Sunday we decided to try and redeem ourselves with our favorite fish. I really don’t like to fish on holiday weekends because it can be a little too busy out there. The plan was not to stay local and try to find fish in less crowded conditions. On our way we spotted a nice pod all by themselves so we pulled in and for them it was one and done. The next bunch had a dozen boats surrounding them. Everyone was giving other boats room to fish and nobody was running through the fish. We didn’t stop there and continued on. The next spot is a place that is rarely fished but from past experience I know that the bones will stop there to eat. A minute after we arrived a nice pod of bones showed. We both had good shots and instead of snipping the flies they hammered them. They left and so did we. For the rest of the day we found fish where there were no boats and when we had a decent shot they jumped all over the flies. There was no pattern to their feeding there is so much bait that they just seem to swim around and eat when they feel like it. The fish would go back and forth and if you zigged when they did it was game on. A pretty fun day all around.
Typical
Wednesday Gail and I continued our search for the sometimes elusive Bonito. We found them after a wait. We would go to where they should be and wait for them to show up. Some days the wait is measured in hours. They finally showed up and at times they were in good numbers. The only thing was that they would come up and bump the fly that they usually inhale. We finally gave up and to save some face we went in search of some happy fish. We found bass and blues that were more than happy to play so the day was salvaged and so were our egos.
The quest continues
Today Mark and Tom brought Rafe along for his first bonito expedition. We beat the sun looking for some bass or blues for a warm up but they stayed hidden. The local bones are on vacation so we took a ride. I spotted a few birds and as we pulled up a small pod of bones popped up. The first cast had Tom hooked up and a little while later it was in the net. We waited and a larger school came and Mark hooked up on his first cast. The fish left and the quest continued. there wasn’t much showing but we managed to get a few blues and a bass. At one point there was a school of Black Sea Bass chasing bait on the top. We pulled one of those out. Not to be outdone Rafe managed to get a sea robin to take a fly.
And so it continues
After yesterday Gail and I left the dock as the sun was rising. The fish were also rising. They hadn’t moved much from yesterday. We started with flies until the wind got too strong and tried to put us on the rocks. We switched to bucktails until we got tired . We must have had at least 40 doubles today. My left thumb looks like I got it caught in a paper shredder. One more week to go for this season.
Another first
Tuesday brought Bill all the way back from Delaware for another shot at the elusive albie. Bill has caught bass blues and even a large bonito but not an albie. Well that changed today. We left early and shortly after we arrived at our secrete destination the albies showed and they were hungry. Bill hooked up quickly and soon found out what all the excitement was about. He landed his first one and added a few more to the count before they pulled the old disappearing act. We moved around and found more that ate but did not want to stay hooked. They are here you just have to find them.
And so it continues
I wanted to take today off but the weatherman said no wind and I had a brand new fly rod and reel that I wanted to test. Gail and I left the dock at the crack of 8:00AM and found the albies soon after. She hooked up on her first cast and it took me about five to do it. We spent the day looking and casting. The fish are moving around quite a bit. The rod and reel passed with flying colors. We had our fifth double digit albie day in a row and we added a few bass and blue fish just for a change.
Pretty good for a couple of girls.
For the past two days Gail and I had the pleasure of fishing with Cathy and Barry Beck. I drove the boat, Barry took Photos (not these, he took real ones) and the girls put on a clinic. We left the dock early Wednesday morning to beat the sun and slightly later today. Both days brought winds around 20 and today we had waves in the three to four feet range. It wasn’t crowded where we fished. Cathy had never fished for albies and Gail has caught a few. Soon after the flies hit the water the albies hit the flies. Two days of casting and catching could not have been better. The weather challenged the girls and the ladies kicked its butt. Needless to say we had a lot of fun with two of the nicest people that you could meet.
Dr. Jim and Gail
Thursday brought Dr. Jim down from New Hampshire and he invited Gail to join us. We left the dock early to find that the fog was replaced by wind. It was blowing over twenty and these two kept throwing flies. We managed to hook four albies but they didn’t want to stay connected. However the stripers did and the guys put a bunch in the boat.
A pot of fish under the rainbow
Will came back again and brought Steve with him. We left the dock in pretty thick fog in search of the ever selective albie. After a bit of a run I saw the fog rainbow and knew there must be a pot of fish under it. Well it was close anyway. We started on some nice bass up to nine or ten lbs. and when the tide started to move the albies moved with it. We had some great shots and the guys did well on the fly rod. Both landed several and we finished the day with a double. The fog lifted for a nice ride home. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Back at it
Thursday brought Mark and his son Cole up for the morning to search for the elusive stripers. The usual spots haven’t been producing like they should be so we went straight to plan B. The first stop was a quick one that was devoid of any fish. We tried the next one for the first time this year. It had always been a good producer in mid summer on a flood tide. We pulled in and the fish were waiting. Both guys hooked up and landed several apiece before we lost the tide. The next stop was unfishable because of all the weed so we kept going. We pulled into the next one to find birds and fish on bait. We picked away till the tide changed and then we moved on. We were able to pick up a few more bass in different spots to make a really good morning out of it. There is lots of small bait coming in right on time so the fishing should just get better.
