Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I don't quite know where to start...it's not always about the fishing but catching is great!

And...it's a small world after all.

As you read before, Capt. Greg (may he RIP) passed away last month at the tender age of 56. Tony Offutt, the owner of the Redeemer, has been trying to find another Captain who could take  command of his boat. The folks from the Redeemer said to get a crew for Dec. 2 as they had found a Captain.

Backing up a bit, we had gathered a crew of 8 including two gents in wheelchairs. But, as things go, the forecast called for some wind and 2-3 foot seas so they (2 guys in wheelchairs) were not comfortable going out. We called an audible, found a few more folks and met up at the dock at 8:30a.

I had not met the new Captain so when a gentleman came over to where I was parked (had food and drinks to bring to the boat),  I introduced myself and asked if he was our Captain. Nope, he said, "I am a friend of Tony". Another gentleman came up from behind and I introduced myself to him thinking he was the Captain. Nope, "I'm Tony, glad to finally meet you Ernie!"

I was nice to meet the man who had the vision for the Redeemer...and to fish with him!

But I still had not met the new Captain. I asked Tony about it and he said that other Captain had to back out last night and that he was able to find another Captain. Cool.

As I walked in to the boat, the Captain appears from the inside the cabin and I was shocked and delighted. It was Captain Lee Tippett who I've know for at least 15 years. He is as good as it gets on the Chesapeake Bay. What a treat!

Before I got there, Tony had mentioned to Lee that this guy Ernie was leading the trip and Lee says. "Rojas"? Tony was amused by that.

But that's not all. Knowing that Tony grew up in Arlington, I asked him where he went to HS. He answered Yorktown so I asked him if he knew 2 fellas that I knew went to Yorktown. This is the small world part. Not only did Tony know both guys, but one of them was a groomsman in his wedding. I kid you not.

Tony's other two friends also fished a lot (Fletcher's) and we had good conversations about some of the legends at Fletcher's (like Paula).

Anyway, I knew the trip was gonna be good.

It was choppy at 1st...2 footers with some 3's mixed in. The fishing was slow and we only picked up 3 keepers in the first couple of hours, Then it got slow so we ate lunch.

But after lunch...we started catching! All told, we caught close to 25 stripers and we kept 14.

The weather was beautiful and the seas calmed down after the slack high tide (lunch time).

I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story!