Sep 26 (Sat) - St. Jerome's Creek (Speckled Trout)

[Friday]

Wind: 08-15 mph at the inlet/ 15-20MPH in the Bay
Water Temp: 70-71F
Air Temp: 65F- 68F

I had a small window of fishing time today. Last night, I thought I might go to Breezy Point for sailing if the wind was forecasted below 15 MPH.

Luckily, Nemo (my dog) woke me up at 4:00AM. That gave me 2 more hours of fishing. I checked the forecast immediately. Small craft warning was issued at wind of 10-15 knots and possible 20 knots. The current wind at Thomas Point Light was 11 knots. The trend of wind speed told me that the wind would not be weakening during day time. So I left for St Jerome’s Creek (2 hour driving) instead of Breezy Point (1 hour and 15 minute driving).

I left Buzz’s Marina at 7:55 Am. I slowly pedaled along the southern shore. I cast a 1/16oz Beetle Spin with a 4 “ Gulp Swimming Mullet (chartreuse). I did not have any hits for an hour until I reached the inlet. The wind was blowing at 12-15MPH in St Jerome’s Creek. There was only one boat when I got there at the inlet. It was a father and a little son team. He told me they did not have any bites even though they were using live spots.

In 5 minutes at the inlet, I caught a 19”-20” flounder on a 4” Gulp Swimming Mullet. I released it in the water. I caught about 3 flounders at 9-10 inch. At 10:30 I caught a speckled trout on a 5” Gulp Jerk Shad (Camo color). I caught one more flounder (at 10”) on the 5” Gulp Jerk Shad.

Here is my first speckled sea trout at the Western Shore, MD:
http://www.comeonfish.com/ChesapeakeBaySTJeromeCreek20090926/SpeckledTrout1.JPG

At 1:50 AM I decided head out to the bay. I had been seeing flocks of working birds not too far from the spit.

I chased the birds, and threw a spoons and a jig head with Gulp Swimming mullet for 40 minutes in 10-15’ of water. I did not catch any fish. The wind was blowing at 15-20MPH that time. I got almost overboard twice.

Here is the video. I was holding a camera so I could not adequately steer the kayak with the paddle while pedaling. I guess I mount the camera on the helmet next time:

YouTube - HobieAdventure: BigWaterKayak (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSmdilf74vc)

I came back to the Inlet and caught 2 more flounders at 10”. At 11: 50AM I headed for the marina. On the way to the marina, the father (with a little son) caught me and told me that stripers just arrived at the inlet. He caught 2 keepers and lost 3 on live spots. Just like me, he had to go home in a hurry. He told me where he caught the fish. His spot is also my honey hole.

The father and son on the left side of the picture on the beach cast live spots toward me – who took the picture of the inlet from the creek side. That was the best spot for them and me:

http://www.comeonfish.com/ChesapeakeBaySTJeromeCreek20090926/InletSweetSpot.JPG

There were only 3 boats and me at the inlet in the morning due to the small craft warning.

Came back home and went to a party with 80’s theme.
I and My wife dressed for the party:
http://www.comeonfish.com/ChesapeakeBaySTJeromeCreek20090926/JoeNana80.JPG

I am planning to fish St. Jerome’s Creek next Saturday with my friend. We probably catch stripers in the morning during outgoing tide.

Tight Lines,
Joe

[ictalurus]

Congrats on catching the speck. Makes me wonder if there are bigger ones around. :scratchchin3:

That video is nuts. :eek2::eek2: Those waves are way past my pucker limit. How do you turn around in waves like that without going overboard or flipping? Do you just lean into them?

Your costume is, like, totally awesome, by the way. :rockingman2:

[wjzink]

Great report. I opted to wuss out and stay home to do homework and domestic chores this weekend. The trout is awesome. I've seen smaller ones from the creek and wonder where the big ones are. Last year I caught a couple of undersized weakfish in the mouth of the creek closer to the crab line.

[obnc]

The second pic is my 20' Grady White in the inlet at St Jerome's Creek. The commercial crabbers had been blown out for two days, but we decided to try our luck drifting through the inlet and casting lures. The water was moving us through the inlet at over 2.5 mph according to the GPS.

We had no luck and went out to the Wilson Bridge spoils near Point No Point light. The waves were 3-4 feet most of the time. We encountered one 6 foot monster and flew right over it. The boat was totally out of the water! I was glad to have that 4500 lb Grady in that kind of weather! We worked the birds in the area for 45 minutes with no bites even though we clearly saw bait on the surface.

