storm and decided to go anyway, but those scout leaders were negligent. Not the first time scouts were led by kids just a little older than them and made bad decisions, like heading up Mt. Rogers with snow coming, half the boys in sneakers. They had to be rescued and one of the rescuers ended up with frostbite.
Our day ended pretty well, but we couldn't get them on the road because of downed powerlines. I got a fire dept. guy to "guide" us to their car to wait for the electrical people to fix the lines. Whiskey in paper cups ensued, and we passed the time well. Once we were allowed to leave, they headed for DC and some government meeting. A couple of hours after getting home, I got a call from them. They were drunk as shit and passing Roanoke, but realized their condition and wanted me to arrange a hotel room for them. Oh well, all part of the service, right? And, they had tipped me generously, always a way to a guide's heart.
Finally trying to do some fishing this year. Down in the outer banks and my motorguide trolling motor remote is fried again. I'm on the second remote in 3 years. Anyone know of a place down here that would have one in stock?
I'd buy a few you if you plan on keeping the trolling motor longer since the motorguide brand is transitioning to lowerance.
Thanks. Just found out about this. Pretty bummed. I love my xi3 and have it wired to my lowrance so if I switch brands not sure if my gateway/NMEA stuff will still work. Also "comparable" simrad/lowrance is more than double the price so that's a nonstarter.
The whole idea of NEMA is that its universal so that should all translate over to whatever new motor you get when/if you get one. As for prices...yeah good luck, they come out with a new motor for $10,000 and for some reason that raises the prices of all motors by $500.
Old man take here: I have fished a fair amount with people and their remote trolling motors, I'm not so big a fan as most seem to be. The remote takes your hand and eye off of the water and the business at hand, other than when you're on spot lock. I personally prefer a foot controlled motor, mainly because I'm familiar with the operation, but I've not had a saltwater troller so maybe I'd feel differently now I'm strictly saltwater fishing. The price for a saltwater troller, however, is prohibitive for me at this stage of my life, so I'm just musing, but I'd be pissed to have an expensive motor and an easily fried remote rendering it useless and therefore unpredictable.
I'm with you on the remote. The two features that make it worthwhile are the spot lock/anchor feature and the "heading" feature where it stays in the same direction it's currently pointing. You can drift a flat for an hour and never need to touch the remote. I think foot pedals and saltwater are a no-no or I've at least heard about shorting out/fires. I'm able to "control" the motor with the fish finder, but after trying it this morning it took a lot of time away from actual fishing. And any sudden movements needed to avoid grass were not happening.
Dave had a foot control pedal on his boat which is all inshore. But definitely seems to be the norm for remote.
this Dave's is a hand control, though I have been known to kick it in frustration, lol. In this particular instance, the passenger is clearly...and justifiably...traumatized. : )
what I'd really like to see is a hand control bow mount TM with a spot lock button on the head next to the battery life indicator. in current (which I'm always in) it would free up your hands to deal with a fish, go crank the outboard getting ready to move, re-tie, etc. otherwise, in shallow enough water, my anchor stick is my spot lock.
if your boat tracks decent (mine does not), hand operation while casting is workable; though you are busier than you'd like to be.
While I like Scout boats, mine isn't amenable to adding a bow mount due to two hatches I'd have to lose and no good place to install another battery. I was wrong in the types of fishing I'd be doing here as the fishing changes and really would have done better with more of a skiff type boat. My Scout is a Dorado 185 I bought with too much input from my wife and not enough local knowledge. Fast and sporty don't help when you're dock fishing rivers.
Ah my mind flipped the hand control versus the foot control. This is interesting but isn't the solution you want https://tbnation.net/products/autoboat-gps-trolling-motor-anchor-system?...
A friend and coworker fished out of Oregon Inlet a few weeks back and they killed the yellowfin out on the shelf. There was only two of them fishing and they got almost a dozen fish up to the boat and had their limit and were back at the dock at 10:30. He said once the first hookup happened, there was at least one fish on until they called it quits and he never left the fighting chair. Would've been nice to have had a full boat of anglers.
