KayakKevin.com

Its been a big fish week. Zack and I became members of the 50lb club. Mine on Wed. morning between the ships and the buoy and Zacks closer in on Sat. Lee hooked a 47"er with a free lined eel, 15 feet in front of his boat and the fish came out of the water and shook its head like a speck. On Sat Zack was wearing them out and I hadn't had a run in two days. Every time Zack or his buddy Lewis landed one, the other hooked up. I never had a chance to fish, tacking pictures the entire time. Finally I hooked up and landed the smallest striper of the night, but big enough to go into the fish box. Over all, 4 guys with 9 fish from 41" to 49" and 50.7 pounds.
 They're there, although on and off, Fri we got skunked and Sat we wacked'em. Just go as much as you can and put your time in and you'll run into them. Just stick with it and you'll GET ON'EM.  kev

 More shots in the big fish box, and a speck in the small fish box. This coming week is going to blow, so get ready, its just starting. Get some eels and GET ON'EM.   kev.

It was suppose to blow through the weekend, so Lee and I went big on Wed. We had our sites on the Yancy for tog. We arrived around 7:30am just as the tide slowed to slack. As soon as I could get a hunk of crab down, I was getting hits. We both caught a mess of tog. We both also caught 20" black drum, I had to deflate the swim bladder in mine. When the current got to its peak the bite turned off. We went to the island and got on'em there. I even caught a baby,7" sheepshead.

 The tog bite is on and if your a serious tog angler get Jessy buky to customise you best tog rod with the carbon butt piece. It will turn you tog fishing rod to a tog catching rod! GET ON'EM!  kev.

We began hooking up immediately, and the pace quickened. Although they only wanted the freshest crab chunks. Once they bit it a few times and I missed, they were done with it until I rebaited. I couldn't rebait fast enough. They would hit before I could get my reel set and ready. Lee caught at least a dozen, with only two under keeper size of 14", his top was 19". I caught 20, with five undersized and one at 21", ( small fish box). I was against the wall when I hooked into the 21"er. Like the big one I caught last year, he didn't fight until he was near the top. That's when they turn on the power. When they want back down, there going down. The fight went from "This feels like a good one" to " Oh no!", when half of my rod went into the water and my line was peeling off to the bottom. Plus he had me on the wall and headed to the door. It was a hectic fight and at any time that fish could have broke off on all of the sharp structure. Lee said after watching the fight," I thought that fish looked heavy, then when it really started to fight , it looked big!"

I caught a tagged tog and Lee caught a tog that I tagged a hour earlier. We went through a dozen crabs by 1pm, 60 pieces of bait.

Ric found the sand bar he was looking for and began wading and casting. He started to catch nice specks. I paddled to the edge of the bar and found a 19'er then a near-citation 23" speck. Those are the only two I landed while Ric landed a half dozen, it was a good day, GET ON'EM.  kev.

 END OF OCT, 1ST OF NOV

The fall has finally slammed the door shut on the summer temps. It been layers and waders time. Boo winter! At least the water temps are seasonable at 61 degrees.

The temp went from 68 on sat to 62 on Tues when Tom from Charlottesville and I hunted the HRBT for stripers. At sunset we caught a few 18 to 20"ers around the rocks of the island. After dark we hunted the light line. The current was the last of the outgoing, and it was hard to find a light on the west bridge without a boat already on it. We saw a few but they were slow to hit.

Tom stayed on the eastern shore and fished the concrete ships on Wed. He cast and jigged a gulp and landed a near citation, 23", 4 and a half pound speck! And two more at 16" and 17". He hooked into something big that nearly spooled his 14lb test line before it broke off. Possibly a 30" range red or striper.

Lee fished the Yancy this week for tog. He brought fiddlers and crab, nothing hit the fiddlers and he dint have a tog hit all day, but on the crab he landed 3 triggers and a 14" sea bass. I've seen a couple of rare keeper black sea bass landed from the CBBT this fall. 
I've seemed to miss the speck bites this week. Wed morning the bite turned on an hour after I left to go to work. They move though in waves and leave just has fast. A Norfolk tagged speck was recaptured 3 days later in rudee. There on the move but you can head them off at the pass and GET ON'EM.   kev

4TH WEEK OF OCT.

It seems that winter, or at least some seasonal temps, came over the bay later in the week. The water temps have been steady for to long. This cold front should start to drop the temps, which should restart the fall run. I only fished three times this week and it was a 3 on my 0 to 5 action rating scale. I have been wanting to target tog's, all of this light tackle speck fishing has me craving to set a hook. I'm sure going to miss the hot weather but its time for those water temps to drop so we can GET ON'EM.  kev

3RD WEEK OF OCT.

Specks are everywhere in the lower Chesapeake bay. Although most are the small 10-12 inchers the occasional school of 19-20 inchers will move through. The small ones are an excellent sign of the future speck fishery.

The HRBT is jumping with fish after dark. Stripers 18-20 inches are thick on the light line, grey trout and blues own the water under the lights and flounder are waiting on the bottom. It is a silverside slaughter out there every night.

Sunday at work, the 'Hooked Up' landed a 11lb flounder, the 'Fishing Fool' caught wreak fish, black belly rose fish, sea bass and blue line tilefish, deep dropping off shore. But I think the most interesting catch was the 16" black sea bass caught by Mike on his Performer. That size black bass is usually caught off shore. This one was caught at the CBBT. Its suppose to be warm this week and fish are biting, get out and GET ON'EM.  kev

2ND WEEK OF OCT

5 days after the citation croaker

I wasn't getting any hits at one speck spot so I decided to paddle down to another area. I thought I might as well troll my gulp to see if I could pick anything up. There's at least a chance I could get a croaker or small flounder. I cast my 3/8 jig with a smoke gulp curly tail out way back, loosened the drag even looser and began to paddle. The water got deeper and I let out more line. I hear zzzzzz, zzzzzzz. the line was pealing off fast. I turned the boat and grabbed the rod. My braid was almost down to the backing, 80 yards, and the fish was still running. I was shure I had a 30" red with the steady run. I slowly and lightly fought it to within 20 yards of my boat. With its sweeping head shakes and short darts, it felt like a striper, but I didn't tighten down I kept up with the speck fight, real light. 10 yards from the boat, it was a speck, and definitely a trophy. I suppressed the adrenalin shot and my excitement and concentrated on landing the thing. Next to the boat I was ready to lip'em. I knew a regular flounder scoop wasn't going to land that speck, so I was ready to take the stitches for that caliber of fish. He flared his gills and I had my opening. I grabbed it like a shark, behind it head. With my leg, leader, and shark grip I tossed it into my kayak. The hook popped out and flew into the water. The speck flopped and I layed on'em.

