Always have a Plan B.
Each year I set several goals related to the outdoors and
the stories I plan to write in this column. One of my goals this year was to
catch fifty different species of fish from the kayak. I have had some time on
the water, and have knocked off a few freshwater targets. However, in order to
achieve the goal I knew I would have to hit the coast.
With recent rains causing the rivers to rise out of control,
and an upcoming kayak king mackerel tournament, I figured a quick trip to the
coast would at least let me see how the kayak would handle the waves and boat
wakes.
After reading several online reports, I set off to the
Beaufort / Morehead City area. There were reports of both speckled trout and
red drum hitting the waters there, specifically near the fuel storage tanks
near Radio Island. I swapped out the freshwater gear for the salt water tackle
box, loaded three rods and started the drive well before day break. I wanted to
be there as the sun was rising. It also coincided with the low tide.
The boat ramp there was busy, with a line of trucks with
trailers waiting for one of the four ramps to open. I was finally able to sneak
in on one of the smaller ramps, and slid the Old Town Predator 13 underneath
the dock while I parked the truck.
After paddling down the sides of the inlet I searched for
fish and casted. To save time in this story, let’s just say I did not catch
anything. Skunked. Not even a bump of the bait.
I noticed the boats anchored around the area were just as
unsuccessful as I was. After a few hours, a little disappointed and the tide
coming in hard, I considered calling it a day and heading back home.
After about a half mile paddle I saw dozens of people on the
pier near the boat ramps. They were not catching anything either. But with the
shade of the bridge and train trestle, and a half pound of shrimp, I decided to
give some good ole bottom fishing a try.
My Plan B. One of the rods had a bottom rig set up for just
such an occasion.
I positioned myself between the trestle and the bridge, with
the tide pushing me towards the inlet. I took a piece of shrimp, tore it in
two, and slid both pieces on to the two hooks of the bottom rig. I released the
bail of the reel and just as I felt the three ounce sinker bounce on the bottom
the line pulled. After setting the hook I reeled the line in and I had my first
fish of the day.
I continued to glance towards the pier. Still, no one was
catching anything. I dropped the line a second time, and again, within just a
few seconds, fish number two was surfacing.
I did not catch any monsters. In fact one spot was smaller
than the palm of my hand. Most were keeper size and I brought in six different
species of bottom dwellers. My bait never stayed in the water more than thirty
seconds.
Fish after fish, I kept reeling them in. The people on the
pier took notice and casted their lines as close the bridge as possible, still
falling several hundred feet short. I would bring in a couple of fish, paddle
back between the bridge and trestle, drop the lines, and bring in a couple more
fish.
The wakes and waves never caused a problem, allowing me to
gain even more confidence in my kayak’s stability.
Overall, the day turned in to a great day, as I caught over
fifty fish within a couple of hours of bottom fishing. Yes, Plan B worked well.
