Fall Toggin

With the winds howling and the temperatures plummeting I haven't had an opportunity to get out and fish. I was fortunate enough to take Meghan to the Marine Corps Ball, but on Monday with a favorable forecast I knew i would fish. I got a call from Lee who said he had bait for tog so while I was still groggy from a red eye flight I said I'll be there. We really do have an addiction.

Lee is really good at togging and he smoked me from the get go. I was skunked and Kayak Kevin shows up and caches one before I did.. I was almost ready to paddle the three miles back to land   but I decided to find my own spot. The first set of pilings yeilded nothing, but the next set was so good we all were able to fish and land quality tautog. most fish were between 18-20 inches. We quickly had a 4 man limit after Tex showed up and were throwing back 20 inch fish. Really to the dismay of a few boaters we were catching and releasing togs with the majority over 18 inches, what a great day! check out more on www.KayakKevin.com

Pig fish

Release

A few photos of the amazing sunset (no filters).

Drumming and some Backyard Bass

I have been  trying to learn to bass fish since I just moved onto a lake the past couple weeks, so far so good. The Drum fishing is winding down so I'll start to focus on other fish the next few months as fall begins to turn to winter.  

 Biggest Drum I have ever seen, 57.5"

Also the saddest looking drum ever!

 I look like a fool in this photo but it just shows how big this girl really was, I am 5'10" and weigh close to 200lbs.

Just some recent photos

Bills First Redfish

Bills second Redfish ever

Lees dad on some Cobia

My personal best Redfish 52"

A couple Cobia, some AJs and a pair of Sails

 



Last week was super busy with may successful trips. First trip was a afterword trip where we got a release citation with a 50" Cobia. We went out on Friday and found another but slightly shorter at 49", not a citation but a nice fish. We released him as well since we have enough meat in the fridge.  

 

 







 

 

On Sunday my buddy Brian asked me to help on a trip he had planned. I helped him gaff a few cobia, the biggest went over 50lbs.

 

 

Last week the weather started looking good for this week offshore, so after a few calls I had a crew of Lee, Al and myself set up. We get out and Al hooks up on the jig, his had been shot by a spear fisherman. Lee gets the next one but breaks off. I get one but it comes unbuttoned. Al gets the next and we move on. The coolest thing was seeing a giant Mola Mola, or ocean sunfish come check us out. 

 

At the next location Lee hooks up on the first drop, I break one off and Al lands another. Al hooks another and while I had told him I wouldn't reel in "his fish" several fish before I finally said "ok". I slammed the drag home and it almost took me out of the boat. The guys laugh and I tell em no its still taking drag, 25lbs worth. This lasted till the end and with the rod doubled over Al says that rod isn't supposed to bend that much. Once we see color we can tell its giant. We get it in, take some photos and a measurement and its 59". A true giant, after a quick revival we release it to the deep.

 



 

 

 

We look at the clock and know its either keep wearing out the AJs or try and troll. Lee rigs up the spread and gets everything just right. I tell him I'm going to try and get a nap in before we head in, but I would get up if we get a bite. Within 20 minutes Lee yells we got a bite, he is reeling in the left long, I jump up and he thinks its a gaffer. I start to grab the gaff and the right short gets a hit. I pick up the rod but its not tight. I hand the gaff off and slow the boat down when Lee's fish jumps and yells its a sail! The right short gets hit again and I pick it up and immediately am treated to an airshow, a double on sails! Lee gets his to the leader and is released to deal with mine I am still fighting. We get her in and get some photos to remember our first sail on the boat, and my first sail ever! On the way in we bail a dozen dolphin and get in and the seas build. Yeah Id say we had a pretty amazing day.