JAM’s ADVENTURES

Had high aspirations for the day, the wind was due to shift overnight from the SSW that has been keeping us in an Inferno conditions for the past 3 weeks.  Well it came around a bit from the SSW to the W, but it did not come fully around to the NE like I expected it to do.   Had a repeat Client, Chris from Richmond, and I was stoked to go fishing with him again.  Told Chris how I had found the Grey Trout and Specks a few weeks ago, and have been pretty steady on them with some nice catches.  He is a reader of JAM’S ADVENTURES so he was aware of what we have been catching, and was equally Stoked. 

We left out of Teach’s at around 7 a.m. and headed to the Hole I refer to as “GREY DEATH”.  It is a good two and a half mile paddle to the fishing grounds, and we BS’d along the way. 

Chris from Richmond

We arrived at the mark in pretty short order, and deployed our anchors.  I was honestly figuring on hooking up on the First cast, but that was not the case.  Neither was the Second, Third, Fourth, or Hundredth.  It just was not happening, the current was moving Side To, instead of running front to back or back to front.  It was time to move, we each had a few Trash fish (Lizard Fish) but that was not what we were after. 

One of Several Lizard Fish (if they had legs they would be Lizards)

We headed to the Speck Hole, about a mile and a half away, arrived and anchored up.  There was a more action in this spot, as the rod tip take down was a little stronger.  It took a little while but I managed to get a Shorty Flounder (to small to kill) and that gave me some hope that Chris would get one too.  After several casts, I look over at Chris and his rod was pretty Bowed up, I was hoping that it was gonna be the keeper. 

Chris Bowed up a little better this time..

A FlUNDER I like to call'em when they are short..

I love to watch my folks catch fish, and I think I get as excited, if not more then they do. 

Here is the Lizard Fish...

Chris got the fish to the Yak, but it was a Shorty too.  We kept at it and each caught a few Man Sized Lizard Fish, and a few more Flounder that were just a little to short to keep. 

But all in all it was a Great Day on the water with Chris, and it was great to hang out and talk, and fish with him again.  Chris, like ya said on the water “Third Time is the Charm” 

Until Next Time

JAM out

Most days I wake at 3:30 A.M.  to go to work, that means I go to bed early, round 9:00 P.M. to get a full nights sleep.  Living in a Island Resort Town, everybody wants to Party with ya all the time, cause they are on Vacation, if ya fell into that, you would not have a liver long.  I don’t drink much cause I would rather be on the water and being on the water in a KAYAK hungover is just not my Idea of fun.  So, I for go the partying so I can be fresh, and charge it like a 20 year old.  Today was no exception, I was up at 3:30, waiting on the Sun for today’s ADVENTURE.

The Weather channel had a storm to the south of us but I would have plenty of time to get on, and off the water before it hit.  I had around six hours to be on the water and I was gonna make good use of them.  The plan was Specks, first then finish it off with some flounder Fishing.  I was excited, its not often Iget a day to hit it myself, I had a Trip for this morning but the weather conditions would not allow that to happen, it was gonna be to rough for clients, but I had several options at several different locations, that I thought would produce. 

These guys are fun as heck to catch on a trout rod.. They go ballistic.

Got everything rig and loaded in the BE-LO-ME, and headed out into the Open waters of Hatteras Island.  Went to my first GPS Point for Specks and a MARSH MARLIN (Hound Nose Gar) paid me a visit.  He went nutz, tail walking and an aerial show before I released him to go play with someone else. 

Target one for the day nailed, before I even finished my coffee..

Re-positioned my YAK and deployed another Gulp 3 inch Chartreuse Swimming Mullet and it got CRUSHED as soon as it hit the water.  This fish was taking a little drag, so I knew he had some shoulders on him, and when he arrived at the Yak, there was the first target, The Speckled Trout. 

Number 2, nice fish, I hope this is a sign of a good fall season.

Gave it another hour or so Speck Fishing with only one more taker, one a little smaller then the first, but still over the 14 inch keeper size limit. 

Good sized but not good enough..

It was about as steady as it gets, but they were all too short.

