I think I have a game plan. After new Years with the wife and kids, a family day or two at Ocean City, I'm heading south to CBBT on Friday sometime after ditching the kids with the in-laws. {Poor kids.} Instead of working on the big boat and bringing it out of hibernation, I'm taking a kayak or the 14' jon boat. I'm going to launch at Wise ramp and head to Smith Island. From there I'm going to beach the boat and walk around the island to fish the ocean side mostly. There are miles of decent looking beach structure on that island but I'm most interested in the southern tip of Smith Island creating the northern point of Fishermen's Island Inlet. At least that's what I think it is. The current rips through there and creates some insane white water that resembles places like Oregon Inlet or Hatteras Inlet because it's strewn with boat eating, striped bass craving shoals. I've done this before but in the larger boat. The tricky part is not getting stuck on the sand bars on the way to the island and not getting sucked out to sea through Fishermen's Island Inlet.
I'm getting excited about it just writing this. I'll probably get skunked but there's a small chance I might strike gold. How often does that beach get fished anyway?
If I make it all work and the weather cooperates, I'll be happy just trying. But if the wife needs me or the in-laws throw in the towel, I'll be on here with the rest of you reading all the reports on the Va Board filled with ocean blitzes.
Happy New Year.