First striper of the year!

[CHOC]

It was a nice day in Deale, MD with the temps getting into the low 60s so I decided to go for a paddle about an hour after high tide. I figured if I'm going to paddle I may as well throw a few lines in and troll. The skunk was out for the first mile and a half. Still, the wind was light, tide was still moving relatively well, and the waves were non existent. As I was approaching the fish net off the pier at Franklin Manor (about 200 ft from it in about 12' of water) I finally caught my first one of the year. A 17" schoolie looking striper that I got back swimming in seconds after removing the substitute single hooks on the glass ghost xr10. I stopped and casted 360 degrees around me as I normally would when I catch one trolling as there are usually more there but no dice. Once I got around the net, I saw that it had dilapidated over the winter and no one had been by to repair it yet. However there were lots of posts remaining and I thought a larger fish might be lurking by one of them waiting to ambush. Again no dice. Although it was nice to see the sonar light up a few times. Looks like they were suspended at about 5'.

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Really nice to get out on the water again even if the fishing was slow. Hey, I didn't get skunked and it's only going to get better from now until the Bay boils in mid July.

[reel-em-in]

It was a nice day in Deale, MD with the temps getting into the low 60s so I decided to go for a paddle about an hour after high tide. I figured if I'm going to paddle I may as well throw a few lines in and troll. The skunk was out for the first mile and a half. Still, the wind was light, tide was still moving relatively well, and the waves were non existent. As I was approaching the fish net off the pier at Franklin Manor (about 200 ft from it in about 12' of water) I finally caught my first one of the year. A 17" schoolie looking striper that I got back swimming in seconds after removing the substitute single hooks on the glass ghost xr10. I stopped and casted 360 degrees around me as I normally would when I catch one trolling as there are usually more there but no dice. Once I got around the net, I saw that it had dilapidated over the winter and no one had been by to repair it yet. However there were lots of posts remaining and I thought a larger fish might be lurking by one of them waiting to ambush. Again no dice. Although it was nice to see the sonar light up a few times. Looks like they were suspended at about 5'.

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Really nice to get out on the water again even if the fishing was slow. Hey, I didn't get skunked and it's only going to get better from now until the Bay boils in mid July.

What size/type of hook did you use to substitute the trebles?

[Steve6902]

Also what type of line and pound test did you use??

[CHOC]

20 lb braided with 3 ft of 40 lb mono leader. The hooks were circle hooks that I filed the barb down on. I don't do much winter/pre trophy season fishing so not sure of their exact size. They were laying around in one of my trays. I'd say the shanks were about 3/4" long.

[kevinfry]

Those first trips of spring are so nice

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[yakscientist]

Always a great thing to get that first target fish of the year. Last year, as it was my first year really fishing from a kayak, and def first year trolling from one, I didn't catch a rockfish from my kayak until the July M&G. I'm hoping to get one much more much earlier this year, hopefully this weekend even.

[CHOC]

They're out there. Just be sure to use barbless hooks and catch and release!

[CHOC]

Those first trips of spring are so nice

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Yes they are. However, if you're a paddler like I am, those first trips let you know how out of shape you've gotten over the winter. I'm sore today.