I knew it was at least a 25 incher. I put the tape on'em and my eyes followed the numbers past 25, 26 and ended on 27". Bigger that any I caught in Florida, the largest I've ever held, the biggest speck of my life. I set my camera, got the shots and weighed it on my hand scales, 6lb 14oz. If it wouldn't revive, it would weigh. The minimum is 5lb or 24" for the release. I held on to it by the tail for 10 to 15 minutes until I felt it was strong enough to survive. It kicked of slow but strong. For the rest of the afternoon I caught 10 more from 16 to 21 inches. The next day, nothing. The next day, 8 including a 24"er. The next day 2 12"ers.

Last years specks averaged 15 to 18 inches. This year, they seem to be 19 to 21 inchers. Last years occasional 22 inchers are now trophy 24 inchers. Speck fishing is up and down, day by day. If you have a spot were you've caught specks before, even if they've been small, hammer it every day you can, the larger will come around. Constant fishing, after hours of casting and thoroughly working an area, you'll GET ON'EM.  kev

1ST WEEK OF OCT.

It's been an interesting week on the lower Chesapeake Bay. Strong easterly winds had most boaters inside, the resurgence of the algae bloom, the red tide,  has the bay streaked with brownish red algae, and the water temperature has risen from 73 to 76 degrees. It may not feel like fall with highs in the mid 80's, but the fall run has begun. The fish are following their migratory patterns into their fall feeding areas.

A wave of small specks, 9 to 11", have moved through providing me with a great tagging opportunity. I tagged  6 to 8 each afternoon I fished. A few larger ones have been swimming around.

This is the time of year I target silver drum, aka big croaker. Yea, that's right, I target croaker. I don't use the conventional double bottom rig and bloodworm's. I use light tackle, a half to 5/8 ounce jighead and gulp. I hover with the one arm paddle technique and vertical jig for them.

I've been hunting for a citation croaker for three years. They have to be 20" for a release or 3lb's for a kill citation. I've come close every year, many times. I've landed fat 18"ers that weighed 2lb's, 14 oz and long 19.5"ers, but never big enough.

Lee laughed when I said "Let's try for the silver drum."  "Were going to target croakers?" he asked. I answered " Yea man, big croaker." I drop in and land a 18"er, then a hefty fighting 26" red. A little while later I set into a heavy head that din't budge and my rod doubled. It slowly rose a few feet and pumped to the bottom. I new it was a croaker and not a red, a red would have ran off horizontally. Big croakers fight down like a tog. Just not as fast and hectic. They also lean against you like a black drum. I got him within site and it was big, it had to be a 20"er. I was ultra excited when I landed the silver drum. I put the tape on it, it was only 19". I was let down "Man, I thought that was the one."

A 19" croaker is totally picture worthy. I was ready to release it when lee reminded me that he wanted to keep a few. He put it in his cooler. Later, I pulled out the fish to show a buddy and it seemed a lot fatter half dead than when I was holding it all flared up for the picture. I remembered I had my hand scales. It read 3lbs. I didn't trust my scales, Lee said," That's to close." I said " Dude, we gotta go."

We get to Oceans East Tackle Shop and it weighed exactly 3lbs. I was shocked, I finally caught a citation croaker. If it wasn't for Lee wanting to keep some, it would have been released.

Trophy spot should be here in a matter of weeks. I can't wait to GET ON'EM.    kev

The inshore fish are getting bigger and fatter, preparing for their move, their metabolism is speeding up as the water temperature slowly drops. From the peninsula to the southside, mid 20" range reds, specks and silver drum, aka croakers over 16", are putting on the weight and are all over the area. The only fall fishery that hasn't started is the citation size spot. They're getting closer though, I've caught some up to 11". It wont be long, last year it was mid to later Oct when a few showed up.

The big croakers have been fun. Someone chuckled when I said I target croakers. But they are truly a lot of fun on light tackle and a trophy one is hard to get, Ive been trying for a while. I've gotten close alot with fat 18"ers and long 19"ers. I don't fish your standard bottom rigs for them, I jig and cast the usual gulp on a jighead. Vertical jigging in deep water they fight like a cross between a tog and a small black drum. In shallow water they peal line like reds. I love them silver drum.

 What are you doing behind the computer, GET ON'EM.   kev

3RD WEEK OF SEPT

 I'm working on my way to recovery. Paddling doesn't hurt, but jigging and retrieving the lure irritates my entire shoulder. Five days of strong northerly winds kept me inside pretty lake this week. Between Sat and Tues something dramatic happened. The temperature dropped six degrees from 80 to 74, in three days. That a fast drop, I was worried that would cause temperature shock to the fish or it should cause the fall run to kick into gear. In pretty lake I caught a small 9" speck and 14" red. A few ladyfish were around, I jumped two.

 Fri lee and I fished the coal piers around Lambert's point. We cast on a few points with no takers. We paddled to one of the old piers and jigged down deep, 20 to 30 feet. We hooked up to some hard fighting reds. 20 to 24". We had some great pulls as they ran away from the pier. It  was allot of fun working them out from that depth, they were strong. One gave me ugly fight, raping around a piling. I got him out of that, then he runs under a horizontal pile while Lee laughed at me. He came out and yanked me under the pier. I planted my feet on the wood and kept him from going further in. They were all as fat as they could be, big and heavy, mean and still hungry. I caught a nice white perch and Lee caught some small flounder. We both caught medium croaker.

 I will be speaking at Bass Pro Shop on Fri and Sun. Fri and sun at 3pm on kayak fishing for striper. Sun at 5pm will be the Florida tour show. Come on out and check it out.

 The water temperature is on the decline and the fish are fatten'ing up. Fall has begun. GET ON'EM.  kev.