With not much Speck Action, I decided to give the Flounder a shot, so, I hauled in my anchor, and departed to the Flounder location on my GPS.  It’s a tricky spot, as it is real close to the Ferry Channel and the Ferry wakes can be a problem if you do not know where to anchor.  Ya need to keep your boat deep as to not get taken out  by a Ferry Wake. 

Anchored up and it was on from the first cast till I left.  Flounder after flounder, on most every cast, problem was that only one of the dozen or so fish I caught was a 15 inch keeper, most were right around 14 inches.  While I was flounder fishing a Coast Guard Plane was doing a search pattern, pulling big circles, looking for someone, I had heard yesterday that a body was spotted by a Kayak-er off of Avon, 3 villages north of Hatteras.  

Not good when ya see one of these circle, they are looking for someone, I hope they are alright..Gives me the chills, as I am on the water everyday I can.. Can't stand to see someone hurt, or worse..

I can only assume that the CG plane was doing a search for the body.  Lots of folks come here on vacation, and have no Idea how powerful Mother Ocean is, and that is where they get into trouble.  Hatteras Island has some of the biggest surf conditions on the entire East Coast.   The Ocean Demands respect, ya better give it to her, or you will pay the piper..  Hope it was just a turtle and not another Vacationer, we have lost a few this year all ready. 

Until Next Time

JAM out

As you can see from the rollers, it just was not right for Sheepies..Time to change the game to Plan B..

Today’s ADVENTURE was supposed to be a SheepsHead Adventure, but we had 3.  things going against us.  1.  The SandFleas were less then cooperative, it took us 1 and 1/2 hours to get Fleas; and 2.  The SheepsHead were not being cooperative either, they just were not biting; and 3.  The wind and waves kicked up from a few thunder storms just off of our Coast, they were at least 2 foot chop and a current of around 4 to 5 knots. 

SheepsHead fishing requires, no wind, and a Slack tide.  We had neither and we hit around 6 different channel markers, thats when I looked at my good friend and Good Luck Charm, Alan Koons, and I said “Were real close to a spot I have called “GREY DEATH” no sense beating a dead horse, lets go see if the Greys are here” (WeakFish for my Yankee Buddies)  He was down, and the reason that I call him my “Good Luck Charm” is every-time we have gone Kayak Fishing this Year, 2 charter’s and one fun fish sesh, we have caught fish in a big way. 

The First of many, many Fish...so much FUN!!!!

It took a little time to get to “Grey Death” as we were heading into a NNW wind at around 15 to 20 Knots, combine that with an out-going tide and it created about a 2 foot chop slop, right in our faces.  We arrived at the hole, and Alan gave it one last try for the Sheepies, I got right to the trout fishing.  It wasn’t my first cast (cause I just ain’t that lucky) but it could have been my second or third, and from the gentle tug I felt on my Berkley Gulp Chartreuse Swimming Mullet I knew the Greys were there, I hollered over to Alan to move to the right of me and anchor up, as I set the hook, on the first of many 12 to 15 inch Greys. 

One of Alan'Greys..

and another this went on for a good piece of time.. It was real good fishing..Once they show I can get them every day..

This guy was one of the bigger ones, around 14-15 inches..

All day long, when the bite stoped, we picked at them for the rest of the day. But there was always fish..

They kept on biting for a good period of time, and if it was not a Grey (here’s where the good luck comes in) it was a BlueFish, or a Croaker, or a Blow Toad, or a Sea Mullet (Northern King Fish, Whiting for my good friends to the North) for a good 2 hours.   We must have caught 40 or so limits of Grey Trout (the limit in the state of NC is ONE)  We were catching, shooting bull and having a GRAND OLE Time.

F/V "FREE AGENT" HATTERAS N.C.

As we were doing it to it, a good friend of mine and a true Hatteras Legend, Capt. Rick ”Cato” Caton pulled up in the F/V “FREE AGENT” and we discussed taking over the world for a few minutes,  arming the F/V FREE AGENT and the F/V Captain Clam (his son Captain Patrick Caton’s F/V) with .50 cals, well: not take over the world, Just Take our Park Back from the folks that TOOK IT FROM US. 

