FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Ouch!  In anticipation of heading to POC in the morning I decided to gas the boat and pick up a gallon of oil.  First up, $80 to fill the boat, then $42 for a gallon of oil.  Add the cost of driving down there and it is not a cheap trip.  It will be interesting/sad/instructive to see how the cost of boating affects things.  When you combine that with the reduced trout limit who knows how that will all work together.  In the end the wind will quit and folks will fish, it is what people on the coast do.  I am a perfect example of someone who just does not like fighting the wind.  But I finally cannot take not going to the bay because of the wind, it looks like tomorrow will be something I can live with.  Plus I have several things I want to try tomorrow so can’t wait to see how it comes out.

Weather

71/79.  Delightful with intervals of clouds and sunshine with a 13% chance of rain.  Wind  ESE 14 – 24 mph.

Tides

Low 8:14 am.  0.45 ft.   High  2:16 pm.  0.85 ft.

Bite Times

Major  11:09 am to 1:09 pm   (Only relevant time.)

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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Heading our from Froggies the first thing I noticed was the water color sucked.  And most of the places I fished it was not all that hot.  But the real issue, the wind.  The plan was to boat fish today so first up was my favorite topwater bank and a keeper red jumped on the 2cnd or 3rd cast.  But the problem turned out to be the wind, which unfortunately was blowing on all my old favorites so it was put on the big boy pants and fish.

Could not get the whole fish in there.  She smoked it!

It was real apparent in about a half hour that topwater was not happening.  So next up was trout fishing with the 4″ Purple Demon Limetreuse Knockin Tail on a 1/8th ounce jig head.  With the wind it was tough to keep in contact.  It did produce a small flounder, and 5 trout with only the trout below any account.  I will admit it took me a little to start getting the hook in them.  It is just a thing when you have a high cross wind.  There were basically just there without a “real” bite.

A bonus flounder slow rolling the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail.

Then I made a good decision, head to the Oil Cut, one of the few places you can kind of get a break from the wind.  One of the things I wanted to work on today was getting the hang of slow rolling the 5″ Pearl Knockin Tail in the salt.  No doubt it would catch fish and it did.  I put it on a 3/16th ounce 4/0 swim bait hook and fished it on a steady retrieve.  The bites I did get smoked it, and it was cool to see the biggest red eat.  One of those “Did I just see that?” bites.  And in the same area a really nice trout rolled on it next to the boat but did not eat.  Keep fishing the 5″ and it will happen.

I watched this one eat it.

The best bites were when the water was out and just starting to come up and the reds were cruising the bank.  I can only guess the hurt I would have put them today without the wind, it was way tough to see them.  I missed several of course, including one that knocked a foot of slack in it.  Without the bow in my line that one is in the boat.  But at least I was getting bit and they were good fish.  It has been several months since I fished the bay so I am happy with the results,  but I won’t be returning until the wind starts quieting down.  If it is not fun I will pass.  The days I have to work my ass off to catch them is over.

The first red came on the Spook Jr.  The best of the 5 trout that fell to the 4″ Purple Demon Limetreuse Knockin Tail.

It was definitely a struggle today and I would not exactly call it fun, it was definitely a grind.  And the one thing I really wanted to try, more on that later, just was not happening.  But the more I fish the 5″ Knockin Tails the more fun it is.  It definitely catches a little bigger fish no matter the species or the water.  The 5″ Knockin Tail is going to catch some big trout on the wade, as soon as we get out of this big wind weather pattern it is going to get a serious work out.

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KARMA

One thing about heading to POC before daylight is you get to travel with the plant traffic.  You see all kinds of nonsense, the best I can tell some folks must be late.  Courtesy is not happening and it is more like a NASCAR race.  But this morning karma reared its ugly head and it was a thing of beauty.  I was following a guy with a trailer and as we got ready to exit on to the highway Mr. hot car blew by me and squeezed between us.  As the truck in front of me got on the highway Mr. hot car stomped it and pulled in front of an oncoming SUV.  Bad move as the officer lit up Mr. hot car.  Could not have happened to a more deserving dude.

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I don’t mean to whine, it was a good day.  A couple of the reds were good fish and fought like only reds can.  And the trout were just one the “wrong windy” bank or it would have gotten re-fished.   Add a couple of flounder and you have a slam.  Next up will be the lake, the wind is forecast to blow 15 – 30mph and there is no way I am fighting that on the bay.  As soon as the top number gets to 20 or less I intend to get after the bay before everyone and their brother gets here for the summer fishing.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines