I had this thought that the
east wind might get something started ocean side. Remember 3 years ago when
they had a few days of strong east winds and the mother load showed up in the
inlet? I have a friend who lives down there that I met 4 or 5 years ago at the
boat ramp. I was at the boat ramp looking for a ride or a boat to hire. I'd
have paid top dollar offshore prices if there was anyone available because of
what I saw offshore one New Year's Day a few years ago . No one fishing but
there was a gannet storm for as far as the eye could see well offshore. Well
this guy Pete who has a son and daughter my age was at the ramp. The only truck
and boat there too. I told him what was happening and off we went. We caught
keeper stripers all day on our own busting on the surface. It was the day
dreams are made of.
Since then Pete and I have
kept in touch. He's wanted to fish the flats but the bite hasn't materialized
the last few years. I've hooked up with him once or twice a year to give the
inlet a shot. Usually resulting in skunks. But not yesterday. I was headed to
the beach on Friday afternoon on my own to do some surf fishing. I had a 24 hour pass before family duties,
Cub Scout activities and sons football. I text Pete just in case he could fish.
It had been slow. But he said he could fish Saturday and thanked me because
other wise he was going shopping with his wife. I fished he surf and inlet from shore on
Friday afternoon and night with little to show for it. The water was muddy.
Both tides. Not good. I crashed in the truck expecting a skunk the next day .
I woke up, fished the inlet
at first light. Nothing. Brown water with an outgoing tide. Pete said if it was
going to happen it would be at the change of tides at the shoals just offshore.
He was half an hour early. I said the water is brown poo. He said you don't
have to go if you don't want to. F that. I'm fishing . Off we go. Tide just
changed and with it some cleaner water . Would you believe it, first cast he's
hooked up. 40", spawned out but full of piss and vinegar. A few guys on
the rocks saw us land the fish. But still no boats out front . Set up again, we
double on the next casts. This time we fight the fish and some boats see us. We
have company now. The social media, the texting, telegraph, air phones were
blowing up. The fish hit near the surface well until every idiot was running
through them . It was almost a big migrant bass every drift until the tide
slowed and a dozen boats were in top of us. Swim shads worked well at first but
later when the fish went deeper light line and skinny plastics like BKDs jigged
on a tight line Pete Dressler style was the only way. I watched countless
people shake their heads as we continuously hooked up. Most people were using
surf like tackle with giant buck tails that don't sink worth a darn. It was
awesome. Pete and I both said to each other, "does this remind you of
something"? Referring to the first time we met. The bite lasted the entire
tide but slowed considerably at slack. However, a properly presented jig still
got attention even at slack tide. We
went in for lunch and an adult beverage. I swear beer tastes 1 million times
better after a good fishing trip. We tried the opposite tide but the wind was
against the tide and it got ugly. All boats went in. We called it a day. And
what a day it was. Nothing like following the migration north and planning it
just right. Pictures to follow.
Oh… The fish must have been passing through
because A couple hardcore friends left when they heard my results. They got skunked
today. Not a single fish for them today
and they know what they are doing. I
guess that’s the way it is on the Delmarva.
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