[work2fish]

I was just a kid when I started fishing for stripers. My dad would take me out in our jon boat and we would troll the Chickohominy River. I remember my dissapointment when the state closed down striper fishing and I remember my excitement when they announced that the season would reopen. By this time My dad had upgraded from the jon boat and we had a 24' Blackfin. This meant my first trip to the CBBT. For several years I fished with my dad at the bridge tunnel and each trip my dad would teach me more and more about the techniques used for catching fish. I also learned the do's and don'ts of fishing there. I learned to maneuver the boat through and around the pilings during a strong tide. I learned how to get in line with the other boats that were always trolling the pilings. It always seemed that everyone had a sort of code, or set of rules that were followed. When you would hook up, you would fall out of line and move away from the bridge. If you hung up, you would simply break it off and re-rig. You would never pull in front of a boat that was trolling and stop to cast, and you never saw anyone anchored using live bait. My dad finally gave up the blackfin and moved down in size to a 17' Sea Mark skiff and we began inshore fishing for specks. I would go out to Deltaville and mate on board the "Buddy Lee" during my thanksgiving and christmas breaks from College. And then I too settled into speck fishing. Finally a good friend of mine Purchased a new 20' Proline this summer, so I finally had a ride back out to the CBBT. I spent this past weekend fishing the third Island for the first time since they started sinking the test pilings for the new inner bridge. I was amazed at the number of boats out there. I was also amazed that there was no sense of organization to the way people fished there anymore. It truley had become the zoo that I had heard about. It seemed that no one cared who they cut off. People were trolling in all directions at once. People would stop in front of you in the middle of a troll just to try to retrieve a $2 bucktail, and then look at you like you did something wrong. When we finally hooked up with a fish and then pulled of as I was taught to do years ago, I would move back in line to make another pass and 2 or 3 boats would have moved in on the spot where we hooked up and would be dropping anchor so they could drop they're eels or whatever they were using there. When birds would show up, we had boats pulling out right in front of us while we were working the pillings just to get to the birds. It seems to me that common courtesy must be a thing of the past.

[Mega Bite]

The funny thing about that is that there are so many other places you can catch Striper and not be in the crouds like that.I try to fish during the week and very early.that cuts the croud down most of the time.

[rusty1652]

How true, how true. It is a two way street out there. Every one needs to use more common sense and a lot more courtesy to the other guy. The following is just my thoughts on this subject. If there are several boats working the pilings (drifting between the pilings - inside of CBBT) and jigging and throwing and retrieving storms while birds are working it just seems common sense for people to not troll between (inside CBBT) the bridge spans during high traffic times. I see 15-20 boats scattered between the bridges not under power jigging and throwing storms and what happens - several idiots try to troll between them zigzagging in and out. They expect you to power up and move out of there way. Come-on guys don't troll through high traffic areas or at least troll on the outside away from the pilings during high traffic times. if you must troll inside the spans do it when other boats are not working inside.

[overtime]

Haaaa This is a great thread Im glad you brought this up last Friday I was at the second island anchord trying to trow some eels down low Me and my buddy Andy just relaxing casting lures at the rocks and BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!

WHAT THE HELL Some idiot ran right into me. How much sense dose it take to just relize you should at least be far enough away from the boats that you don't even get in there lines more or less hit them. really i just rubbed it off and laughed

[work2fish]

I wish I could fish during the week, but unfortunately my job doesn't allow me to. I agree with trolling around the guys that are anchored up, what bothers me is the guys that move in and anchor up as soon as they see you hook a fish. This was my first time fishing since they built the second span, but I do think that it would make more since to troll the outside of the spans and leave the inside for casting, anchoring etc. When I was working the pilings casting, It was always easy enough to just drift back out of the way if another boat was trolling by. Just my Thoughts.

[Andrew K]

hearing these horror storie sometimes makes me thankful i dont have a boat and im stuck with shore fishing.....

[Capt.Skid]

