Posted by MWH on 04/15/07 - 9:22 AM
#1
Thought I would share this experience...Cory has been reel excited about catching a big Striper, aka: Rockfish. I introduced him to the Chesapeake bay last year when I took him and my fiance bay fishing (he is her 10 year old son). He caught some small Rockfish (8"-12") casting bucktales near Poplar Island. I told him about the spring trophy season and he couldn't wait to get back out there. The weather has been terrible for fishing lately until I saw the forecast for saturday so we decided to give it a shot before the heavy rains and high winds arrive sunday... We left the boat ramp about 8am and had lines in the water about 830am. The weather was perfect and the bay as calm, perfect conditions. We started just south of Thomas Point trolling (7) lines 2-3mph and headed east towards the eastern shore then south towards Bloody Point (the pressure was on me to show him the big ones really exist, and he can catch one)...Not too long and the port outrigger clip pops, and the real screams, fish on! I hand Cory the rod and he starts reeling like crazy, only problem is, no line is coming in, hold on I adjust the drag and now some line starts coming in. What a struggle this fish must be big. I'm running around trying to clear lines so there isn't a big tangled mess as the fish comes up....
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing%202007/WhalerPictures008.jpg[/IMG]
The finally the fish arrives at the surface and is thrashing back and forth, Cory still reeling and I have the net at the ready...I start to leader the fish in with my left hand and net with my right...
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing%202007/WhalerPictures009.jpg[/IMG]
Fish in the boat! Cory's biggest fish ever, 39" Striper! The fish was very healthy and after this quick photo was released to be caught again another day...After some clean up, lines back out. The jellyfish were terrible fowling our lines they had to be checked often and cleaned with the washdown sprayer....Another hour later and the port corner rod starts screaming, fish on! Cory was so excited he ripped his pants coming out of the forward cabin (this kid is a true fisherman). Starts reeling in the fish.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing%202007/WhalerPictures011.jpg[/IMG]
Yeah, Cory is getting the hang of this type of fishing (play nintendo handheld game in the cabin and run to the rod when the drag screams). Taking a moment to take this picture, is not easy when your trying to steer, clear lines, get the net ready and coach the angler.
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q117/homey1110/Fishing%202007/WhalerPictures010.jpg[/IMG]
A quality fish but not 39" a smaller 33". We finished the day with another fish making a total of (3) with a 4th lost. All were released healthy...
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1991 BW 25 Outrage
twin 150 Johnsons carbed 1000+hrs
"Battle Ready"
Edited by MWH on 04/15/07 - 9:25 AM