Another Tale From the Capes

[Seapuppy]

New Surf-Fishin' story in the VA Section...enjoy:cool:
Pup

[Seapuppy]

For some reason it won't post in the regional section so here it is

part1



Met up at Oceans East with Jason,Justin,Byron ,his son,Isaiah,his nephew & neighborhood friend at 4:30 am to pick up some bait & tackle for our trip chasin' the Big Reds off the VA Capes today.Justin & Jason(out of Richmond) had contacted me over the internet a couple months or so ago about goin' shoal drumfishin' with me.Byron had gone out there with me a month ago,he had rented a boat to carry him,his son & the 2 other young men.We headed across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel(CBBT),I headed to the creek in the marsh & Byron headed to the Kiptopeke State as his boat was way to big to launch in the narrow creek.

Justin,Jason & I unloaded the Seapuppy,got her shipshape & headed out of the marsh,the engine just touching bottom as the morning high tide is very low on a new moon,later this afternoon the high tide will literally flood the marsh.Warrior rideing on the front already lookin' for fish.The air warm,the sunrise blocked by the heavily overcast sky,the winds almost calm with a slight breeze from the SE.The forcast calls for SE winds at 5-10 knots of which are a little light to be able to find the Big Reds.Hopefully when the outgoin' tide changes this afternoon the wind will pick up as it ussally does on an incomin' tide.

We made or way across Smith Inlet to the narrow passage between Fishermans Island & the big bar to the east.Pullin' up to the bar on the north west edge we prepped our gear & cut up at least 1/2 of our bait,packin' some shrimp along with it.About that time we saw Byron comein' around the south end of Fishermans Is.After a bit it was obvious that he was'nt sure how to get thru the breakers to the deep water between the Island & outer bar.It's one of those situations where the opening thru the bar is easily seen from the inside but very hard to see from the ocean side.I called him on the radio & talked him thru the gap in the bar.He made his way close to Fishermans Is. & pulled up next to the Seapuppy.Got quite a large group to lead out to the shoals today.It's so nice to have company as ussally it's just Warrior & me.We anchored the two boats together a good ways from the bar so we don't get grounded when the tide goes out.

Warrior leadin' the way we walked down the bar & out into the shoals.You need to enter the shoals at a certain point & as the tide goes out,and slowly work our way out further & further.In the first area we stopped the waves were comin' in strong about chest high.The SE wind about 4 knots,we sure need it to pick up.We set up our tall rodholders & each cast out a couple big rigs & some light tackle shrimp rigs,Justin only had one medium conventional so I let him use one of my larger Penn 545 rods.First cast,birdnest city."'Wow,how the heck do you cast that reel" Justin said ,tryin' to untangle the birdsnest.I finnally got it untangled & he cast it out again,again birdnesting it bigtime.This time I could'nt get it untangled,he said"Don't ever give me that rod again! I don't want to even try that again! I'll stick to my 525's!" As I told him "yep ,my reels are pretty wide open,very little brakes, with as much line as is possible,definately not for rookies! LOL", We picked up some small bluefish,spot & a few seamullet on the light tackle shrimp rigs..Byron & all the young men arrived & started fishin' to our south.They caught a few small bluefish.The tide retreatin' it was time to move on.

Headin' north along the shoal we made our way out to the large cut where I have picked up quite a few drum this year.With very little wind it just was'nt lookin' right to fish so we walked thru it,about chest deep to another set of bars & out to some more waist deep water & setup again.Justin,Jason & I to the north,Byron & the young men to our south.Told Byron to cast out behind him to the large cut we just walked thru.We cast out our big rigs again & started messin' around with our light tackle shrimp rigs,baited with shrimp on # 2 bronze hook & a light 1oz pyrimid sinker.Pow !, I hooked up with a really strong fast fish,got a look at it & it's a large pompano,chased it all over the place & finnally got ahold of it.Justin & Jason goin' "Now that's the biggest Pomp we have ever seen!".Must be at least 2 #'s,Va Citations are only 1 1/2 #'s so it's really a large fish to catch this far north.Justin picked up a real nice seamullet but still no Big Reds.Ussally if it's slow the bite will pick up when the tide changes & the wind should increase also.