I finally was able to put my butt in the boat in the water. The clicking in my shoulder has stopped, but my muscles are weak. I only paddled 100 yards or so in pretty lake. Paddling doesn't hurt but fishing works my shoulder. It irritates it a little, it will build back up. On wed I caught the smallest slam, a 12" red, 9" speck and a 6" flounder. On fri I landed two reds at 11 and 14", I hooked something that jumped, I thought it may have been a baby speck or blue.Then I jumped another,  and then one leaped three times before throwing my hook. Ladyfish. Totally rare for our area. I caught them up to swansboro nc on my tour, but not up here. This year has had a few anomaly's, the jack crevalle at the first island, the huge tripletail  that Jorj Head caught while buoy hooping, I recently heard of a big grouper spotted at one of the islands buy divers. And ladyfish. If this is an effect of global warming then bring it on. How long until we have tarpon in the light line at the HRBT.

Out of the dozen I jumped on fri, I only landed one. They are tough to keep on when they spend most of the quick fight in the air. After the third jump I think they're done, then they shoot out of the water, head shaking with my gulp flying the other way. Sat was the same. And I got a picture of the one out of a dozen jumped. I could see them coming, they looked like mullet pushing water. I jumped four out of four cast. They were aggressive and fun but small, 12 to 14 inches.

The cold front that moved thru on sat is the beginning of fall; the water is already cooling. This should trigger the fish to start fattn'en up for their run south. I'm slowly getting ready, recovering. Fall is creeping up, its time to GET, ON'EM.  kev.

 I'm still recovering, and my shoulder is getting better everyday, I should be paddling again buy next week. I went with Capt Reese and Damion who is Reese's show producer and a fellow kayak angler, but on Sat we were boat anglers. when I asked Reese on the show if I could go he said " come on I've got the minnows and the squid."  I answered " I don't need any of that, I've got my jig heads and gulp." I think I heard Reese laugh a bit. We get out there and Reese prepares his flounder rigs with the 'sandwich'. I put on a 'jigasaras gulp' and drop it in the water. I bounced it along the drift for a few minutes and caught a 18"er. And then a 17"er.  Then Reese and Damion caught'em. They were all undersized and were tagged and released. Damion also caught a decent sized roundhead. We didn't stay to long we came back around 1:30. That afternoon I went to the HRBT with my dad and caught nothing but one 11" flounder.

 Is there any questions or story you want to hear about? email me and I will answer them here in the weekly catch. Hopefully ill be back in my kayak this coming week and i can GET back ON'EM.  kev.

 LAST WEEK OF AUGUST

 Well, I'm still on the injured list, no paddling for me this week. But lee went out on labor day along with a million boats and fished the Yancy. Lee landed a 24" sheep and broke off three others. Two weeks ago, lee caught a triggerfish that I tagged a few weeks before. On labor day Lee caught the same one again. This time, the trigger didn't get released. Lewis on the 'Hooked up' was flounder fishing off of cape Henry and boated a 50" cobia. The guys aboard the 'Freedom' dived on wrecks off of Wachapreague over the weekend hunting for lobster. Instead shot flounder, with one at 30", and some of the biggest tog Ive ever seen. Multiple 30"ers.

 I received a couple of cool tag returns this week. Rick Williams caught one of my flounder that I tagged in may at the HRBT. Rick caught the 12" flounder off of cape Henry. The largest black drum I caught was recaptured three days later. Why this is so cool is that it was a long fight. It took me a half hour to land him. And I had him out off the water for a while. But I spent nearly 20 minutes reviving him. I held on to his bottom lip until he bit me then I held on to the top lip so he could breath better. He drummed and I flipped him around and held on to his tail until he fully kicked hard and out of my hand. I had heard someone saw three floating dead black drum at cape Henry. You gota put the time in reviving these monsters, not just toss them in. Theres a spot on the eastern shore were Lee and I were tagging real small tog and black sea bass. In June I tagged  sea bass, in July Lee caught the same one. In august I caught him again. A week later it was caught on his way out at the CBBT. As the tag returns are showing, some fish are starting to move. GET ON'EM. kev.

 4TH WEEK IN AUGUST

 I was riding my bike home from work on a typical sunny sunday afternoon. I always cool down the last block from my house by riding with no hands and relaxing. I can ride like that for miles on my 15 year old Gary Fisher mountain bike. I have good control usually, until my left foot slipped off.

  Time sped up when my foot hit the ground. I tried to my weight to my right and grab the handle bars. They spun to the right, locking the bike up. I knew i was going down. Time slowed, I brought my hands into my chest, pulled my legs in away from my bike. I tucked my head in and spun my body in mid air, aiming my back toward the road and prepared for impact. I hit hard on my left shoulder blade. Time sped up fast. The hit jarred my entire body. I rolled over my back and stoped upright on my butt. I took a breath and made a damage assessment from head to toe. Two of my fingers were bleeding, my knee was scraped and my shoulder hurt. It wasn't a sharp pain so I knew nothing was broken, but it hurt like it should after landing on it with that much weight and force. I stood up and shook it all off, double checking for any sudden pains with each step. I hopped back on my bike and rode home. In the five min it took to get home my shoulder was hot and swelling. I immediately iced it down. There was no way I was going to the emergency room and sit there for four hours just for some bruising.

 Four days later their was a lump on my shoulder that didn't go away when the swelling did. I was worried it was a carer ending detached muscle. I went to Dr. Cohen who saw me last year when I was crushed by the boat at work. Got an x ray and my collar bone is dislocated from my shoulder. It sounds bad but not as bad as a detached muscle. I asked " can you pop it back in?" he said "not without opening you up, most people are 100% after six months, you'll be back paddling in no time."

 Lee went to the CBBT this week and whacked the triggerfish up to 18". Joe capt of the 'decisions' caught a nearly impossible Chesapeake grand slam. Citations of cobia, red and black drum, all around the 1st and 2nd islands.

 For now I'm on the bench with the injury for a few weeks. I probably wont be able to hunt big fish, till the stripers in the winter. I was handling small sharks and bringing big rays to close enof to get me a week before. Something as mundane as riding home from work, nearly took me out. I have to start out slow, fishing for bait and work my way out to further waters.Reds and specks will be the target in another month, i'll be ready by then. There should be allot this year, I hope to stick allot of tags if I can get GET ON 'EM. kev.