Mighty Glad He's on Our Side.. If you all want to catch fish, give the "FREE AGENT" OR "CAPTAIN CLAM" a call these boyz put fish on the Dock.

We laughed, (because it’s a joke National Park Service cause I know you read me) and said our goodbye’s and Alan and myself continues to catch Trout, just picking at them now as the conditions worsened. 

The afternoon was coming to and end, and the good thing about taking it on the chin on the way out, is ya get to coast back, I trolled up a nice 15 inch Blue on the way back to Teach’s Lair Marina, and we discussed the importance of always coming back to Port.  Coming home safe is the most important part of any Adventure, and to me there is no alternative, I’m coming Home and so are the folks that go with me. 

One of the main things that I can stress to any New or Novice Kayak Fisherman is know your limitations, I kinda have none, but when I assess a Client, I will set certain limits according to the clients ability, after discussing distances and conditioning with the person I am taking.   Weather and Wind are a very important consideration, to put into the mix, if I am taking a husband and wife we would not be doing the things Alan and I do, 

Most folks could not be where we were today, the rollers were geting to arond 3 foot when we left. I called my client for Saturday (Husband and wife) and told them that it was not going to be the greatest conditions and sugested they give it a shot next time. There is no sense in putting someone in harms way. PS I am going any way..

Alan is one of my best, and he is getting better every trip, he does not have many limits either, and we catch fish every-time we go… Wish I could bring him on every trip.  Told him that today on the paddle back.  Until Next time….

JAM out

Bout 2 and 1/2 Miles of Hatteras Village, Hatteras Island N.C.

Had the day off all around today, no Roost, no Guides, and no Computer Jobs, so I could not think of a better thing to do then, you guessed it, GO FISHING…. Wanted to get on it early as it was gonna be another scorcher with heat indices even higher then yesterday, 110 was the heat index today, and man was it hot. 

He was a Keeper, but I am not fond of Gret Trout, so he was a release.

Wanted to get on the Specks at the spot were I caught them yesterday, so I headed out at around 6:00 and arrived at the spot around 6:30.  Lots of Croaker, one after the other, some approaching 10 inches, they were lighting up all my Berkley Gulp Baits, knocking the tails off them on every cast.  I stuck it out for a While longer and managed to get a Grey Trout (WeakFish) and did pull in a few small Specks.   

Just a real Treat to Eat, Sea Mullets are fantastic tablefare..

Then I got a real nice Surprise, a nice one pound Sea Mullet (Whiting, Northern King Fish are a few other names for them) these are kind of a rare catch in the sound, especially on a Trout Grub, but that will make two near citation sea Mullets in the last 2 weeks.    

Gulps are expensive and I didn’t want to loose all my baits in the first location, so I headed to the Flounder Hole, it is fairly close to the Trout Hole so it did not take me long to get there.  I decided to take a swim and Cool Down a bit before I started fishing.  It felt great, kinda just sat there in neck deep water for a while and got my head right.  Jumped back on the Yak and headed to an anchor point, where I could position myself with running water going, right to left in front of me. 

They were all around 14 and 1/2, no keeper flounder today..

First Cast and it was a shorty, I repeated this for a while and then went back for a swim.  I must have caught 20 flounders, but all of them were short, it was getting real hot at his point and I jumped on the yak and made the 3 mile paddle to Teach’s Lair Marina ( The Marina is named after BlackBeard the Pirate’s real last name) and some much needed A/C. 

It ain't Easy, being Cheesie.....LOL... JAM

Dave the GM, had told me that Berkley had used me in an advertisement and that the Ad was in the North Carolina Fisherman’s Post, we had gotten a Plug for the Roost Bait and Tackle, Teach’s Lair Marina, and Myself for JAM’s Adventures.  Gee I sure do hope the Berkley Fairy reads JAM’s ADVENTURES, and fills JAMS PO Box Full of Goodies..

Until Next Time

JAM out…

But, SHHHHHH!!!!!, don’t tell the Owners, its just a perfect job for me, on the water, fishing Intel that can’t be beat, and the Great Group of folks, we call customers.  It was just a normal week, have fun with the customers, joke around with them and PUT THEM ON FISH.  Its a great job with lots of Perks, the freshest bait, the Employee discount ( I could not afford the gear I fish without it) and just a great work environment, oh, did I mention, I am on the water everyday of the week. 

