Looking Back and Moving Forward

After a ton of drafts, I finally found my voice for this post.  One in which I feel really represents the spirit of reflection.  So with that being said, lets jump right into things.


Redfish - 2015 found multiple trophy fish in both VA and NC, lights out fishing that I will never forget, and the absolute demolishment of a personal best.

Spring 2015 48.5" Redfish
PC: Rob "RMFC" Choi

While fishing the 2015 NCKFA Oak Island Classic I was fortunate enough to experience one of the greatest NC drum run's of the last 30 years.  Even the "Old Timers" were using words like "EPIC" to describe it.  While fishing off the beach, I caught well over 40 drum between 38-42".

Beautiful "Pumpkin" caught off Oak Island NC

I also found a number of fish in the fall.  Plenty of trips were had with multiple drum caught, and more fish over 50" than I had ever caught ever in my entire time saltwater fishing.  One experience comes to mind in which my bro Tex had a hunch about the location of the fish.  He casts and hooks into his PB (at the time), While I cast and hook into another PB at 51".  Well that didn't last long for me because on the very next cast I shatter my PB at 54".

A 54" Drum that comes in at over 60 lbs (L x G formula)

I also got a fight that I had been wanting for years... the coveted bull red piling fight.  The end result was a 53" drum and a broken Trevala S rod.  Well worth the price!


Sheepshead - Words can't describe my 2015 Sheepshead season.  Insane amounts of large fish were the norm.  During a 4 month period I only got skunked twice early in the season and once on my season ending trip.  I caught them in insane conditions making for challenging fights.  It was such a good season that I completely lost track of the number of fish over 24", while breaking my personal best with a 26.5" fish.

So many fish looked just like this one - insanely fat!

Conservation is key to sustain a trophy fishery.  I personally believe in releasing all breeders over 20"

CPR is rewarded time after time.

I was also blessed enough to experience many PB's by good friends.  To include Tex and the fish that kept him sheepshead fishing.

Roland "Tex" Butler with his first citation Sheepshead

Striped Bass - If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that I would be writing about this species, I would say you were insane.  The trophy Striper fishery over the past few years has been pretty poor, but in 2015, it started off strong and kept on going through the year.

A 42" Spring Striper

One of the highlights was a Striper-Sheepshead surprise.  This 40" fish came on a Fiddler crab in 38 FOW... in the heat of summer.

So shocked!

 And one of my last fish of the year just happened to be my first "Official" Virginia Striper coming in at 45".  This fish marked yet another Personal Best in 2015.

A 45" December "eel eater"
PC- Rob Choi

Coming in as an honorable mention for 2015 was probably the toughest pound-for-pound fish I have ever caught.  The False Albacore had been a line item on a lengthy hit list for years.  After my first trip off the beach back in the day... seeing blitzing packs... and the amazing speed they possess, made them an itch that I could actually scratch.  Plenty of research, a good intel network, and lots of luck resulted in a good number of 10 to 15 lb falsies, and lots of laughs.

The first of many falsies on the day

Mr. YakAttack (Luther Cifers) with a RonZ eater

Some of the more notable absences for me in 2015 were those of the springtime chopper bluefish and sadly enough trophy speckled trout.  The blues never really were a priority for me in 2015, but will be in 2016.  After a Cold kill and loss of warm water discharge for the VA trout fishery in early 2015, gators kinda fell off my radar as well.  Both specie will find their place on my 2016 priority list.


While 2015 might not have been my "best" year kayak fishing, it certainly ranked as one of my most memorable.  In 2016 I am looking forward to the Usual Suspects of my fisheries, and some more of the less common guys such as the Fat Alberts, King Mackerel, Cobia, and if all goes well beach launched snapper and amberjacks.  I am also looking to push my paddling capabilities to my limits, with some distance and open water events that will put all my skills to the test.


Finally I would be remised if I didn't thank some very important people.  All of whom I consider friends that push me to my limits and will be along with me on my 2016 journey.  Thanks to the one and only Wicked Pissah, Tex, RMFC, Kev, Lee, Jay, Tommy, Jeff, the ARC crew, Crumbwad, Danny, Megan, Steve, Lydia, Bryan, Luther, the cats at OE, and 2nasty.  Y'all rock, and here is to 2016!

