end of a long, cold winter- 2014.

It was a long, long winter and the coldest I recall in a while.  Heck, we had snow 2^nd week of April, and at least every week before that from late January on (or so it seemed).  The net effect was that everything was thrown out of synch.  As I am writing this (May 13), the bottom fishing is non-existent except for some white perch.  And while the trophy rockfish season seems to have flourished in Tangier Sound, you can’t even buy a peeler or a softcrab.  The few hard crabs are pricey and being shipped off.  This is an inconvenience to the recreational fishermen like myself, it is nearly devastating to the watermen.

Let me catch you up on what little outdoor activities I have been involved in so far for 2014.  First off was winter deer season, January 10-11.  I hunted both days, and finally got a distant shot in the rain my 2^nd day.  Well, impatience led to inaccurate, and that doe is still running free.  Fast forward to turkey season.  I managed to get some time in the woods both in mid-April (4/18) and early May (5/9).  On both trips to the woods, I was not even able to solicit a gobble, cluck or otherwise using my turkey call.  The year before these woods had been loaded with turkey.  And for that matter, I have not been seeing turkey in the usual area locations throughout the spring.  I’m not sure whether their breeding is delayed or what.  Lastly, I have had my boat out twice (4/28 and 5/9).  The first trip was mid-day, tide was high and I was targeting shore-line rockfish before it turned rough and I quit.  The 2^nd trip, I tried bottom fishing with my daughter Kara in the afternoon on a low tide, then the shorelines of both South Marsh Island and also Deal Island in Wenona.  Used bloodworms (and frozen peeler 2^nd trip), but not a single hit either trip.  The water temp is still cold (surface temp of 65F on May 9).  I can recall years like this where a long cold winter delayed the advent of decent fishing.  But, I have no idea at this point how this one is going to play out, but I plan to try again Memorial Day weekend which is early this year.

The one bright so far this year is having worked on skipjack Kathryn on 5 separate occasions.  Most have been working with the ECI inmates, which has been a lot of fun.  These are minimum security guys who are anxious to get outside of the walls of the prison, are hard-working, and eager to make a difference.  I’m looking forward to completing enough hours of service to get the operating organization (Coastal Heritage Alliance) another $500 grant from the company I work for.  I’m anxious to see the boat come together through to completion and hope that I have the opportunity to sail on her come Labor Day.