Pacemaker Fishing Forum

A nice day on the bay, a rescue, some good karma and some fish.....this is a long one!

Wake up at 0350.... ✔

Meet Craig in Annandale at 0440....✔

Meet Bob in Forrestville at 0505....✔

Meet Capt. Dennis Fleming at Solomons Ramp 0615....✔



Start fishing before the sun comes up....✔





When we got to the rips, we were boat # 11 along with 2 kayaks. At one point, there were 18 boats but everyone got along.....

I don't remember who go t the 1st fish but it did not take long. Here is a series of early morning catches......








I couldn't resist....




Capt. Walleye Pete....





More fishies....


















Hungry little punk....




Did I mention what a beautiful day it was?









Then, things changed!

This kayaker was hooked up with a very nice fish. It was dragging him all over the place.



Once he got control (so we thought), he called his son over to take a picture...



In the blink of an eye, the yaker that had the fish on lost his balance and in the drink he went. That water is cold and fast!

Capt. Dennis yelled out for him to hang on to the kayak, we were coming over. We plucked him out of the water and the rescue was made.



The yaker was wearing a wet suit below his clothes but we talked him out of fishing anymore and took him back to where he had put in.



He was not hurt, just a little chilly and a hurt pride so we bid him goodbye at the beach.



That whole episode took no longer than 20 minutes from going in to the water to being dropped off at the beach. We felt good but it was time to fish some more. Kudos to Capt. Dennis!

This next one is Craig’s largest striper ever, 34-35 inches







Back to more fish (I did NOT take a picture of all the fish we caught, maybe 1 in 6?











By the way, we did not measure or weigh any of the fish. A quick picture with belly support and back in the water they went!




Bob then got a strange tug and this dead bird came up with hundreds of yards of line.






The fishing really slowed down at around 10 am. We did not catch anything for almost 90 minutes. I was up front a took a snooze. Then Craig gets hit....





...but I still stayed down. Then he got hit again as did Dennis. But it was some sarcastic remark that he made about my lazy behind that got me to start slinging again. I got hooked to the bottom and my line was cut. I had just enough leader to tie on a lure. I got ridiculed for that and almost paid a hefty price.

We had just talked about calling it a day but Dennis wanted to do one more drift....OK, whatever!

Thankfully, I got hit but it was weird. My line went limp as my lure was on the drop so I decided to see why. I was hooked up soon!



After a few head shakes, I declared that I was hooked up....with a BIG fish. The fish was taking line at will, I could do nothing to stop her. Several times, Dennis told me not to touch the drag but I was tempted. But I didn't touch it.

The gear was a 6'6" Loomis GL3 with a Revo Inhore spooled with 30lb braid and 2 inches of 30lb leader....

Dennis kept me calm as the fish just went down and stayed down. It actually felt like I had bottom except she would move once in a while. We are now 15 long minutes into this thing.

Meanwhile, Dennis is calling a few friends over and he is exited. So was I except this fish was putting a hurting on me. Another 10 minutes go by and I get a look. I think  I may have wet my pants!

Every fish that we caught today was taken off the hook by hand and carefully handled. There was no way we would get a picture unless we used the net. We decided to go for it but being extra careful. She came up, Dennis gently scooped her and we rested her on the bow.




I got my picture....



.....wow is all I could say. Actually, I was speechless.

We visually marked her on the deck and estimated her at 45-46". She was 40+ pounds....a huge head and a huge belly!

This is the culprit.....



....a 7" Case Sinkin Salty Super Shad is Smoke Silver! Note the leader length!

Thanks to the crew for their patience....what an experience! What a day!

BTW, I think we caught over 50 fish…..many of them were quality fish!