JAM’s ADVENTURES

All the Electricity was well off Shore but you can see the Frontal Line comming our way, makes for a real pretty Sky

Saw there was no lightning in sight and a Cold Front was about to push through our area, wanted to go check it out and take some photo’s. 

Going North Against a 10 knot North wind, in the distance you can see the front comming our way.

Paddled North from town in a steady 12 Knot North North East Wind, you could see the Frontal lines heading our way across the sound. 

I love all the Blues, Grays and Pastel-le colors ya get when a front comes in..

It was quite Beautiful, went North a little further to the Trout Grounds and gave it a shot, got a little Sea Robbin for my troubles. 

Heavy Rain In the Distance, around Bridgnds Bay, Frisco N.C.

Wind was really kicking up now to about 15 or 20 out of the North and there was Rain in it, but not over me, it was off in the Distance around the Frisco Area. 

Managed to stay dry and Headed back to the JEEP. Supposed to Blow tonight around 25 to 35 or so from the North North East. Should Cool her down a bit might even Start the Finger Mullet Run..

Used the Current and the Waves to just ride on home.  Not much expected on the Fishing Front but I did get some cool Pictures and a good bit of Exercise.. Until Next Time

JAM out

4 like this and a short Flounder.. TS Danny is about to stir things up a bit.. Time to GO LOOKIN...Sun...JAM out

I think that one of the things that got me interested in Speckle Trout fishing was the Stories that the Old Timers (who am I kiddin I am one now) use to tell me about how smart that fish can be.  I was amazed that one day a specific color plastic would work and the next day it would not.  I love challenges and what ever I do, I want to become proficient at it.   I have always been very competitive at everything I have done from Sports to Motocross to Snowmobile Racing. I was raised with a Competitive Drive.  

 So after  listening to them for several years, my comment would always be “I will Trout Fish when I am old”.  I kept Drum Fishin 13 foot Rod and 8 n bait, “big dumb meat fishermen they would call us”.  “Quit er Fishin” is what we would call them.   

Well there came a time 4 years ago when I picked up my first trout Rod.. Watched, Listened, and Learned from the Best Speckle Trout Fishermen on the Planet.  Kevin McCabe and John Mcgee  took me under their wings and showed me the ropes.. Off the get go I liked the thought process, this little SOB’s are smart as heck, and it was quite challenging.. I went with a real real ultra light set-up, because I believe that you can compensate bad Talent or bad Feel with Good Equipment.. So ultra-light it was, my main trout rod max weight it can handle is 1/2 oz’s.. Pretty much just like a freshie rod but 7 foot long.  I can and have only caught Speckle Trout on Braided or Micro Fused line the high dollar shuff with no stretch.. Then the pursuit, they are very rarely in the same spot all the time they move, so you better be willing to put in a lot of Walking/Paddling.. Fall and Winter is Beach Walk and Fish Time for me an a lot of the Fellas.  It is a blast and the Fishing can be off the hook. 

Its just impossible to Trout Fish out of a Big Red Jeep, ya just can’t get it done.. Trout guys are real real secretive about what they use, and especially where they fish.. It’s like Hunting and Fishing combined, because you are stalking the fish..  And Moving around.. Well here is a shot from yesterdays yak adventure..

Took me a couple of days but I found the Little Suckas… 4 about this size.. Not bad not bad @ all.. Got a couple more months in the shorts in the Yak before I hit he beach to Stalk Trout.. Sea YA .. JAM

If ya want to find out whats going on down here go to www.islandfreepress.org and take a look @ what these folks are doing to our Island

Well here is my reaction to whats goin on down here, make sure if your in the area you come to the Stand In the Sand Part De aux.. It will be Labor Day Week End so we hope you all will show up and Support Free and Open Access.  Turn out should be good because its a Holiday weekend, and I look forward to Seeing and meeting some of you there.  Now onto the Fishing..

A Beautiful Morning on the Pamlico Sound

Water still is Just not right, real, real high amounts of fresh mixed in with my salt.  Smells kinda like Chlorine as well.   It almost has a Yellow tint to it.. Well hit all the spots and only managed an Atlantic Croak-er and a Small Flounder..

This guy tells me that fall is right around hte Corner.. My favorite time of year on the Island.

Seeing the Croak-er tells me that Fall is on its way.  Croakers are related to the Drum Fish..  Minus the Spot on its tail that the Drum Fish has.  Croakers make a Frog Like Sound when ya catch them and you can even hear them sometimes when they are under your boat.  Much like the Drum, who the Male in the Drum Family makes a Drummin sound ..

Point of View Shot of Bait stiring the water up center of screen top, they make ripples on the surface.