Following seas made the short return trip home so slow I thought we were dragging a crab pot. We were surfing down 3-4 foot swells, but the combination of wind, waves, and current never let us get on plane till we got back in the sheltered waters of the inlet

The gentleman who was kayak fishing in the inlet is quite the kayaker! He had so much control over that boat with the foot peddles; it was amazing to watch him slice through the waves. That's good news about him catching a speckled trout in the inlet. It seems that speckled trout don't come to this side of the bay in the same numbers as the western side of the bay. Next time I go out I'm fishing the grass beds and points in the inlet with beetle spins and grubs!

[Grizzdog]

Joe,

That was me out there with a kids that I "mentor". No children yet!! We did pretty well despite the wind. We could have easily left with our limit but I wanted to let the kid catch all the stripers and it took him a while to the hang of it. Nice meeting you and good job on the speck!

[mbla]

Nice job on the Trout Joe, and the video is off the chain! I wouldn't have gone out in that chop and wind with the 23ft Grady White I had.

Nice Wig Man :-)

Mike

[Friday]

Great report. I opted to wuss out and stay home to do homework and domestic chores this weekend. The trout is awesome. I've seen smaller ones from the creek and wonder where the big ones are. Last year I caught a couple of undersized weakfish in the mouth of the creek closer to the crab line.

You said "WEAKFISH"? So there were weakfish around the Creek. Thanks for the Info. I will go for weakfish when the bay is calm.

Joe

[Friday]

The second pic is my 20' Grady White in the inlet at St Jerome's Creek. The commercial crabbers had been blown out for two days, but we decided to try our luck drifting through the inlet and casting lures. The water was moving us through the inlet at over 2.5 mph according to the GPS.

We had no luck and went out to the Wilson Bridge spoils near Point No Point light. The waves were 3-4 feet most of the time. We encountered one 6 foot monster and flew right over it. The boat was totally out of the water! I was glad to have that 4500 lb Grady in that kind of weather! We worked the birds in the area for 45 minutes with no bites even though we clearly saw bait on the surface.

Following seas made the short return trip home so slow I thought we were dragging a crab pot. We were surfing down 3-4 foot swells, but the combination of wind, waves, and current never let us get on plane till we got back in the sheltered waters of the inlet

The gentleman who was kayak fishing in the inlet is quite the kayaker! He had so much control over that boat with the foot peddles; it was amazing to watch him slice through the waves. That's good news about him catching a speckled trout in the inlet. It seems that speckled trout don't come to this side of the bay in the same numbers as the western side of the bay. Next time I go out I'm fishing the grass beds and points in the inlet with beetle spins and grubs!

Hi!
I remember seeing you there. The Hobie Adventurer is a quite kayak. It is an awesome kayak especially when I paddle while paddling. But the waves are high and broad sided I go to put my feet down to lower the center of gravity and paddle to steer. Sometimes, I put the rudder up (easy to steer when paddling.

Joe

[Friday]

Joe,

That was me out there with a kids that I "mentor". No children yet!! We did pretty well despite the wind. We could have easily left with our limit but I wanted to let the kid catch all the stripers and it took him a while to the hang of it. Nice meeting you and good job on the speck!

Very nice to meet you in personm Grizzdog. After talking to you I headed back little to the inlet. Then My wife called me and she heard the sound of wind. When I got back to the marina you were gone.
I hope we meet again.

Joe

[Friday]

Congrats on catching the speck. Makes me wonder if there are bigger ones around. :scratchchin3:

That video is nuts. :eek2::eek2: Those waves are way past my pucker limit. How do you turn around in waves like that without going overboard or flipping? Do you just lean into them?

Your costume is, like, totally awesome, by the way. :rockingman2:

Bill,
Before the turn, 1) I look for the next serise of low waves. There always series of high and low waves. In the beginning of the low-wave serise, I start to turn. When expecting broad sided by the high waves , 2) I set flippers horizontally (not vertical, you don’t have to bungee the pedal) and put feet down on the deck to lower the center of gravity, 3) I grab handles and lean toward the gunwale, 4) also lean forward or backward to lower the center of gravity. I prefer lean backward. This way my legs are straight and my calve and theighs are on the deck. I loosen the seat straps a liittle when the waves are high to lean backward. 5) Make sure that one side of the paddle is not in the water accidentally if the paddle is not tugged away (bungeed) on the gunwale. If the kayak catches the paddle that is in the water (leeway) when broad-sided, the kayak will flip over. Sometime I lift up the rudder and steer with paddle only when riding the waves. But it is usually safer when the paddle is bungeed.