Apparently the nice slot sized drum are thick around Norfolk area in big schools. My buddy has been on the tarpon at Cape Lookout. I'm in Richmond having not fucked with my broken boat yet.
I just spent a week in Aspen trying to sling earrings to the rich assholes at Food and Wine. It was slower than I wanted but I did get a hug from a former Victoria's Secret model (who wears my earrings) and briefly chatted with Bella Hadid, who didn't pull the trigger on a pair. So at least I was in front of the right crowd.
I fished for four days, three outings on the Roaring Fork and a float out of the Black Canyon on the Gunnison. The water is up on the Fork due to the runoff and I nymphed several cookie cutter 13" bows. Only two came to hand, as they just swim out into the strong current and break you off.
The Gunnison was magical. We loaded the raft onto a jet boat and they ran us up 10 miles into the canyon. The first section we boulder hopped and wade fished in huge holes. Gotta watch out for rattlesnakes. We only brought a few fish to hand all day. The fishing was weird, very hit and miss. One stretch would be dead, the next was full of life. In those sections, there were thousands of yellow sallies hatching and brown trout everywhere rising. I do mean EVERYWHERE. When I rowed, the yellow sallies were crawling up my shorts. The biggest fish I landed was probably 16" but it was one of the coolest dry fly eats I've ever had. The last mile with wind was kicking my ass, I chucked my favorite top secret streamer against the bank and moved at least 25 browns in the 12-17" range. For whatever reason, they wouldn't commit but they danced with the fly and nipped at the tail. It was really cool to see in the low, clear water. Again not many fish caught, but just the amount of life coming off the water with all of the bugs was so cool. What a day.
Here's the top of the float, which is the bottom of the Black Canyon.
Legit Picture. Looks like cool place to fish.
Sounds like a good trip all in all. Things around here are stagnant. A few big trout around being had on topwater, but one fish trips are the norm. No reds around yet, preferring the 757 area.
The break offs in the current reminded me of one trip out West many years ago where we made our usual first camping stand on the San Juan River after ass hauling I-40 and a night in Tucumcari to rest. That year, the river was way up and colored badly. The guides were still fishing, but nobody was catching anything. I was unable to wade, so I just looked for small shoreline eddies and I was using one of Chuck Kraft's early creations, the Rolex then, the Kreelex to sell to Umpqua later. I got broken off twice by what you described, the fish would head immediately into the strong current and soon gone. I was running low on the Rolexes but the fish loved them and could see them well in the muddied water. I went back to camp and stripped some 10lb fluorocarbon off of a spinning reel and went back at them. I promptly hooked and luckily landed a really nice rainbow, 5-6 lbs was my estimate. Now down to two baits, I didn't land another fish and was out of Rolexes too soon. Just couldn't handle the current and the size of the fish, and one was a much bigger 'bow than the one I landed and would likely have busted me off in normal water. Chuck told me I should have gone up to 15-20 lb leader as he figured the visibility in that water would have taken leader shy out of the equation, but I didn't have anything of the sort.
Just returned from two weeks at Cape Lookout. I drove down Thursday 7/3 to meet my client (A Hokie) at high noon. Had done preventative maintenance on the trailer, the engine and fixed the fuel issue on the motor, replacing fuel lines, bulb and multiple fuel filters, that had me break down in early June.
One hour into the charter the engine has trouble restarting, yet again. Sputters and will not stay running. I called it right then and there and took him back to the dock to prevent another afternoon being stranded. So I lost out on the $ for that trip. We did get to pole one of my top flats prior to the issue and saw ZILCH. In an effort to fix the issue, I drove into town that evening and dropped $275 on low pressure fuel pump to slap on.
