Crazy story and Wachapreague Flounder Sunday

[Baldzilla 2.0]

Long story with a Quick report because everyone's all sound the same anyway...fish are there, everyone knows. I had never taken my family down there (Wife, 7 year old daughter, 5 year old Son, 1 year old daughter) but they all wanted to go with me this time so, against my better judgement I took them down...last minute so the Inn was full, we stayed at the Holiday Inn in exmore...really nice place. launched at 0800 (2 hours later than I would have solo) on the outgoing..paying too much attention to the kids I hit an oyster bar hard...was hard aground. Had a buddy fishing the area, called and called and called but he never picked up. Called out on 16, 68, 69 for help, no one responded (would not have asked for help had it not been the whole family). Called Tow Boat US, yeah closest is in VA Beach..no dice...coast guard down there doesn't have a boat with shallow enough draft to get to us...so I tell the family we are going to make the most of it and wait it out...I get a call on the cell from the Coast guard about 30 minutes later that one of the Coasties has a friend who is a waterman with a shallow draft boat and will come get us. They come out and I walked across the oyster bed with each kid and my wife on my back in turn to the boat. I stayed with my boat and fished while I waited to float off. The kind waterman would not take my money, would not take my beer, would not take lunch, he was just a true gentleman. I did not go in with them, so I did not get his name, but an open thank you to him for making that effort for my family when no one else out there would even respond. It's nice to know there are some genuinely good people out there.

So, my family is having lunch at the island house and I cast just far enough off the oyster bed to be in the mud and catch 2 flounder in the hour I wait..the tide finally gets to where the boat is rocking and my buddy finally calls me...he's on his way to pull me off...5 minutes later I"m floating and headed back in to get my family when he calls me...his engine died and he and his family have been grounded. So, since one good turn (the waterman to my family) deserves another I head out there and find him, hook up a line through his bow eye to my stern cleats and tow him back in....he takes me fishing offshore all the time so it was really the least I could do for him and glad I could do something (but don't tell him that)...

I felt terrible for my family that we had made that run and basically my lack of attention had ruined the day, but my wife felt terrible that I didn't get to fish and she viewed it as an adventure, so at 2:45 pm we were loaded up and decided to head out. Headed to some spots I know usually hold fish so they could see a flounder caught, well we proceeded to slay them. Caught more than i can remember or count in the hour and a half out there. I thought I had a real nice one on but actually turned out to be about an 18" bluefish. Right after that we hooked up again and I knew it was a better fish, so I handed the rod to my 7 year old daughter (who truly loves to fish) and she methodically got that flounder to the boat...when i saw it I told her to stop quickly, had to get the net and slid the fish in. Weighed in just over 5 lbs. Not a bad first flounder for a 7 year old (took me 20 years to catch one that big)....my son got a 17.5"er and we got a few more keepers but released them to spawn since we can really only eat 2 flounder between all of us (and that's over 2 nights)...we blew back in loaded up the trailer and were back on the road for home by 6...home at 10:30 pm, everyone passed out asleep, but well worth it for a fabulous day with the family. If I get motivated I'll post some pics but they are all on my phone so it may be another day or two.

Thanks again to the unnamed waterman who came out and got my family! Back down there next Tues-Thurs for a guys trip!!!
Mark

[Grady23]

KARMA will be there when the waterman needs it --- Pay it Foward. If you were having trouble getting responses, be sure your radio is on full or high power. Had a friend calling one day & could not reach me . but I could reach him. His set was on LOW power. Glad you caught some fish after all THAT!

[Hillbilly Boater]

Mark, Sounds like a great adventure with a good outcome. Glad all were save and had a fun time, even if you hadn't planned it that way. BTW use 72 down there, it's the local channel of choice. All the charters use it and they are very helpful, unlike OC.

[Lone Ranger]

Great report Mark!I know nothing of Oyster Bars down there!...If I go with you,How about I drive!I'm dyin' to get down there.Poor choice of words...Have the Tests Thursday.

[Baldzilla 2.0]

Mark, Sounds like a great adventure with a good outcome. Glad all were save and had a fun time, even if you hadn't planned it that way. BTW use 72 down there, it's the local channel of choice. All the charters use it and they are very helpful, unlike OC.

Grady23, thanks, yup was on high power...Coast guard even called out to all boats in the area on 16 with my cell phone number but no response...

Thanks HB...I have learned to avoid 72 with the bay fishermen so didn't think to check it down there!

Mike, you are welcome any time...I'm down there at least every other week!

[TerpHeels]

If u don't run aground u aint fishin in any back bay up and down the coast. At least u made the best of it and pulled it out 4 the family. Flat fishin has been superb everywhere but chinco it seems.

[alby man]

Mark if you have not been aground in wachapreague you are not fishing in the right places . I had to have my albe pulled off two years ago on the last turn before the no wake zone . a local waterman pulled me that day too . they are supposed to dredge the channel this fall , I sure hope it happens .
Kevin

[home cookin']

great story and great fishing. I'm glad your family took iit well, since yours is a typical adventure. You just have to say, "Anyone who doesn't love this, is crazy."

Don't know what size boat you have but a shove pole or oar (not paddle, oar) is important equipment. Likewise, more for your buddy, an anchor; when you have problems you want to stay put. You do not want to go out to sea or get blown across a flat.

I find radio traffic is minimal there on the seaside so I'm not surprised you didn't get answers.

Watch out for the channel markers; they are historical markers now and of little use. The locals often mark an oyster rock or bar with a stake. Problem is, they also mark deep water with a stake. When the crab traps are out, they are good for marking natural channels but watch out for long lines. And if you can see the tops...

Bays are shallow; creeks are deep.

And the locals are the best people in the world. Many have saved my carcass from my stupidity or mother nature over the past 45 years or so.

Now for questions, if you don't mind sharing--what baits and depth? Sounds like you got the incoming tide which can be most productive. Clear water is the key.

[Baldzilla 2.0]

Now for questions, if you don't mind sharing--what baits and depth? Sounds like you got the incoming tide which can be most productive. Clear water is the key.

we used all squid minner sammy baits. motored up and down the channel ledges but I'd say 75% of fish came in 8-10 feet. We did get one nicer fish in 2 feet of water when I wasn't paying attention again!!! we did fish incoming and the higher it got the worse the bite got.
Thanks

[Lone Ranger]

Mark if you have not been aground in wachapreague you are not fishing in the right places . I had to have my albe pulled off two years ago on the last turn before the no wake zone . a local waterman pulled me that day too . they are supposed to dredge the channel this fall , I sure hope it happens .
Kevin

Kevin,You got that right!..Years ago,I went exploring ,went to go around a point,cut the point wide as every knowledgeable Boater would,Put my 21 Starcraft right in the Mud!! The Deep water was NEXT to the point!Found that out after I went on a relaxing Wading outing!.Also went exploring again a few years ago and found an Un-Marked Oyster Bar! I'm NOT exploring anymore.I only go where I know now!!

Its about time they dredge that Freakin' channel..Every year I come down..I wonder if you'll be able to get out or back in. Last couple years,I've come back in thru Wachapreague Channel runnin' on top....Some damn short water on low tide!! Was guiding my Son back in last year,Told him to stick close to the Markers and watch that Depth Finder...He came up on some short water and started pulling back..I had to grab the Throttle quick,and explain to Him why!.He understood.He does not have much water experience! [Mike]