Big Blues and a Grey Trout

Work and family life have been pretty hectic lately so my apologies for the late report.  Last month, I ventured to Rudee inlet a few times with hopes of crossing off a certain specie on the citation bucket list.  After coming up a half an inch short last year, I was pretty adamant about getting one this season.  Unfortunately, as implied earlier, work and family life come first and I didn't get as many chances as I would have liked.  I caught dozens in the upper 20s to lower 30 inches but couldn't get the three footer I wanted.  


I did however hook into my new personal best grey trout while using live bait for the blues.  I knew they were in there, but I was still surprised when I saw it.  I set the hook on it very close to the boat and it came to the surface and thrashed like crazy.  A near by boater said it sounded like I fell in!   As soon as the splashing stopped I saw what it was and immediately grabbed the leader and landed it very green.  It slide under the Predator seat and thrashed again for several seconds.  

27" Grey Trout

There's a chance I might run into the big blues in the lower bay later, 

but for now, 

it's time to move on to other species.

(when time allows)

Slingin' Big Flies

Just on the other side of a small shoal, I saw them.  3 big tails with big dots waved as they slowly cruised away from me.  I was sure there were many others just out of sight.  I scrambled to get into position and as I started slinging the fly rod, excitement got the better of me and my line clumped up.  The half and half (clouser/deceiver) fell short.  Richie who was right behind me bombed his swimbait far past and nearly had his rod ripped out of his hand immediately.  My second and third casts didn't find their intended receivers and before I knew it, the school was gone.  

47.5" Red Drum for Richie Bekolay

Joe Underwood, who a little farther away called over the radio announcing that he was also on the board with a 47.5" red drum.  

Knowing it was going to continue to be a challenge and a struggle with the fly rod, I had to make a decision.  I brought my heavy spinning gear just in case I wanted to switch from my 10wt, but I really wanted to catch a big fish on the fly.  Fly casting on the kayak can be insanely frustrating.  I didn't bring my Predator, which is easier to stand in, but the wind pushes it a lot (since it has high side walls) and paddling long distances is difficult in that boat.  The Trident paddles much better, but standing is a little tougher in open water.  I can fly cast on my knees in the Trident, but it's still tough.  Add wind, being so low to the water, flyline management in tight quarters, people in your back cast, the anxiety of trying to catch up to moving fish, knowing that you have a regular rod right behind you that would make it so much easier to hook up…

It's a recipe for absolute utter frustration.  

But I stayed with it.

Richie and Joe had a phenomenal day.  Their tally kept getting bigger and while I was happy for them, my fly just kept missing the mark.  It wasn't until we paddled up to a huge black mass near a shoreline that I finally strip set the hook into a worthy fish.  It was a super tight school of big stripers and Joe and Richie both hooked up immediately.  My fish pulled me into the school and it was utter chaos.  Fish were just shooting off in every direction and my fly reel was screaming.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, I was using 8 lb. tippet for a chance at an IGFA line class fly record for Red Drum.  So that was the first time I got to see the backing of my fly line.  Insert huge grin here.

40" Striper on fly/kayak

It went on to become one of the more memorable days I've ever had on the water.  Richie and Joe went on to catch several big reds, most of which were citations, and also trophy stripers as well.  When I found out that their stripers were citation, I gave in and switched to the heavy spinning outfit.  I landed one more striper at 41" then switched back to the fly when we found the reds again.  Luck didn't favor me the rest of the day, but I still wasn't complaining in the slightest.  

It was a choice I made 

and now I can honestly say that I understand the challenge that is

slingin' big flies for big fish on the kayak.

Here's a video of the fight (added 6/25/14)

Follow Your Nose

Kevin and I car pooled over the CBBT and found Jeff Lockhart getting ready to launch at our favorite spring locale.  We scoured the flats that morning knowing that Richie Bekolay and Joe Underwood had luck there the day before.  Click their names for the reports. 

It wasn't too long before I got a whiff of something that shouldn't bring a smile to my face, but it did.  It's not exactly a pleasant odor and it's not easy to describe.  Imagine a big school of 30-50lb reds chowing down then collectively taking a huge dump.  It's a strange dead fishy kind of smell, sometimes rotten crab depending on their diet.  If it's not their poop, it might just be their slime.  I'm not exactly sure but either way it's a most delightful aroma when you're on the hunt. 

The smell got stronger the closer I paddled to a certain slick I spotted.  My side imaging unit had a few blips to my right and in my excitement, my first cast backlashed and fell short.  I quickly undid the birds nest and casted in front of me, where I thought more fish would be.  My 5" Berkley swimbait hit the dirty water and within three cranks it was inhaled.  As it pulled me into forward, I then realized how big the school was.  Big reds were all around me and my Humminbird screen was completely filled.  The fight brought a giddy smile to my face as the powerful beast spun me around and took me on a ride.  