 3RD WEEK IN AUGUST

  Ric and I jumped out to the first island for the afternoon early in the week. We couldn't ask for a nicer day. Though we could have had clearer water. Ric was ahead of me and saw a few black drum but they were low. The water visibility was about 5 feet and the fish were allot deeper than that. After trying the tube and getting robed buy baby black sea bass, i eventually went to the Yancy and caught one 16" trigerfish.

   On the way back, right after sunset, I saw two fins coming down current around some pilings south of the Yancy. I thought it was two rays. when the fins circled around the last pile I saw the white underside of the 50+ inch cobia. I started shaking and loud whispered to Ric "cobia, cobia." I pitched the jigasuras up current, a bluefish bit the tail off as soon as it hit the water. I reloaded and fired back but the cobia disappeared down deep.

  For the last couple of weeks we have gone for tarpon on the eastern shore. So far, we haven't even seen one. But it is nonstop action with rays and small sharks. The rays would take off. Even when I slammed the hook in them, they just keep going, theres no stopping them. I watched my spool empty out and drop my anchor rope to wench down on them to get some line back. All day long. I went thru 20 hooks and two dozen spot, croaker,blues and menhaden which a cut in half for baits.

 Lee always said the eastern shore givith and takeith back. In the past Ive last anchors and ropes and broken rods. This day I did both. my anchor buoy slipped off of the rope. I tried to get it wile holding on to my rope which slipped from my hand and sank. I had a spare.

 On the last bait of the day I fought a large ray to the boat. I almost had the leader when the ray shot under and out away from the kayak, breaking my rod in three places. Lee is right.

  Although no targeted fish were even seen, I enjoyed having a day fishing with both of my fishing buddy's. And that's what its about anyway. Fishing with your Friends even though you don't GET ON'EM. kev.

2nd week in august

FRI the winds were forecasted to be southwest 10 to 20 (NOAA) and 20 to 25 (weather channel). I wanted to fish the 1st island with Ric, who had the day off, and Lee. Target: black drum. Lee and Ric hadn't gotten one yet. The forecasted strong southerly winds would be tough to paddle in against. I called around to those who had offered a mothership trip in the past. Reese from the Catchen' with Capt. Reese radio show on 850 WTAR agreed. We needed a test run for any off shore trip we might do in the future. It was easy, Ric and I have done it with Barclay trying to film for the "Smoking Gun TV show." It was really easy in the WTAR, Troy Marine 36' pro cat; big and comfortable, our three boats and room to spare.

We get to the 1st island and the winds were SE 5 to 10.  Capt. Reese dropped us off and we paddle around to the east side. I saw a sheepshead over the tube. I had to put my blinders on, "my target is drum" I said. I didn't even have my 'rock' rods. I saw a big black drum as soon as I went around the corner. I was looking for the schooling ones. They were down deep. I free lined a live peeler for a wile with no takers. When it died, I cut it in half and pitched it in front of the school. I caught a 30"er. A real small one for there! I didn't think there were any this size out here!

I kept getting small bites on my peeler halves. I slowly reeled up and had three triggerfish follow it up, nipping on it all the way. Ric watched as I kept them on the surface, trying to hook them with my 9/0 hooks. Lee went to the Yancey and caught 4 triggers up to 17". While Ric went to the tube, and got his fiddlers robbed by baby black sea bass. Lee broke his rod on a discarded anchor rope. Likely my lost anchor rope I dropped the week before.

Capt. Reese was going to pick us up around noon so we all switched to the 'jigasauras' and began hunting and casting. The wind shifted northerly, we could have paddled out and had the tail wind back; it would have been perfect. It was tough hunting with the smaller schools way down deep. I wouldn't see them until I was right over top of them. I would back off to cast. I hooked up to a 48"er, but the tail. I held on for the ride. I stayed with him as he pulled me through the school. When he was finally done, I spun him around buy the leader and lipped him. Ric was too far to get a picture; I tagged him and got him in the water. He quickly kicked away strong.

Ric was the next to hook up while standing, jigging at them under his boat. The fight was heavy, Ric hooked him buy the tail, but he heaved the 48"er up and landed for the picture (in the fish box).

Lee was almost convinced that he was not going to get one then his line snapped tight. He was pulled around fast; it looked like a good battle. The 48"er dropped his kayaks waterline when he landed it. His was hooked in the chin, real near the mouth. When he was reviving the fish, schools of spadefish were swimming down current, eating the slime that was coming off the drum.

Ric didn't register his fish for a citation, but lee did. The rule is if you are trying to get them to bite and you accidentally snag one, you can register a citation. Although Ric was trying to make them bite, he didn't want the citation. I said “you were fully intending to entice a bite, get the citation man.” Lee's fish was hooked close enough to the mouth to say he was trying to hit the jig. Lee got the citation. A mouth hook up is a much better fight. Faster, more aggressive runs, and stronger pulls and head shakes. 2 out of 7 of the ones I threw the jigasauras to, were hooked in the lip. Whether it’s a reactionary or a hunger bite, they will hit a jig.

The black drum is still there but something has changed. They are deeper and fewer than the phenomenal day I had that sat. But still worth targeting if you can handle the smelly thick slime, look at lee's legs. Even if they leave or are too deep to site cast to, there are plenty of other fish to target, GET ON'EM. Kev

1st week of August

Last week I had a schedule change at work. I was needed on the afternoon shift. Lee works in the evenings so we jumped out to the 1st island for sheepshead and black drum. We had been tracking them for weeks. First they were at the 3rd and 4th islands. A month ago they were at the 2nd island. Then I began hearing reports about the 1st. Ric landed a 46"er two years ago and last year they did'nt even show up.

I took my JB custom rock fishing rod ( tog, sheepshead) and a 6'6" cape fear rod, rated to an ounce and a half. My reel is a quantum, accurate pt low profile bait caster spooled with 20lb braid to 30lb fluorocarbon leader, and a 1oz jig head which I baited with the new 6" gulp curly tail. It's half the gear I like to fight big fish with, but I landed a 40" striper and felt fairly confident with it.

We launched at 4:30am and fished the rocks till 9. I caught two togs at 14". Lee landed 4 from 14" to 21!"

