Very quiet out there for me

[captcal]

Merrimac is empting out fast! Very few keeper sized fish left in the river.
Or at least, no slapshes, no evidence of fish being hungry. Major lull
from what I have been seeing.

Was out last week..Tuesday into Wednesday (all nighta)

We work 2 tides and had nothing to show for it. Not even a thump.

Changes tactics last night. First tried working the river again then gave up
and went out front.

Finally paydirt but all youngins. Still happy to have a hook taken on the top
water. Been a while since top water action was hot like that. Slow retrieve
was the best take.

Was handing the rod off as I hooked fish and fish... Biggest was about 27"
caught beach front in casting distance. The little guys took all the top water action. We did try to land some snakes on the sand and reel into
the surf not luck ...

Haven't been able to cover ground down the beach front yet... No trolling motor yet!

Sept 1st is right around the corner and its going to make the reservation
impossible to fish from boat on the weekends. Gonna have to fish the
weekdays to hookup in the last curl.

Boat is out of commision for the next week. Some work to fix an
oil leak and other crap. Back at it....hopefully by next weekend.

[Merrillizer™]

I'll see how quiet it is up this way tomorrow night

[47onthewall]

Let me know what you hear, Jon. I can't recall a slower season in the marsh in the last twenty years.

[Merrillizer™]

Yesah. I can't either lol. I think we can thank the Pogies and Macks out front for this crappy season of river fishing. I never even got a fish at a head-of-tide spot upriver this Spring during the run. It is insane to me, and I still cant believe it. Brandon got one ONE on a Roc-made Montauk Darter. Even after all those early 3:30 am starts, AND watching thousands of Alewives circle around and around, NUTTIN' HONEY.

My girlfriend wants some flounder. Maybe I'll get lucky with that.

[captcal]

all nightah coming Tomorrow night into Friday.

We'll be startin our quest out front to catch the swamp on the shoreline.
I'm throwin the kitchen sink to catch a fish... Top watah for sure....

Then after the swing of the tide we'll drift some snakes till false dawn.
catch a wink before the drive home then to work for a nap...

Boss is out!

Leave work early...then head up and try my luck all over again....

I missed a gold opp. to head out to the wagen tomorrow... My sitter(daughter) is going to Texas for a few days,... I was looking
for charlie to make my season. At least I've joined the 30lb club this
year. Still not done yet... But I'd like a few tuna steaks for the freezer.

--cal

[oddfish]

I feel this pain, Now granted I am not one of the eliete fisherman out there. I use a stick and reel from walmart, and I use too heavy of a test line. BUT I have been fishing in certain spots in Hampton on and off for the last 18 years and I have (pardon the French and my swearing) had my ass handed to me this year. Nothing that has worked in the past seems to work. I have gotten one striper out of Hampton this year, and that was on an eel. I have not aboandon my super spot, but have tried many other places (nuthin).

If anyon cares there are some reasonable sized A herring (5-9") in the hampton river marina. They wont take my lures or hooks, but they follow them well enough, some patients with a clam worm might make quick work of them but I didn't have the time.

Last resort will be a night time kayak assult on a full tide cycle, After that it will be offshore to get some large pollock for chowda.

I'm hopein Harry is right that this fall will be good when the feed leaves.

Best of luck all, Oddfish

[47onthewall]

Oddfish-
People have been getting those herring at the Boat Club on sabiki rigs and using them for bait.

[chunkin]

We tried a sibiki rig for a few minutes last night at the marina before heading out and they were chasing it but no hits..... Not sure if they were herring, but they were pretty small to medium size....

[47onthewall]

Were they smelt? Somebody caught some smelt at Eastman's a few days ago.

[captcal]

try a small piece of bait on the sabiki to get them to take.

Once one takes its a frenzy.