Watched the morning radar loop and timed my noontime arrival at the Chatham lighthouse at the end (hopefully) of the heavy rain and t'storms. Spoke with striblue via cell to find out that there were fish at the Lighthouse on the early AM tide.
Hit the beach and worked down the east side beaches with an occasional schoolie racing to pick up my deep sandeel. About 1:30 I decided to see what was happening on the inside at the 'tub. Nice incoming, very little weed wind at my back and still a little foggy. HMMM, seems perfect.
Waded out within casting distance of a color break (could still see Roop's footprints there from a previous weekend!) from the flats to deeper water and patiently counted down to get that fly near the bottom. Second cast, 28". Fifth cast, 22". Fish moving in all around me, cast to the shore hooked up. Then they dissapear. Back to casting to the color break, a light tap then the line goes very solid. Clear the extra line from the basket and away she goes. Haven't seen that much backing since albie season last year
Nice 43" fish finally gives up the fight to let me unhook it (which in this case means putting my entire fist in it's mouth to reach the fly it "tapped")
Was getting worried that it took about 5 minutes to revive her before it was released. A new personal best for me with the flyrod from either boat or shore.. (and it always amazes me that you can catch fish of this size/class from shore with the flyrod, another preconception shattered!)
Finished up the afternoon by sightcasting to fast-moving fish working along the skinny water further up in the 'tub. Great to watch the shadows turn into the flashes as the fish turned on the bait. Learned a lot about stalking the fish in skinny water and being able to sight them from a distance.
Wrapped up with a trip back over the dunes to the Big Girl, found Juro banging away on school fish in the bowl. We retreated to the point but nothing had turned on by the time I left at 6:45pm.
Hit the beach and worked down the east side beaches with an occasional schoolie racing to pick up my deep sandeel. About 1:30 I decided to see what was happening on the inside at the 'tub. Nice incoming, very little weed wind at my back and still a little foggy. HMMM, seems perfect.
Waded out within casting distance of a color break (could still see Roop's footprints there from a previous weekend!) from the flats to deeper water and patiently counted down to get that fly near the bottom. Second cast, 28". Fifth cast, 22". Fish moving in all around me, cast to the shore hooked up. Then they dissapear. Back to casting to the color break, a light tap then the line goes very solid. Clear the extra line from the basket and away she goes. Haven't seen that much backing since albie season last year
Nice 43" fish finally gives up the fight to let me unhook it (which in this case means putting my entire fist in it's mouth to reach the fly it "tapped")
Was getting worried that it took about 5 minutes to revive her before it was released. A new personal best for me with the flyrod from either boat or shore.. (and it always amazes me that you can catch fish of this size/class from shore with the flyrod, another preconception shattered!)
Finished up the afternoon by sightcasting to fast-moving fish working along the skinny water further up in the 'tub. Great to watch the shadows turn into the flashes as the fish turned on the bait. Learned a lot about stalking the fish in skinny water and being able to sight them from a distance.
Wrapped up with a trip back over the dunes to the Big Girl, found Juro banging away on school fish in the bowl. We retreated to the point but nothing had turned on by the time I left at 6:45pm.