I slow paddled 10 yards from the rocks. I had never seen the big blacks on the islands before and dint know what to look for. I went 10 yards and " oh there thay are!" they were surprisingly easy to see. They were light tan against the dark background, and looked like a light colored rock that moved. I put my paddle down kinda loud and scared them. I pitched infront of the direction they took of in. The line came tight and began pealing off the spool. All while Lee was saying " what? where? you got one on !?!"

I had no control over that drum, it was bear hunting with a switch! lee was shooting video as the fish pulled me back and forth at lee. Slamming my kayak into his three times. I like 40lb mainline and 60lb leader and my big rods to battle that caliber of fish. With heavy tackle I can horse them around and put up a better, more exiting fight. This fish had its way with me and I just held on.

Lee said "I'm going to look for one"   I said " go ahead, this is going to take awhile!"                                                                                        

After 20 to 30 minutes he finally came up. I had him foul hooked in the pectoral fin. I got him beside the boat, he was facing away from me. A voice in my head yelled "he's right there, grab him!!" I gripped his tail, my fingers did'nt even wrap around all the way. I got my leg under him and tried to slide him up. He was just to heavy and and his huge head and shoulders were still in the water. I leaned back as far as I could, it wasn't enough. Lee yelled over "what are you doing!" I dropped him back into the water and he ran to the bottom. I winched him back up and grabbed his lower jaw, got my leg under and heaved him in!. My kayak listed hard to the side. He measured out at 48". I did'nt get a girth measurement but I am estimating him at least 50lb.

SAT we went to the 1st island again. This time I brought out the big guns. I staked them for hours. I suspended a clam just to be eaten up buy baby black bass. I was just enjoying watching them swim around the rocks like they were little minnows. "They don't know they're that big" Ric says.

I stalked behind a group of 6 swimming along. I made a cast in front of them and hooked one. I sat down and got adjusted and ready for the fight. The big black swam steadily with the school, pulling me along. He did'nt know he was hooked. For a full 2 min he pulled me completely unfazed buy my puny hook. I tried to yank on the line to make him run, but pulled the hook.

Lee had to head back for work and stoped at the Yancey. Within 20 min he almost had a ' rock' slam. 26" sheep, 17" trigger and lost a 22" tog at the boat.

The east wind messed up my hunting so I anchored for sheepshead. No bites, I got skunked! but I did learn a better standing paddle technique, and really observed their movements. Getting skunked always sucks but learning something new and gaining knowledge from observation will help me on the next trip to GET ON'EM ! kev

I completed my tour from the southern foot of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel to the Roosevelt Inlet  in Lewes, Del on the Delaware Bay. It took 11 days with the first half dealing with head winds. It was a fairly easy tour compared to the others. It's the first one I did'nt feel like my life was in danger! The only down side was the boring canals in Del. When my computer gets back up I will give a detailed report with pictures.

Little reds are everywhere; just find a marsh grass point at high tide. Cast a 1/4 to 3/8 oz jig head with a gulp right against the grass with light tackle and hold on! there are many 18 to 20"ers this year and they fight hard, just like there older, bigger brothers.

I paddled out to the 1st island in search of sheepshead on Sat. eEer in the week the guys on board the 'Fishnutz' were flounder fishing with a live spot at the first and caught a 24",  10lb sheepshead! Yea, on a live spot!! Maybe I should have brought some spot, there were no sheep'es for me. The overall action was slow but I was able to land two 16" tog and a 15" trigerfish. When the wind blew me off of my favorite hole I hunted flounder in the rocks and landed a 22"er.

The HRBT is still covered up with 12 to 13" flounder and small stripers in the lightline. It's alot of fun! I guided Paul from Kansas out on Fri and he was all smiles when we got back. Now is the time if you want to experience the best sight casting for stripers anywhere. The water is warm and the fish are easy to catch! Come on and lets GET ON' EM.  kev.

June 3 - 10

The saying goes, "that's cobia fishing." Long boring hours sitting in a chum slick, smelling like menhaden. Baits constantly nipped by blues and the occasional ray or shark to break the boredom. Then, once in long while, a shot at a cobia. I have never caught one over 40", not even close. I've only caught two total, one in Fla, and one on the Latimer Shoal with Ric. Both in the low 30" range. I have been alot of times, even had two look right at me, but never got a big one. But if one of us catches one, it a success. That's cobia fishing.

Early in the week Lee and I decided on Grandview, Ric was going to be on the Outerbanks. Mid week I called local cobia guru Mac McCormick to get the scoop. Mac has hunted these fish for 13 years. He and his crew aboard his 23 foot Neptune, named ' Bay Runner' won the Hampton Creek Cobia Tournament twice in a row and 3rd the next year. Mac has registered at least one a year in citation with the largest at 78lb. Mac has been kayak fishing for 4 years and is ready to tackle his favorite fish from his kayak. Mac was already planning on fishing Sat and invited us to go. I said, " I'm following you!" 

Arron, the sit-inside kayaker, (check out his 48" striper in the fish box section), called on Thurs, "What are you doing on sat afternoon?"

I said, "Paddling back in from Grandveiw, hopefully worn out buy big cobia!"

He said "Oh, then can I go with you guys?"

SAT, 6am, we met at Grandveiw Beach on a pretty morning, light westerly wind. Mac was pointing out hot spots and I said, "I'm following you man."

We paddle out and anchor in a line across the current. Arron hooks a ray. The tide changed and the forcasted strong winds turned on like a light switch. Mac paddled over and said he was moving in to get out the wind. I said I was coming in when my chum bag was out. Five minutes later when a wave splashed my back I thought, "What? Am I back at the shoals?" I pulled my anchor on and moved in. Lee and I set up where our chum slick flowed parallel with Mac's. At 11am the wind was a solid 15 to 20. With nowhere to hide we landed -  that's cobia fishing.

FRI was a tour training day, I paddled my tour boat for the first time since Sep 05. I went from Willoughby to East Beach of Ocean View and took a picture of the anchored sail boats preparing to sail into Norfolk for harbor fest. Then paddled back, 14 miles, 6 hours.

Ric and I fished Lynnhaven this week and got on some little reds, some up to 19", a great fight on light tackle. They battle just like their older brothers.