Sheepshead Surprise

Back in the day, Kayak Kevin coined the term "Spadefish Surprise."

             def.  When ones bait (clam) is struck by a target specie other than spadefish.  i.e. Sheepshead

Well, Ill give your the definition of a "Sheepshead Surprise" in a minute, but lets set the scene shall we.  All week long, I had a good feeling about my first VA saltwater outing in a month and a half.  So good I felt that I was going to be a hero and do some epic things.  On August 1st, there were forecasted ideal conditions for what I was wanting to do, but I just couldn't find the right people who were willing to go all out and leave any trepidation's at the launch.  Calls went back and forth, and I got confirmation that the plan was a go, but i had a feeling something would change (and it did).  Oh well, I guess I will just relax and sleep in.

One of my favorite things is waking up on my own terms, with no alarm clock or other am annoyances to start the day off on the wrong note.  So when I woke up at 0600, and saw a text from Tex, I was shocked but ready for what the day would bring.  I collect myself, get bait, and head to the launch.  Paddling off the beach at 8am on a Saturday is less than ideal, and this was confirmed when I counted no less than 10 kayaks in my first 10 minutes of launching.  I kept telling myself it was still going to be a good day, and when I met up with Tex,  all the other kayaks and boats that were at the front of my mind disappeared.  Tex had made a handful of drops when we decided to move on.  As we approach one of my favorite spots, there was already yaks on it.  Well, it just goes to show the early bird gets the worm, and it increased my pace to get to my favorite part of the 3 mile span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

First drop was met by a spade that was all of 10".  The right target, just not the right size.  So I moved around looking to gauge the attitude and location of the school of spades.  Within minutes, I feel the tall tale "tick tick", drop the rod tip and gather slack, and drive the sz 4 Owner home.  "Fish On"!  I'm getting bulldogged, and my rod is not shaking, which can mean only one thing Spadefish Surprise.  As I navigate through the pilings, I am getting ready to sweep the fish in when I get that gut wrenching feeling of slack line.  I look at Tex, and say "sometimes you got it, sometimes you don't".  As I inspect my rig, the small spadefish hook just didn't have enough purchase in the toothy mouth of the Sheepshead.  time to go back to basics and remind myself that I don't need a ton of drag when I get these fish to the open.

While all this drama is going on with me, Tex is putting on a spadefish clinic!



Roland with one of the nicer Spades on the day

I had a pretty good day on the spades in between dropping crabs to the depths.  Not long after loosing the first sheepie, I feel a tap while on the bottom.  I set the hook, and get worked much like a sheepie would.  This fish is working me through the piling set and once I am in the clear, I let up on the drag.  About this time, she is coming to the surface, and much to my surprise, I ended up with a true Sheepshead surprise.

40" Striper brought up from the depths

Shocked!

After landing, snapping pics, and getting a healthy release, I was back at it.  I went back and busted out a few more spades until I got bored again and dropped back down.  This time, I feel the hit and felt some weight, but had horizontal instead of vertical runs.  In shock, not quite sure of what to expect, I bring the fish up to find a 7-10lb Black Drum.  Now Ive never really targeted them, so my personal best was a whopping 8" fish.  Imagine my stoke when I brought this bad boy up.  While most fish go back to live another day, I love eating blacks this size, and he came home for dinner.

Personal Best Black Drum

We went back to spade fishing, but as the current got stronger, we decided to go take refuge and find some triggers.  While they were there, they were extremely skittish and we managed a pair a piece.  I enjoyed chilling, but Tex was on a mission for his personal best Sheepie.  We start moving in, and hit some of our favorite spots.  On my first drop, I feel that all to familiar tap tap, and this time I wasn't disappointed.  I get the fish in the open, and this is where I get to enjoy the fight without the fear of loosing them.  If they want to run, they get to run, as there is nothing that is going to break me off.  The leg sweep brought me this beautifully colored fish.

A solid 23" sheep to end the day

This last fish marked the end of our day.  Not necessarily all we had hoped for in alot of ways, but more than I would have expected in others.  So now I have a new definition for ya:  The Sheepsead Surprise

                 def.  1. a game fish other than a sheepshead, that comes as bycatch while fishing for sheepies
                         2. a sheepshead that comes after a day full of "Sheepshead Surprises" (see #1)
                        

This day fulfilled both parts of the definition!