July update- The weather got Really hot

July got increasingly hot with each passing day.  So far, I've been out 3 times.  The first, July 4, was really just a mid-day add-on to a boat ride with my family.  The location was right (island secret-spot), the tide was perfect (last hour of incoming, first hour of outgoing), but the time was terrible.  I'm talking mid-day, blazing hot sun, no clouds, little wind, and 11AM-1:30 pm.  Even though fishing with my good luck charm Peter S., the fishing was slow and poor, placing on keeper speckled trout in the cooler (pic w/ Peter and his speck).  Not surprised with my poor choice of timing, but it was the only opportunity I had.

Next up was July 12.  I had this one planned for weeks.  Going back the the secret spot as it had produced steadily for 2 months.  The tide was perfect and at end of the day.  Even the weather was great.  Dana S. replaced my previously scheduled crew (Warning: you cancel on me at the last minute, it may be a long time before another invite), and I was certain we were going to slay the fish. Well, we had a good time, but the fishing was the slowest I've had all year.  I regretted placing the 10" kingfish and 9" spot in my cooler.

Chalking the previous 2 sub-par outings up to increasing heat, I decided it was time to change up my game.  And I wasn't really certain what that was going to be, all I knew is that it had to be different.  I went back and read my own blog going back 4-5 years, to see how I had responded to onset of really hot summer.  And this gave me a few ideas.  When it came time to finalize the plan, the weather and 20-25 mph winds out of the south dictated my strategy.  Seeking protected water, I launched out of Champ, in St. Peter's Creek.  After launching in nearly low tide, I was shocked to find only 1 foot of water leaving the harbor and creek, headed into the Manokin River.  I was able to dodge some of this on the return trip.  Peter S. again accompanying me, this time fulfilling his role of good luck charm.  After a fairly unproductive stop just off the first big beach, I headed over to the mouth of the creek that drains St. Pierre's Marsh.  It was here that on the very last hour of outgoing tide and in only 2 1/2 feet of water, we quickly caught 3 keeper rock (19, 20, and 20.5 inches).  The tide went slack and so did the fishing.  Having our rock limit, we didn't stick around for the incoming tide.

On a really positive note, I installed some side bunks on my trailer in effort to pull the boat up straight.  I have struggled with this situation since day one with this other wise great boat, and was just about at my wit's end.  Thankfully, this mod seemed to do the trick, as the boat pulled up straight on the trailer first time, without any other maneuverng or assistance.  Hoping to get again soon and test it out further (and catch some more fish).  It was 97 F today in Millsboro and supposed to be 90+ hot through Thursday.  Until next time, #dealislandrandy 

Pre-wedding rockfish smash, June 24, 2020

This outing was destined to be outstanding. With my daughter scheduled to be married in 3 days, I was almost a basket case.  The Lord knew I needed some spectacular fishing to straighten me out.

We (Mark, Mark's son Derek and I) launched from Wenona around 2pm, on track to be in front of the early evening tide change at the magic spot.  And in fact, we were anchored up a full 60 minutes+ prior to peak high tide.  After setting anchor and getting lines in the water, it was less than 3 minutes before I had keeper rock #1 in the boat (at 19"), and then another 2 minutes later at 22 inches.  Rockfish Randy was on a roll.  Mark caught the next one at 19" five minutes later, and because of how quick this had transpired, we agreed to throw Mark's fish back as that would have put us instantly at the boat limit.  This was the first time we have had this much success in this spot on the last of the incoming tide.  As we joked about how throwing back a keeper rock was apt to jinx us, sure enough, we proceeded to catch one short fish after another.  Mixed in were 3 nice speckled trout, and below is pic of Derek with a nice 18" speck,

As the tide turned, we continued to catch rock after rock, many in the 16-18.5" range.  And then, WHAM !!! I knew I had a brute of a fish on the line.  Catching these rock in shallow water is so much fun.  This fish measured in at 25", the largest I've caught this year.  After a few more rock, and a kingfish, things slowed down and we headed back to port. the pic below is the 22" 2nd fish, and shame on me for not having a picture of the 25".  Until next time, #dealislandrandy