There were series of high waves time to time that day. I had to put away the camera when I saw a series of big waves were coming.

Your Outback will be more stable than Adventurer. But it will be slow and go up and down more when facing the waves.

[joebass3]

I saw the Grady (obnc) blow through the inlet a couple of times while I finished cutting my grass. I briefly thought of coming out to join in the "fun":eek2: but decided to stay put and wax the boat instead. Less than ideal conditions for me, but looks like Joe (Friday) had a blast.

[Friday]

I saw the Grady (obnc) blow through the inlet a couple of times while I finished cutting my grass. I briefly thought of coming out to join in the "fun":eek2: but decided to stay put and wax the boat instead. Less than ideal conditions for me, but looks like Joe (Friday) had a blast.

I heard the sound of a large lawn mower for at least 2 hours by the inlet. I am wondering if I ever used your property (sandy beach with tall grass) for a break:D Trust me. I don't leave trash behind me.:thumbup:

Joe

[joebass3]

I heard the sound of a large lawn mower for at least 2 hours by the inlet. I am wondering if I ever used your property (sandy beach with tall grass) for a break:D Trust me. I don't leave trash behind me.:thumbup:

Joe

I heard that mower also. That thing is LOUD. I'm on the other side of that cove. After watching your video, I think waxing my boat was the right choice:thumbup:

[golfinjoe24]

Pretty cool vid Joe!!!!
I love Yaking in stuff like that. 3-5ft rollers are pretty cool, especially when you cant see your friend sometimes between waves!

[Friday]

Pretty cool vid Joe!!!!
I love Yaking in stuff like that. 3-5ft rollers are pretty cool, especially when you cant see your friend sometimes between waves!

Joey,
That's why I prefer yellow or bright Orange colors for kayaks. Sandy color (my Hobie) is the worst for me. Sandy kayak in remote distance is blended with white caps easily even in not-so-high waves. My wife could not see mine (16') but she saw Richard's (yellow 15'6" Prowler) in a foot of wave when we were miles off the shore even though she was standing 15' above the sea level. Once I heard on radio that someone was warning other boaters about a kayak (mine) in the middle of bay. He said that it was hard to see a kayak (Orange color, mine) between the waves. I want to be seen in remote distance. Do you know how to add color to kayaks? I like bright orange or yellow if there is a way to re-color my Hobie.

Joe

[ictalurus]

I don't think painting works very well with the plastic the yak is made from, but you can add a flag. That orange material you made the sail out of was pretty bright. I would put some SOLAS tape on it, too, so that it's stiffer and doesn't just hang when it's not windy.

[tmperkins]

Speaking about flags and increasing visibility I just built the flag and light pole I had been meaning to build all summer. My kayak may be even less visible than Fridays as it is camo (got a good deal), so I am very worried about being seen.

Parts:
Portable LED Stern Navigation Light with Suction Cup Mount
1.25 inch pvc - 40 inches
1 coupling pvc fitting
1 cap pvc fitting
1 6mm bolt 25mm long
3 6mm washers
gorilla glue
2 zip ties
flag of your choosing
roll of duct tape

The suction cup mount unscrews from the light and allows you to screw in a 6mm bolt. I simple drilled a hole in the pvc cap and bolted the light to the cap. I used the washers inside the cap to make sure everything was snug. Because I was not using a nut anywhere and I did not want to have the bolt fall out (which should not happen as it was a tight fit) if I have to unscrew the light I glued the bolt into place.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss354/tarpon120tmp/IMG_2881-1.jpg

The flag attaches with zip ties. This is the one flag that I had lying around, but I will probably get one that is more visible.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss354/tarpon120tmp/IMG_2880.jpg

The whole thing fits into the 2" pvc I use as rod holders in my fishing crate. I used duct tape to ensure a snug fit. (this will probably only last so long)
the whole thing is about 4 feet tall which means that it will be a little taller than me and it will still fit in the trunk of my car. Besides the flag, the whole set up cost less than $30.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss354/tarpon120tmp/IMG_2878.jpg

This winter I will add SOLAS tape and probably paint it so that it stands out more.

[ictalurus]

Cool light rig. I've got to get a flag for mine, I think.