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I just got back from fishing. It was a ruff ride today. However, it was worth it. I caught 11 rockfish, with the largest being 24 inches. The wind was blowing directly from the bay into the mouth of the South River. Any South or Southeast wind generally blows right into the mouth of the river. Some of the waves were at least three feet. However, I thought I would give it a try. I went to the southern shore trying to get some shelter, with no luck. I then decided to try to make it to my normal fishing area, in spite of the rough conditions. On the way there, about in the middle of the river I caught one fish, on a deep diver.
I continued on out towards the #4 marker. I caught another fish on the way there. Shortly after I saw some birds working, at a point where the the water goes from about 15' of water to about 5'. I still had along way to go. I went in there and had an instant hook up with a mongo rockfish. Bad news, he wore through my leader. I lost him. I am going to have to go from the 25lb florocarbon to 30lb. It was a really nice fish, long runs and huge head shakes. Too bad, couldn't stop to feel bad, it was rough and the birds were working. Continued on and had to re-rig, when the other rod went down. That was the 24" fish. Got him in, finished re-rigging and got the kayak turned around and headed back to where the birds had been working. Doubled up this time and landed both fish. Somehow I lost the school of fish. I saw another group of birds working further out but by this time it was getting late, so I headed back.
I rounded the #6 marker and headed back to Hillsmere Marina by way of the channel. Just off the Hillsmere Beach one rod went down. Caught that one, about 18-19" Put that rod back in just as the other rod went down. This went on, and I caught 5 fish total in that area, and lost three. I have never caught that many fish that close to home. It was great. I am just glad that I kept the rods in the water that long. Sometimes, I pull the rods when I get into 11 or 12 feet of water on the way home. Like I said, I have not had much luck in the past in that area. It is amazing how with six lazer sharp hooks on a crank bait, a fish can get off.
It turned out to be a good day. Glad I stuck it out. I was using my usual Rapala, Luck Craft and Yo-Zuri combination of cranks. However, after last trip, I was also using a Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum. I looks like a menhaden and similar to a red eye shad or Rattle Trap. This lure was running at about 5'. When going in shallow and chasing the birds, I would swap out a deep diver for the Hardcore Drum. It was the Hardcore Drum that caught the first fish on the way back, near home. It is so important to keep in mind the changing conditions. Most all of the fish were in the 18" to 20" size, with the one at 24". No time to measure all, as the weather was rough. Sorry I didn't get more photos, but between the wind and the fish, I was quite busy. I didn't keep any today. I only like to eat fish when it is very fresh, almost still fighting.
When I got back to the marina, the other boats had some luck too. A friend was fishing from the bulkhead facing the river. He was catching some jumbo white perch, on blood worms and squid.
PS: Looks like the fish have hit that optimum temperature. The water was 56 degrees. They are starting to look like fat little foot balls. Hope the weather allows fishing till the end of the season. May the patron saint of kayak fishers smile upon us.
I continued on out towards the #4 marker. I caught another fish on the way there. Shortly after I saw some birds working, at a point where the the water goes from about 15' of water to about 5'. I still had along way to go. I went in there and had an instant hook up with a mongo rockfish. Bad news, he wore through my leader. I lost him. I am going to have to go from the 25lb florocarbon to 30lb. It was a really nice fish, long runs and huge head shakes. Too bad, couldn't stop to feel bad, it was rough and the birds were working. Continued on and had to re-rig, when the other rod went down. That was the 24" fish. Got him in, finished re-rigging and got the kayak turned around and headed back to where the birds had been working. Doubled up this time and landed both fish. Somehow I lost the school of fish. I saw another group of birds working further out but by this time it was getting late, so I headed back.
I rounded the #6 marker and headed back to Hillsmere Marina by way of the channel. Just off the Hillsmere Beach one rod went down. Caught that one, about 18-19" Put that rod back in just as the other rod went down. This went on, and I caught 5 fish total in that area, and lost three. I have never caught that many fish that close to home. It was great. I am just glad that I kept the rods in the water that long. Sometimes, I pull the rods when I get into 11 or 12 feet of water on the way home. Like I said, I have not had much luck in the past in that area. It is amazing how with six lazer sharp hooks on a crank bait, a fish can get off.
It turned out to be a good day. Glad I stuck it out. I was using my usual Rapala, Luck Craft and Yo-Zuri combination of cranks. However, after last trip, I was also using a Yo-Zuri Hardcore Drum. I looks like a menhaden and similar to a red eye shad or Rattle Trap. This lure was running at about 5'. When going in shallow and chasing the birds, I would swap out a deep diver for the Hardcore Drum. It was the Hardcore Drum that caught the first fish on the way back, near home. It is so important to keep in mind the changing conditions. Most all of the fish were in the 18" to 20" size, with the one at 24". No time to measure all, as the weather was rough. Sorry I didn't get more photos, but between the wind and the fish, I was quite busy. I didn't keep any today. I only like to eat fish when it is very fresh, almost still fighting.
When I got back to the marina, the other boats had some luck too. A friend was fishing from the bulkhead facing the river. He was catching some jumbo white perch, on blood worms and squid.
PS: Looks like the fish have hit that optimum temperature. The water was 56 degrees. They are starting to look like fat little foot balls. Hope the weather allows fishing till the end of the season. May the patron saint of kayak fishers smile upon us.
Maybe it was fortunate that you didn't have to deal with a big fish boatside in those conditions.
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