Headed down Sat. for a week of fishing with a crew out of Central VA.
Day 1: Had my oldest son (12th B-day) with his friend for a day on the water looking for Mr. AJ. Both of the boys got to feel some love from them catching 30#-40# fish. Got them back to the beach to start a relay by 2 dads, 1 grandmother, 1 grandfather and a mom to make it to school Mon. morning. Thanks for the work of those who helped with the 5 hr. relay.
Day 2: Hit the beach where the blues were still stacked up and put a few in the live well for a the day. 8 of us headed to some water just East of the inlet working mostly blues on king rigs. I decided to do something different and added a grey stretch 25 and a cedar plug daisy chain as the wind made it hard to keep our speed down to work the blues. First fish slams the stretch and we boat our first king. Guys on the other boats are shocked when I tell them what I'm dragging behind the boat. Second fish hits the stretch and while clearing lines I have a hard strike on the cedar chain, doesn't connect but land the king off the stretch. Putting out the spread and notice the dreadful hook gaurd on the plug along with dental records of a king, all on me should have had a 3rd one. Other 2 boats are picking at the bonita with a red and white 25 with no luck on the kings and when we have a big run with a fish taking 200+ yards on a king rigged blue they get antsy and make a move. One boat went north while the other went to look around the tower. Our heavy drag proved to much and our wire breaks just below the haywire twist. The boat N ended up landing the biggest king of the week while the tower was loaded with barracudas. They brought 2 of the toothy critters to the boat before giving up.
Back inshore the 2 with a skiff are at Joe's Marine clearing up a $200 ethanal problem, many thanks for the outstanding same day service.
Day 3: Forecast is chitty and we head out to West Marine pick up a livewell pump for one of the boats, stop to peak over the dunes to see a dead flat lake/ocean with the 25+ west winds. Make pump swap load 2 boats and head for the inlet. Get there at high tide and work some live bait along the beach and radio 3rd boat to get out there. They never get out of the inlet as the birds, bait and blues can't be passed. We all work the channel casting to the fish for 2 hrs giving each of the 10 anglers a chance at 100+ blues if you could keep your plug/jig/spoon in the water. Most guys clipped the back trebles off the gotcha plugs to make for faster releases.
Day 4: 2 Boats head east and one north looking for kings. Left the skiff inshore for more flattie action. We can't find em and the guys N are having luck with a new rig we worked up trolling at 5+ mph landing 1 and loosing a couple. The 2 of us head a little SW and before we get lines in the water we have a nice king hit the stretch and the drag doesn't get backed off in time to prevent the pull off. It jacks up the stretch and we can't keep it tuned straight. Land 2 more kings on the new rig, boat N is heading in with 2 and the radio sounds off "FISH ON". Guys are fighting a beast right next to us so we back off throttles and circle to enjoy the action. ZZZZZ "FISH ON" now we are hooked up with the heaviest fish of the day. About the time ours hits the deck the guys tell on the radio "bonita" and I look around to see the largest bonita I've seen on ours. With all the dissapointment neither boat snaps a pic of the fish.
Day 5: East wind. Hit the sound with the 4 boats for flatties. Bait was scattered but we found enough to feed the blues on a regular schedule along with several 17"-20" flatties. One boat had a school of triggers right behind the boat with no luck connecting. Another boat lost one motor due to a starter problem not solved yet, f150 not getting enough amp to turn over, cog will jam in fly wheel, gatta be a wire somewhere in trouble as it works sometimes, put it on the trailer missing the last day.
Day 6: Down to 1 boat out with 1'-2' seas and SSW wind building in the after noon. We couldn't get a bite so at 2:00 we drop a blue with 12oz to the bottom. Second drift and another fisherman gets to fill the power of an AJ. Seas are crap but the 3 on board want to try for another. I say no way and try to point the nose S to prove my point. We head E to the beach finding protected water 1/4m off the beach N of the Bodie Light before heading south to the inlet. Inshore guys added a few more flatties to finish off the week.
Another incredible week with a great bunch of guys!!!!
Enjoy the pictures.
There's more to it, Scott on the right would hit the school while my brother Chadd would be delayed picking up the scattered school... check out the whole set.
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