I borrowed my friends boat and guided the morning of the 4th with a repeat client. We saw a grand total of four Drum and got skunked. Spent the entire afternoon / evening of the 4th dismantling the motor. The morning of the 5th I spent hours putting in a new high pressure fuel pump and the low pressure fuel pump, along with new spark plugs, another $60 spent. The high pressure pump is a serious job, if you haven't ever needed to get into the VST on a motor. Finally, the boat ran right. The weather was dogshit the entire week ahead and I got out with another repeat client for two days and out personally one morning. I caught a grand total of one 17" bluefish and saw zero drum. With the client, we saw six drum, one landed. One my one day off, my brand new, worn 4 times Smith sunglasses fell off my head, bounced on the boat and blew into the water at 30 mph. FML.
Saturday, I ran up to Ocracoke to visit some friends and fish. I hit several of my best spots, and saw only one drum. Tons of bait and big mullet. Even went and played in the ocean and Vera Cruz shoals and got nothing. Luckily, I was able to catch every beer I reach for in the cooler and had a wild night out in Ocracoke with visitors and locals alike. I woke up super early Sunday and ran the boat back to Cedar Island because my repeat client really wanted to fish one last day before he went back to Boone. He suggested we look for fish in the Neuse so we tried it, being something new since the Banks had been dead. We ended up with one 25" blue before being chased off by a monster of a thunderstorm. On the way back to my buddies house, I noticed a grinding noise and saw the right trailer wheel wobbling. Pulled over in a gravel parking lot 10 minutes from "home," and proceeded to find my brand new hub that I had put on a month ago as preventative maintenance had disintegrated and absolutely shredded the spindle. A few hours later I was still stuck, covered in sweat, grease and mosquitoes having been laying in the evening sun in gravel. I left the boat for the next day, and returned with multiple power tools and a new $100 hub. The spindle was so wrecked the new hub wouldn't go on so I had to grind it down and smooth out to make it work, just to get it to the boat shop down the street. Took much of the morning and afternoon again covered in grease, grime, sweat and gravel. All the while friends on Ocracoke texting and asking for me to return and come hang on the beach. Finally got it fixed by 4 pm and took it to the shop, where it is now awaiting a new welding job for the spindle / axle.
I packed up and drove back up to Richmond last night after having to move my camper off of the property it has been on for 5 years.
Between boat repair costs and new sunglasses, it was an expensive trip, not to mention the canceled client and future canceled clients this week. As someone on here earlier said, nobody has boat problems like me. My mechanic says it is because I use it more than anyone else. But even the preventative maintenance doesn't always work. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't considering selling the boat and trailer and be done with the headache.
TLDR: The fishing at the Cape right now SUCKS. I continue to have boat problems and trailer problems. The redfish reports out of Poquoson have been very good. That's the place to go right now. Overall I personally caught one bluefish. My clients caught one drum and one bluefish.
I'm back to Colorado next week for another earring selling event. Hopefully I get a few days on the Roaring Fork. I sure as hell am not going anywhere near a boat.
Have you ever seen the young man Dallas Mason play (guitar and drums) in Ocracoke. He's a 15 year old prodigy that's lived there his entire life and plays regularly at the local oyster house and other places on the OBX.
Edit: And... sorry for your trouble. Leg!
Sure have Mike! I know Dallas' father, Shane, and see them both around the island often. Shane works at the fish house on Ocracoke. I'm not even sure Dallas is 15! I think he's 13. We watched Dallas play drums for Raygun Ruby on Saturday evening at 1718. The lead guitarist for Raygun Ruby is Lou, who is ridiculously good. I keep saying that Dallas will be the next Foo Fighters drummer.
Thanks, I remember your trailer hub blowing out that one time. It was an easy fix!
Just got a video clip from my Topsail buddy who's in Okracoke as we speak. He and friends followed their favorite band, the Notorious ClamJammers, to a two show gig there on the island and I told him what you guys said about the kid and lo and behold, he showed up to jam with the Jammers. My buddy sent me all of 8 seconds of the kid playing guitar, tough to suss out talent in it, but judging from the band's expressions he must've been good.
The kid is a prodigy. He kicks butt! U can find videos of him online, he is masterful.
