Author Topic: Point Pleasant Canal 6/03 (Read 6273 times)

wink_man · « **on:** June 03, 2008, 09:36:02 AM »

Some days it pays to get up in the morning, and some days it doesn't. I am glad I didn't 'rest my eyes' for a minute after the alarm went off this morning.

Got to christen my new net today, and I have to tell you, great net, but has a different sense of balance for me, especially in the dark, only took me 5 swipes to finally put the blasted fish in it, but a superb net, and I am already used to it, LOL.

I hit the canal and started fishing at 3:57AM this morning, to a nice outgoing tide. I felt the water was flowing a little to fast yet, but I generally start fishing 2 hours after the tide at the Coast Guard station in the river. And besides, what the heck do I know, I guess the stripers thought it wasn't flowing to fast to eat.

About a dozen casts after I started, I get a good solid hit, and was right on the money hooking the fish. It put up a good fight, but my new light striper outfit made short work of it, and it didn't pull out to much drag. As stated, took me 5 swipes to net it, and I was figuring, judging from the fight it was prolly a 24 incher. Brought him up in the net and he felt pretty heavy. Got out my flashlight and ruler, and the yeah, I FINALLY got a keeper. My son already has a keeper, his friend has one, yada yada yada, seemed like everyone but me had a keeper. Measured, pic taken, and I'm keeping this one, I'm almost out of weakfish, and this is not a big breeder, 30 inches, 9 pounds 9 ounces.

Start fishing again, and about 6 casts later, another solid hit, I'm wide awake and set the hook hard. This fish peels out considerably more drag then the first one, so I figure it might be a better fish. Great fight, and he goes into the net on the first swipe. Looked like a twin to the first one, he measured 30 inches, and this one was 10 pounds 6 ounces. All on the same 5 3/4 inch Fin-S in Arkansas Shiner finish, and there's not a mark on it, it's good for at least a hlaf dozen more stripers, unlike with those blasted bluefish.
4:29AM, and I'm limited out with pictures already taken, sure glad I didn't rest my eyes and roll over this morning.

Incidentally, even setting the hook hard, both fish had the jig fall out of their mouth in the net. I do use light tackle, and use braid line, and sharpen my hooks, but those stripers do have a tough upper jaw. Any slack in the line during the fight, and they both would have come right off. I fished a little more, then went down to the mouth of the canal to see what was going on. Bluefish breaking the surface, I assume feeding on the rainfish that are all over the place at the mouth of the canal, but I just sat and had some coffee, reflecting on what a nice day it was, and it really hadn't even started for all intensive purposes.

Here's a pic with my new light striper/weakfish outfit. This thing is a dream to cast and jig with, with a total weight of one pound 4 ounces, including line, leader and snap swivel. I've been putting together lighter outfits, because I do a LOT of casting and jigging, and a heavy(or even medium weight outfit) wears you down quickly, and you don't fish as effectively, but thats a story in itself.

Water was very clear, and weed and cabbage was minimal on the outgoing tide. The mouth of the canal is loaded with rainfish, but the blues didn't seem to stay long. Couple of guys came down to fish for them, and they didn't even get a hit. Once the tide changed and the water started flowing in hard, there was a lot of cabbage and weed in the water, but thats usually the case till the water slows down a bit. I'm sure the blues will be back, they seem to run all over the river feeding all day, but always seem to come back to the mouth of the canal.

Garry

mgm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2008, 09:38:41 AM »

Nice report as usual...lots of "color" commentary as well.

Healthy looking stripers.

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Author Topic: Point Pleasant Canal 6/03 (Read 6273 times)