I work the morning shift at Taylor's Landing. Ee have big trash cans at the fish cleaning tables so not to liter the water with rotting fish carcases. Although I am not there when the fish come in, I see them in the fish bucket. This morning I saw the first sheepshead of the year. The flounder have been sparse, even for the flounder pounders. The spade fish at the Light Tower have been on fire. Many anglers getting their limit within an hour then having fun releasing the rest. The water is warm, for the first time this year I wore shorts this past weekend. Croakers are everywhere, just drop some fishbites down and have some fun. Summer is here, GET ON'EM.  kev.

MAY 30- JUNE 3

The big red drum grand finale. Three days on the Eastern Shore, three days of getting beat up on the Fisherman Island Shoals. For the last 5 weeks my main target was the big reds. Each week was its own wild adventure! Not that I won't go to the shoals for a try, but usually May is the prime time for that area. The May full moon is the time that crabs shed. I think that is what attracts the reds to those shoals. The fishery will continue on the nine foot and middle ground shoals for another month, too far to fish from a kayak. My season in the washing machine is done. Final tally;after 55 hours, I caught six reds, 41", two 43", 44", 46", and a 48"er. Two blacks at 30". Lee had three reds at 40",42" and 47" , and one black at 38" which was caught six days later at buoy 13. Ric had a kayak-caught red at 45" and a boat-caught red at 47". And Jay Beeler on his 1st time on the shoals and his 1st cast landed a 46" citation red.

THURS, I make a quick escape from work after a near $80 disaster with our peelers, the last peeler crabs around. I put them in my to frosty fridge and nearly killed them. I revived them at work and back on ice thay went. I evacuated the southside across the CBBT and met Lee at the launch at 1pm. We paddled out to the shoals with perfect timing as the outgoing tide ended and the flood tide began. The wind was from the south up to 15mph. The waves were rolling in at 3to 4 feet with a little wind chop. 15 min after putting out the baits, the line moved with slow steady clicks. I gradually thumbed my spool, hooked the fish and he ran hard for the breakers. my anchor rope broke loose as usual, I was heading for the breakers. I grabbed my anchor rope and started that tug of war again.        

" Forget this!" I yelled and lighted up on the drag. The wind held me of the shoal while I kept pressure on and waited for him to come of the shoal. I engaged my other reel so I wouldn't have allot of line out, so i wouldn't get tangled in it during the fight. The fish eventually ran to the deeper water and i tighten down the drag and went after him. Winching down on him, moving fast, POW! my other rod gets hit hard! The tip was nearly in the water and line was getting striped from my spool, loudly, my clicker was still on. I looked down to se my rod holder flexing my kayak! l had to loosen the drag so the fish wouldn't rip it from my boat. Then my clicker really started to scream. 

I called Lee on the radio "Lee I've got a double and he's spooling me, get over here and get this fish!!"

The two fish held me in place, one heading for the shoals and the other going inland. I handed Lee the other rod. " This is a nice rod" he said about my JB big fish custom rod. finally I was free to fight and land my 41" red. I tagged him as lee fought and landed the 42"er. The waves grew as the tide rose then lee hooks up. I drop my anchor rope and float back for some shots. The full moon current was cranken. It was hard work hovering with lee as he fought the fish on anchor. It was a tough fight against that current. He would get him close to land him and he would keep going forward against the current. He eventually landed the 47" citation red.we fished for another 3 hours with not a bite.

 FRI Ric and I were filming with Barclay Shepperd and his TV show ' the smoking gun outdoors show' this was our second shot. We tried for cobia last year and got skunked. We felt confident since they were there the day before. We mother-ship on Barclay flats/bay boat. We loaded up and launched from Kiptopeake. We unloaded into our kayaks behind the shoals. It was windy and choppy, with a raging current. we were all jumping waves. Eventually Barclay couldn't stay anchored in position after almost taking a wave over the bow, and retreated to deeper water. I was ready to throw in the towel, but Ric moved closer into the shoal. I hovered around Ric yelling, "there's no fish here today!" No other boats were catching and I was well over the beating, and after two more white rolling walls of saltwater slammed us, he was ready too. That was the first skunk in 5 weeks. And the 2nd skunk trying to film with Barclay. Ric and I camped at the creek launch, loaded up in case we had an opportunity to get out for the early morning incoming tide. 

 SAT 4am came early as Ric and I woke to low winds and we launched. Ric was way ahead of me as usual in his prowler 15. when I came around the Smith Island Point, I hit the incoming current. I called Ric on the radio, " I just hit the current wall, I think we are to late."

He called back, "It's not that bad out here, just come on!"

I padded at a snails pace, 1mph and crawled out to Ric already set up on the shoal.

"Yea, its not that bad out here"  and that was the problem. The waves were weak, the water was too clear, no turbulence churning up the shoal. And the temp had dropped 5 degrees. By 9am the current should have been cranken, but it was flowing like a half moon tide. We both had sweet spots. I was right on the edge of the shoal, the breaking waves within 10 feet. I was luckily over a small hole, waves would break infront of me, then reform under, then break behind. As the water level rises, the waves are able to keep their energy over the outside bar. They don't break over the same shallow area when the water was lower. They keep their form and break further in, where we are anchored. We always have to move to deeper water toward the top of the tide. As the peaking waves would almost break and roll over, I would think, "I'm probably going to have to move".  Not long after, I looked up at a wave that rolled in from a different angle. It was bigger than the others. 

I thought, "that's not going to break there."

It peaked up to the limit and broke. I yelled "no way!"

I tried to paddle fast up the wall, but it was already too late. The wall of white water hit me square in the face! I slammed down the back side and looked at Ric through the water running off my hat. He was singing the Hawaii Five-O theme.

It would have been nice to have a grander grand finale, like a 50 incher, but a double on Thurs was wild! But that's the way I like it. I fish a place hard until I get skunked. Next on the list and in our sights, cobia! One was weighed at Wallace's late last week, it has started. Until then, I am getting ready for a short tour from VA beach to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. And all the inside fishing spots have fish, it's all on -so GET ON'EM. kev.

May 25- 30

I know I sound like a broken record when talking about the 'shoals', burliest fish, burliest place,blah,blah,blah. And it seems that every week I've got another crazy story from the eastern shore. Well, it's a wild place! With big wild fish! Only experienced kayak anglers should try.