I'm at a loss for words at your absolute miserable luck with your rig. Yes, sell the damn thing, from push pole to trailer hubs and be done with it. Then, buy a new rig, up your guide fee a little and start tying earrings to beat the band. You're a fishing guide, man, and you won't be getting rich anyway, so go into debt and at least be able to sleep at night and party with your friends. I know folks that use their boats as much as you do, but without as much travel, admittedly, and they don't have the panoply of disaster you routinely must navigate. But then again, all of my friends would tell you that I'm really good at telling other people how to spend their money.
Sell it to a wahoo...
Hopefully you threw a new VST filter in there and sent off the injectors. Pretty much a full motor side fuel delivery service at that point...in theory should last you 5-8 years before you have to mess with it again!
Put a new filter in. Did not send off the injectors as I needed the boat for charters, though that's not a bad idea. Yes, I have essentially replaced everything on the fuel delivery short of the sending unit in the tank and some hose. 1250 hours on the engine. I've never cleaned the injectors prior but do use ringfree.
brucatoFIS is up in Apex NC. I ship mine up there cause he does a knock out job, full report gives you the option to repair them. I have a cheap knock off set I use for the week or so it takes for them to get back and forth. Worth doing when you get a break in business I'd try to do them every 4-500 hours.
I'll check them out, thank you!
Well, the fishing woes continue for we Mid Pen folks. Went this morning with my neighbor, Hokie Paul the trout man. Met up at 5 after a long drive...lie, it's not even a block but he does have a long driveway, to fish the East and the North rivers of the Mobjack Bay. I was the big numbers guy today with 9 fish total. Paul got two. I caught a menhaden, two spot and 7 croaker. All foul hooked on Gulp and since I did hook the menhaden in the dorsal, at least I got a thrill until it came to the boat. The other fish were bait sized. Paul got the first fish of the day, a foul hooked menhaden. You might now see that there was a ton of bait in the rivers, and I do mean a ton, most I've ever seen and big and little baits. Problem was, other than a couple of individual chasings, likely small bluefish, the bait was undisturbed. I'm pretty sure I saw a shark fin in the mouth of the North. Would be a good sized one.
And lest the bleakness of 4+ hours of two guys fishing 9 spots without a decent bite is a tale of woe, Paul did manage to catch a 19+ speckled trout on a fluke that could have eaten all of the dinks I caught but the menhaden. He's a master at that bait. Now, we face a long spell of temps in the 90s, that'll help, right? Water temps this morning varied from 85 to 86. Damn, that's stupid hot.
Yeah... the fish are already cooked when you get them in the boat!!!
88 here. Haven't been fishing all summer and won't think about it until they drop back down to 80.
Temps in the Chesapeake Bay are about 81 or so, but up in the rivers, it can be as high as 87 so far, with another heat wave to come. The bait is happy, and the only reason I've fished lately is to keep my neighbor company and keep my hand in casting. And casting. And casting... And when the thrill of the day is a back hooked menhaden and one trout (albeit a nice one), well, not worth getting up that early.
Either way, ya gotta catch 'em to cook 'em, and we ain't.
I was wondering if I could get some input from the group. I've got a son turning 10 in a couple of weeks who loves to fish. We've floated a few rivers, hit numerous lakes (have a pond in our yard as well), had him out on an ocean charter - he's eat up with it and very capable.
My question - he's been talking about fishing the New River all summer, and he wants to go next weekend (likely Sunday). I'm a few hours away and this would not be a quick easy trip. I have a 15' tracker with a 9.9hp that I thought I may take to Whitethorne and tram up and float back down a couple of times. I haven't fished from there in several years and am worried that the ramp and lot might be busy, and trying to get launched, parked, loaded, etc. with a 10 year old may be an issue. Floating doesn't look like an option unless I could con someone else into driving down. I've also thought about calling a guide and booking a 2 person trip, though I know that would cost $$ and it's late in the game.
I've been super busy and this has snuck up on me, and now I realize I'm behind the 8 ball. Any ideas from those of you who have fished the New recently? I certainly would like to do more than stand on the bank and mail it in, and I don't trust him to wade the shoals yet.