Pretty Pretty morning, Coffee, Sunrise, Fish, and the knowledge to know that I am Blessed.. Now onto to Work.. Until Tomorrow .. JAM out..

Juvi Red Drum 13 Inch's most likely born last year, caught on Berkley Gulp Alive 3 " White Shrimp 1/16 ounce lead head, him and 2 short flounders and 2 sea robbins is all I could Scrape up yesterday. Water had a lot of run off in it and just was not right. Gonna go @ first light in the am.

Its been a fantastic Spring Summer Kayak Fishing season.. Since March I have only been SKUNKED 4 times.  The Specs have been steady, and almost daily occurrence..

Slot Puppy Drum around 26 inch's

Back in March we had some realy good days on the Puppy Drum, a couple of those days over a hundred fish were caught.  Me and The Pumpkin boy caught them for 2 hours straight.  Since then the Puppy Drum (In other parts of the country they are called different things IE: Red Fish, Spot Tail, Drum) have been scarce.. I have caught a few small ones but they decided to get out of the KAYAK before getting their picture took..

47 inch one caught a few easter sundays ago..

These fish are Majestic Fish, and there was a time in my life where my sole purpose was to catch them from the Beach, IN mass quantities.. With the Closure’s of most of the spots I used to fish for them it has forced me to changed he game to more of a KAYAK thing. . 

These fish range from Juvinell’ s under 18 inches to Puppy’s 18 to 27 inches, which is also the Slot fish, the one you are allowed to take for supper.   to the 3rd class of Drum, Yearling.. Not quite sure why the call them Yearlings, could have something to do with its the first time in their life they are able to breed. 

They Call them BULL RED's in Texas and Fla. But they don't get to see many of these.. NC is the Drum Capitol of the World.

The 4th Class of Fish we call Drum some in the Fla. area and in Texas Call them Bull Reds, we just call them Drum

Well its getting close to the Big Mullet push into the Ocean from the Sound and pretty much everything in the sound follows the Finger Mullets into the Ocean.    Its kinda when I switch gears and start looking @ my Speck Hole’s from last year. 

Quit fishing for Drum from the Beach in Spring of 08, due to night time beach access isssues  and  Draconian like beach closure’s.. I was lucky enough to be taught how to Beach Drum Fish by the guys that Invented the Game, and I was a good student.  Most of these guys are in their 70’s and some are in their 80’s now, heck some have passed on to the big pond in the sky.  The ones that are still alive can not make a 2 mile walk in the Sand, let alone in  water up to their knees, I will not disrespect them by Drum Fishing from the beach by walking when it is not possible for them to do the same. 

If and when they ever fix our access issue and return the Beach to the Traditional  Historic Access that we have had here since the beginning of time, then I will Start Beach Drum Fishing again.. Until that time comes I will be Stuck @ 104 Drum over 40 inches, Several Hundred Yearlings and countless Puppys..      

If ya look close ya can see one of the good old guys, Fred Stenke passed this fall, spent countless hours fishing with Freddie.. Caught lots of fish with him.. Betcha he;s catchin them everyday now.. JAM

Believe I’m gonna put a little Plank time in for them this year.. Never caught one from a Pier yet. so this might be the Year.. Could be number 105 is on the  Horizion, and on the Piers..

Until Next Time JAM Out

Pulled up in the parking lot expecting the Worse, but much to my surprise there she sits, no worse for the wear.. NICE

Well folks much to my Surprise the Frisco Pier made it through the Evening High-Tide Cycle.. Went there just a few minutes ago to see what if any more damage was done, and she looks no worse for the wear.  Must not have gotton that big push they were talking about.

Folks enjoying a dog walk.. Low tide should be good for Shelling..

Folks were out and about walking around on the beach’s, looking @ the Aftermath of  H-Cane Bill.. All I can say is thank God, we don’t need any more Issues on our plate @ this  present Time..

Not much to it weak little swell wait to chest tops..

Swell has dropped way off and if you need to Surf, north of here would be the call.. Just little Dumpy waves on the South Beach’s of Hatteras.. Ferry System is still shut down and the Beach’s are still Closed.. 

From Ramp 55 Looking south, to me it looks passable Right now but low tide it will be passable for sure.. Don't expect it to be opened back up to fast though due to obvious reasons

From what I can see @ High-Tide, they all should be passable @ Low.. But Alas its Sun, and I don’t think the Park Service will be in any Hurry to Open them up..  If they were open they might have to do some work..

Sea Turtle Nest Covered by Tides for teh Past 2 days.. Don't think these guys will make it. Unless it was one of the ones that were moved. But I did not see any signs of Excavation.. Your Tax Dollars @ Work.. What a JOKE.

