Greetings from Capt. Dave & BAYMEN Charters.

On board today, new clients Kevin and his 5 year old son, Leo, for light tackle striped bass.

At first light, dead low tide and flat calm conditions. Just lovely out there. Water temps about 65 degrees around the bay and a light overcast with clearing skies.

The first few spots yielded no fish. Then, we worked the edge of one of my favorite flats and fish began busting on topwater! We got into a bunch of bass on rubber crankbaits throughout the water column in 5-12 fow. The tide began to flow back in and with it came lots of fresh fish into the bay! At one point, we went three fish/three keepers in a row with Leo leading the way. I have never had a 5 year old on board that could fish like he did. He handled a 7 foot 6 8-12lb spinning rod with braid like a pro! I was just stunned and still am. He had some help from his Dad and I at the beginning of the trip, but the second half he was all on his own casting, hooking and fighting fish right to the boat – for FIVE HOURS NON-STOP. Wow…

With bass busting topwater on a perfect, long drift,  we added some topwater poppers to the tackle (all crimped barbs) and began to hammer fish on top. What a blast! Poppers on dead-calm water is just so exciting!

We moved all around the bay today and fished about ten of my spots. I have over sixty spots around the bay, so it is always a challenge to pick the top ten for each charter, based on tide/wind/time of year/water temps/bait/weather. Today we nailed it and the fishing was pretty much non-stop all morning long!

Total catch and release today was 27 striped bass, 4 keepers, all on barbless hooks, all fish released to swim another day.

Back at it: STAY POSTED

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com 30 Years Guiding The Bay. Now Booking Fly Fishing & Light Tackle for 2023 & 2024. Book Early – Dates Go Quickly.