"The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray": first week of Oct. fishing report by Alexi

     It was already dark out.  Steve had moved furniture all day.  I had just finished band practice.  Usually it's time to put back a few beers.  Instead we pile our gear into his truck and head east.
     There is no logical explanation for the false expectations we held in our heads.  Neither reports nor our own records  pointed us in the direction of having a "banner" night of fishing.  The only explanation I can give to you as to why we were ever so confident that we would catch keeper bass at Snake ditch, or Weakfish Point, or Oyster Creek Channel, or on the flats, is that we had left the fish biting last time we were fishing.  Our general confidence level was way UP!  That being said, I truly believe that there was a resident keeper bass lurking the other night in the deep recesses of Oyster Creek Channel, only we never made it there.
     The problem with working all day, and leaving to fish at midnight, is that by the time we got to the fishing spot the sandman was at our door, saying "sleep damn it!!!! You're tired."
     It is questionable wether or not we fished between the hours of 2 and 5:30 a.m.  Nothing was caught.  The current where we were was ripping, it was FULL of weeds, and the current and wind were in some kind of conspiracy.  We struggled through Snake Ditch, and by the time we were ready to take a nap, the sun was coming up "like a big bald head."
   

   

     We wake up late.  Within minutes of being on the water I hook into a short.

I think this is how the rest of the day is going to go, solid non-stop fishing action.  We fish at "Weakfish Point"  for a while and nothing really happens.  Some bass assassin tails get bit off, but that's it.
     Time slows down and speeds up at the same time.  Going from Snake Ditch to Oyster Creek Channel isn't far, but it always seems to take forever because at low tide it might mean getting out of the kayak and walking.  And so it did.  By the time I got there Steve was already there via a different route.  Drifting, jigging, trolling, casting.  Nothing is producing.  Finally after trying all of the usual spots in that area, I go for what I know best.  Bluefish with a bucktail.  Well, really I prefer to use a kastmaster for bluefish, but a bucktail is second best.  Cast far.  Count to seven.  Jerk it hard, let it drop, jerk it hard, let it drop, fish on....That's it folks, my (not so) secret bucktailing for bluefish from land near a channel technique.  I stayed for a few more casts, hooked into another short bass, then moved on.

     I went through one of the new channels on my way to the Sedge House and it was gin clear with not a fish in it.  Out onto the flats, I stood and took in the scenery.    I guess I was sight fishing, but since I didn't see anything it was more like site seeing.  In front of the Sedge House I saw a small school of medium sized bunker.  It was a good sign.  It's the biggest bait I've seen back there in a while.  Right now there's spearing, mullet, and bunker.  Where were all of their predators?  I had no luck in front of the sedge house, so as I was leaving I needed to switch from a bucktail to a topwater lure to fish the flats.  As I was reeling in my line to change the lure I hooked up with another short bass.
     I stood and paddled most of the way across the flat on the way back to the launch.  I saw one bass that I couldn't get a lure in front of because in the time it took me to ready the rod the current changed my position.   Back in front of the launch produced nothing, and
 usually it's not hard to pull a bluefish out of there.
    As you can see there were fish that were caught.   But the plan.  The plan to catch a 28"bass, or a weakfish.  That plan failed.  And failure, coupled with complete exhaustion, is a recipe for disappointment.  In the end, however, it's ALWAYS BETTER THAN WATCHING T.V.