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I've been light on reports for quite some time and with a small break in my family schedule, I've finally been out a few times over the past week. This week long recap takes place in both the Tangier and Pocomoke Sounds around the Crisfield/Saxis areas.
My break in the schedule started off last Friday before the CCA RedTrout tournament in Crisfield, MD. Its a super fun, 2-day tournament with a good sized kayak division. The eligible species are Specks, Redfish, Rockfish, Flounder, Weakfish, and Bluefish. The winner is the angler who can catch the largest stringer containing the most species. It really tests your skills. Although there is a separate kayak division, I think most kayakers take pride in beating the power boats (or at least trying to) each year. The nature of the target species lends itself well to shallow waters, which is where kayakers excel. As added motivation, the tournament committee restricted the kayak launch sites this year preventing us from accessing CBBT redfish, so we really wanted to show them that we could compete with them anywhere.
Friday was an exploratory trip for Hemmingway and I launched from a public launch in the Pocomoke Sound and proceeded to throw the usual paddle tails (Z-man, Bass Assassins, GULP!) at the marsh banks. It resulted in literally dozens of small specks. Most were 12" with the occasional 13.99999999 mixed in. They were plentiful and beautiful. If you've never caught a speckled trout before, now is the time to head south. In addition, we also caught rock fish up to 22".
Saturday was the first day of the tournament and even though the day before wasn't anything to get overly excited about, we returned to the same area. We fished the same creeks catching the same short specks and 20'ish inch rockfish for most of the morning. About mid morning, I managed a surprising large knockdown and landed a nice shallow water bluefish. He was 24" on the button and with most others going 13-16", I knew this was an important fish in the grand scheme of things.
As we worked our way out to bigger water, I get the call from Hemmingway that we'd been hoping for. He ran into the elusive bull red. It was towing him around on his trout rod. I arrived just in time to assist with a measurement and snap a picture of one happy fisherman. Truly awesome catch!!!
At this point, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling the heat. Gary had a rock, blue, and a massive red. I was waaaaay behind. As he headed back to the ramp, I followed the high tide up onto a flat. As I passed a point, my drum prayers were answered when my rod was absolutely crushed. The next 15 minutes were consumed by madness, as I too caught a near identical 47.5" bull red on a very light speck rod, 2500 reel, and 20 lb leader.
At this point it was time to head to the weigh in for that day just in case there were any difficulties with my photo submission via the iAngler App. Luckily everything went smoothly for both Gary and I. After Day 1, we he and I were sitting in 1st and 2nd place overall. My 24" bluefish turned out to be key, as it propelled me into 1st over Gary
His bull was 1/16" bigger through, and he ultimately won the money Calcutta, so don't feel too bad for him.
Sunday of the CCA RedTrout tournament is a shorter day, with lines out by 1:00PM. We elected to stay in the Tangier Sound and did very well with short specks and rock fish. It was a very nerve racking day from my standpoint because all Gary needed to do was catch one 14" speck and he would have had more species than me; which would have secured his position a top the leader board. I would not have minded at all because anyone catching 4 species deserved to win; however, the speck gods would only give up a 13.75" speck to him.
At the end of the tournament, the kayakers absolutely smoked the power boats and took places 1st through 3rd. Great showing for our sport and it felt even better considering the rule changes they had imposed. The boats fished hard and also caught some quality fish. Great group of guys.
After a week of playing catch up at work, I was itching to go back. Luckily, I got the pleasure to take a charter through Rommel's Hearth and Outdoors guided trips. I guide only a few trips a year and on this one I was lucky enough to be the guide for Mark and his son Isaac. We went back to the Pocomoke Sound with the goal of getting Isaac a bull red and a nice speck. After a morning full of topwater action on mid 20" rock fish and sub legal specks, we made our way to the red drum haunt only to find competition from a boat. He made things tough on us and we never had a sniff. As the tide turned, the speck bite heated up. We got into a nice grass bed with some great specks. Needless to day, Isaac's days was made! We caught specks up to 21".
I even lucked into an unfortunate turtle and a baby cobia (my 1st from a kayak).
On the way back in we made one more run at a bull red. Isaac had a huge blow up from a big bull that didn't come tight. He got to feel the weight, which left him wanting more! Hopefully they call the shop and book their next trip soon because it was a pleasure having them. Here are a few more pics from that day.