I met the guy Adam (coch3s3 on pier and surf, most likely butchered his screen name, but I know I got his real name right) and he asked me about a KAYAK fishing the area, said he had heard of me on Pier and Surf and has read my blog a few times, gave him some spots to try and told him to feel free to launch from our ramp, he bought some stuff and hit it solo style.  When I had seen him later I asked him if he had, had any luck, nothing but Lizard Fish he replied.  I told him that I was going fun fishing in the a.m. and it he wanted to he could come along and fish with me.  He was down. 

A Nice fish and there has been a good run of them, this bodes well for the winter time run, I believe.

We met on the water at a little spot that I have fished before with pretty good luck, and its a spot that the wind has kept me away from for the past few trips, but not today, it was a little breezy, 10 to 15 SSW, but none of the 25-35 SSW I had been dealing with the past few weeks.  I had a good feeling that some Specks might be hanging out in there, and just as Adam was paddling up, he was around 20 feet from me, I bow up, from the feel of it, the erratic head shake, I new it was a Speck.  Keeping pressure on the fish, I grabbed my net and scooped up a purty, 16.75 inch Speckled Trout.  I thanked Adam, for Pushing the Fish in my direction, and we laughed. 

Adam is from Myrtle Beach SC where he Kayaks fishes both the back waters and the ocean down there.  We kept at it for a piece there, and talked story about fishing an yaking.  Nothing was going on so I suggested that we hit my Flounder Hole, as the past few trips it has not let me down, with lots of 15 inch fish and a few to 20 + inches lost at the boat.  So, we headed on our way. 

It was not a Keeper but I was stoked to see Adam get a Flounder ont he Yak, it was real close, but too close.

It did not take Adam long to Hook-Up with a nice just below the Limit Flounder.  After a few casts and a switch in the tide, I was working the moving water, on the bottom and I felt that Flounder double tap. 

16 on the button, thats another 15 points in Kayak Wars..

If ya try to hook him on the first bite you will usually miss the fish, but if ya have patience, and wait for the second knock at the door, as my Grandpa used to say, you will stick him and stick him good.  He came right to the yak, and right into my net, I got the fish under control, and by under control, I mean on the stringer.  Took a nice photo of him and put him over board, with the Trout, at that point my day was made.  We caught a few more Shorts, and we could have kept pounding at it and I am sure we could have got a few more keepers, but I had wanted to make the paddle down to the Inlet, so we took off for Hatteras Inlet about 3 miles from where we were. 

No Place Like Hatteras Inlet... No Place...

The Inlet, is one of my favorite places and I like to get out and stretch my legs and walk around a piece, to see the sights.  We hung out on dry land for a while, and had some food and beverage, and swam to cool down (heat index of 105 again today) and watched the Tide start to run hard.  It was time to leave, so we beach launched our boats and headed for Teach’s Lair Marina, bout 3 + mile from the Inlet. 

Sea Ya On the Water.....

Great day on the water, passing the good Karma thing out, and got me a new friend, Adam from Myrtle Beach SC, Safe trip home Adam I had a Blast…

Until Next Time

JAM out

Here on the Southern Outer Banks, (Hatteras Island) we normally have the cooling effects of being surrounded by water.  Whatever the Water temp. is the air temp is almost within a few Degrees, most of the time.  Not the last 2 days, we have been part of the Heat Wave that has entrenched most of the entire country, except for the west coast.  Our Heat Index temps have been above triple digits, with the latest I saw on the Weather Channel 106.  

The plan was to get on it early, and get off it by Noon, this way our brains would not be turned into a Warm form of Gelato, I told Eddie and Terry, that it would a little work but once we got to JUMUDA, we could get out of the 20 to 25 knot SSW wind, and Fish. 

Nice Rollers, and this is the good side, the other side of the Island and the sound we crossed to get to it, was white capping the entire way.

