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Fishing has been relatively slow lately and didn't have high hopes for today. With that being said I wanted to get my big boy trolling rods ready for the bay and my speed dialed in with much larger parachutes on tandem rigs. 2oz + 4oz solid chartreuse and 3oz + 5oz solid white all with 6"-10" shads hooked on them.
I launch out of my normal area at 6:50am and head straight down river in the channel along with an outgoing tide. I get everything set and speed just right. I get about a mile into my paddle and WHAM! drag is singing! First fish I land is a 24.5" striper on a chartreuse 4oz parachute with 8" shad. I could not believe it! Just when I thought fishing in the river was slowing for good....
I tie this guy off and keep heading for my destination. Every time I get both rods set again another fish takes line. This happened for the next 40-50 minutes and landed 8 keepers and a ton of just unders in the same area as the 24.5". That slows down and I'm left with 2 healthy keepers, 24.5" and a 23". I was so stoked to have had great success in this area but still wanted to make it to my destination (route 50 bridge).
So, here I am lugging around 2 nice sized rockfish (tethered so they can still swim) trolling huge gear headed for the bridge. Although it was a little brisk out this morning, I was drenched in sweat trying to keep my rig at a good trolling speed. I get about a half mile from the bridge and WHAM! my drag sings like I haven't heard in a while, almost ripping my cooler off of my board. I get it top side and measured out to 26.5", which is the largest fish I've caught from the board this year. This one went for the white 5oz with 10" shad.
All in all I paddled 15 miles and landed well over 20 fish, with at least half being keepers and came home with a 24.5" and a 26.5". I'm going to be a sore whiny baby tomorrow but well worth it. And don't be afraid to use bigger baits deep in the channel. The main river is still on fire so, if you can, GET OUT THERE!!
I launch out of my normal area at 6:50am and head straight down river in the channel along with an outgoing tide. I get everything set and speed just right. I get about a mile into my paddle and WHAM! drag is singing! First fish I land is a 24.5" striper on a chartreuse 4oz parachute with 8" shad. I could not believe it! Just when I thought fishing in the river was slowing for good....
I tie this guy off and keep heading for my destination. Every time I get both rods set again another fish takes line. This happened for the next 40-50 minutes and landed 8 keepers and a ton of just unders in the same area as the 24.5". That slows down and I'm left with 2 healthy keepers, 24.5" and a 23". I was so stoked to have had great success in this area but still wanted to make it to my destination (route 50 bridge).
So, here I am lugging around 2 nice sized rockfish (tethered so they can still swim) trolling huge gear headed for the bridge. Although it was a little brisk out this morning, I was drenched in sweat trying to keep my rig at a good trolling speed. I get about a half mile from the bridge and WHAM! my drag sings like I haven't heard in a while, almost ripping my cooler off of my board. I get it top side and measured out to 26.5", which is the largest fish I've caught from the board this year. This one went for the white 5oz with 10" shad.
All in all I paddled 15 miles and landed well over 20 fish, with at least half being keepers and came home with a 24.5" and a 26.5". I'm going to be a sore whiny baby tomorrow but well worth it. And don't be afraid to use bigger baits deep in the channel. The main river is still on fire so, if you can, GET OUT THERE!!
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