If anyone if considering a trip around the Crisfield area, now is the time! Fishing is hot.
My break in the schedule started off last Friday before the CCA RedTrout tournament in Crisfield, MD. Its a super fun, 2-day tournament with a good sized kayak division. The eligible species are Specks, Redfish, Rockfish, Flounder, Weakfish, and Bluefish. The winner is the angler who can catch the largest stringer containing the most species. It really tests your skills. Although there is a separate kayak division, I think most kayakers take pride in beating the power boats (or at least trying to) each year. The nature of the target species lends itself well to shallow waters, which is where kayakers excel. As added motivation, the tournament committee restricted the kayak launch sites this year preventing us from accessing CBBT redfish, so we really wanted to show them that we could compete with them anywhere.
Friday was an exploratory trip for Hemmingway and I launched from a public launch in the Pocomoke Sound and proceeded to throw the usual paddle tails (Z-man, Bass Assassins, GULP!) at the marsh banks. It resulted in literally dozens of small specks. Most were 12" with the occasional 13.99999999 mixed in. They were plentiful and beautiful. If you've never caught a speckled trout before, now is the time to head south. In addition, we also caught rock fish up to 22".
Saturday was the first day of the tournament and even though the day before wasn't anything to get overly excited about, we returned to the same area. We fished the same creeks catching the same short specks and 20'ish inch rockfish for most of the morning. About mid morning, I managed a surprising large knockdown and landed a nice shallow water bluefish. He was 24" on the button and with most others going 13-16", I knew this was an important fish in the grand scheme of things.
As we worked our way out to bigger water, I get the call from Hemmingway that we'd been hoping for. He ran into the elusive bull red. It was towing him around on his trout rod. I arrived just in time to assist with a measurement and snap a picture of one happy fisherman. Truly awesome catch!!!
At this point, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling the heat. Gary had a rock, blue, and a massive red. I was waaaaay behind. As he headed back to the ramp, I followed the high tide up onto a flat. As I passed a point, my drum prayers were answered when my rod was absolutely crushed. The next 15 minutes were consumed by madness, as I too caught a near identical 47.5" bull red on a very light speck rod, 2500 reel, and 20 lb leader.
At this point it was time to head to the weigh in for that day just in case there were any difficulties with my photo submission via the iAngler App. Luckily everything went smoothly for both Gary and I. After Day 1, we he and I were sitting in 1st and 2nd place overall. My 24" bluefish turned out to be key, as it propelled me into 1st over Gary
His bull was 1/16" bigger through, and he ultimately won the money Calcutta, so don't feel too bad for him. Sunday of the CCA RedTrout tournament is a shorter day, with lines out by 1:00PM. We elected to stay in the Tangier Sound and did very well with short specks and rock fish. It was a very nerve racking day from my standpoint because all Gary needed to do was catch one 14" speck and he would have had more species than me; which would have secured his position a top the leader board. I would not have minded at all because anyone catching 4 species deserved to win; however, the speck gods would only give up a 13.75" speck to him.
At the end of the tournament, the kayakers absolutely smoked the power boats and took places 1st through 3rd. Great showing for our sport and it felt even better considering the rule changes they had imposed. The boats fished hard and also caught some quality fish. Great group of guys.
After a week of playing catch up at work, I was itching to go back. Luckily, I got the pleasure to take a charter through Rommel's Hearth and Outdoors guided trips. I guide only a few trips a year and on this one I was lucky enough to be the guide for Mark and his son Isaac. We went back to the Pocomoke Sound with the goal of getting Isaac a bull red and a nice speck. After a morning full of topwater action on mid 20" rock fish and sub legal specks, we made our way to the red drum haunt only to find competition from a boat. He made things tough on us and we never had a sniff. As the tide turned, the speck bite heated up. We got into a nice grass bed with some great specks. Needless to day, Isaac's days was made! We caught specks up to 21".
I even lucked into an unfortunate turtle and a baby cobia (my 1st from a kayak).
On the way back in we made one more run at a bull red. Isaac had a huge blow up from a big bull that didn't come tight. He got to feel the weight, which left him wanting more! Hopefully they call the shop and book their next trip soon because it was a pleasure having them. Here are a few more pics from that day.
If anyone if considering a trip around the Crisfield area, now is the time! Fishing is hot.
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