Everyone arrived at JAMUDA without a hitch, but with the head wind, it took a while as the ARCH (angle to take to get to destination taking into consideration the wind and current speed) was almost a full Mile and a Half, half of a circle.  We got some fluids into us and stood in the calm waters of the Leeward side of JAMUDA Island, and talked about our paddle over, about the different opposing currents and how the sand bars and flats pump up the waves action.   Now it was on to this ADVENTURES Mission, to put Blood on The Revenge, Eddie’s new 2011 Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120. 

Eddie and "The Revenge" with another release...

and another

Before Terry and myself could even get our anchors set, Eddie had a Mission accomplished Grin on his face, as he hauled the first of many, Nice sized pan fryin Coraker into The Revenge.  Myself and Terry we so occupied setting our anchors, that we did not even get a picture of Eddie’s first Fish on the new YAK.  

Fish On!!!!

 Next it was Terry’s turn to have a hot streak, as she bagged several fish of different sizes.  

It was a fun day of catchin, there was allot of action. You were either catching or loosing a bait..

We kept on the move, to try all sections of all the holes, off of JAMUDA , but our First spot turned out to be the most productive spot of the day, so, we went back to it with both Terry and Eddie catching some more Croakers, and a few other Sound-side creatures.  Terry Caught a Sea Robin and a few Hog Fish, and Eddie had a few Hogs, and a few more Croaker.  It was quite a fishy day, with allot of FishBites XtremeScent and Berkley Gulp fed to the Croaker’s. 

Wading in the Water (Feet Wet Boats Floating) Off of JAMUDA Island, Hatteras N.C.

It was a fun day on the water,  and both of their boats Got Slimed… But a big part about being out there, is the camaraderie, and the story’s ya hear, and tell..

BTW Terry, Eddie, Thank your Son for me, for what he does for this country, I and many others, appreciate it dearly… It allows us to do, what we do, and many take it for-granted..I do Not..  Look forward to seeing ya in August..

Until Next Time

JAM out

First off I’d like to say, I believe that is why most of us fish, regardless of how ya do it, or what you use as a Vessel.  This will be my going on 10th Season Fishing from a Kayak, and I will tell you this, “YA NEVER CAN TELL” what your gonna catch when you are on the water fishing. 

I knew it was gonna Hammer Wind to 25-30 Knots SW and Heat Indices approaching 106, there would be very few options for a Guided SheepsHead Adventure, and thats what Alan and I had planed.  so last minute change of plans were in order.  I called him up and said lets go fun fishing, for Specks and Blues and whatever would tug on the end of our line.  He was down, and we will do the SheepsHead thing in the right conditions in a few weeks. 

The paddle to JAMUDA was a fierce one, directly into the wind, and we were taking waves over the bow as we hauled butt to the leeward side of the Island.  We rear anchored, and proceeded to Trout fish, every cast was a hit, but these were Pin Fish, (little Bait Snatcher’s) so we moved a little further out into the Pamlico Sound, and out into the Rollers, which were around 2 foot plus.  Next thing ya know, Alan pulled in a Blow Toad (Atlantic Puffer Fish), which was Oddity number one, yes they are caught in the sound, but not often on Fish Bites Xtreme Scent Shrimps. 

A Little Croaker (Bitch Fish)

I caught a Croaker, and a few Hog fish and Alan caught a few Hog Fish and a Croaker or two, when we decided to get off the Roller Coaster and get more Lee to the Island and out of the Current and the Waves. 

Blue on Metal

We arrived at the 3rd spot of the day, a real nice ledge with rushing water passing in front of us, and I decided to put on some metal, (a Half Ounce Herbie Lure, perfect for the Trout Rod) I had seen a few blues swim by and got tired of loosing my soft bodies, and launched it out there to the deeper, rougher water, got a little Blue Fish on my second or third cast and kept working the water to the East of me.  Rod, about jumped out of my hands, and the drag started zzzzzzzzzzzz’in, I knew I had something with a little size to it.  I grabbed ahold of my Net, and worked the fish closer to the Yak. 

18 Inch Spanish on Metal, on Trout rod, a blast and a handful on the trout rod.

I could not believe my eye’s, I was looking at a nice 18 inch Spanish Mackerel, Odd Catch Number two. 

