We left Rudee around 2pm and headed for the 9ft Shoals. Set up ocean side w/ whole live blue crabs for 1.5 hrs with nada.

The fleet was bayside and there were a few straglers over at Fishermans Island ocean side. My brother had a hunch to head towards Fishermans Island - so off we went. We ended up a bit further north just south of Cape Charles Light.

As dusk approached the boats piled in. It went from 4 to about 12 or more boats. We saw 2 or 3 caught but no luck for us. About 8:30 the sky grew dark and the current picked up. We had all but given up when BAM - Mikes line goes off. Then when clearing lines my line goes off. We are both crankin on good size fish and trying to clear the remaining lines in the dark.

Mikes comes up and it's a big shark (crap?!) then mine comes up and it's Mr. Red! The lines are still a mess and the fish is running circles aroudn the boat. I had Penn 500 Jigmaster with 30# and he was having his way with it. It passed the motor so many times I was sure we'd lose it - BUT WE GOT 'EM!! He measured 45" (1" shy of citation) and we gently released him celebrating our first big red!

We didn't catch the numbers we were anticipating but we were stoked to get our first big red!!

P.S. for any surfers out there the waves rolling into E.S. last night were sheet glass, chest to head with overhead sets and 5 foot backs!!

Congrats! A trip you won't soon forget!

I don't fish more than two lines now - too much hassle clearing lines, as you can well attest to!

Yea - that was great. We avoided the skunk and put our first nice Red in the boat for a quick visit and then released so we can do it again. Good stuff. Can't wait for the next one.

Great report. Congrats on the fish.

Hope to get my first one Sunday.