I had a free afternoon/evening and decided to launch from Little Creek Landing. Got on the water about 2:45 pm, the wind was blowing around 10, with some gusts a little stronger, but manageable. Tide was already falling, headed to slack low about 5:45 or so. Not ideal conditions, but I was going fishing anyway, so I just stuck with it.
I trolled a Opening Night paddle tail and a lipless crank bait around the two channel markers for a while and didn't get a bump on either, so I decided to hit the bulkheads for perch, and that was the right thing to do. First fish was a feisty 11 incher, with a few more to follow between 9 and 11. Caught a baby striper in the mix as well...the color and lines on those little fish always amaze me.
Sun was getting low, so I thought I might get lucky on topwater. I caught one on the first cast with the poppa mullet I bough from John Veil last year - this was my first experiment with swapping out treble hooks with single in-line hooks, and it was successful. It was not an aggressive blowup, but more of a sip. I hooked it on the front hook, and after a short fight, it released itself right at the boat as I was about to grab it. My hand was on the leader, so it counts! I estimated it to be around 15". After that, no more luck on topwater.
As the sun was setting, I tried something I haven't done before - trolling spinnerbaits for perch as I headed back to the dock. Caught another half dozed or so, one at 11 inches again. Of course, as the tide was at dead low, the wind stopped and the water was like glass. Tried topwater for another 20 minutes, but nothing was going on.
I trolled a Opening Night paddle tail and a lipless crank bait around the two channel markers for a while and didn't get a bump on either, so I decided to hit the bulkheads for perch, and that was the right thing to do. First fish was a feisty 11 incher, with a few more to follow between 9 and 11. Caught a baby striper in the mix as well...the color and lines on those little fish always amaze me.
Sun was getting low, so I thought I might get lucky on topwater. I caught one on the first cast with the poppa mullet I bough from John Veil last year - this was my first experiment with swapping out treble hooks with single in-line hooks, and it was successful. It was not an aggressive blowup, but more of a sip. I hooked it on the front hook, and after a short fight, it released itself right at the boat as I was about to grab it. My hand was on the leader, so it counts! I estimated it to be around 15". After that, no more luck on topwater.
As the sun was setting, I tried something I haven't done before - trolling spinnerbaits for perch as I headed back to the dock. Caught another half dozed or so, one at 11 inches again. Of course, as the tide was at dead low, the wind stopped and the water was like glass. Tried topwater for another 20 minutes, but nothing was going on.
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