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I've been itching to catch another keeper rockfish in the river before the season's end and boy did this morning pay off.
For the past couple of weeks I haven't had any luck at all, no matter where I went. I've been trolling huge rigs (tandem 2oz+4oz rigs on medium heavy trolling rods) lately because that's what has been working for me, up until my dry spell. I decided to go back to where it all began, this year, and throw my 3/4oz and 1oz rat-l-traps back on my light and medium spinning rods.
Launched out of my normal community beach at around 6:45am into a very thick fog, a light drizzle and no wind at all. The tide had just started to flow out of the river as I dropped my lines.
I trolled for about 25 minutes against the tide before I got my first hook up. I could tell the fish wasn't too big at the first sound of the drag being taken. I get it on the board and it measures out to be 16". I was extatic that I wouldn't be heading home with a big fat skunk.
I throw the lines back in and almost right as I started paddling again, my 1ouncer gets hit and takes drag like a big boy. This guy is fighting the entire way in, as I'm reeling with an ear to ear smile. He measures out to be 23 1/4" but has sores all over him. After the quick pic, I throw him back into the drink.
I trolled for next 30-40 minutes, still against the tide, heading north and started catching little guys one after the other. All ranging from 10"-17".
My day was made and I could go home knowing I did what I came out here to do. So I turn and head for home... trolling of coarse. About half way back to my launch, going with the out going tide, I get another nice hook up on my shallower 3/4oz rat-l-trap. I get him top side and turns out to be another keeper at 21 1/4".
This guy had a few sores on him as well. I didn't want to take a chance on any diseases so after his quick pic, he gets the boot too.
All in all, I got home by 9:00am and had another spectacular outing to look back on before hanging it up for the season.
Til next year my friends. Happy holidays and tight lines!!
For the past couple of weeks I haven't had any luck at all, no matter where I went. I've been trolling huge rigs (tandem 2oz+4oz rigs on medium heavy trolling rods) lately because that's what has been working for me, up until my dry spell. I decided to go back to where it all began, this year, and throw my 3/4oz and 1oz rat-l-traps back on my light and medium spinning rods.
Launched out of my normal community beach at around 6:45am into a very thick fog, a light drizzle and no wind at all. The tide had just started to flow out of the river as I dropped my lines.
I trolled for about 25 minutes against the tide before I got my first hook up. I could tell the fish wasn't too big at the first sound of the drag being taken. I get it on the board and it measures out to be 16". I was extatic that I wouldn't be heading home with a big fat skunk.
I throw the lines back in and almost right as I started paddling again, my 1ouncer gets hit and takes drag like a big boy. This guy is fighting the entire way in, as I'm reeling with an ear to ear smile. He measures out to be 23 1/4" but has sores all over him. After the quick pic, I throw him back into the drink.
I trolled for next 30-40 minutes, still against the tide, heading north and started catching little guys one after the other. All ranging from 10"-17".
My day was made and I could go home knowing I did what I came out here to do. So I turn and head for home... trolling of coarse. About half way back to my launch, going with the out going tide, I get another nice hook up on my shallower 3/4oz rat-l-trap. I get him top side and turns out to be another keeper at 21 1/4".
This guy had a few sores on him as well. I didn't want to take a chance on any diseases so after his quick pic, he gets the boot too.
All in all, I got home by 9:00am and had another spectacular outing to look back on before hanging it up for the season.
Til next year my friends. Happy holidays and tight lines!!
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