Now, wait, it does not end there;  not long after getting the Spanish on the Stringer and controlled enough for a Picture for Kayak Wars, Alan was hooked up, with what we thought at first sight was a Puppy Drum, but when he landed it there was no Spot on it’s Tail. 

He went 1.25 pounds on the scales at The Roost, close but no cigar, missed Citation by .25 of a pound..

It was a Big Northern KingFish (Sea Mullet), that from the looks of it, might be a Citation.  This was Odd Fish Number three for where we were in the Sound. 

It was getting HOT with a heat index of around 103, and the wind was pumpin from the hard south 30 plus, and I knew it was gonna take a while to get back to the Marina, so I asked Alan if he was ready for a Hard paddle home, and he was so we left JAMUDA, with Smiles on out faces, and fish in the cooler.  It was a Hell of a Paddle back from the Island, and had to take a big sweeping arch at it cause the wind would try and push ya sideways, it was so hard it popedone of Alan’s rudder cable attachments, and he had to come in “Old School” like I roll, with no rudder.  Which if ya take into consideration the wind and current speed you can pick an arch, and arrive at your destination without the use of a rudder. 

Hung out at the Marina, loaded up, talked story, about our plunder, then headed home for the AC, where I will remain for the rest of the day…. LOL

Until Next Time JAM

OUT

Guys on the Hunt

When I awoke this morning at around 4:30, I did the usual routine, coffee pot on; CHECK, Weather channel on; CHECK, but with me the weather channel is always on, part of the Biz, and so is the coffee pot.   As I drank my first cup, of 10, I watched the weather channel intensely, I wanted to make a run to the RIP at Hatteras Inlet, and all looked good.  But weather forecasting on an Island 40 miles from the main land, is not an exact science.  It’s a 50/50 type of thing, and so is a Coin Toss.  I was going regardless, as long as there was no Sparks in the sky, and there was no Sparks, so I took off for Teach’s Lair Marina. 

I did not rush, which is the way I like it, nice and easy.  Got to The Roost and spoke with the manager Dave for a while, as I inhaled my 2 cup of Coffee, I was in no rush, as I had no where to be all day.  Picked up a couple packs of Gulp and a few Packs of Fish Bites Xtreme Scent, a few Vitamin waters,  a Muffin, and some Trail Mix, then proceed to rig my YAK for the days Adventure. 

The fish are all ready wet, and I spend 50% of my time on the water, land is highly over-rated

The plan was to do a little fishing, and then move on to a little Scouting for SheepsHeads.  Scouting for the Sheepies is pretty easy, ya just pull up to channel markers and take a look to see if there are any hanging around it.  When I got to the Isle of JAMUDA, I saw a Storm coming at me pretty quick, so I put on my rain gear, and continued to Fish.  No Fair Weather Fisherman, my only no go is Lightning, and a Gail.  Was not much to the fishing so I decided to go to the Inlet, which is about 3.5 miles south of  JAMUDA. 

It was the 16th and the Bird Brain Closures were supposed to be taken down on the 15.  I wanted to make sure the Park Dis-Service, had done their job.  Ya see the Closures are put into place on time (early this year I might add) and I wanted to make sure they were removed. 

You tell me where is a Bird Gonna Nest Here???

Hey, here is a good spot for them, don't ya think!!!!!

I sure would not build a house in this...And neither will they...

Remember this is Cape Hatteras National SeaShore Recreation Area, not Bird Land.

This is the 9th straight year that not one single Bird has nested there, but they close it anyway and deny the public access to it by any means, no walking, no driving, no boat landing and no Kayaking.   I call it  The Field of Dreams Closure, build it and they will come,  except no one comes.   USFWS says that the Inlet does not have the correct PCE (Primary Constituent Element) no hardened shoreline where microorganisms that the birds feed on exist.   We might as well be closing it in the hopes that Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny will show, because for 9 years, no birds have shown, and this is in all of the National Parks Dis-Service reports, ZERO’s across the board.   Boy, I like Santa and the Easter Bunny, but I doubt they will show either.  To be honest with ya the Inlet is at most tides is under water, as you can see in the pictures. 

This is how it's supposed to be, man in harmony with nature, not banned from it.

