Pacemaker Fishing Forum

I had this thought that the east wind might get something started ocean side.  Specifically DE. remember 3 years ago when they had a few days of strong east winds and the mother load showed up in IRI?  I have a friend who lives down there that I met 4 or 5 years ago at the boat ramp. I was at the boat ramp looking for a ride or a boat to hire.  I'd have paid top dollar offshore prices if there was anyone available because of what I saw offshore one New Year's Day a few years ago .  No one fishing  but there was a gannet storm for as far as the eye could see well offshore.  Well this guy Pete who has a son and daughter my age was at the ramp.  The only truck and boat there too.  I told him what was happening and off we went.  We caught keeper stripers all day on our own busting on the surface.  It was the day dreams are made of.

Since then Pete and I have kept in touch. He's wanted to fish the flats but the bite hasn't materialized the last few years.  I've hooked up with him once or twice a year to give the inlet a shot.  Usually resulting in skunks.  But not yesterday.  I was headed to the beach on Friday afternoon on my own to do some surf fishing I had a 24 hour pass before family duties, Cub Scout activities and sons football.  I text Pete just in case he could fish.  It had been slow.  But he said he could fish Saturday.  I fished he surf and inlet from shore on Friday afternoon and night with little to show for it.  The water was muddy.  Both tides. Not good.  I crashed in the truck expecting a skunk the next day .


I woke up, fished the inlet at first light.  Nothing.  Brown water with an outgoing tide.  Pete said if it was going to happen it would be at the change of tides.  He was half an hour early.  I said the water is brown poo.  He said you don't have to go if you don't want to.  F that.  I'm fishing .  Off we go.  Tide just changed and with it some cleaner water .  Would you believe it, first cast he's hooked up.  I try to keep the boat out of the current but can't and we get sucked through the inlet fighting the fish.  40", spawned out but full of piss and vinegar.  A few guys on the rocks saw us land the fish.  But still no boats out front .  Set up again, we double on the next casts.  This time we fight the fish and some boats see us.  We have company now.  The social media, the texting, telegraph, air phones were blowing up.  The fish hit near the surface well until every idiot was running through them .  It was almost a big migrant bass every drift until the tide slowed and a dozen boats were in top of us.  Swim shads worked well at first but later when the fish went deeper light line and skinny plastics like BKDs jigged on a tight line Pete Dressler style was the only way.  I watched countless people shake their heads as we continuously hooked up.  Most people were using surf like tackle with giant buck tails that don't sink worth a darn. It was awesome. Pete and I both said to each other, "does this remind you of something"? Referring to the first time we met. The bite lasted the entire tide.  Then died.  We tried the opposite tide but the wind was against the tide and it got ugly.  All boats went in.  We called it a day.  And what a day it was.  Nothing like following the migration north and planning it just right.  Pictures to follow.

Last edited by Salmo (May-18-14 7:51AM)