The boys were loaded for bear. Conditions seemed near perfect. Change of tide, change of venue. Headed to the VZ with Capt Don Jr, Trevor and Paul. Made good time and marked 'em right away. Plenty of eels out on 5 rods working bottom and a float off the bottom. 1.5 hr and no touch! Plan B... back near the SH channel/rips.
Same story.... insane marks! So here's the real story.... while drifting the channel a cargo ship is making it's way up through the SH into the Reach. I'm watching water depth, chart, radar and reading 36-44 ft of water. No problem, right? Plotter/Radar is showing land mass well off my port. I think I know this area pretty well. I'm good to go but realize I'm pinched in betweeen the cargo ship and land. Should be no problem as we watch him pass and I'll slip some more RPMs and head due North. Donnie calls out hey Jeff, do you have land off your port? No, I'm good. Then, Trevor and Don hear a surf jockey. YO! "Jeff, you got the beach coming up!" At that instant, I watched the depth go from 36 to 12 ft in a snap. Hit the throttle and narrowly missed a near hellish and embarrassing evening.
Hey look.... I'm the first to admit I'm not thrilled about night fishing, it's tough enough during daylight keeping your crew safe, managing your boat and trying to catch some fish. No excuse here! I'm just pointing out the obvious. Know your electronics but also know their limitations. The chart is only as good as when it was first mapped and nature has a way of changing the coastline at its will.
My take away.... Next run during daylight I will mark that protrusion at the point with a line of waypoints/track line so that I'm certain I'm on the outside of it every time! For me, another learning experience and hope that others don't find themselves in similar situation. Can't tell you how many times, we've seen boats up on the beach wondering how the heck could that happen?? Enough said.
Till next time and be safe
PS On the bass front, check out the marks and not a sniff all night!