It is late to book a guided trip, but probably not impossible. Yep, it'll cost ya some bucks for sure, but as one who knows, it's worth it. Float trip in raft offers a much bigger experience than being confined to what you can reach from the boat ramp, both above and below, and floating through with your rig would not be advisable anyway.
I'm too far out of the biz to know who to call, but hopefully one of our bros here can come up with someone to call. A 10 year old would definitely love the trip, a guide can provide a much better chance to catch decent fish and even to give him tips to help future endeavors.
Whitethorne on a summer Sunday will likely be very busy, but at least you would have a fair amount of river to run up and float down, but fishing might be tough with a crowd. I know one raft guide who may be available on short notice if he's not booked already. Let me know if you need a contact number.
I appreciate your response. If you have a number and don't care to share it, that may be the best bet given our situation. I can provide you with an email if you don't want to post it on here.
Other than hiring an outfitter I think our best option would be to putt up and down from a boat ramp as far as we can and try to pick up a few fish. The only ones I've launched my prop motor from are the one below Claytor Dam, Bissett, and Whitethorne. I've got a jon boat if we could put together a float, but I don't think I can get another crew together to make the put in and take out work. Although Pepper's Ferry to Whitethorne would be awesome and it's been too long since I've been through there.
Pepper to whitethorne is tough for a jonboat. Long float, also.
My friend is Jim Richmond. Retired Army Corps of Engineers and long time outfitter and guide, both in WVA and VA. He's a raft guy, runs a good trip and has been on all sections of the river and knows them well. I have no idea of his availability, just that he loves to run and may accommodate you or have a suggestion.
Edit: I will erased Jim's phone from this post. He doesn't solicit business and if anyone needs it, I'll provide it again.
Thank you for the information, and I understand your concern for Jim's privacy.
I haven't done Pepper to Whitethorne in probably 10 years. It is tough, and I've come close to getting in real trouble at arsenal falls and the shoals at the burning grounds in a jon boat. Great fishing though, and it's a beautiful float. The intake on the right just above the falls used to always hold a good fish or two.
I floated it for the first time in a canoe, with a tiny gas motor. An hour into the trip, the wind started to blow upriver in what turned into 25 mph or so sustained winds. We couldn't fish much, and finally decided to give up and motor out. Worked great until about a mile above Whitethorne when the motor ran out of gas. I'd foolishly not brought extra, having never needed more before. We paddled and paddled and paddled and paddled. Finally got out and we agreed we'd never do that again. I was with a burly guide named Chuck Kraft on that float, and even he couldn't make headway on that same portion of the float. We tried to switch places so he could rest for a bit, but by the time we switched places, I couldn't regain what we lost in the switch, not being Chuck, a powerful fellow. Finally we got into a creek just above the landing and he could rest up for a few minutes, then we made the ramp. For beauty, my favorite float is Ripplemeade to Bluff City. I've run it hundreds of times over the years, and though I've floated almost the entire river, I still rate it my favorite. Let us know if you go.
For the last couple years I have been primarily just fishing Claytor. We have had a big fish kill of striped bass due to the low rain and heat. Lots floating dead.
Hows the walleye fishing going?
Will let you know after this weekend. I have been too busy to do much.
If you want to float, call SmittyVT. His website is:
https://newriverflyfish.com/
His crew specializes in fly fishing and they are fishing the New upstream of Claytor but might meet you closer to BBurg.
If you want some spots to wade that would be alright for a ten year old, shoot me an email. knotthereelworld (at) gmail.com. I'm happy to text you some pin drops not far from Blacksburg. All three are pretty darn shallow, particularly this time of the year. I just checked the current flows and they are at 2.49 feet, which is pretty standard low flows for this time of the year. If you're dead set on running the john boat, put in at the Pembroke ramp and run all the way up till it shallows out. You can fish for small mouth and sunfish there and it's a pretty float down with the cliffs for a solid mile. You wouldn't need to shuttle.
