This is another week leading up to a week off with the Marines so I had
to make the best of it. I was watching the forecast and it looked
beautiful for both my days off. I picked up my new Ride 135 the week
before and had it rigged for sight casting so I was ready to slime her
for the first time! I met up with Kevin late on the first day. The light
was fading and we hadn’t found any fish. The Ride 135 was much more
stable than I thought and made standing and casting an easy task. Kevin
stopped to put on some sun screen and I began blind casting a Chug Bug. I
told Kevin I was going to show him how they do it in Louisiana,
jokingly. On the third cast I see the red explosion. It takes a moment
for me to comprehend that the top water actually worked! I reel until
the line is tight and looked at Kevin and said “hooked up”! He began
paddling toward me and I began worrying it may be a ray but with a
couple head shakes I said “it’s a red”. He began to film but just as he
was getting to me his rod goes off and he says "Got one!! Ha ha ha!!
I’ll see ya later!". We both fight our fish for a while, these 40 inch
fish are real mean, and not slobs like the 46+ fish. I leg mine in and
paddle to Kevin as he gets his in. We take some pics and after another
thirty minutes we head in. Not bad for just over 3 hours of fishing.
The
following day I took Allie out and we went on a long paddle, somewhere
between 8-10 miles. On the way to the hunting grounds Kevin sees me pick
up my rod and inquires, I said I thought I was on them. I cast as my
Ride 135 begins drifting near and 4 or 5 fish spook. I begin reeling in
the chug bug to cast at the spooked school and just before the bug gets
to the boat a huge striper strikes and misses my bait. We looked but
came up short with the bad cloud cover. We keep trekking to our spot and
just as Kevin looks at Allie and I and says we should catch a red here
his rod doubles over. After he lands that one we go looking for reds and
after another mile I see a small splash. I cast and the chug bug gets
hit 3 times but the fish was hitting it with its side. Kevin casts into
the school and hooks up to a healthy 41”. Justin Mayer joins us and he
catches a striper and something else after I leave.
On the way in
Allie is still insisting she could stand with Kevin and I to sight cast
to fish in the Tarpon 140. So finally I agree to let her try. I take her
gear and to my surprise she stands up easily three times with out fear.
Looks like Ill have an extra set of eyes next time we fish!
Kevin and
Justin had a good couple days after, check out what else happened!
No comments:
Post a Comment