Finally Fishing
After spending Saturday at the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo and talking fishing all day and especially following a week where I had to cancel several trips because of the winds, is it hard to believe I was ready to get out on the water?
With decent weather Sunday and a stellar seas forecast for Monday, I was determined to fish for something, so I rode down to Oak Island with a friend to fish some spots from shore where I’ve had good luck on trout in Marches past. Though we put in an effort, we were unable to come up with a speck or anything else with fins, but I’m pleased to report we did see some shrimp moving around in the backwaters, so I imagine the trout are there too, and we just couldn’t find them feeding.
Sunday’s highlight was getting a call from Capt. Rick Croson asking if I wanted to go offshore jigging on Monday. Excitement rendered me speechless for a moment, but when I found my voice, the answer was of course a resounding yes.
When I woke up this morning, it took a few minutes before my back, biceps and forearms could function, and they’re still burning, even under the strenuous exercise of sitting at a computer. After a day of fighting dozens of amberjacks from 5-60 lb. up from 170′ on light jigging gear, along with groupers, African pompano, cobia, and others, I imagine even an Olympian would be feeling sore, so I don’t feel too bad.
The trip also ended up being a day of first catches for me. I nailed my first (and second, and third) African pompano, a cornetfish at least 5-6′ long, almaco jacks, and a gorgeously colored red/orange coney grouper.
Rick had been telling me that if we went before the end of March, he could put me on an African, and he fulfilled that promise three times over, with about 15 other species thrown in. Definitely the coolest trip I’ve been on this year, and I hope to put up a few pictures when I get them.
