June 9, 2012 Holy Shikes what an incredible night! ...

[classicrockfish]

With all the scheduled performances for Clara at Op Sail this weekend,
the outlook of getting to fish was slim, but I always tell my kids where there
is a will there is a way. I called David and Ben knowing they still were both in need of paper reds
before I left for Waterside with Clara and told them to get bait together and
meet us at the ramp after the last show... I managed to get out on time
and we met a 6pm at the Lynnhaven boat ramp...
We quickly departed arrived at the first location, at first it looked great on the gps, after 40 minutes of nothing, I knew we had fallen for "a tourist trap". I had mentioned the next spot on the way out a few times, we all agreed that we needed to check it out,
so we did. When we got there, I told Ben and David to drop the anchor. We set up our lines. We had live female blue crab(most productive), clams, and even some live bait. We used standard fish finder rigs with J hooks and yes I had the magic bead on one of my spinner rods. Our lines out now and the first rod went off . Ben grabbed it and the fish came off, this happened again
and then finally Ben got his first red drum a 44 incher ( on the ''magic' bead). David was up on the cobia tower having fun and joking around... and suddenly then another line went off ZZZZZZZZ. Just to see him get down off the tower like that I knew it was going to be a crazy fun night.. David fought the fish and landed a 45 incher.. Then another rod went off Ben grabbed it, the fish was off. Then another rod went off I grabbed it and fought this fish for a while and before I even got the fish to the boat
Ben grabbed the next rod and had another fish on..These two fish were insane and next thing I know Ben's fish darted across my line. Everyone on the boat said my fish was off. I knew better. A few minutes later Ben boated his first red drum citation at 46 inches. His fish needed to get back in the water after they de-tangled a few things and my fish was still hanging on and almost to the boat. Ben said he didn't need a photo, but I really wish we had one :0( The crew then helped me get my fish to the boat by clearing some stuff and having the net ready. She finally arrived after 5 episodes of diving and trying to get away. She was a nice 45 incher. . Then a minute after, another line went off. Kevin grabbed that rod and landed a nice 45 incher..David had hooked up and was on the bow of the boat. I know how much he loves his Release reels so when I was standing right next to the reel and it went crazy even though I knew he had something going on up in the bow, I called him. He looked up I said get over here, your release reel is calling you. Kevin took the rod he was holding and shortly after that fish came off. David quickly ran to the back of the boat. This fish was a true fighter but the reel got him in quickly. David's smile and laugh said it all. His first redfish paper, this was a fat feisty fish with 46 inches of pure red! Shortly after David boated his fish he and Ben wanted to go home. Me, I could have easily stayed for a few more hours. Kevin was really tired and so we packed up and left to head home just shortly after 11pm. All in all the night was amazing, we had 11 hook ups and boated 6 reds with 2 first time papers for a father and a son. A father and son night to remember indeed.