On board today, I had repeat clients, Fred Stetson and John Quinney for light tackle striped bass. This was our third attempt to get out on the bay and into fish. Bad weather had been plaguing this charter. I did a final NOAA Marine Forecast weather check yesterday and today was looking great! NW 7-12 knots with a low pressure system. Perfect for fishing the spring blitz.

At first light, the bay was white-capped, blowing 20+ knots with a relentless three foot chop… But the boat was in, Fred and John had driven down from Vermont, and we had to at least give it a try. No safety concerns but it was going to be one uncomfortable ride and very tough fishing trying to set drifts in these kind of winds and seas.

As we cut across the Cow yard, the chop almost made me turn back. But we were almost at our destination for our first set of drifts and I made the decision to keep going. Again, no safety issues, but the chop was almost unbearable for me and I knew my charters were taking a pounding.

We set our first drift which was south to north. Normally, I drift this area West to east on a dropping tide but it was impossible with the winds. The good news is the fish were there and we hooked up on every single drift until the tide bottomed out. Then the bite shut off like a switch.

I decided to get my charters out of the chop and head for some sheltered water behind Clark’s Island. It was much calmer seas there, but the winds were still cranking. We fished close to the island and found some relief and set several drifts over structure and had one hook-up and a couple of follows but we did not land a fish. The tide began incoming and the winds were pushing it, so the seas settled down a little. We drove up bay and fished a few drop-offs but the drifts were so fast, you literally got one cast and then had to drive back to your spot and reset another drift. We boated a couple of fish, but it was hard fishing.

I decided to run up the Cow Yard and set some longer drifts, South to North, using the tide and wind together. That idea paid off and we found quite a few fish and hooked up on every drift. We then moved up bay into Kingston and checked on a few spots and landed a few more fish and then started to fish our way back to town pier.

Total catch and release today was 35 hard-earned striped bass. All shorts with the biggest 25″ inches. All the fish were fat and healthy. Top tackle was the rubber crank bait in bunker and pearl, using the cast and count technique.

Hats off to Fred and John for working the bay hard under tough conditions, and catching a lot of fish. Great job, guys! You are true Baymen!

Back at it. STAY POSTED:

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, baymenlife.com