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Being a little skiddish about all the warnings on insects, my brother and I opted for a camp cabin (electric, window a/c & ceiling fan but no indoor plumbing $60 a nite sleeps three comfortably) and that was a VERY wise decision. The deer flies were nature's equivalent of the Northrup Grumman F - 18, only faster and more lethal; they were unwaveringly relentless walking from the car to the cabin, a distance of about 40 yards. 99% deet helped a bit, but not much. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the wind of 15 - 35 mph steady all three days (evenings were okay between about 6:00 - 9:00 pm, as were early mornings 5 - 8:00 a.m.) kept the mosquitoes pretty much at bay.
Other than the wind and the deer flies (deer flies I am told stop in mid-late July), it was a very fun weekend, although unsuccessful from a fishing standpoint. I jigged the cuts with 1/8th to 1/2 green gulps, looking for structure as Pinch suggested. I tried it for a good two hours friday evening, and then again Sat. a.m. I also tried bottom fishing with cut bunker, still nothing. By Sat. afternoon we relented and went crabbing; caught just two keepers from the pier in probably 90 minutes, entertaining but not enough to be edible. BTW, there were oysters to be had (not now but during the season) by just plucking them off the pilings and rocks anywhere in the canal. I guess it's legal, maybe not.
There was a boat fishing group (a trailered 25; Carolina Skiff) next door, and they had no luck either; they said it was unusual there wasn't much to be caught yet, and blamed it on the wind/ and or Hurricane Sandy which did quite a number to the area, and especially Crisfield. They are still rebuilding the city pier at the end of Crisfield Parkway. I am told that Crisfield is now the poorest town in the poorest county in the state; it's sad to see a once bustling and proud fishing town die a slow death. Between rising sea levels, and the the Bay oyster fishery on life support, there is nothing left for Crisfield.
All that said, there was a boat that came in at the launch ramp when we finished up crabbing Sat afternoon with a black drum of about 36 inches. It was caught on the bottom with a quarter of a peeler. I still think peelers are the best bait in the Bay bar none for just about anything. Fish are like us; they love crab too! I will try to post a shot of the black drum later.
By Sunday morning I had had enough of the F-18's buzzing and biting, and made my way to Assateague Island for a combination beach/surf fishing day. Talk about wind! Must have been steady at 30 - 40 mph. I fished cut bunker pretty hard on two rods (one bottom, the other bobbing the cut off head of an alewive) for the better part of three hours. Casting into the wind was a tough, so I finally gave up on the bobbing bunker head rig and used my best rod for 5 ounce hi lo cut w/ bunker on the bottom. It was all the weight I had, and not enough. I had a bite or two, but landed nothing.
A very fun weekend nonetheless!
Other than the wind and the deer flies (deer flies I am told stop in mid-late July), it was a very fun weekend, although unsuccessful from a fishing standpoint. I jigged the cuts with 1/8th to 1/2 green gulps, looking for structure as Pinch suggested. I tried it for a good two hours friday evening, and then again Sat. a.m. I also tried bottom fishing with cut bunker, still nothing. By Sat. afternoon we relented and went crabbing; caught just two keepers from the pier in probably 90 minutes, entertaining but not enough to be edible. BTW, there were oysters to be had (not now but during the season) by just plucking them off the pilings and rocks anywhere in the canal. I guess it's legal, maybe not.
There was a boat fishing group (a trailered 25; Carolina Skiff) next door, and they had no luck either; they said it was unusual there wasn't much to be caught yet, and blamed it on the wind/ and or Hurricane Sandy which did quite a number to the area, and especially Crisfield. They are still rebuilding the city pier at the end of Crisfield Parkway. I am told that Crisfield is now the poorest town in the poorest county in the state; it's sad to see a once bustling and proud fishing town die a slow death. Between rising sea levels, and the the Bay oyster fishery on life support, there is nothing left for Crisfield.
All that said, there was a boat that came in at the launch ramp when we finished up crabbing Sat afternoon with a black drum of about 36 inches. It was caught on the bottom with a quarter of a peeler. I still think peelers are the best bait in the Bay bar none for just about anything. Fish are like us; they love crab too! I will try to post a shot of the black drum later.
By Sunday morning I had had enough of the F-18's buzzing and biting, and made my way to Assateague Island for a combination beach/surf fishing day. Talk about wind! Must have been steady at 30 - 40 mph. I fished cut bunker pretty hard on two rods (one bottom, the other bobbing the cut off head of an alewive) for the better part of three hours. Casting into the wind was a tough, so I finally gave up on the bobbing bunker head rig and used my best rod for 5 ounce hi lo cut w/ bunker on the bottom. It was all the weight I had, and not enough. I had a bite or two, but landed nothing.
A very fun weekend nonetheless!
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