The Redemption
Towards the end of the night, I thought I was going the get a chance for redemption. Because we were loosing water and we had to push out with a tide I switched from fast sinking shad to a sinking shad. It’s slower sinking progression allowed me to work it at a slower pace. I got a hit at the end of a cast, literally as I was reeling in the slack. At first there was just a stubborn dead weight. Like the fish was saying ” how dare you hook me!!!” That was followed by a screaming fast run first to the left before changing direction to the right. I don’t like this, I said to myself, something is not right. Suddenly I can feel it’s progression upwards. It’s too far and too dark to see what is happening but I am certain that I am correct…..
Then I feel a head shake, fish breaking the water and then lading back into the water and stripping the drag. I don’t know about your but no self respecting large striper has ever came out of water and shook his head on me which can only mean one thing….
Big, very pissed off bluefish
After few more energetic runs I brought it to my side although you can never say that you got it ” under control”. Somehow I managed to get Boga around its jaw, a quick weight showed 18lb plus and after few photos the fish was released unharmed. I do have to say that being tall sucks when you have to take pictures with a fish, every damn fish look tiny.That is why I stick taking pictures of other people..lol
ODM Genesis rod that I used for the first time had no issues tossing these very heavy shads into wind or controlling or fighting all these fish. I am rarely this impressed with rod after a first nightly use but then again I usually do not catch these many quality fish in one season, never mind one night.
In closing, I know it’s one night of crazy fishing and if Silver Fox did not have equipment problems and ifs he fished all night along me, he might have similar results with a plug like darter or bottle plug. He got most of his fish by tossing heavy loaded needles into strong NE wind. All I can do is report what my success rate was that night. And it’s not really one night, it’s kind of continuation of week nor’easter few days before which was the continuation of confidence I got by fishing with Patrick few days before.
Which brings me to possible, or equal if not even more important part of fishing, having confidence in the lure you are using. Yes, I did have a very good success with Sebile stick shads last few weeks but I am at the point where I feel EVERY cast could be a hit. I did not feel good that way for the past year or so that I owned these lures. Something obviously changed, my confidence in these lures is currently sky high. In fact I am writing this on a flight AA22 that just took off out of Dallas Fort Worth on the way to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with Ryan White from Century rods. We are hoping to put some major hurting on exotic species. Here is the real kicker. A month ago I had about 30 to 40 different poppers ready to be packed for the trip rom super strike, line stretchers and some exotic variety. Guess what? I substituted two boxes of stick shads for the poppers, meaning I left a lot of the poppers at home. That’s how confident I am right now when using this lures. I know, I know, I used the poppers for over 30 years and shads for 3 weeks, and yeah, part of this is probably an infatuation.
Only the time will tell if I was right or if I was brimming with overconfidence. I know Ryan will throw popping plugs most of the time.
Hasta La Vista Amigos
I had this sneaky suspicion this was going to be a delayed April Fools Day story. Glad to see it was the real thing, must have been a s… load of fun. Great read as I said before.
↓I have been casting the smaller slow sinking model I received 2 years ago from the Hilton show. It’s been my secret weapon both in the bay and on the sand. I’m very glad that Pure fishing got the price down so that now I can afford the larger models.
↓When they first came out at 40 bucks a pop I resisted buying them but after being heavily out fished on three occasions I bit the bullet and bought a few. At first I thought I could do just as well with some sub surface spook type baits or darters but for some reason fish would show their preference for the stick shadd. The action is unique, it has this wobble as it darts and during pauses. Very versatile and can consistently be THE plug on any given outing.
↓I lokking to buy a wader, the braand is simms , I might ask you , do you have any recomendation. thank you also I like to do rock fishing from inlet, you recomend any body globe wet suit in particular. please respond , thank you .is for 80 degree weather.
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