Fishing Goals 2013

[kayakjoe]

It would be nice just to get out more. For some reason this thing we all lile to call life keeps kicking me when im down this whole year lol injuries after injuries to my back and knees have kept me out of the game for a while. But I know what I want almost more than anything. And it sounds crazy idk if i ahould even say it I could lose what little credibility I have hahah but a esva tarpon would bring a sure smile to my face. Saw two last year but seeing is only half of believing!

[CB kayak 02]

BEAT SLAPPY ............ not even gonna ask

Kayak wars guy

[CB kayak 02]

1. Figure out how to use a bait caster.
2. Use the bait caster to catch snakeheads and tidal largemouths at Mattawoman and Mallows.
3. Focus on my 3 favorite areas of the Upper Potomac for smallmouth bass.
4. Catch another freshwater striper from Triadelphia Reservoir.

Learning to use a baitcaster was one of my top goals last year and I'm proud to say that I feel comfortable with one now!! It took some time but with a little patience they are great.

[MetroMan]

I want to focus more on fishing than crabbing. My 2012 goal was to crab more...well needless to say I did exactly that. In summers prior to 2012, eating crabs at home was a treat. I went crabbing enough to where it was the norm. This year I'll focus on more fishing.

I have a few off shore locations in my sights to try as well.

[chex]

- 20" tog
- Big blue cat
- Catch first Sheepshead, black drum, bull drum, cobia and snakehead... most importantly: a SPOT.
- More Eastern shore
- Turtle

[moc]

My goals are not very lofty for 2013, but here they are:

- Like Redfish mentioned, help get the CBKA Tournament to reach 100 participants or more.
- Catch a keeper striper trolling
- Fish the CBBT by kayak for the first time
- Catch trout over 18 inches from a kayak
- Continue my streak of catching a fish every month
- Catch my first snakehead for dinner
- Go Crappie Fishing

[Shady]

This year I was going for a high species count and ended up catching 42 different species of fish (not all from the yak, but mostly). I caught several species this year that I've never caught before including a 29" Hybrid Striper, 24" Lake trout, 200 lb Blue Marlin, and 19" Red Drum, and several other smaller new species. I also caught seven kayak personal bests this year of species of fish that I've caught in past years. So, I think I had a pretty good year.

For 2013
-Fish Susky Flats more than once for the spring C&R Season
-Fish Virginia Beach and Kipto more (only made two trips in 2012)
-Fish Patapsco more and learn new spots
-Spend more time targetting LM Bass
-20"+ Tog
-Snakehead
-Sheepshead

[J.A. Veil]

[QUOTE=shadyfisher85;49548]This year I was going for a high species count and ended up catching 42 different species of fish (not all from the yak, but mostly). So, I think I had a pretty good year.
/QUOTE]

I think you had an excellent year with that large number of species and several individual noteworthy fish. Nice going!

[WST120]

With 2012 being my only second full season of kayak fishing and having a great season of "firsts", my 2013 goals are going to be very basic:

- fish more
- catch more
- make it to at least one M&G
- spend more time fishing the Potomac from the Harry Nice Bridge to Pt. Lookout
- do some night fishing

To everyone, have a safe and Happy New Year!!!!

[ComeOnFish]

Going Fishing Tomorrow

[AbuMasgouf]

another goal, and not particularly difficult one except for the pace of mdern life - i want to camp at water's edge, catch a fish, and grill it on an open fire at water's edge.

Totally have to ditto on that one! Martin and I have talked about it a couple of times. Perhaps together we can make it happen this year!

[Memory Maker]

-build at least 8 rods

begin making all the lures I fish with (except gulp)

Sell the lures that I have that were replaced by the 1's I made

Make some lures that no one else has that really catch

Make at least 6 trips to CBBT, Delaware, NY or NJ

Go to the Rodbuilding Expo

Make a floating custom Kayak Rod

Fish at least 2 days each month

Finish the basement

Install a bilge pump, ipad/phone charging station and a pan and tilt camera/light mount on the PA

etc

[J.A. Veil]

I was very pleased with the amount of fishing (kayak and otherwise) I was able to do in 2012. Here is a summary of my year (the same report with many photos can be viewed at http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...ad-fun-fishing).

Many MKF anglers set an annual goal to catch at least one fish each month. I too set that goal for the past few years. In 2010 and 2011, I came up one month shy. This year, I not only met the goal, but reached a new milestone that I never thought I could reach. I was able to catch at least one fish every single week of 2012, including the final abbreviated week of Dec 30-31 (9 pickerel this morning caught in kayak). I did not start out with that goal, but during March, I checked my logs and found that I had caught a fish each week, so I decided to keep it going as long as I could.