I was just a kid when I started fishing for stripers.  My dad would take me out in our jon boat and we would troll the Chickohominy River.  I remember my dissapointment when the state closed down striper fishing and I remember my excitement when they announced that the season would reopen.  By this time My dad had upgraded from the jon boat and we had a 24' Blackfin.  This meant my first trip to the CBBT.  For several years I fished with my dad at the bridge tunnel and each trip my dad would teach me more and more about the techniques used for catching fish.  I also learned the do's and don'ts of fishing there.  I learned to maneuver the boat through and around the pilings during a strong tide. I learned how to get in line with the other boats that were always trolling  the pilings.  It always seemed that everyone had a sort of code, or set of rules that were followed.  When you would hook up, you would fall out of line and move away from the bridge.  If you hung up, you would simply break it off and re-rig.  You would never pull in front of a boat that was trolling and stop to cast, and you never saw anyone anchored using live bait.  My dad finally gave up the blackfin and moved down in size to a 17' Sea Mark skiff and we began inshore fishing for specks.  I would go out to Deltaville and mate on board the "Buddy Lee" during my thanksgiving and christmas breaks from College.  And then I too settled into speck fishing.  Finally a good friend of mine Purchased a new 20' Proline this summer, so I finally had a ride back out to the CBBT.  I spent this past weekend fishing the third Island for the first time since they started sinking the test pilings for the new inner bridge.  I was amazed at the number of boats out there.  I was also amazed that there was no sense of organization to the way people fished there anymore.  It truley had become the zoo that I had heard about.  It seemed that no one cared who they cut off.  People were trolling in all directions at once.  People would stop in front of you in the middle of a troll  just to try to retrieve a $2 bucktail, and then look at you like you did something wrong.  When we finally hooked up with a fish and then pulled of as I was taught to do years ago, I would move back in line to make another pass and 2 or 3 boats would have moved in on the spot where we hooked up and would be dropping anchor so they could drop they're eels or whatever they were using there.  When birds would show up, we had boats pulling out right in front of us while we were working the pillings just to get to the birds. It seems to me that common courtesy must be a thing of the past. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know what ya mean!!!!!!!!! I made some of the errors you speak about while
learning the "Bridge" in the late 70`s..Didn`t take me long to learn from my mistakes....Staying in line, pulling off with a hook-up, and popping off a bait or a
sinker is all part of wirelinning the "Bridge" The newbees don`t have a clue of what
the hell they are doing and don`t seem to care to learn.. They have tunnel vision
when comes to stripper season, and sooner or later someone will get hurt from one of these newbees being careless...I fish 90% of the time during the week mainly because I work shift-work, miss alot of the "Zoo-Like" anticts.. Work2fish,
it seems that you came from the same "Bridge School" as I did..One of the problems now, is the numbers of our kind are getting fewer and fewer and the fishing is getting crazier and crazier..Hang in there. we will get our share while the
newbees stay hung up.

Full Boxes To Ya!!
Capt.Skid

[Mega Bite]

When you go Striper Fishing if you are experienced you know what to expect.If you expect that everyone is going to behave like Baffoons then you wont be disapointed when they do.If your not supprised your bloodpressure wont go off the charts,you will be less likley to shout at someone and you will live longer to fish more striper seasons.

[Mary Ellen]

It is not just at the CBBT. I fish all over the Bay and am beginning to wonder what is wrong with me. I actually look around and if I see another Capt hooked up I give them room. My faviroite is fishing this time of year on a ball of bait and fish and look to see the "fleet coming with their boards out". Things sure have changed over the years, but it still am amazing place at sunrise, sunset or most any other time. We are blessed to enjoy the Bay and I will not let the self center take that away from me. Enjoy the day and pray the big fish will show up soon. Be safe Mary Ellen

[filthyhabit]

Well it is Saturday night and I just logged on to tell my horror story today. I guess I am too late. Everyone else has the same story. I won't fish the CBBT again on a weekend with nice weather. I would rather rake leaves or maybe have my teeth drilled instead. I just cannot believe the number of people that want to get in the middle of that zoo to catch little schoolies. I usually fish the bay during the week or river fish if I have to fish the weekend, but I had a freeloading relative that had to go out to the CBBT to catch rockfish. Pulled up to the pumps to fill up the boat and everyone chipped except my wife's free loading uncle. Needless to say, that was his last trip aboard my boat. At least I can see that I am not alone in my misery. For those of you who insist on getting involved with the madness at the CBBT I say good luck. For me, I would rather spend my evenings on the Elizabeth River quietly pulling in fish after fish on light tackle. Personally, I think it is kind of sad if you have to troll for an 18" rockfish. At least give the little guys a fighting chance and try to catch a fish that is bigger than your lead.

[m.t. pockets]

to those i offened yesterday between the 2nd and 3rd island of the CBBT i truely appoligize.

to those who troll betwenn the pilings and against the grain with your bay liners and 7 year olds holdin boat rods doing u turns infront of on comming traffic, STOP. Someone will get hurt.

'Please not this is not a threat, but when your at flood tide trolling aling boats become a hand full ab yyou guys that troll against the grain dont get seen because of the pillings.

Thank you for you consideration



MT pockets

[tonyc]

to those i offened yesterday between the 2nd and 3rd island  of the CBBT i truely appoligize.

to those who troll betwenn the pilings and against the grain  with your bay liners and 7 year olds holdin boat rods doing u turns infront of on comming traffic, STOP.  Someone will get hurt. 

'Please not this is not a threat, but when your at flood tide trolling aling boats become a hand full ab yyou guys that  troll against the grain dont get seen because of the pillings.

Thank you for you consideration



MT pockets

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[tonyc]

Shucks ya aint seen nothin yet wait till Ocean Striper season gets going talk about nerve wracking.

I like to fish late at night nobody to bother with the amatuers stay home I do my thing and get out.

Ever been to the CLT for Spade fishing that can be fun too.

[Mega Bite]

It gets fun Offshore when the big boats try to play chicken with you.

[Marlin Maniac]

Common courtesy is dead. Most of those clowns don't know how to operate their boats, let alone the rules of the road or how to play nicely with the other children. Things will get better when the weather gets colder and more of the idiots winterize their rigs. Personally, I stay away from the bridges, especially the CBBT. Too much hassle.

[Mega Bite]

Ever notice how people drive faster and even more dangerous in the rain.