How Was Your Trophy Season?
Today
marks the last day of our Spring Trophy Season and just as every year I am sad
to see the big boys and girls leave our area. We had excellent spawning
conditions in the rivers this year so hopefully we will see great YOY Index
numbers. This trophy season was actually a little off from the usual as fish
were caught more in the shallows rather than the channel and it seemed every
weekend day was really tough due to the large amounts of boat traffic.
These
next few weeks the fishing will be much slower as the trophy fish have left and
the resident rockfish have not come out of the rivers yet. Throw in Mother
Nature’s may worm hatch and now it really gets tough. I will start downsizing
my baits to 6” storm shads and Calcutta baits this weekend in hopes of catching
our resident fish and maybe even a trophy fish or two that are lingering in the
Bay. I will be running tandem rigs with the 6” storm shads on top and a small
parachute with a 9” shad on the bottom and continue this combination until the
bluefish arrive. I will also continue to run large umbrellas with 2-6” storm
shads hanging off of opposing arms. These combinations can be very productive
this time of year. Target depths of water from 25’-40’ on hard bottom or old
oyster beds and you should be able to catch a few fish.
Live
lining live spot is still 3 or 4 weeks away and that is when the fun begins.
This is a great type of fishing for the whole family to enjoy but be careful
around those bluefish mouths as they can leave a nasty mark.
For
those of you interested in catching large Black Drum, they will arrive in the
Bay at the next full moon (crab shed) and stay for a couple of weeks gouging
themselves on soft crabs. Areas around Sharp’s Island are usually the most
productive. Use ˝ soft shell crab and drop down on top of them when you see
them on the meter. Hookups will happen quickly if you are on them.
Captain
Wayne D. Morgan
Frayed
Knot Fishing Charters