Well I made the early morning drive from Richmond after several months off, with 2 good friends and my 16yo son on board, all new to 'winter' rockfish trolling. Was first at the dock at Rudee to put in and headed north to Cape Charles near the Ramada where we drifted, chatted and got stuff together waiting for first light. The marks of bait and big fish began, the birds swarmed in like something from an Alfred Hitchcock movie, and the boats started filling the area like a football stadium 2 hours before Super Bowl kickoff. Put my usual preferred array of Stretch 30's and mojos with a blue tomic and charteuse parachute trailers. The chartreuse and blue/silver Stretches got the first blood, both 36's, had a break off on BOTH of my blue tomics (50lb leaders), then my son hit the sweet spot....a 39" and a 44", both on the parachutes. I weighed the larger which came in at 39.5 lbs and I told my son that the bigger fish has to go back in the water because he was 'too big' (the moral to come soon) Had our limit by 10am of 8 good fish. It was a great feeling to see the eyes of excitement on my green crew. Things died out quickly which gave us time to enjoy the smorgasbord in the cooler. We then changed out the Stretch 30's for 25's and played around in 18 feet of water inside the green can pulling in one rock after another, most in the 30 inch range, and gingerly putting 'em back to be caught another day. Back at the dock by 1:30 and headed to a buddies in Norfolk to filet our prey, bag the goodies and trek back to the capitol city....it was at that point when I got home, took my son aside and pulled out one of my plaques. Then I informed him that fish he put back in the water today had 'earned him one of these'. The reaction from him truly put an awesome end to what was a great day on the water.....
On a side note, the man who invents painted directional lines for trolling waters will truly become a millionaire. As a learning experience I will never bring a green crew in those types of situations again. It WAS pure mayhem out there with the boat traffic, and trying to give good instruction at the same time as navigating the menagerie is a horrific task. I myself had crossed the lines of another boat (and I attempted to hail my apologies over 68 and 72 with no response, but I did get them untangled and they got their fish), and had it happen to me as well. However I knew I was putting myself in the position of having lines crossed by fishing the huge crowd to begin with and in my mind if it happened that my lines got crossed at one point and they did, I wouldn't get bent out of shape about it. Of course if you come within even 100 feet of some boats out there when there are already 100's of boats packed in a tight area, they act like you stole their first born. Lighten up folks. From what I saw, there were, thank god, no boating accidents and I go there to exercise enjoyment for myself, my family and my friends, not battle with complete strangers like some internet game. After all, we ARE ALL in the same family....a family of fishermen!
Until my next adventure on the salt waters of Virginia....tight lines! Dan
