Fishing Report 5-18-15

Hi,

Got through teaching around 5:00 and decided if the weather looked good enough (storms were passing through) I'd go fishing. Headed to Walton was on the water around 5:40, tide very low and going out.

Fishing Report 5-18-15 Walton Road wind about 15 mph out of East, water muddy, outgoing tide almost low. Fishing 1/8 oz. jig head on a variety of DOA swimbaits on 8 lb. braid Fireline.

It was windy but not too windy and the storms had passed by-- the last one I could see moving off to the West. I crossed to the deep side of the sandbar and cast a few times on the way- nothing. I was hoping I would be there when the tide started moving in which was around 6:45, hopefully it wouldn't be slow till then.

Fished the second weed bed out from Walton Scrub and went North to the first one- nothing. I fished the second weed bed hard and moved South- nothing. Halfway to the first pier I had a strike, hard hit, didn't get hooked. Headed deeper, was wading way out now- nothing. Crossed the 4 white poles on the way to the 3rd weed-bed- nothing. I had been out for about an hour with maybe one strike and one bump.

Got to the 3rd weed bed, nothing. Went south past the 3rd pier nothing. Decided to fish my way back, no sense in fishing the piers - there was no water under them- low tide.

When got to the third pier, I got a couple taps, set hook nothing. Got more taps, lost the tail of my paddlebait, I put on a new bait, got more taps, no takers. Moved North a few yards, felt the taps set hook, a small trout came up and shook it's open mouth at me. I reeled him quickly in about 12"- insta-released.

I fished the 3rd weed-bed, missed a fish and lost another tail, re-baited. Headed North back toward where I got in. Changed to a red jighead with smaller hook. Changed colors of the paddletail. Missed a fish then got snagged. It's hard to get snagged but I did and decided to go out to the jig. The tide was so low I had not problem getting there, but it was hard getting the jig back. I was caught on a metal object at the bottom. I reeled down and shook it- still snagged- did it again, then I was lose.

I noticed some old line wrapped around mine- looks like a bunch of people got snagged there! I stayed deep and cast- boom - fish on. this  was no little trout and I my drag went out twice before I could see it- 3 lb bluefish woah, hadn't caught one in a while. he was still feisty and jumped several times while I tried to unhook him. That was fun I thought.

I looked back the sun was getting ready to set in 10 minutes. I headed North, had a bite- missed the fish and lost another tail. After I re-baited I cast far out and then felt a tap and my line was heavy- I raised the rod-tip, fish on. Trout and finally a nice one. The trout shook then came towards me and circled back to the sandbar. It was about 16" and a beauty. I unhooked her and headed back - time was running out.

Last cast, I thought, nothing. Another last cast, bam!!! What a strike! the fish was motoring to my right and pulling drag. What was it I thought? Fist it went South then back then to the sandbar then around again. By now I thought i knew- so I pulled it up- a 3lb. Jack. It pulled drag twice more before I unhooked.

The sun was sinking below the tree-line, I pulled off my sunglasses and cast on the way back. I got a strike in the shallow water past the sandbar. I lifted up, another strike- fish on. I go a splash then another then the snook was airborne.  I wasn't big but a nice snook, around 3 lbs. too small for slot but what a fighter. I unhooked  and got off the water - it was getting dark.

Not bad, not good. Two trout, one bluefish, one Jack and one snook. A great day to be on the water!