Well the Good news is that the Inlet is Open and lots of folks were there recreating, and that’s what a Recreation Area is for, People, wild life refuges are for the animals, and we gave them one back in 1975, its Called Pea Island.  But still they close it and cost the Islands Economy to go into the shit-er.  Lets see them close Va. Beach for 4 months out of the year for a Bird, a Bird that never shows.  They would not get away with it there, there is too much money to fight them, and the Audubon, SELC and their Minions the National Park Dis-Service, do not want a fair fight.  They want an easy target, a little Island in the middle of the Atlantic, where around 3,000 people call home. 

They call ya when they close it, but boy when its opened they try and keep it a secret. Folks it's not about the Birds, it's about enviro-MENTAL lawyers, making the GREEN..

It's great to see people having fun again, we used to be a happy little fishing village, take away 4 months of our season, and we are Just Pissed. Before it's all said and done, it's gonna get ugly. I hope they are ready for it, I am!!!!

Well let me be perfectly clear, the one thing that they did not take into consideration, is that they have to Live with us, and I promise you’all this, I will not make it easy for them.  I will make it hard for them to find living arrangements, supplies (don’t even come to Teach’s if you work for them, I have permission from the Management to deny service to any and all Park Service Employees), and this trend is growing, pretty soon none of them will be able to purchase anything on this entire Island, they can carry there ass to Nags Head which is about 71 miles from here for all their goods and services. 

They started this WAR, and I am here to see it through.. Sorry about the rant, but there sure are some cool pictures, and if we stick together, we can fix this mess.   There is a warm place in Hell for all of them, and I wish them safe Travel..

Until Next time…. JAM out.

My day off from the tackle shop arrived to Better conditions then we have had in along while, by better I mean 25 Knots NE.  I would not take a Guided Trip in this, but I have been in allot worse and my conditioning is pretty much mid summer form.   I was very excited to try out my New Team Daiwa FUEGO as it had just arrived from JAPAN on Thursday, with all the Nuclear mess over there it was held up for about a month.  The plan was to put BLOOD on her and break her in right. 

The Isle Of JAMUDA, heaven on earth..

Made the Paddle out to JAMUDA and set up shop on the leeward side of the Island.   Started catching TRASH Fish off the get go, Lizzard Fish, Croaker’s, and a HogFish, even hooked up with a Car Hood Ray and got my leader back.  With nothing but Trash out there I started moving around a bit and hit a mark on my GPS  where I have caught Flounder in the past. 

He's a little fella but the reel is Christened..

It did not take that long until I had my First Hook-Up,  a below the limit Flounder at around 14 inches, but hey, Blood is Blood and at that point I considered the Fuego Christened. 

Another Little Fella, come back and see me when ya grow up..

Another shorty, but I knew I was in the right spot, my GPS and the fish told me that.

Still a Shorty, but having a blast, and I was staying put..

 Kept working the spot and it was one shorty after another, I was thinking about moving to another location when the rod tip went down like a big dog.  By the resistance, I could feel that this one was gonna be a keeper.  Got the net at the ready and scooped up the Flounder and closed the net on him, and let him settle down a piece.  I have lost a few keepers this season by not being patient, and this one  was not going to go that way. 

He shoots, he Scores 17 1/4, Keeper....

With him all settled down it was time to put him on the stringer, and measure him.  I knew he was a keeper, but to log the catch in KAYAK WARS, I had to get an accurate measurement.  He came in at 17 1/4 inches for 15 points and I invited him home for Dinner.  The fish was caught on a 4 inch Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet in the Pearl White Color on a Blue Water Candy 3/8 ounce Jig Head. 

Came up with a new use for my Reel Jackets, keeps most of the spray off the reel..

Flounder its whats for Dinner!!!!!!

Not a bad day on the water, and I needed a Solo Adventure like nobody’s business,  several throw back flounders and a Nice dinner guest.  A special thank you to Casey from West By God Virginia, who took my picture as I stopped off for a break on a Sandy Beach in Hatteras..

The Team Daiwa Fuego is the REEL DEAL and it is smoother then any other reel that I have had in my hands, and I’ve been Fishing a Team Daiwa Sol for the past 4 years.. Thanks DAIWA, I love it !!!!!!!!

