We turned North toward the CBBT looking for birds, and fish. Eventually we traveled well north of the CBBT however, the water temp and lack of birds turned us back toward the CBBT. Nearing the bridge, we found 2 acres of birds busting on fish, by ourselves. For 2-3 hours we had fantastic fishing, 20-26 in. stripers, mostly on the surface. I caught nearly all the fish on a floating line with a popper, and also a gummy fly. As night approached, we decided to call it a night.
Tom decided to turn the boat south the next day searching for the larger mother load. Again the weather was perfect, water temps also increased as we headed south. As we neared the ball, a water tower south of Rudee, Tom spotted some gannets diving and decided to check it out. His fish finder was lit up with schools of menhaden, and some fish below the baitfish. I grabbed a rod from Tom he was jigging with, asked him to put on his favorite jigging lure on another rod, sorry Tom.
But I hooked the first bigger fish, I think it was a 32 ". Then all h*ll broke
loose, for the next 2 hours, at times, all 5 of us were hooked up with 10-30
pound fish, in about 30 feet of water. Fly fishing was incredible. To get the fly down in the fishing zone, I used a 550 gr. sinking line, as well as casting up current, allowing about 100 feet of line out. A droper fly was added for ballast, I'd strip about 10 feet in, then jig up and down, repeat, the fish wanted motion for the most part . I used 3/0 AC Pearl flies, in silver, and blue, both worked equally as well.
After the fish turned off, Tom headed further south and found another school of fish, 5 miles south of the ball, 1/2 mile from shore, in about 18 feet of water. I caught some nice fish on fly, 36-37 in class. John Keeler caught his best, I think a 41 incher.
Overall everyone agreed it was one of the best striper trips they'd been on in years.
General Observations-
-Having chartered the ocean for many years, and hearing and watching people fishing outside the EEZ, Tom is to be congratulated for being very cognizant of the 3 mile limit, never venturing past the limit.
-The boat ramps are fantastic, free, and only a few minutes from Rudee Inlet. The corps was doing some dredging in the inlet, but no problem, very deep.
-The Days Inn was $25 a night per room, or $29 with taxes.
-Have heavy sinking lines and a floater ready to go, you never know when those fish decide to surface. I had a 9 wt surface rod rigged and a 10 wt sinker.
- Highly recommend Tom, he has a nose for finding fish, nice fly fishing boat as well.
Edited-
I emailed Capt. Tom to post the pictures on this fly part of this trip.
