It was the worst of days and the best of days

[Big Mike]

Hit Piney point this morning (8/26) with modest hopes after a slow day at Smith Creek yesterday. The day started off dreadful. One dink rock in about an hour of fishing. I decided to head off to the gas docks to see if fish were hanging out in the deep water at the end of the dock. On the way I spotted some birds working and picked up a small bluefish, but there wasn't any consistency to where the fish might be. Made it to the gas docks and I marked nothing, nada, zilch around it. I decided to head back, took a couple of scenery pictures because I figured that was going to be the day. A boat pulled up next to a crab boat and his motor wouldn't start after talking with the crabber. I kind of silently chuckled, even though I wish no problems to anyone on the water. About a quarter mile out from the bridge I saw what looked to be some thrashing in the water. As I got closer it was a cappuccino machine gone wild of rockfish busting bait. It was game on for the next 90 minutes as I pulled in more 14-18" rocks than I could count. There were needlefish in the mix and I couldn't tell if they were after bait or were bait as they were jumping in the middle of the chaos. In another power boat story I saw a crab boat headed towards the bridge. I always watch for them because they blast through there at full speed. This one went to to the right of the channel marker for some reason and I saw and heard him rip his prop off the boat - weird that a guy who goes through that spot everyday made such a rookie mistake. That was only a minor distraction as soon the water was churning again. About an hour into this I saw the broken boat from earlier coming back in with his jump start boat. They saw me with a a fish on and immediately pulled up and camped out 30 feet from me. For some reason they only had bottom fishing gear, so while I caught 10 or more fish while they sat there they didn't catch a thing. I have a feeling they will be back. I actually left fish to come home while still waiting for the elusive 20" fish. I curse the DNR man who raised it from 18".
001.jpg002.jpg003.jpg005.jpg

[EMSer]

You may no have found a keeper, but it sound like you had a blast! Keep the lines wet and they will find you. Thanks for the report.