Until Next Time JAM out..

The Weather on Hatteras for the past 12 days has been South West and HARD, by Hard I mean 25 knots Gusts to 41.  Its been Sporty for our 55 Footers, with seas yesterday 10 foot plus and Confused.   Its what we call a South Wester and sometimes is referred to as a DRUNK FRONT.  If you have ever spent any time at a Marina, then you know that all the Guides are ATE Up with fishing, its their love, its thier life, and when they can’t go Fishing, things get tense.  Sure its the loss of money, heck I lost 4 full day trips in the past 12 days; but its more the lack of being on the water,  and in its hypnotic rhythm.  The swaying side to side, the rocking, the rolling, it puts us in a trance, and sooths the savage beast.  Well Today (thank the Lord) it switched to NE 10 to 20 and do-able. 

Out of shear luck I picked up a half day charter at the tackle shop on Friday, a real nice Fella, named Sorin (pronounced Soreen) he is originally from Romania.  We made tentative plans for Sunday after I got off an 8 hour Shift at the Roost, that’s the beauty of opening the Shop at 5 A.M., I’m off by one and can still pull off a half-day charter.  I called him this morning and told him the weather and water conditions looked Great, we were both stoked and made plans to meet at the docks at 1:30, heres where one of the First’s come in, he was going to bring his FlyRod an 8 weight.  I told him cool, and that I knew a few spots around Spoil Islands, where we could get out of the YAKS and he could Fly Fish for a while.  So off we took to the Island of JAMUDA, one of my favorite places on the planet. 

We anchored up the yaks on the flats and began our hunt, him with the Fly Rod, me with the Ultra Light.  We gave it a good go for around an hour, when to due to lack of action, I asked him if he wanted to go to a Mark I have Called GREY DEATH. 

On the way to Grey Death, was not much death there today..

We took off to Grey Death (named after all the Grey Trout that have came to their demise at the end of my hook)  and it was a good paddle of about 2 miles or so into a 20 knot head wind.  As soon as we got their I hooked up on the first cast, weren’t much, just a little croaker.  Sorin hooked up, and boated his first lizard fish of the day, I think he had 3 or 4 of them.  We were BSing and talkin story, when all of the sudden, bam!!!!!!! He turtles, now I’ve had people turtle on me before, but all of the times in the past,  they were in water shallow enough to stand (here comes First’s number 2) this was not the case with Sorin.  We were anchored up in 12 to 14 foot deep water, so standing was not an option. Sorin has experience in white water kayaking, so he did the number one thing you should do, NOT PANIC, I was unclipped from my anchor and over to him in a heart beat.  He all ready had the boat righted and held on to all of the gear.  We sorted out the gear with him in the water bracing himself between both Kayaks.  Sorin had his Shit together, and kept calm, he had told me he had seen some crazy stuff in Romania, and I am sure that is what kept him calm today.  With the gear all sorted and stowed, it was time to get him back in the saddle. 

I had him get on the port side of his Kayak and I pulled over to his starboard, as I leaned on the starboard side he climbed right back in and after retieng and sorting things out for a piece, we were right back fishing.  That is the beauty of fishing with a partner, some one there to help you out, or back in for that matter. 

Fishing was Slow, all we managed were mainly TRASH fish with several Pin Fish, Several Lizard Fish, a Grey Trout throw back.  On the way back to the marina, we were trolling FishBites Xtreme Scent Shrimps, when my rod bent over a piece and I snatched it out of the holder, and reeled in a Nice Keeper Speck.  I shouted to Sorin, that at least he will have dinner tonight, as I put the trout on the stringer. 

He's right on the money, and ready for dinner!!!!!!

It was a great day on the water, and I got to meet a very cool cat from Romania, oh BTW thats another First’s, my first Romanian JAM’S Adventure customer..

Allot of Boats Flew the Skunk Today, we did not!!!!!!

Sorin had a blast and we have the same philosophy, if your having FUN your doing it right.. I look foward to taking him again, hopefully more fish will corporate..

Until Next Time JAM OUT