Was very uninspired this morning, and only decided to head out at 06:30 after spending two hours perusing NYA and other fishing websites. I couldn't pass up the beautiful windless morning it was, but not at all enamored with the top of the flood, the absolute worst tide for 'da hood...
Decided to go to the only place with significant water movement, up to the head of tide where the river dumps into the estuary. The bird photographers were there, a good sign that means alewives are moving upstream, but the local shore fishing gang wasn't, which wasn't surprising as I had yet to see any bass. Regardless, I started a drift and after about 10 min I noticed the telltale wake change indicating that a bass was following the popper. OK, he didn't touch the plug nor make any distinctive swirls, but it was definitely a fish. The only thing around here at this time of year that would follow a plug would be wearing stripes, and by the bulge of the wake disturbance, I was guessing somewhere close to the low end of the slot.
This "touch free" jerking-around continued or 6 or 7 more times, with the occasional swirl away from the plug and twice it happened boat side so knew they were bass, and of the size I had guesstimated by virtue of the wake disturbances; it's nice that some skills don't wither away over the winter. Of course my vocabulary was intact as I screamed out my inner feelings at these bass that seemed destined to give me a coronary.
After I completed a drift that had no signs of any bass interest I decided to try one more high tide spot, a nearby secluded cove. I carefully maneuvered the boat into the perfect spot just as the dead calm wind decided to have a light breeze in the absolute opposite direction of my desired drift. "Ah screw it, I can fire off a few casts before I have to reposition." The Poseidon blessed me with his favor as my plug was absolutely crushed by a pretty pissed-off fish. After a spirited tussle I brought 2024's first striper of the season, a beautiful 27" fish.
Well now I had to move the boat because I was in a lee shore predicament and in danger of running aground. I didn't move too far and fired off a cast that was also crushed after 5 cranks and 3 pops. Much to my delight a second Battle Royale ensued, and another 27" striper hit the deck, an absolute twin sister of the first fish. It was now time to head to the barn for one very happy, and relieved fisherman...
The first of 2024!!
Decided to go to the only place with significant water movement, up to the head of tide where the river dumps into the estuary. The bird photographers were there, a good sign that means alewives are moving upstream, but the local shore fishing gang wasn't, which wasn't surprising as I had yet to see any bass. Regardless, I started a drift and after about 10 min I noticed the telltale wake change indicating that a bass was following the popper. OK, he didn't touch the plug nor make any distinctive swirls, but it was definitely a fish. The only thing around here at this time of year that would follow a plug would be wearing stripes, and by the bulge of the wake disturbance, I was guessing somewhere close to the low end of the slot.
This "touch free" jerking-around continued or 6 or 7 more times, with the occasional swirl away from the plug and twice it happened boat side so knew they were bass, and of the size I had guesstimated by virtue of the wake disturbances; it's nice that some skills don't wither away over the winter. Of course my vocabulary was intact as I screamed out my inner feelings at these bass that seemed destined to give me a coronary.
After I completed a drift that had no signs of any bass interest I decided to try one more high tide spot, a nearby secluded cove. I carefully maneuvered the boat into the perfect spot just as the dead calm wind decided to have a light breeze in the absolute opposite direction of my desired drift. "Ah screw it, I can fire off a few casts before I have to reposition." The Poseidon blessed me with his favor as my plug was absolutely crushed by a pretty pissed-off fish. After a spirited tussle I brought 2024's first striper of the season, a beautiful 27" fish.
Well now I had to move the boat because I was in a lee shore predicament and in danger of running aground. I didn't move too far and fired off a cast that was also crushed after 5 cranks and 3 pops. Much to my delight a second Battle Royale ensued, and another 27" striper hit the deck, an absolute twin sister of the first fish. It was now time to head to the barn for one very happy, and relieved fisherman...
The first of 2024!!
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