If I were you, I'd wade fish and toss white or grey senkos and have a ball on small to medium size smallmouth.
Not sure where you live or are coming from but the Shenandoah is a great place to learn to fish for smallmouth and very easy to wade. Tons of small, willing fish. I can send you some pin drops there too. If you're near Richmond, I can pin drop you some very easily wadable spots perfect for a kid.
Good solid advice, more helpful than I was, thanks Chris. Might hit you up for some wading advice on the 'Doah so I could get out with my great nephew in Staunton. 16 and more into fishing than other teen ager stuff but nobody in his family fishes but me. I may be thinking about moving over that way in another couple of years, but I don't know much about the fishing around there other than the river and Mossy Creek.
Sounds good, definitely let me know and I'm happy to share!
Thanks for the information. I will try to shoot you an email for some info if you don't care to share.
I'm located in far SWVA, about 2.5hrs from Blacksburg. For a quick smallie fix I usually hit the North Fork of the Holston, which seems to be a great fishery for its size. The easily accessible spots get hammered hard in the summer though. I'm also only about 20 minutes from the Clinch, but it seems to not have the same size class of fish as the Holston.
Sounds good! I rarely fish down your way, but have heard the North Fork of the Holston is good!
Up at 3:30 again this morning, air temp was 80.2 with soup-like humidity and met with my neighbor at 5. We fished the North River mostly and the slow fishing continued, following the trend this season. I did manage a couple of 15" specs and a foul hooked croaker and Paul had a bigger croaker and that was it for him. Normally, Paul would have tagged the fish and we'd release them, but the water temp was up to 90, and he didn't want to handle them any more than necessary to get them back in. I also caught another same sized trout at the Crazy Lady dock in the East on our way back to the ramp and 91+ degree temps. Best day I've had all year, I think. Paul said he has been tagging about 170 fish a year, but he's only done 20 this year so far. Things here are tough, fishing wise.
Those are some seriously hot temps. Wild that you are having such bad fishing, because it seems to be on fire down south at the mouth of the Bay.
Yeah, inshore fishing here has just bottomed out this year, no doubt and by all accounts. Still plenty of some things, like tiny croaker and spot, and probably Spanish Mackerel out in the open water. Don't know how the cobia folk are doing, but I see the big trailers so they're likely having some success in the usual places. The three trout I caught yesterday were more than most folks have managed, but I also had an unusual number of bites that cut up my fluke but didn't stay hooked. I'm thinking young of the year trout, too small to get on the hook. That's easily explained by the winter cold kills that really clobbered the trout here and south, that there would be few trout, but what about all those redfish hanging out in the 757 and not moving north? The bait in the rivers is monumental, with nothing chasing. The very few reds caught inshore tend to be bigger fish with the smaller fish we've had in numbers the last several years being almost totally absent. Personally, for my enjoyment anyway, I'd rather catch 16-24" reds regularly than catching a 27-30" red once or twice a year. Crabbers are hurting as well. As absurd as it may be, I'm counting on the Hokies to rescue my fall. Ever notice how fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?
OK, I'm a glutton for punishment, hence I go again tomorrow. Working the tide, Paul has decided on meeting at 8. Blessed relief from 5. We'll fish somewhere in the Mobjack and hope for a change in fortune.
Why oh why do I torture myself so? Another day, another swing and a miss. Paul got two or three bites but managed only a foul hooked bunker. A good one, but. I managed a foul hooked spot, smallest I've ever seen, a crab and the biggest croaker I've seen in 3 years, but still, just a normal keeper if we were having a fish fry. That's it. Our baits varied from Gulp Jerk Shad and swimming mullet, three colors of Super Flukes and a paddle tail. It's a bad year.
You gotta go south by ten miles.
I've caught exactly ONE saltwater fish this year.
Heading down to Edisto to visit a friend from VT this weekend. Mainly sitting on the beach reminiscing, but will throw a line or two in the water. Anyone got any tips for the surf there this time of year?
