Wind forecast wrong, but fish cooperated!

[ronaultmtd]

Big Mike and I launched Sunday at 10:30 am...Rugbyfish (Joe) was recovering as we were getting ready to launch. He had success with Speckled Trout...Four big keepers. As we launched the wind picked up, figured it was just a fluke and Windfinder says other wise, so we continued on...the chop turned into white caps and it got "sporting"...dropped a 5 inch ZMan "opening night" Swimbait on a 3/8 oz deathgrip jighead back and trolled my way towards our destination about a mile away...crossing the channel was wet and sloppy headed to a 3 fow flats looking to get into calmer water...slightly less height on the swells and white caps in the shallower water but it was still pretty nasty...rod goes down and drag screams...first thought was the heavier jig had hung bottom but the pulsation on the rod said fish. After a good ten minute fight with strong runs, I pull a very thick 25(+) inch striper into the cockpit, quick measure, picture and back into the water it goes...first fish of the day...we continue on towards our target location, I reel in two more smaller stripers along the journey. We fish in sloppy conditions for three more hours, catching fish, but...I downsized the swimbaits to Trout Tricks on 1/8 oz deathgrip jig heads and start scoring big speckled trout and big White Perch. Big Mike was catching perch and specks, too..at high tide the white caps finally dropped although the swells continued as did the brisk breeze. We decided it was time to return back to the launch around 1:45 pm...stopped at one of our favorite spots only to find a boat load of bottom fishermen anchored on it...I pulled a 21 1/2 striper off the spot casting fairly close to them...decided it was time to recover and go home...it was a good day catching on a wet, sloppy, windy day...I had six Speckled Trout that were better than the legal minimum 14 inches- 18 inch fat speck was the best...four 20(+) stripers caught and released up to the first 25(+) fish...and several big white perch that ate lures meant for speckled trout and stripers. I was reminded why I don't like fishing on weekends, but with dropping temperatures the number of opportunities is quickly closing down the season...