Two new areas explored, by Alexi

 JUNE 30

    The past two trips I've been fishing new areas.    I wanted to get some supplies from Sterling Harbor Bait and Tackle in Wildwood, so I decided to fish close to the shop.  I asked the owner, Cathy, where the closest launch was.  She directed me via a helpful map to the west end of Burk Ave.  My question did not really set up too many parameters, and unfortunately led me to a place I probably will never launch from again, but am also not unhappy that I tried it out.  What I usually seek in fishing from my kayak are relative amounts of solitude and nature.  Kayak fishing is in many ways an escape from the city for me.  Although I caught consistent fish, AND even though this area is a no wake zone, I found it difficult to get into my "world" as there were many distractions of all kinds. Just to name a few; A boat that is a bar with what appeared to be frat boys on it (AKA the party boat), two kids in a kayak practically playing bumper cars with me,  several waverunners,  and giant sightseeing boats, along with people cleaning their yachts.

Behind Wildwood

I caught several short fluke, mostly on a new to me bait; killies, 

also 17" 

I also caught a crab pot, (untethered),

new crab pot

and made the best of the marina environment.

new launch (shittier than shitty launch)

JULY 8

      For the next trip I went to Scott's Bait and Tackle and picked up some more killies, my new favorite fluke bait.   I was going to launch where Steve and I launched when we went to Seven Islands and the Fish Factory in Great Bay.   It was unlaunchable, the water was too low.  I went across the wooden bridge to a small path that led down to the water.  Not ideal, but there have been worse.  What I didn't know was that just across the street was a nice and easy, pull your car up kind of beach launch.  (I would end up using this later in the day as it meant just walking across the bridge to my parked car)

far away from tourists

Great Bay Blvd Bridge

covered a lot of water

I was ready to drift pretty far.  And as is usual for me I caught many short fluke.  What was different this time was that they almost all hit on Gulp New Penny Shrimp I threw on as a lark.

smallest fluke

AND, I did drift pretty far.  The problem was that the thunderstorms were coming in before the current switched. I spent the good part of an hour paddling pretty hard against the wind, putting my rods down (in case of lightning.)  At least the current was slack.   I fished a little more when I returned to the launch, but only succeeded in getting another short.