[DP68094]

Well,

We decided that yesterday was a good day to go out and try some wreck fishing, front moving in and a weekday. Set out at 0600 from Rudee. Caught some small baitfish at the inlet and headed out to the tower. There was just one other boat out there, just the two of us. Water temp was 71-73, wind was blowing SW pretty consistently. Drowned the baitfish for an hour at the tower, no one home. Water clarity was really nice but no signs of life. Moved over to some of the wrecks and set-up. Marine police came by and took a look in our boxes, they hit the other guy up too... neither of us were hauled off so I guess that was good. Caught several nice Bass on squid, One Tog on fiddlers, One nice triggerfish, and 4 or 5 monster Oyster toads (threw them back). I never realized but those toads pull a lot like flounder. Wind picked up around 1PM so we headed over to a couple of wrecks on the bridge-tunnel. Water was also pretty clear, temp 73. Caught some more sea bass, One flounder and what I am pretty sure was Grouper (only 10"). By 4 PM the waves were getting out of control so we ran up against the southern shoreline back around Cape Henry where we saw a flock of pelicans bombing the water! massive bait in the water (signs of rockfish to come hopefully) dolphin were pushing them around. Waves from Cape Henry to Rudee were 4-6 and cresting... took us 30 minutes to get from CH to Rudee but better safe than sorry. My buddy actually came off the floor on one wavecrest, didn't hurt himself so that was fun. Saw a 40 something footer just mashing through the waves to Rudee coming from the direction of the Tower. Off the water by 5 pm. Caught some good dinnerfish but no monsters (other than the toadies). A nice (and long) day on the water.

Dave

[BillyBoy]

Thanks for the report. Sounds like a great day on the water, except for the police hassle, of course.

[skinnys-kid]

Great report! Glad you got dinner and back home safely.

--Don

[Mega Bite]

Thanks for the report,It could have been a grouper I have caught a few in my cast net and even had one in my Crab pot last year this time.I gave it to Steve Wray and he kept it alive in a bait tank and VMRC picked it up for their Tank.