Severn River 08/19/2012

I met John (SurfDog) at Jonas Green at 5:00am. We headed down to the Navy Base to launch our kayaks. I had no intention on keeping any fish today. We launched at 5:38am. There was a light breeze with fairly calm waters in the Severn. High tide was around 5am and there was an outgoing tide. We headed straight for the rock wall at the mouth of the Severn. I started casting a 1/8 ounce jig head with a while Gulp curly tail grub about 100 feet from the rocky shoreline. Within a few cast, I caught a fat 14 inch rockfish in the dark. I then moved closer to the rock wall and got several nibbles, but nothing would take the bait. I switched over to my modified beetle spin in chartreuse and caught several small perch and an 11 inch rockfish. Fishing was slower than usual in this area. I did manage several more perch of a larger class as the early morning wore on. Finally John and I decided to try to bottom fish closer to where we launched in 20 to 30 feet of water using peeler crabs as bait on a top and bottom rig. I specifically looked for slopes on my depth finder and dropped my line when I saw some fish. I bounced my line on the bottom as if I were jigging. Once I started this patter I hooked something the was heavy and not a perch!. When I got it to the boat, it turned out to be a 21.25 inch rockfish. This was my first keeper rockfish for the year. I then proceeded to get another hit on the slope and it was double rockfish! One rockfish was 19 inches and the other one was 17.75 inches and was released. Catching two keeper size rockfish was a surprised. I then got double perch of the 11 inch variety. I then got a small spot and more baby croakers. Since I had no stringer and no cooler to take the rockfish home with, I had to improvise. I used my Home Depot utility bucket as a make shift cooler. When we got back to shore at 10am, I emptied my bucket of all of my tackle gear and placed the fish in there with some ice that I got from the gas station on my way home. Now it is time to get home so I can fillet the fish.

[J.A. Veil]

That was a good surprise while bottom fishing.

You and Surfdog are early morning road warriors. I used to get up extra early for work every day -- now I don't like getting up early any more -- even for fishing.

[ictalurus]

Wow, Martin. You've been on a fishing tear this weekend. Congrats on the keeper stripers. I haven't gotten one yet this year.

[Redfish12]

I stand by my opinion that if you bring a cooler, especially one with ice in it, you will not catch any fish that you are after. Forget the cooler? Forget the stringer? Better believe you catch something that you have to struggle to find a way to invite it to dinner!

Nice trip Martin!

[surfdog]

+1^ whats the old saying teach a man to use a peeler and he'll hog all the fish!! ;0

[moc]

+1^ whats the old saying teach a man to use a peeler and he'll hog all the fish!! ;0

Ha ha... Surf is right, he taught me the correct way to cut up a peeler.....it worked.

[Striper_MIKE]

Nice report Martin! Let me know if you plan on doing a similar trip anytime soon. I was actually around there yesterday morning for a few hours catching a mess of perch. Wouldn't mind learning how to fish peeler crabs for Stripers.

[kayak456]

its the same with a cast net. when you get the cast net out all the bait goes away but when its stowed away all the bait comes back.!