Schoolies. 16Nov/22Nov13.

My recent work schedule switched me from days to nights, and I havnt had alot of time to get out on the water. The past couple weeks I have been reading reports of limits being caught at the HRBT, so when Tim and Joe decided to hit the water me and BB grabbed the kayaks and headed over to the Ft Monroe side of the tunnel 16 Nov. We got out on the water and it was dead calm, no wind and the water looked like glass. We started fishing the light line on the bridge and didnt manage a single bite. Even though the weather was cooperating it seemed the fish just werent around. In between the bridges there was huge amounts of bait. It was everywhere in the water so thick I was pushing them out of the way while paddling. The problem was nothing was chasing them, they were just floating along in giant schools. None of the other kayakers or boats seemed to be doing any good either and once the temperature dropped the fog rolled in we decided to call it a night. The only fish caught was a ugly slimy toad by Tim.

Another week of 1500-0100 in the books and I was disappointed to learn that I would have to work Friday and Saturday to support a ship. Tim and Joe decided to hit the HRBT again this time on the Norfolk side, and I had hoped to get out on the water after work for some late night schoolie chasing. As things would turn out I got off earlier than expected on Friday, so I was in a rush to get out on the water. I quickly went home and grabbed my kayak and crate. I got out on the water at 21:00 and called Joe to see what the action was like. I was listening to the boat chatter on vhf#72 about not alot of fishing being caught when I paddled up to Joe. Ironically enough as soon as I got up to him his rod was bent over and he hooked his biggest fish of the night.

Joe's 21 inch schoolie striper.

I paddled my kayak around to the light line and started casting a ReelFast Tackle curly tail on a 3/8 oz jig head. I wasnt getting any action on the pilings I was fishing and then Tim paddled up to me, as soon as he got into my head lamp light his rod bent over and he pulled up his biggest striper of the night. It appeared the fish wanted to mock me. Both Tim and Joe were using deep diving hard baits, which I had none of. Most of my arsenal consisted of jig heads, buck tails, soft plastics, and top water. The only thing I had was a suspending jerk bait still tied on one of my bait casters from freshwater fishing. I decided to try it out and tied it on. A few casts later and I managed to hook up on a fish. A quick fight later and I had a nice slot striper in the kayak. I learned my lesson with the flounder earlier this year and with my modified hawg trough measuring him was no issue.

18 1/2 inch slot striper.

Having 2 fish each Joe and Tim decided to call it a night and paddled on. I was still looking for a bigger fish so I stayed and continued to fish up and down the light line. The wind started to pick up and it began to rain a little so I was thinking about leaving. But then the bite started to pick up like someone turned a switch on. I managed 5 fish in 5 casts in the 14 inch range.

Small schoolie striper on River2Sea Fetch Minnow.

The bite was hit or miss again and then it cranked up and I was catching more fish. They were all in the 10-15 inch range although a fellow kayaker a few pilings down did manage a nice 27 inch fish, that he let go. One fish wanted the bait so bad I had to use the bolt cutters to save him, and had to replace 2 hooks on the back of my lure.

15 inch schoolie, engulfed River2Sea Fetch Minnow. He swam away after cutting the hooks.

I was getting several short bites and tried out Gulp jerk shad and buck tails and managed some more small guys. I had forgotten my fish grips in the car in my haste to get out on the water. Between the flipping around, and treble hooks my thumb and hand sure wish I hadnt forgotten it.

Glad I had my pliers for this guy! All 3 hooks on the front treble.

Once the rain turned sideways and the waves started to come over the side of the kayak I decided to call it a night. It was a long wet paddle back to the ramp, and everything got a good freshwater washdown while loading (including me.)  Definitely gonna have to add a few more deep diving hard baits to my tacklebox for nights like this where the fish are suspending in the 10-12 foot range. Several other fellow kayakers of TKAA were out and managed some nice fish as well. You can check out Mako's report here:Mako Slayer and Chuck Wrenn's here: http://froggin4bass.blogspot.com

Veteran's Day Speck Trip 11 November 2013

The fabled Speckled Trout. A sleek silvery fish with specks across its back, reaching lengths of 30 inches and weighing up to 5 pounds and one of the most sought after fish in the Tidewater of the Chesapeake Bay. Even a whisper of these fish can bring fisherman by the dozen and create small secretive groups of fisherman who covet their fishing spots like top secret information. That was the targeted species, the elusive gator of the flats.
The weather was sunny although a bit chilly. I was suppose to meet Joe aka Archer out at Rudee at sunrise but due to some unforeseen circumstances and the Veteran's Day parade shutting down the road I didnt get to the launch until 9:30 and low tide. Even while launching we had people asking us had we been catching and specks, what were we using for bait, and even had one guy pull up in his car and ask if specks could be caught from the bank. Once we got on the water we paddled back into the creek to see if any bait was still in the shallow water. The water at the ramp was cloudy and the wind was picking up, the water in the back of the creek was crystal clear but the wind was making it difficult to stay in one position. We pushed up against the grass and started casting out across the creek. It wasnt long before we started seeing fish jumping all around us but nothing was taking our bait. I always read fishing reports from the pros about catching gator trout on top water baits like the skitter walk and mirror lures, but nothing was taking anything either of us threw at them. We decided to paddle back out to the main part of Rudee. The boat traffic was increasing, several boats trolling 5 and 6 rods, even large trophy boats decked out with outriggers and sighting towers with 5 people on the back throwing chartreuse gulp in every direction. Several kayakers were about, keeping their distance and shooting glances at us over their shoulder every now and then. I was enjoying the paddle. Ive always told my girlfriend its a good thing I like kayaking as much as kayak fishing, especially this summer where ive been skunked more times than caught fish. Apart from the wind I was pretty comfortable in my Frogg Toggs waders and dry top. Joe ate his coveted peanut butter and jelly sandwich and drank his juice box while I messed around with a mirror lure and discussed different fishing techniques.
Still more fish could be seen breaking the surface, but no one seemed to be catching any fish. We decided to drift back down the creek using the wind to push us down the grass bank, the water was up around 3 feet and there seemed to be more bait present. As we drifted down I started throwing an Egret VuDu shrimp under a VuDu cork. After two or three pops the cork darted under and I set the hook on a fish. Even small fish are fun when you dont catch alot! I reeled in my first fish of the day, I had forgotten my hawg trough so I measured him on my Bending Branches angler paddle at 10 inches. Not a keeper, and nothing to mount on the wall but a fish is a fish! I snapped a quick photo and tossed him back into the water.

10 inch Speck on the pink VuDu Shrimp and VuDu cork.

I casted right back into the same spot and instantly the cork went under. A quick fight and I pulled in another Spec! This one was a little bigger and decided to be difficult to measure. I got him off and casted again and after 1 pop the cork darted off, I set the hook on another Spec. This one was 13" another small guy short of being a keeper, and was the biggest of the day for me.

12 inch Speck.

13 inch Speck, biggest of the day.

Joe came right behind me in the drift and didnt get much but a few fish jumping near his cork. We drifted down to the end of the creek without another bite. We paddled back out to the oyster shoals and islands and noticed some activity in the grass and decided to try a few casts. Joe hooked up finally, and just like my 3 fish he managed 3 in the same size in a row. His biggest also measured at 13 inches.

Joe aka Archer and one of his Specks.

Once the sun started to set we decided to call it a day, and even though we didnt take home a cooler full of fish it was an awesome day on the water and I am glad I atleast managed to catch somthing! Now I just gotta find the big ol grandpa gators out there. Who knows maybe ill actually catch dinner one day!

Lovin the VuDu Shrimp!