I spent the better part of yesterday in South County RI chasing anything that might bite a fly. It was windy, lots of mung, and awfully crowded for a non-holiday Monday, but the fish were around.
The Weekapaug breachway was full of bluefish from our arrival until we left for other spots. There was a picket line of plug casters who were nailing fish from one hundred yards inside the breachway out to the tips. Everyone was using surface plugs. I took a few cursory casts and decided to head on to another spot, knowing that the blues would probably still be there if I returned.
Quonny Pond was also loaded with bluefish, and there were only two other fishermen there. Bait was everywhere, and I was able to wade around the corner and locate a pod of willing blues. After about twenty minutes of decent action, we moved on to the West Wall.......25 mph blow and chocolate brown water that was full of mung, even on the inside......didn't even wet a line. Back to Weekapaug we went.
Upon our return to the breachway, I noticed that there were fewer fishermen, but they were still hooking up with the bluefish. I worked my way out on the east jetty and stayed patient. One by one the fishermen eventually left, allowing me to get closer and closer to the action at the tip. After a few short strikes inside the breachway, I found myself alone at the tip and saw blues to the east, just a decent cast away. There were several surfers waiting for the perfect wave, and I started to get action from fish that were only twenty feet behind them. A few of the boarders looked concerned when they saw the size of a few of the fish that I pulled out from behind them, but others simply laughed and gave me the thumbs up. Nice guys.
All in all, I probably lost too many poppers to the blues, but those that I landed were satisfying because they were a result of patience. Another year older, and getting more patient? We'll see how long it lasts.
The Weekapaug breachway was full of bluefish from our arrival until we left for other spots. There was a picket line of plug casters who were nailing fish from one hundred yards inside the breachway out to the tips. Everyone was using surface plugs. I took a few cursory casts and decided to head on to another spot, knowing that the blues would probably still be there if I returned.
Quonny Pond was also loaded with bluefish, and there were only two other fishermen there. Bait was everywhere, and I was able to wade around the corner and locate a pod of willing blues. After about twenty minutes of decent action, we moved on to the West Wall.......25 mph blow and chocolate brown water that was full of mung, even on the inside......didn't even wet a line. Back to Weekapaug we went.
Upon our return to the breachway, I noticed that there were fewer fishermen, but they were still hooking up with the bluefish. I worked my way out on the east jetty and stayed patient. One by one the fishermen eventually left, allowing me to get closer and closer to the action at the tip. After a few short strikes inside the breachway, I found myself alone at the tip and saw blues to the east, just a decent cast away. There were several surfers waiting for the perfect wave, and I started to get action from fish that were only twenty feet behind them. A few of the boarders looked concerned when they saw the size of a few of the fish that I pulled out from behind them, but others simply laughed and gave me the thumbs up. Nice guys.
All in all, I probably lost too many poppers to the blues, but those that I landed were satisfying because they were a result of patience. Another year older, and getting more patient? We'll see how long it lasts.