Turtle Nests off of Ramp 55 look inundated with water and I doubt that they will produce any offspring.. I guess they will never Learn.. Would love to know where they relocated all the nests they talked about the other day.  If they thought that some of the nests would survive cause they were high to the Dune line they we sadly mistaken..

Well enough of this CRAP.. Time to go catch some Fish.. JAM out..

Almost Ride-able

Well Bill is a couple of hundred miles off our Coast and He has got the Ocean All Rilled up..

Good Bye Ole Friend. She's still standing but its onlt bout 8 to 10 foot right now next Hight Tide is due to be 15 +

Went out an a Scouting Mission to see whats going on, right @ High-Tide.  It was a pretty Awesome Sight.. Wave heights are only around 8 foot or so, but its pretty chopped up, and not organized.. Not really Ride-able right now on the Southern Beach’s of Hatteras.  The Northern Beach’s I bet are not fairing that well either.

By 6 pm this evening waves will Crest the Pier Deck.This was the High @ around 9.am

Stopped by to say goodbye to an Old Friend today, as I believe the Frisco Pier will Be Done on the next High Tide Cycle later this Evening.. She’s hanging on by a Thread and the Ocean’s only @ 8 Foot, she is due to be around 15 foot @ the Height of the Swell.. ”Goodbye FareWEll until we meet again” 

Water Trickeling into the Frisco Pier Parking Lot Not Good

Not pretty @ all, water all the way into the Parking lot @ the Frisco Pier.  This has been a good friend to a lot of the Locals and its a shame to see her go.. Ya never know maybe she will still be standing tomorrow but I doubt it.   

From 3 rd Level Durant Station

These shots are taken from the 3rd Level of the Durant Station just @ the entrance of Hatteras Village.. Pretty big Stuff out there , and the Ocean is to the Dune lines.   Its only gonna get bigger as the day progresses.

I don't believe that I need to be told the Beach's are closed..But thats the way it is STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES.

All Beach’s are Closed due to an over Zealous Park Service.. I am getting real tired of being protected from myself.  I have made it to 44 years young, with all my fingers and toes and other body parts intact.. Mind you I would not go out there with my JEEP anyway, but I do not need to be told not to. 

Closed both Sound Side and Ocean Side I understand Ocean Side but??? WTF

There would be nothing wrong with the Sound Side Accesses but they are all closed..

Note to the park Service, If ya really want to keep people off the Beach’s and Close them I would think something better ten SAW Horses should be used. 

Unless these were part of the ones that they excavated yesterday they are DONE

Well I took a couple of shots of the Turtle Nest’s going under water, hopefully they were the ones that the excavated to save the little fellas.. Be a shame if after all the Closures we get no productivity @ all.. but I pretty much called that one 4 days ago..

Turtle Nest Over Wash Toe of the Dune.. Alas Good bye Trurtle Season 09.. Great Job Guys.. Should have moved them all.. To Higher Ground, but hey you learned it in a Text Book, We LIVE IT

Studying Nature in a Book is one thing Living It is another.. I LIVE IT, THEY LOOK  @ IT.. Full Beach  Closeures in my humble opinion were not needed.. Cape Point is the only section of beach on this  Island that can hold a Swell from the South  that is this big.. Surfers are bumed cause they can’t get there..

When will People Understand that all it takes is one Little Storm and all the Protective Measures set in place, to Protect Wildlife from Human Interatcion is not the Problem.. You can't mess with Mother Nature, she will do what she wants reguardless of what humans do to stop her..People in ORV's or Just Walking on the Beach have NO AFFECT on Nesting Birds Or Turtle's.. They have been around for thousands of years with out any protection from us.. Wake UP Folks.. Let Nature Take Care of Its-self. She's been doing alright by herself.. JAM out

I understand safety and all but we are Adults.. I don’t need to be Protected From ME.. of well another Storm Under our belts.. See ya Next Time JAM out…

Dr. Markham's Grandson was ready to go all Beach Stylie..

Went down to Hatteras Inlet for a Family Fun Trip, that Rob had booked  just to tag along and scout the waters  down there.  I’ve got Buxton pretty Dialed In having spent the last 4 Years Fishing all of the Spots. The Inlet is a Different world.. Lots of Boat Traffic to pay attention to and just more stuff going on.. Up in Buxton most days I don’t see a Soul, except the folks I Bring. 

Dr. Markham and his Gran-daughter Shove off for the Adventure of a Lifetime

Being closer to the Ocean the Inlet can produce a different varity of fish Cobia , Spanish Macks, Big Drum to 60 pounds and lots of other Critters that don’t move too far away from the Inlet.  I have even heard of Sail Fish coming into the Inlet from the Ocean. 