After posting on the tkaa.org forums, there was a small fleet of kayakers going, there was Lee, who has fished with me alot in the last year, sheepshead, tog, striper (check out the fishbox page). If it's big and burly -  he has fished for them with me. There was Linstad, who has fished with Ric and I a number of times in imperfect conditions. He is always cracking smart jokes in his North Dakotan accent. There was Jay and Rick C; 10 year fishing partners, pier and surf guys who in the last two years have put alot of time in the kayaks. A good crew, experienced in the water, in their kayaks, and prepared for big reds.

I get a call the night before from a guy who wanted to come down and hit the shoals with us. I basically interviewed him, " what's your kayaking experience?"

He said, " I just got my kayak and I've gone in my creek a few times." 

I said, "dude, you don't want to paddle out to the shoals! You need at least a year paddling before you even think about going out to the shoals." 

I spent the next 15 minutes trying to talk him out of it. But he was real persistent about going.

He said, "I'm a young guy."

I said, "It doesn't matter. It's your skill level and ability I'm worried about. It's how much you can take. Haven't you read my reports (here and TKAA)?  It is the burliest place we fish and they are big and mean!"

He still wanted to go. I thought to myself, what is this guy thinking?  I guess when you look at the pictures of us holding big reds in relatively calm water, it doesn't look bad. But those pictures are taken after the fish has already pulled us away from the shoals. So he was going to come out. And I wasn't going to tell the dude, no you can't go. I just wanted him to know what he was getting himself in to.

"Do you have any kids?" 

"No."

"Good, no dependents.  You're going to be a liability to us out there, if you go in, one of us is going to have to risk his life to save you."

FRI we paddled out with the crew. The newbie was way under-geared, with medium weight tackle. I pointed to the other guys' heavy tackle and said, "If you hook one, he will spool you on the first run. If you do get lucky and get to fight one you'll be back at the launch by the time you land him."

We went over a tiny boat wake and teh newbie said " whoa."

Lee and I laughed. Not trying to be mean. Lee said to him "you don't know what you've gotten yourself in to." 

Luckily, the newbie got sea sick in a hour and paddled to Smith Island to recover along with Rick C. who also had gotten sick.  Lucky he got out before the tide changed and it really got crazy. I know some of you sickos wanted some carnage story about teh newbie, but him getting sea sick so quickly was the best thing that could have happened.

I always get scared approaching the shoals. Scared of missing the slew and getting closed in a shoal with the out going tide and getting sucked into the breakers. You never know what its like until it's to late and you're in them. Plus the added pressure off all my buddies following me into the teeth of the monster. But again I found the same spot at the right time.

The current was slacking and we all did the pitch and drift technique. One of Jay's first pitches put it right into a red's mouth. Unanchored, he fought that fish with the slightest drag so not to get pulled into the shoals. He had just enough pressure to keep him on until he ran for the deeper water. He fought it so lightly I doubted he even had a fish. Incredible, expertly executed drag control kept Jay out of the shoal, and disaster. Jay tighted down on'em in the deep water and landed his first kayak 46" citation red!

When the current began to flood back in, it brought the waves. They began to grow, 2 to 3 foot. We anchored up, in a line next to the breakers. Lee was tucked in tight into a small deep hole. Waves were breaking in front of him, reforming and breaking behind him. When the waves grew to 4 feet, I think I saw Lee get vertical a couple times. My problem in those waves is my anchor rope cam. With the sudden jerk of a wave, my rope gets released. I'm usually riding the waves with the rope in my hand like a rodeo rider.

The crab on the line in the wash began to move. Slowly my reel began to click. Linstad was within hearing distance, I called to him, "here it goes!" I slowly tighted down my drag. the fish really picked up speed as the circle hook worked its way in to place. He was heading deeper into the shallow, shallow water.  A 4 foot wave nearly broke on me, and pow -  my anchor rope is out and I'm heading into the breakers. I could have loosened my drag put my rod in the rod holder and paddled out, but he felt like he wanted to go all the way across the shoal. I didn't have enough line for that. On instinct, I grabbed my anchor rope with my left hand. With my kayak broadside to the peaking 3 to 4 foot waves, and a tough red steadily trying to pull me into a deadly washing machine, I was in a life threatening tug of war!

The fish was digging in like a pit bull trying to break its chain. I kept my drag tight holding my ground with my rope. My line went slack a couple of times and I transferred my rod to my left hand.  The rope burned as it slipped thru my hand with the pitching waves while I reeled furiously. This ugly fight seemed to last 10 minutes.

I wanted it to end. I wanted to land the fish! It was a long stand off. I was tired, but holding on. The waves were breaking so close it was just a matter of time, one would break on me. My muscles strained as I held on.

He finally ran to the deeper water, then it was my fight! With tight drag I winched down on'em, to the boat and he would burn drag, sprinting away. Spin me to the left, to the boat, splash! Tail wash! And out 20 yards! I'd wench back to him, he sprinted at my boat, blam! He rammed my hull, spinning me to the right. It was like two heavy weight fighters exchanging brutal body blows. He wrapped me in my other line a dozen times, but I worked it out. And eventually worked him out. We measured the length and I was shocked that he was 44". Don't get me wrong, any fish 40+ inches is a prize catch in a kayak, but a BIG red is 50" and up. I just got my butt whipped by a moderate size red. And I was beat.

The rest of the crew headed back and Lee and I moved across the slew to the other shoal. We had the perfect conditions and shoal structure but no fish the rest of the tide. We had the current and the wind on the way in. I practically paddled lying on my back.

This coming weekend is the full moon, prime time! And fast, fast currents. I'm sure another wild weekend on the shore is on its way, and if the weather will let us, we will try again to GET ON'EM. kev.

May 18- 24

I don't call the Fisherman Island Shoals the burliest place we fish for nothin. Maybe we should rename it to 'hold on for your life shoals' or 'trauma wave shoal.'