I've been hitting the rivers for smallmouth mainly this summer. Has been a fun learning experience and enjoyable areas to fish. Both fish were lucky catches. The musky hitting a whopper plopper and not cutting my 20 lb leader. The smallie rocked me in a set of riffles and I had to jump out of my kayak to pull it out.
That's a nice baby musky.
Nice - bonus musky are always nice, especially topwater. What river are you fishing?
Yea I thought it was a mega smallie at first. The musky was on the New. Fish the James and Rapp as well being in RVA.
That's Friggin Sweet!
Mrs Dave coming back in the house after her walk..."August is over-performing"
Well, again, the hits keep coming. Following the lead of flyguy, I have experienced trailer trauma this morning. I am having the driveway done, gravel etc., and went to move my boat and truck for the work. Halfway out of my driveway, my left wheel broke off from the trailer and landed hard. Thank the fishing spririts that I wasn't on the road, it would have been pretty bad at driving speed. Not sure if I can fix this decrepit trailer, but aren't willing to go too crazy for a 20 year old rig. Oh well, I'm not enjoying this season one damned bit.
Hearing some of these stories are reminding me of a couple things. A) I am very glad my boat is parked on a lift at Claytor Lake right now. B) I really need to finish the trailer rebuild project I started on four years ago.
I've had a lot of problems over the years, but luckily only one came close to causing a tragedy. No consolation, though. Unfortunately, when I bought my boat, 13 years ago, the trailer was probably older than the boat and wasn't all that solid even then. Now, at 20 years on the boat, I am paying the piper. Lucky, though, so far. A busted spring 300' from my house, the other spring breaking in the driveway as I fixed the broken one, and now this. Lucky again, though because the driveway guy has various machines that will help me move it for their work and then move it back for my misery to come. Boat lifts and waterfront aren't in my range, but this ain't gonna be cheap either. Time to sell the boat and go when I can mooch a ride? At 75, it's at least worth a thought.
It isn't my lift or property at the lake but a friends who didn't actually have a boat when he bought the property in 2020. He gets permission to use my boat and I have a free storage spot. It works out for both of us.
Always welcome to join me on Claytor.
Perfect setup, sounds to me. Never know, I might get back to my Claytor days. I do love walleye fishing in the winter/spring. Thanks for the invite.
Now I have a new dilema. A one legged trailer with a rusted out axle sitting on a cinder block. With a boat on it. Do I replace the axle, spending good money on a bad investment but allowing me to get back in the water. Or at least out of the driveway. The other wheel is in the same condition. I have a couple of thoughts. My neighbor is replacing his trailer with a new one soon and has offered to sell his to me. No showcase, but way younger than mine and in much better shape. Then comes the problem of getting my boat onto that trailer. I want to explore a couple of options, but am always open for a good idea. Construction company forklift and straps would make short work of the transfer, but then I'm left with a one wheeled trailer to dispose of somehow. I will also explore the possibility of welding some sort of patch-up to hopefully make it the two miles to the boat ramp to do the switch there and drop off my trailer at the Mathews Maritime Museum for parts and pieces. The wheel spins freely on the bit of axle left on it, and the bearings are in good shape. Either solution will cost me money, so I'm getting ready for some phone calls. I have a month before Paul's trailer will be available, if I were to buy it, so I have plenty of time to figure it out.
Anyone else ever have to deal with transferring a boat from one trailer to another?
The hardest part is going to be disposing of the old trailer its pretty easy to get a boat off an on with the tongue jack a floor jack and a series of blocks (you'll need a dolly or something to affix to the broken wheel side). From there maybe consider calling a scrapper or posting it for free on Facebook. I would imagine that's the most cost efficient way to so this
Yeah thanks. I agree that the hardest part will be dealing with the trailer. It will take equipment to haul it away with the wheel gone. Also don't want to junk up a small driveway with the defunct trailer. As for the transfer, I'll not do it myself, don't have the stuff, nor the desire to tackle it without more capable help. I do think it's going to cost me something, just trying to not throw money in the woodstove for the BTUs.