Got up with Surf Fisher Dave the night before and asked him if he would like to join us (Thanks for the Ribs Dave) he was game so we met @  The Outer Banks Angler Shop @ 9 am..

When ya live on an Island its fun to do it Native Style, HarCore Beach Bar-B-Q

We proceeded to load/unload the gear for a days Adventure.. Rob had the Grill and the Ez-UP all the food in the  coolers, because Family fun trips are just that an all day Adventure’s where we take folks to partake of our Traditional Hatteras Beach Style Family Outing..

All set up and ready to charge it.

Kayak Adventure to Clam and Fish then back to the Beach for a full on Bar-B-Q.

Rob was handling the party so me and Surf Fisher Dave set  off to Cora June Island in the middle of Hatteras Inlet, to scout spots and catch fish. 

Rob and Party Set off for the Clams and the Sand Dollars some of the Sand Dollars were the size of a small dish

Cora June Island with its abundance of Birds that don't count.

The Island is about 3 miles from the launch point so with the wind @ our backs we drift fished all the was to it.  Catching Flounder and a Speck.  We anchored up just off the backside of Cora June and fished it for a little while. 

Brown Pelican's Just Chillin.. This shot is for my Bud Sand-Flea.. He loves dem Pelican's

Wind started to pick up and it was time to make the Paddle back for our Bar-Bar-B-Q Dinner.  With an incoming Tide and 12 to 15 SW winds now @ our face the ride back was a decent workout. 

Got back Ate like a Kings hung out with the Markham Family.  Just talkin and havin a good ole time.  Folks this is a way that you can see our Style of life, we do this everyday, and the things you get to see are amazing.. Sea Turtle was less then 10 foot from us today, he would come up gulp air then go back down.  He would not cooperate for a photo but it will be a mental picture forever embedded in my brain.. Peace out … JAM

Dave and His Keeper Flounder 17 and 1/4 inches.. Pretty work Dave.

Pelican In Flight Goin Huntin

WhatZ Up!!!!!!!

Changed it up a bit today, came home from the  Marina around 1:30 took a Nap (I know I’M Old) got up around 3:30 to hit it.  Bug Sprayed up cause I planed on staying until SunSet and Paddled out North Of Buxton. 

Did not expect too much as it was still runoffy looking water.  Tried a spot that I hit them in last year, but I have not fished it this year.  And much to my surprise Jarvis bows up, got a pretty big one on, a Drag taker.. pop he comes off.. No biggie I stay right here and get him.. Cast and Hook up again, bang a nother Drag taker, pop he’s off. 

First One of 2 Nice sized little bigger than the regulars.

Tightened my drag a smidge, casted out, Hook-up brought him to the boat and in it..

Number 2 Pretty Fish Caught on My Jarvis Walker Combo..

Couple more casts, nother Drag taker fish comes into the Boat.. That was it 2 nice hi-end 2 plus pound Spotted Sea-Trout.. With a Magical SunSet on the  Side..

A Very Magical Hatteras SunSet this ones for you LORI..

Plan on hittin Hatteras Inlet with Rob, and Surf Fishin Dave  in the AM gonna catch me some Angry Hatteras Specks..

Until Next Time JAM out

That orange Blob moved over the top of me As I was Loading up the JEE

I like to stay on my work schedule even on my days off, it just makes it easier on the body clock.  You would think after 5 miles yesterday I would be bushed, nah ain’t gonna happen.  For my age I am in perpetual motion, don’t know how or why just am. 

Checked the radar before I left this morning and it looked clear for about 3 hours so I hit it.  Had to re-rig the yak for the Sound after yesterdays Adventure, so at first twilight I put the Seat, Anchor Trolley and other nick nacks that I don’t want to loose in the Ocean back on the Yak, and loaded her back up on the JEEP.

A Sea Mullet AKA Whiting AKA King Fish don't see many of these back in the Sound..

Paddled out around 6:30 in a steady Rain and hit a few spots.  Now, I am pretty much not afraid of anything on this planet, but there is one thing I give the up-most respect to and that is LIGHNING.  Don’t like it don’t want it near me.  Started to hear some rumbles of thunder in the distance and new it

Nice Blue Fish Pretty Good Sized 18 inch's bout 2 pounds or so..

would not be long before I started to head back in.  Caught a Sea Mullet and a nice Blue Fish.. Rumbles started to get closer so I got out of Dodge..

It was a quick one but a fun one, and fish were caught.. In Cave Man Days I’d be eaten pretty good right now…

Until Next time JAM out