We're startin' to run low on bait & drinks."I'll go pick back to the Seapuppy ,bring it back out here,see ya'll in a bit.Keep an eye on my rod! "as Warrior & I headed back to the narrow cut in front of the Island,a good mile away.Arriving at the boats,they are both high & dry! No way in Heck they're movin' at this point! It will be a good 2 hours before we can move the boats,the steep drop off on the back of the bar different than my last few trips,I underestimated the drop in the tide.Sure hope we don't have an emergency !Gave Warrior some fresh water & we shared a couple sandwiches & drank a beer,washin' all that salt out of my mouth.I grabbed a few beers,sodas,some fresh water,some more bait & some sandwiches for everyone & headed back out to the shoal....continued below

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/seapup/758152-R1-047-22-1.jpg

[Seapuppy]

part 2


I dropped off some cold drinks & some sandwiches to Byron's group,he said they had caught a nice drum while I was gone & lost a couple others.Justin said he was sayin' "It sure would be nice if something hap-------".Bam ! Before he could finish the sentance one rod lit up then another ,then another! Three rods at once! A small school must have passed right in front of them.Jason landed a nice yearling in the 30" range.Justin broke another one off with the fish insight off my rod,the fish would've been his first drum ever but it wasnt to be.The third fish got off the hook before they could get to it."Great! I was hopein' ya'll would hook up with some reds!" as I gave them some cold drinks,bait & sandwiches.I grabbed my second medium conventional & walked a good 50yards out into chestdeep water & cast in a cut thru the outer bar & the ocean,l just knew the fiish are there.Jason was cast out to our north & he picked up another nice 32" yearling.I no sooner got back to our rod holders & I hooked up with one,after a brief fight landed another in the 35" range! Justin goin' "*^&%#&*! I want a drum!!" I walked way back out there & cast again & picked up another nice drum.Seems we have finnally found them.After I realeased my second all three of us walked out & cast into the cut & walked back to our holders.Jason get's another hit & begins fightin' the fish,at the same time my line goes slack,the line just comin' straight in.Both our lines got all tangled up as jason brought another nice red closer we realized it was on my rig! I got ahold of it & we both got pictures as we both brought it in! They got real kick out of Warrior & how hard she fishes! By now Justin is besides him self "It's my %$#^&& turn!!" I said"Common Justin ,I'll show you where to throw it" We walked back out & cast back into the cut & returned to the rodholders & in no time at all my rod took off again! "Take it Justin!" Justin grabbed the rod & after a spirited battle finnally landed his first ever red drum after about 4 years of tryin'! No more pressure,he's finnally done it! I got a pic of him & Jason as this was a long sought after fish,a nice 30" yearling.Both of them just could'nt believe I could pick out where the fish were just by lookin' at the waves."It must be all those years wadin' Ocracoke Inlet & Portsmouth Island,just have a 5th sense for 'em"

By this time Byron came over to us & I took him out & showed him where to cast to.We stood out there in chest deep water talkin' for awhile & then returning to our rod holders.A few minutes later a couple of our lines go slack as a fish goes by hooked to red line.Byron had red line! "Common over here Byron!!You got a fish over here!" I grabbed the red line as it had slacked up tangling all into our lines& there's a fish on the other end of it! Lookin' back Byron's son Isaiah is headin' this way.I started handline'n the line in "I sure hope this fish does'nt make a run!" as all the line is wrapped my hands.Got the fish close & grabbed it,another nice yearling about 35".First drum I ever caught handline'n! Isaiah finnally got over here & we untangled all the lines.It's his fish! Byron took a pic as Isaiah said "I didnt even know I had a fish!" "Mom's gonna be proud!" Byron said as he took the pic.Great moment for a young man.

