October 27-30 Fishing Report: "Inches Matter!"

     The solar-lunar calendar for the end of October pointed to several days of excellent fishing.   What the calendar could not predict was the weather.  Having three trips scheduled for the last weekend of the month, Captains DiPaola and Felker headed out on Thursday to check out the conditions and perhaps bring home a fish or two.  Unfortunately, we didn’t get too far into Whitehall Bay before it became obvious that this outing was going to be a bust.  An approaching front kicked up the winds from the east at 20 kts or better.  Seas were around 2-3 feet when we set out, worsening over the next couple of hours to 3-4 feet.  While the rain held off, temps were in the high 40s, maybe low 50s, which made for lousy boating.  So after a brief run up to the Severn River, with conditions no better there, we made a laborious run back to the dock.

     The weather for Friday looked more promising.  The front had passed through over the night, leaving clear skies when we left the dock around 0800.  Winds were still up, around 15 kts or better, but now coming from the west, putting the swells in Whitehall Bay at no more than 2 feet or so.  Water temps were in the high 50s; eminently fishable.  Joining us on the first of the three day blitz was Vice Admiral (retired) Paul Bushong, Captain Felker’s company mate and roommate while at USNA.  To say the least the pressure was on a bit, not just because of our guest, but also because it had been a few weeks since we’d last hit the bay. 

     Despite conditions being on the edge of ideal, the Mikey D Fishing team held its own.  As Whitehall Bay was quiet, we decided to head up to the Severn.  While we marked a lot of fish, the bite was not on.  So around 0930 we decided to head back to Whitehall Bay.  Turned out to be a fortuitous decision.   It seems that the key to success at this time of year is a combination of technology and nature; keeping an eye on the Lowrance to mark fish, while keeping the other eye peeled for terns and gulls working the surface.  As we exited the mouth of the Severn, nature took the lead.  The sky was filled with birds.  And while the winds and waves made top-water action impossible, it did provide enough drift to bounce metal stick jigs off the bottom without having to constantly retrieve.  We also picked up an interesting double, with Paul hooking up while trolling, and me following up casting a jig to the same area.

 

 

 

 

 

 





     Saturday brought improving weather and fishing.  This morning long time friend John Hupp joined us.  As we entered Whitehall Bay around 0830 it was obvious that the fishing was going to improve, as we immediately spotted birds working the surface as we exited the channel.  Within a few minutes we were set up on the school, and with the first cast a 20 inch keeper came to the boat.  What’s amazing about fishing conditions during this time of year is how fast the fish school up, only to spread out within minutes.  Key to this is seeing the birds stop working.  Doesn’t mean the fish aren’t there; they’ve just gone to the bottom or spread out until it’s time to hit the bait balls again.  So we’d dashed about after birds working the surface.  And when the birds stopped, we’d put the boat in the shallows and let the wind push us into the channel, bouncing jigs as we drifted along.  Again, we only brought one fish home.  But the action was fairly consistent throughout the day catching 16-19 inch fish …. Including a 12 inch Flounder!

                                            

     It seems a reasonable fishing rule of thumb to plan a three day trip to get at least one day of fishing.   The forecast for Saturday showed continued improving conditions; clear skies, highs in the 70s, and 5-10 knot winds.  Having sensed that we missed most of the morning bite on Saturday, the Mikey D team planned on leaving the dock well before the sun came up.  With us for the final trip of the month were friends and fellow Navy tailgaters Mike Shina and Bery Edmonston.  We loaded the boat and got underway around 0630 or so, the sun not coming up for another 30-45 minutes.  We slowly moved through Burley Creek and into the channel that empties into Whitehall Bay.  For the next couple of hours we trolled or stopped to jig on marked fish.  Conditions were pretty calm, very comfortable temps.  Birds were starting to wake up, but had yet to begin their scouting for us. 

     By around a quarter to nine, however, the birds got frisky and the game was on.  For the next two hours it was lights out action.  And with the seas at less than a foot or so, the Mikey D team used all of its arsenal to bring fish to the boat.  Stick jigs were the most reliable.  But a close second were top water plugs, with fish chasing and hitting them right at the boat.  We even got to break out the fly rods (challenging when you have four anglers on a 21 foot boat) and took fish on chartreuse Clouser Minnows (Joe’s first keeper Rock on a fly) and poppers.   I candidly don’t know how many fish we caught, as double and triple hook ups were persistent throughout the blitz,  but we put our limit in the cooler, a first for Mikey D Fishing.               

     Perhaps the highlight of the day was a bit of inter-boat cooperation.  Showing up during the blitz in his new Sea Hunt was Mark Ponicsan, long time friend, former White House colleague, and fellow Navy football tailgater.  Seeing that he arrived without fishing gear during a major bite seemed a sin, so we waved Mark over, handed him a rigged rod, gave him a some jigging tips, and pointed him to the fish. (Which wasn’t hard, since we were surrounded by them).  Within a few minutes we heard the yell and looked over to see his rod bent over.  Unfortunately, we did not give him our net or some pliers, complicating things a bit.  But he pull the fish onboard (without breaking the rod … whew!), and boated a nice 20 inch fish.

          Even though it’s fall, the Striper action should continue well into  November and even December, if the weather cooperates. (Just remember to keep some Devil’s Backbone Striped Bass Pale Ale in the cooler and country music on the stereo.  Sorry Mike, but Rockfish don’t seem to care for 80s rock!)  That’ll have to wait for a week or so, as the Mikey D team heads for warmer climes.  While Navy battles Notre Dame in Jacksonville Florida this weekend, we’ll be a few miles away, battling  Redfish and Sea Trout on the Intercoastal Waterway, courtesy of Captain Curt Toomer.  Stay tuned.

Mikey D Fishing