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This morning I fished from two different QA County launches. The first one offered a good bite (13 stripers to 23" plus a beat up 19" bluefish in just 80 minutes) in 4' to 5' water depth. The poor blue was full of sores and wounds, and had one damaged eye.
But the wind direction made this location pretty rough. I took several waves over the side of the kayak. I left the fish biting and returned to the launch. For those of us fishing from kayaks, getting accurate wind predictions (both speed and direction) is important. I knew the wind would be marginal at the first spot, but did not think the waves would be as strong as they were.
I loaded up and relaunched at a second nearby spot that was much better sheltered from the wind. Early on, I cast to a submerged rock pile in 5' depth. On my third cast, the line went tight. Initially, I thought I had snagged my 3” white paddletail on the structure. Then the fish began thrashing back in forth in the 18” deep water over the rocks rather than swimming off rapidly. I could tell this was a large fish. The slight golden color had me thinking this was a redfish or maybe a carp. But as I got it close, I saw many spots on the side.
I do not carry a net and was cautious in grabbing the jighead with my right hand and placing my left hand under its belly. I slid the fish into the kayak for several photos. The fish was huge – it measured out at 26” -- by far my new personal best (the old PB was 22.5"). This large trout, plus all the other fish caught today, were released. All fish were caught on 3" or 4" paddletails and light jigheads.
But the wind direction made this location pretty rough. I took several waves over the side of the kayak. I left the fish biting and returned to the launch. For those of us fishing from kayaks, getting accurate wind predictions (both speed and direction) is important. I knew the wind would be marginal at the first spot, but did not think the waves would be as strong as they were.
I loaded up and relaunched at a second nearby spot that was much better sheltered from the wind. Early on, I cast to a submerged rock pile in 5' depth. On my third cast, the line went tight. Initially, I thought I had snagged my 3” white paddletail on the structure. Then the fish began thrashing back in forth in the 18” deep water over the rocks rather than swimming off rapidly. I could tell this was a large fish. The slight golden color had me thinking this was a redfish or maybe a carp. But as I got it close, I saw many spots on the side.
I do not carry a net and was cautious in grabbing the jighead with my right hand and placing my left hand under its belly. I slid the fish into the kayak for several photos. The fish was huge – it measured out at 26” -- by far my new personal best (the old PB was 22.5"). This large trout, plus all the other fish caught today, were released. All fish were caught on 3" or 4" paddletails and light jigheads.
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