The wind is picking up along with the incomin' tide,the waves really gettin' big now,time to retreat.Jason & Justin have had enough,been up almost all night & up early this mornin',they have to ride all the way back to Richmond tonight as they have some things to do Sunday.We walked back off the shoals & across the bar & loaded all our gear up.I fired up the Seapuppy & drove 'em back to the wide creek near waterman's landing,just a short walk to their truck."Had a great time! Those fishermen at Buxton Point sure don't have anything on you! You really work for your fish!!" they both said as I was pullin' away."Enjoyed it!,come again some time!" I was so glad they caught some drum,as they dissappeared into the marsh.It's about 3pm,still plenty of time,I headed back out to the bar to look for some more reds this afternoon.

I returned to the backside of the big bar east of Fishermans Island.Byron & his group were fishin' off the frontside of the bar.I relined one of my medium conventionals,cut up some more fresh bait,grabbed a rod holder,2 big rods & a light tackle outfit & headed across the bar.I fished with Byron & the boys for awhile.The wind has really picked up to about 15kts. SE,as the tide comes in the breakers are startin' the get pretty big.With this wind we should be able to pick up some more drum.We fished together for awhile,I kept lookin' down the beach,"Sure looks like good water down there!".I could'nt stand it,rolled all my rigs in & headed down the bar & out into the ocean into the middle of the roaring surf,cast out my 2 big rigs &played around with the light tackle shrimp rigs.A few minutes later Byron came down there & fished besides me.Still no fish,the conditions have really got a whole lot better than this morning.

It must have been about 6pm,"Time to go feed these fellas" Byron said as he rolled in his line."You know what's gonna' happen if you leave,don't you?",,"Yeah,Yeah,I know!" he said as he walked back up to the bar."Later".He & the boys loaded up on the boat & dissapeared around Fishermans Island.They were campin' tonight at the Kiptopeke State Park, a little ways north of the CBBT.I kept on fishin' as I just knew there had to be another drum out here! Half hour later hooked up with a strong fish,really gave me a fight & landed another nice 35"yearling,another beautiful fish! It just makes it all worth it.Released the big red & recast,the sun is droppin' far in the sky."Just one more!! "Sure enough a few minutes later pulled another in in the 30" range."Great day! Time to go home,don't want to get caught out here in the dark!" Warrior,her eyes almost closed,she's fished so hard today.We returned to the Seapuppy anchored in the deep cut behind the bar,the water about neck deep.Hard to believe it was sittin' on the bar this morning! Got Warrior on board & all the rods & rod holders tied down,we headed back in.Found the small creek in the marsh,it's flooded bigtime now,no problem gettin' back in.Backed the trailer over & pulled the Seapuppy out of the water.We headed back across the CBBT,stoppin' at Oceans East to weigh the big pompano,turned out to be a citation,everyone there sayin'"thats the biggest pomp we've ever seen!" Left there & headed home.Pulled everything into the backyard about 9:30,just too tired to clean up everything now.Where's the hot tub??!!

Another great day fishin',Boy am I tired & sore! But it was worth all of it.Justin caught his first drum,Jason caught 3 nice yearlings.I had 5 yearlings,a big Pomp & handlined a big drum in.Byron's son caught the biggest fish he's ever caught.Everyoneone had a terrific day.It's what brings me back over & over.Hopefully another trip in a couple of weeks,my thrist for adventure never quenched.
It's not a fishin' trip! It's an adventure!....(just ask Justin & Jason..;) .)
Pup.

Jason took a lot of pics,should post more soon..

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/seapup/7-23-2006-11.jpg

[Seapuppy]

Enjoy!:rolleyes:
Pup

[sinker man]

I wish fishing magazine articles were as good as this post. Most seem to be more about plugging businesses than fishing. Keep'em coming but watch those sharks. Daybreak and dusk can be pretty dicey around such places.

[Fishman]

Thanks pup. Maybe these stories should be put into a magizine article.

[RuddeDogg]

Mgazine or a book.

[hic-lock]

Again, great read Pup! I must say, you sure can "read the beach". I wish it is as easy as you make it sound.

Thanx for sharing the adventure with all of us here at P&S :D

[VICIII]

great read.. thanks

[sand flea]

For some reason it won't post in the regional section so here it is


Not quite sure what the problem was--it showed up just fine on the Virginia board (http://www.pierandsurf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30309) where you originally posted it.

Always a fun read.