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.
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| 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.
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| 12 inch Speck. |
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| 13 inch Speck, biggest of the day. |
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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.
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| 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!
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| Lovin the VuDu Shrimp! |
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