Apologies in advance, I’m waaaay too far inshore to be posting this, but…bucket list fishing day. Crushed my striper record for length (formerly 38") Today the stars aligned. October/November is wonderful, as you coastal guys know. It is here too on the Congaree. For just the same reasons. Fish are gorging for a pending travel. Today I hit four stripers within an hour that were all larger than my former personal bests. The ones I measured were 40" and 41". They rarely ever jump, but today one jumped two feet on a plug. A plug I built! So stoked. Today I will never forget. I did not weigh these fish because it was important to me that they survive. All told I had four fish upwards of 39" but I got sick of walking them up a large hill and asking strangers to photograph me, although their shock on the first two were priceless.
Best moment of it all was the second whopper I got. (I wasn’t expecting two in one day, so the pressure was off) But she hit it no
less than seven times, each time sounding like a firecracker, then the second to last strike sent the lure airborne and as soon as it hit the water she got it clean and my drag screamed. What a day! Sorry to hi-jack the inshore. But today was FAR- inshore gold!
thanks y’all. Yes the plugs are through-wired, these are red oak, which is actually pretty awful wood for plug building (didn’t know that at the time) They are 7" surface spooks. Yellow cedar is what I use nowadays. Very water repellant. Thanks again!
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
Man that’s awesome! Even better they are still swimming. Nothing better than those fat cows pulling drag!
That water has been super high/fast and plain out nasty looking. Surprised anything was eating down there.
Congrats, really nice fish, and again thanks for the release. Those are natural spawning fish that are trying to bring santee back along with some help from DNR.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
Awesome and love the plugs. Would love to talk details on how you finished them. My son and I started on some as a small project together and we need to finish them up. I will send you a pm with contact information if you don’t mind.
MurryMaker, I can find the patch of clear water in a glass of chocolate milk. Yea the river was nasty, but I live really close to it, so if there is a fifteen minute window of ideal conditions, I will seek it out.
No matter how many variables I have control over, I never expect a bite. I only hope.
