Went out to one of the creeks at PI yesterday and fished from the bank with fiddlers on a single 1/0 circle with 3/8 ounce split shot on 30lb Fluorocarbon leader. Had a challenge as the Horseshoe crabs were having orgies at the water’s edge and kept trampling through my lines to get to the party. They did provide a ready source of large barnacles to chum the water with. Took this picture at peak high tide. As you can see I had to be a contortionist to get by the HS-crabs to check my lines. About 30 minutes later I picked up a slot red.
I observed schools of Menhaden moving down the center of the creek and what I assume to be trout snapping at them occasionally. Going to take a jigging rod with me on my next outing to verify my assumption.
It’s a pretty awesome sight. It’ something we see every April-May in the creeks around HHI. It can be frustrating for those fishing from shore, but it can help to attract baitfish who will eat up the horseshoe eggs.