The 47" release citation Red Drum got camera shy and took off before Kevin or Jeff could get a decent photo. 

Not too long after that, our noses were graced by that certain smell again.  We saw the slick and as Kev got closer, he hooked up on the troll. 

45"er for Kev

Shortly after that, the dreaded four letter word picked up and blew us back to the launch. 

Fishing with Kevin is always a blast, 

but especially on a successful first trip out for the big reds.  

I'm sure we'll have more fun stories to share in the near future.

Tip: Ceramic Scissors

Over the years, I've gone through a fair number of clippers, nippers, snips, scissors, etc.  They all rust, corrode, or get dull far too quickly.  Being in a kayak and getting wet constantly expedites the process, too.  But I found something worth sharing with you all.

These ceramic fishing scissors are badass.  No, I'm not sponsored by them.

The metal piece in the middle is brass so the whole thing is corrosion/rust proof.  The angle of the blades cut braid with amazing ease but doesn't cut you.  Plus they don't need resharpening. They work well on mono/flouro, too.

They normally go for around $25, but I found a pair on ebay for around $15 with free shipping.  TackleWarehouse also has them for $14.99 plus shipping. They're a little pricier than your normal braid scissors, but I'm super happy with them and confident that this product will not need replacing (unless I lose it).

Check out how they cut braid effortlessly...

Internet Tools

For all my fishing buddies in the local VA area, I've added a collection of links that can help with planning your trips. It's based off of Kayak Kevin's list but I've added a few things I like. Hope it's helpful.

 Bookmark it!

That Certain Something

I just couldn't stay away.  It was going to be a fuster cluck and everyone in Rudee knew it.  With success stories inundating all the social media avenues and forums, the inlet was going to be googan central.  Yet still, I couldn't resist the promise of that certain something I've been craving.

Rods whipping to the left of me
Delightful spinning reel squeals to the right

Infectious grins all around 

 

Long bombing the quarter ounce 

procure smeared gudgeon imposter

on my seven two medium

fast action

With a slow bounce

Imitate.

Instigate.

  

 The predator's pounce sends an electric pulse

firing off the ten pound test braided neuron

When it reaches the high modulus extension of my nervous system

  

Ping.

Clean.

Unmistakable.

Short turn of the reel couples with an urgent swing

 Moment of truth 

Heavy weight

Back arched and tip bouncing

Head shakes

Map the brains of us all at that moment

Googan or not

It's a beautiful thing.

Add stubborn fights with peeling line

and that is why we love it.

Photo Credit:  William Ragulsky

Jeff Lockhart

Photo Credit:  William Ragulsky

Tagging Recapture Info

I've been tagging a couple of years now, won a few awards, and decided to check up on some recapture info.  It's really fascinating what we can learn so I thought I'd share.

First up is a double tag.  Doug Purcell put a tag in a 12" red drum in the Ware River, which is way up in the Mobjack bay area.  Then I caught it 15 days later at Lynnhaven, which is a considerable ways south.  It grew 1.25" in that short period of time.  Fun fact: I caught that same fish again later in the day.

I've had several spadefish recaptures over the last two years.  A few of them were caught by my fishing buddies (Jay Brooks, Matt Anderson and a few others probably) and they were usually in the same area I caught them earlier.  I've also recaptured my own tagged spadefish a few times. 

I've also caught my own tagged tautog as well.  They also are usually in the same area if not the exact same piling.

Black Sea Bass are also on the tagging list and I've had 3 recaptures.  Two of them were only a few days after I tagged them so not much info was gained.  The 3rd was caught by my friend Jay Brooks.  It was recaptured 118 days after I tagged it, in the same general area (CBBT 1st island) and it grew from 9.5" to 11.5".  

Jay also recaptured one of my tagged triggerfish as well.  Again it was in the same area (CBBT 1st island).  It grew from 12" to 12.25" in 19 days.  Cool fact: I wrote a note saying that my hook went through the eye and it as badly damaged.  Apparently it was still ok, found plently of food and kept growing without any problems.

Here's another red drum recapture.

It traveled a good ways north in 30 days and grew an inch and a half.

Flounder recapture.

I tagged it under Lesner.  6 days later it was caught in the same area with .5" more.  Then 21 days later, it was caught again in the same area.

Another flounder recapture.

This one was eatin' good!  Staying in the HRBT/Willoughby area, it grew 3" in 45 days!

On the other hand...

This flounder was tagged and caught within a mile's distance away after 61 days and it didn't grow at all.

One more flounder.

This one also didn't go too far and after 88 days it only grew half an inch.  

I did puncture it's eye though.

I've had several speckled trout recaptures, mostly caught and recaptured in the Elizabeth River, Hot Ditch area.  One however stood out.

This one was tagged in late September up in Poquoson and by mid December was caught in the Hot Ditch area.

Again, I just thought I'd share some fun stuff.  

Hope you got your learn on.