It is tough to get a fish every week with out-of-town travel, bad weather, family commitments, illness, etc. I am relieved that the year is over and do not intend to worry about a weekly fish next year. Here are some statistics and highlights for the year.

With the mild winter to start the year and the flexible schedule allowed by my semi-retirement, I was able to fish extensively. I made only two fishing trips out of the MD/VA region – East Galveston Bay, TX in January (flounder) and Ft Myers and Sarasota, FL in April (speckled trout, jack crevalle - both caught in kayak).

All the rest of my fishing trips were made in MD, DC, and VA waters. Within our region I fished freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds), tidewater (many trips in the Severn and in the bay), and occasionally in the ocean (Ocean City, Wachapreague, CBBT).

I fished primarily by myself in my Native Manta Ray 14 kayak and small Scout center console (the Small but Perky) throughout the year. As such, I did not have the advantage of a skilled guide or other top-notch anglers with me on most of my trips to put me on fish (although when I fished with guides or other skilled anglers, it did help). This helps explain the scarcity of enormous rockfish and other trophy-sized fish that I can claim. However, what I lacked in big fish was more than made up for by a large number of total fish and total species. It was an enjoyable year with many good memories.

Here are some of the highlights of the year.

· Caught at least one fish in each week of 2012
· On 50 of the 52 weeks, fish were caught within MD and VA
· Caught 33 species (16 species from kayak)
· Caught 7 new species this year (blue catfish - caught in kayak, channel catfish- caught in kayak, green sunfish, jack crevalle - caught in kayak, redbreast sunfish, spiny butterfly ray, carp -caught in kayak )
· Best month – July (22 species)
· Species caught in most months – pickerel (11), rockfish (10), white perch (10)

Noteworthy catches

o White perch (13.5”) – personal best- caught in kayak
o Jack crevalle – hardest fighting fish of the year - caught in kayak
o Rockfish – largest ever in Severn and largest ever from kayak (25.5”) - caught in kayak
o Pickerel (23.75”) personal best - caught in kayak
o Largemouth bass (17”) personal best - caught in kayak
o Weakfish in South River in July

Firsts

o First time fishing CBBT in winter (two good days with Walleye Pete)
o First time fishing spring rockfish on Susquehanna flats - caught in kayak
o First Maryland redfish - caught in kayak
o First time catching yellow perch at lower Susquehanna and Jug Bay - both caught in kayak
o First time catching hickory shad at Fletchers
o First time fishing at Mattawoman Creek - caught in kayak

Other

o On the first day of 2012, I caught a citation-sized white perch (caught in kayak) that gave me an entry into DNR’s Maryland Fishing Challenge. During the awards ceremony in September at Sandy Point State Park, my name was drawn as a finalist. I won the grand prize – a Tracker boat, motor, and trailer.


Goals for 2013

I really enjoyed the camaraderie and encouragement from MKF members. I kayak fished several times with Moc, aesiegel, cbkayak, and others. In particular Moc provided the nudging I needed to take longer road trips like Mattawoman, Jug Bay, Potomac River, and Susquehanna River that I would not have made before. Thanks guys! I want to continue to explore new places within a two-hour drive from Annapolis. From the descriptions I have seen of Mallows Bay, I would like to visit there in 2013. I may try to get to the mid and lower eastern shore to explore some new-to-me water bodies.

For most of my life, I fished exclusively in estuarine and marine waters. I spent far more time in freshwater bodies this year, and hope to continue that trend. I purchased my first ever Maryland trout stamp this year and hope to catch one or more trout species.

So as this year comes to a close, I am satisfied with my fishing accomplishments for 2012 and look forward to many more fishing memories in 2013.

[sparky1423]

My goal in 2013 is very simplistic...actually getting my kayak in the water for the first time, and doing so without capsizing! I am going to start small and launch out of the bush river and maybe the gunpowder in Harford county. Once I get enough courage, enter more salty waters, perhaps around the Annapolis area. I would also like to enjoy some quality time with a few MKF members. As for a long term goal and not this year in general, is to fish some stripers around the bay bridge....but I am fine with my baby steps for now.

[mytmouse]

My goal is to be able to get out on the water more and try some new spots. And a sidenote: catch a citation anything. Right at the end of Summer I hit the Severn pretty hard before workdays... it's easy for me to get to and be able to go into work. So I am sure that I will be going out there a lot more. I also wanna try to get down to VA to fish a tad more too... I wanna get a sheepshead and maybe a spade.