On board today, repeat clients, friends and regulars, Gary Condon, Kevin Erickson, and their friend, Greg for light tackle striped bass.

A stunning sunrise, dead-calm, and low tide. Perfect conditions for striper fishing!

At first light, we had fish up immediately. Only problem – they would take nothing. We coud not catch a fish for the first hour even though they were all around us and the sonar lit up light a Christmas tree below. Not a single hook-up and it was frustrating.

Then, like magic, about mid-morning, all the fish we had been seeing decided it was time to feed and it was game on! They slammed anything and everything we threw at them: Baymen Jigs, Super spooks, Chug Bugs, 4″ & 3″ inch rubber cranks, Tsunami Smokey Joes, and epoxy baitfish. It just didn’t matter, they slammed it all with gusto! A very strange morning…

At one point, a massive bass slammed Kevin’s super spook. I mean the water exploded and the entire fish broke water, sideways to us and we all yelled, BIG FISH! BIG FISH! And it was a monster for light tackle. My biggest fish this season was 22lbs, 40 inches, and this fish blew that one away! It was one of those canal fish we have been reading about and a real whopper. A screaming run and Kevin’s line went limp and our hearts sank to the bottom. It threw the hook…

Later, Gary hooked into a small keeper that Kevin kept for a dinner fish for his wife. We finally took a break after five hours of non-stop fishing and had brunch. Once again, the crew brought coolers packed with food! We ate like kings and had some good laughs.

Total catch and release today: 47 short bass, including one keeper. And of course, the big one that got away, that we will all see over and over and over again, in our dreams…

Tight Lines and Happy Independence Day from Capt. Dave & Baymen Guide Service, Inc!

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