If you have construction equipment nearby with straps that can lift it, that is probably the easiest way and safer than trying to hobble two miles to the launch point. Just remember to strap the front strap and the back strap together so they can't slide apart when lifting.
As for getting rid of the old one, list it on craigslist, facebook marketplace, or haul it to curb with your license plate removed and a free sign. Someone will take it.
The old one isn't going anywhere at all, much less down the just done driveway and the paved private lane to the "curb" plowing a furrow the whole way. If I can get it mobile, I can donate it (ha) to the local maritime museum. If they'll take it. Otherwise, if it comes to it, I will have it hauled away for scrap. Just in the infancy of the problem, but may very well boil down to your suggestions.
Facebook won't have me, never have been on it, but for some reason, I may be the only person in the world that they won't let join. Just wanted to check the local marketplace when I needed a truck a couple of years ago. No explanation why, no way of recourse, just suspended me (never tried to join before, so from what?) for 90 days. OK.
I've got a spare axle I'd be willing to part with for cheap.
Thanks, but I'd be afraid it'd break on the drive home. Really don't know what I'm going to do, but decided to take the rest of the day off and pop a brew.
LOL, it probably would. It's at my house in Richmond. If you're interested, it's there!
Will you throw in the hewes if asking price is met for the axle??
He should. He'd probably end up coming out ahead over the next year or so. He's also too busy in the jewelry biz now to actually go fishin', right?
You ain't kidding. Least amount of fishing I've done in years!
LOL. I'll consider it!
My mechanic nixed any sort of patchwork for the 2 mile run to the launch. Still exploring the options. Rolloff to the mechanic's house where he has a lift, blocks and jacks for a transfer in the driveway, or hiring a construction dude to do the switch. Either way, my mechanic has a guy who'll come get the old one for scrap, one wheel and all.
Was able to set up to buy my neighbor's trailer when he gets his new one in. No beauty prize winner, but several years younger than mine and should last for a few years without problems. He'd replaced the axle last winter, and being where we are, rust happens, period. Good deal for 5 hundred bucks. Now to get the boat moved.
Hey, I actually got to go fishing. I had planned to fish the front edge of the storm in the OBX for drum, but with the evacuation notices, I had to pivot last second. I went to Gloucester Point Pier based on rumors of a close in channel and large reds running the channel. Well, the downside was absurd amounts of current that wouldn't hold with 12 ounce pyramids in hours 3-5 of the incoming tide. While there, I did manage two spot, three croakers, a small pompano, a puffer, and a stingray on the drum rod that ate a croaker head.
I still sit here with my boat on a one legged trailer not worth fixing while I wait for the used trailer I'm buying to become available. I've often wondered about the pier there at Gloucester Point as I've driven by, but never stopped to check it out. Fishing is still near non-existent around here except for little croaker and some spot around where they usually are, and I've been told Spanish Mackerel are showing up well out in the bigger water. A fun fish to catch, but not the way they do it around here, with planers and heavy tackle and super long leaders to frustrate their aversion to tackle. So you end up trolling, catching 3lb fish on broomsticks. You only know you're bit when the planer trips and the fish is dragged to the surface. No fight or anything and you drag them in while keeping up the fast troll to keep the other lines straight. Whooooopeeeee, huh? Our local tourney folks have given up on stripers completely and now are sponsoring a mackerel tournament.
Luckily I got a good deal on Hokie Paul's trailer as he upgrades. Unluckily, the fishing is so bad I don't mind waiting a bit.
I love catching spanish throwing plugs at them, but the trolling is about as exciting as going to the grocery store.
Yep, and finding them within casting distance is hard to do, but I used to love it when they'd crash the pier and I could get them on those lipstick gotcha plugs. Out here in the Bay, they're usually mixed with bluefish, as you and I encountered that day on the oyster reef at the mouth of the Piankatank. Also, they usually don't show up on top so casting to them is hard to impossible. We do occasionally get one when dock fishing which is fun on the light tackle we employ, but it's one or two a year, if that.