SAT; low tide at 6pm. the forecast nw 10-15 dropping and shifting to sw 5-10 in the afternoon. Betting on the forecast, Ric, Lee and I committed, buying crabs and preparing. After the Wild River Outfitters kayak demo, we headed over, the wind dropped at the right time. Driving over the CBBT, there were big smooth breakers on the 9 foot shoals. I knew it was going to be a wild wave riding evening. We took our time gearing up and drifted out. I get nervous on the approach to the shoals, they always look like there breaking all the way across, and there are no openings.  I wanted to get in the same spot as last week, and some how again, found it. The current was finishing up the last hour of the outgoing and I wanted to try a new technique. I put on 2oz and baited with a whole peeler crab. Drifting along the edge of the shoal, I looked for an opening in the breakers, then paddling hard into the temporary opening, hit the breaks, and cast as far as I could in to the messiest water. I kept my reel in free spool and backed out fast. With the 2oz, the bait drifted down the shoal with current. i did the same with a little controlled drift. It felt cool but no hits.

When the tide switched the waves began to grow and grow. We anchored off in a row along the edge of the drop, in 6-8 foot of water. Occasionally a set of 5 foot swells would roll thru and break 10 feet away along the shoal. We were out of range of the breakers, barely. But not out of range from the rest of the almost breaking, peaked out, slightly deeper part of that wave. I watched lee in front of me as he climbed the growing rolling wall strait up. His bow in the air, then over and disappearing behind. And then my turn, I paddled forward over my anchor rope giving it some slack. The climb up the wall seamed to take forever, like when I use to skateboard the local vert ramps. I could see daylight thru the thin, over vertical, wispy top. Busting thru with a spray of water. With my bow completely out of the wave, I'd only crash down the back side after the wave past the mid section of the boat. A few times I didn't give enough slack on my anchor line and it would snatch me down thru the wave, scary.  I turned around to watch Ric disappear then explode over the top, entire bow air borne. He was smiling as he slammed down the back side.

After a while, I was beginning to think we were going to get skunked, then Ric's clicker screamed. Lee yelled" that sounds like a red!" Ric left his clicker on so we could hear the entire fight. We watched as Ric transferred rods when the fish circled his boat. An amazing thing with Ric and big fish is his ability to land them on anchor, he did it with the cobia, and he did it with this 45" red. At sunset Lee hooked up and landed a beautifully red, red. We through in the towel at dark. Inside Fishermans Island Bay we unknowingly paddled onto the Raccoon Island flats. The swells were keeping their strength over the now deeper shoals. I didn't see it but I felt my boat get picked up. I gave one good paddle stroke and I was gone. The super fast ride was unexpectedly long and real wet from the spray. When I finally slowed I looked into the darkness and saw Lee's light bouncing fast in the night. Lee caught a ride but Ric got broken on, swamping his boat. He was wet but not swimming -  the "swamp yer' boat shoals!"

OTHER REPORTS

Some flounder from the First Island area came in at work this week but not alot. There was a school off 40" stripers working a bait pot near the Second Island on Thursday. Lewis on the 'hooked up' had an interesting catch this week. He was flounder drifting along the Hampton Bar area when his rod bent double and the line screamed off. It was no flounder. After a tough fight a 7.5lb tog was in the net.

I will be back on the shoals this weekend and next. Then its cobia time. Two more weekends on the 'death defying shoals' or the ' is your life insurance up to date shoals' or the ' fish worth risking your life for shoals' absolutely, without a doubt, wish us luck and hop we can GET ON'EM.  kev.

The big bull red drum hunt has begun. FRI I went exploring behind smith island. I paddled a mile north of the light, just looking and casting to the creek mouths and oyster bars. The shore line looked fishy but no action. In the afternoon I set up to soak peeler crabs off the inside point of smith island spit. The shoals were breaking all the way  across. 2 min after dropping lines, I picked up a dog shark. The first 10 were fun, the next 20 were a nuisance.

SAT afternoon I fished the bend bar at the HRBT in the chilly east wind. A few small croaker, and grey trout with one at 23".  It's the time of year for the small flounder - the  blitz is on and they are aggressive. The sand is covered with 13" to 16"ers. It's the time of year I can tag numbers of fish  -  20 of them. You can miss them, cast back, and get another hit, over and over. I even caught a 13 "er I tagged an hour earlier, 100 feet away.. only one out of the 20 was a keeper. A 20"er. That's normal for the spring flounder run.

After the TKAA meeting on WED a few of us hit the HRBT, and bounced our gulps thru the flounder gauntlet. I tagged 25 flounder with one 19" keeper size. Also a 23" blue, a 19" hickory shad, and 3 greys 14" to 16".

For the next few weeks, my days off are dedicated to the reds, I'm rigged up and ready to go. This week isn't the optimal tides/ moon phase, but I'm going to try. I've gotten no recent reports because of the early week blow, so I'll be the test monkey and let y'all know what happens next week. Next weekend is the right time, in coming tide in the afternoon and a new moon, so get rigged up and get ready to GET ON'EM. KEV

APRIL 27- MAY 3

I finally got the skunk off of my new Jesse Bukey tog rod. Lee and I dropped fiddlers in the concrete ships off Kiptopeke Sun morning. Lee had the top tog at 19"; my top size was 15". All fat little females. The JB rod worked outstanding. Landing 7 total, some as small as 12". The carbon tubing butt piece made the rod jump alive with the slightest nibble of the little bait bandits. Call Jesse at 757-496-2206 to check out these new style of super sensitive tog rods.

Tues I went after the flounder at the HRBT. It was windy and i fished the bend area, landing and tagging 7 flounder up to 18". Tom Powers landed a couple of grey trout up to 20". then I did, a 18" and 20"er, as well as a 19" red. The blues invaded and I paddled back.

Wed at Rudee I managed to find 6 reds, 14"-17" and a little 12" flounder. Ric showed up as an ugly storm closed over us and caught a flounder. Ric, Linstad and I paddled back in the 25mph tail wind. I have dreams of tail winds like that. I seem to not get too many.

OTHER REPORTS

Jim Teets had a interesting idea. Jim fishes on a 28 foot Gradey White named Missy Girl. flounder fishing alone on a craft that size is tricky.Jim found a pair of 10' 6" Salmon rods. They are rated for 6 to 10oz and have a long flex. The flounder would theoretically hook themselves. Using 6oz. on a flounder rig baited with a long blue strip, one big flounder did. 7lb 4oz, his first citation. New ideas, landing big fish.

Big red and black drum have sporadically been landed on the Eastern Shore. I'm there this weekend and will report next week. It's time, so GET ON'EM. kev.