Tangier Sound - Annual birthday (not) camping trip

   
 Due to a strange set of circumstances the annual Janes Island camping trip was converted into a family Air B-n-B rental situation in Chance, Md just spitting distance north of Deal Island. 

Tangier sound

I arrived a day ahead of the rest of the guests and sussed out the fishing situation.  One thing I noticed pretty quickly is that I wasn't getting any strikes on topwater lures, even though they had worked consistently just to the South at Janes Island previous years.  In an effort to come up with a consistent bite before I had to play the role kayak guide for family and friends I ventured off of the flats and into the creeks the second morning.  there I found what seemed to be an infinite supply of striped bass (rockfish locally) ranging from 10 inches into the low 20's.  They were all caught trolling a soft plastic bass assassin type lure.  Most of the fish were stacked up in schools in the holes that were in every bend of the creek.

 There were two days of fishing as a group.  Both trips were as follows: under the bridge, across the flat and into the creeks, then back out again.

Bridge/ flat/ creeks

Across the flat is where the speckled trout were hanging out. 

Speckled Sea Trout

 The first of those days I got really lucky and hooked into what is to date my biggest fish for the Tangier sound area.  I had also caught a keeper spec and a bluefish, Most people like to hold their fish out when taking pictures to make their fish look bigger, but it's always nice to have to do the opposite in my kayak because the fish too large, so I have to lean back to fit it into the frame.

31" Striper

The second day was also pretty epic, but more so in numbers.  Jon and Mike both caught innumerable short striped bass in the creeks.

Jon getting ready to troll

Mike chilling because he caught too many fish

Steve also did pretty well with a keeper bass the second day, and keeper white perch.  

That evening was a feast from the local waters: crabs, striped bass, bluefish, speckled trout, and perch were all on the menu!

September 2019 so far...

I've been giving my best effort at meeting a Sheepshead at a bridge in south Jersey and this is all I got:

Bottom Sweeper jig for the micro black sea bass!

So, I tried for Fluke instead and all I got is a Bluefish and a Weakfish....

Bluefish

Weakfish

...well, I did also get a 17.5" Fluke.

...and ahead of annual Trip to Janes Island, Md, which this year will actually be at Deal Island because of some plans gone awry....I made a solo trip to CBBT and Lynnhaven, Va for Bull Reds and possibly slot reds.

CBBT

This trip was planned around the weather.  There were two calm days.  I trolled a large storm shad and a big MOJO out to the first island.  I tried to time it with slack tide, and I rode the tide back to the pilings, then back to the beach.  I did not catch a giant redfish.

pilings between the CBBT and Lynnhaven inlet

That afternoon I went in the back bays of Lynnhaven.  

Spec

I caught a short Spec and one that just made a keeper size.  I also caught two of these Ribbon fish AKA Largehead Hairtail.

Ribbon fish

I also caught a Spot on a small soft plastic lure, which is only funny because as a kid we caught millions of them on bait and small hooks.

Spot on a lure

All in all it was a pleasant trip with a swing and a miss for my target species, Redfish.....they say it's better in October.  (It may warrant another trip South.)