Late start to fishing; June 11 fishing report

Wow, FINALLY got going, much later than planned.  Initial delays focused around 1) traveling for work 3 out of 4 weeks , starting later April, and 2) replacing the 1984 camper with one from 1995.  The camper is working out well, it's bigger and nicer than the old one.  Not perfect but it will get me through a few more years (goal is 6 - 8 yrs). Sure would like to put up a permanent structure again someday.  Anyway, my son Blair and I finally launched the boat (17+ foot center console) on 1st of June only to have the motor quit 1/4 mile outside of the harbor.  To make a long story short, water had contaminated the fuel.  The story has a happy ending, no real damage and I fixed it myself.

Boat fixed, launched June 10 from Wenona.  Wow, the state of Maryland had closed the old ramp and replaced it with two really nice new ones.  Nice ramps, steep and long like they should be.  Needed to tilt the motor up more- note to self.  The wind was blowing a steady 20 knots out the east-southeast, which made for a churning mess in Tangier Sound.  So much for forecast of waves less than 1 ft.  Compounded with an incoming tide, holding a rig on bottom while drifting was nearly impossible.  My little center console was really overmatched with the chop, and on top of only catching two small fish, my son Blair and I got soaked coming back to Wenona after aborting the trip early.

June 11 was a little different.  Wind out of the due south resulted in waves about 2.5 feet but defined enough that it was workable.  Launched out of north end marine and diddled around on the 40-45 ft flat toward Sharkfin Shoal, which was a huge waste of time.  Finally took the plunge and barrelled toward the south end of the island.  Fished on the west side of the channel, holding pretty well in 40-60 foot of water.  The fish were there in about 45-55 ft, as expected for mid afternoon on a hot day.  Regret not making this move sooner, as we moderately-steadily caught croaker until the tide changed (about an hour) at which point it shut off (tide now coming in, along with the wind- pushed us hard).  We caught 17 fish, kept 11.  Most keepers were in 12-13 inch class, no monsters but nice fish.  Still hoping to get an evening fish in and catch them in more shallow water.  Final note- ordered a drift sock after this trip, which I had long thought about and am anxious to try.