301 Bridge in a Canoe on Sunday?

[slogg9]

I've had a lot of success down that way a little later in the season, and in a proper boat, but I've also slay'ed em the canoe/trolling motor setup in September.

Has anyone done anything there this past week? I'm either going to park near the power plant outflow or go a little deeper and try vertical jigging sabikis for croaker (if they've made it up this far by now).

Usually I wait until July and go out with blues in mind, catch a mess of white perch to live line, and accidentally get a striper or two. I've even seen spanish mackerel floating down there.

Any advice? My other option was the protected areas of Nomini Creek/Bay.

I've been moving and going to class after work for the past two months. Haven't gone out but a couple times since the YP invasion of Occoquan in February, and I'm DYING to hit it up on Sunday. Any advice???

[davewvu86]

Can you provide more info on the vertical jigging for croaker?

[slogg9]

put worm bits on a sabiki with 1-3oz of drop or pyramid weight. cast or drop. either let it sit, or give it short vertical taps and allow to go back to bottom every minute or so. really, it's bottom fishing, though if you're over a school, you can just drop and vertical jig.

[billx8]

Be sure to watch the weather closely if you go which I don't particularly recommend. The tidal currents are very strong down there and any wind against the current builds a rough chop quickly. Paddling any distance against the current can"t be much fun either. It is difficult to predict which way the current will run because of "half tides" peculiar to that area. I'd be very interested in how you do. Good luck.

[billx8]

Slogg, I just thought of something. Simonson on the north shore of the Rapp below Tappahannock is much better protected and has croakers earlier than 301. Its a lot longer drive but maybe worth it.

[slogg9]

Thanks Bill! I'll have to try that out sometime. I'm getting a much later start today than I'd hoped, so I may just dog it in the Occoquan or head up to Fletchers and fill the box with herring (hopefully I find them this time). Couldn't hurt to load up on free cut bait for the summer season. I've got a vendetta with those bastardly blues!!

[slogg9]

skunked in Occoquan.

[billx8]

Unfortunately thats the breaks Slogg. I've had several days like that this year. I got about 20 mixed shad & SB at Occoquan today but saw no other fish caught among the crowd. Must have done something right for a change.