So after catastrophic infusion of my boat's fuel with water last fall and an early end to my season, I meticulously addressed the situation and got the boat running- the ultimate goal of course being to catch fish. Knowing full well that this spring would be all things focused on daughter Kara, graduating from high school, starring in her high school musical, prom etc, my early season opportunities were few. First week of April I embarked on some early season crabbing and caught a few, only to break the axle under my smaller (jon) boat. My next opportunity for anything on the water came Memorial Day weekend, and 25-30 knot winds prevailed- although I was able to get the center console out for a spin.
So, my first real opportunity to get the boat out and fish was June 8 and 9. And both days I was compelled to fish the middle of the day, not my preference but that was the hand I was dealt. Saturday June 8 I arrived at Deal Island literally in the midst of 5 inches of rain.
Patiently awaiting my chance, and also limited by my commitment to play bass with Captain Harry and Crew at Shedders that night, I launched from Wenona at 1 PM. High tide was at 2:30 so my window was limited. Nice calm seas but dodging some lingering showers which appeared to be more to the south, I headed NE to the west side of the channel, across from buoy 14. A few drifts yielded only one fish, so just before tide change I turned and burned south and back across the channel for buoy 12. Trying different depths, I began to catch hardhead at between 30 and 35 ft, and this was where I focused for the remainder of my time, until about 4:30. Overall the fish were small, but stretching my otherwise more stringent cut-off of 11 or 12 inches I managed to put 7 in the cooler, with a few nice ones mixed in (12-13 inches).
Day 2, Sunday June 9 I laucned at 8 AM in advance of the 9:30 Low Tide. The experience was much the same as the day before, except that I started on the east side of the channel north of buoy 12, as that is where Capt. Harry was anchored. That was slower than slow, so I Moved back down by buoy 12, and found my bite this time in 35-40 ft. The fish were similar to the day before, with about 10 throwbacks (often 2 at a time) for every keeper. Winds were calm and so was the tide, it made for a really gentle drift, which was nice. Added 10 more to the cooler, including one spot. Boat ran well, but I need to try a different primer bulb, as this one (which I recently replaced) is not holding a prime.
Last note- earlier in the week I had the opportunity to be guest aboard my buddy Eric's boat, launching out of Ocean City and fishing the wrecks at about 8 - 12 miles out. I caught 5 keeper sea bass (>12.5 inches) and one cod (a first for me), which I threw back. Overall a beautiful day and my first fish of the year.
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