I loaded up the Xpress and made the drag down to Summerville on Tuesday to do some fishing in the salt with juice15 and his father on Wednesday. We were greeted by some pea soup-like thick fog at Remley’s early Wednesday morning so we took our time prepping the boat, in a parking spot and not at the ramp of course. We fished from just after 0700 to around 1330 and had a pretty solid day. We caught 2 flounder (16.5" and 18.5"), 9 reds (ranging in size from 13" to 29") and 6 trout (ranging in size from 16" to 20"…all released). I’ve been reading some reports that had me less than optimistic but I’m glad to say we had a pretty solid day. Most of the fish were caught on the incoming tide using a few different soft plastic artificials (3" paddle tail minnow-style baits, fluke-style baits and swimming trout tricks). All soft plastics were rigged on Eye Strike jigs. Red and gold eyes seem to produce the best for us. Water was pretty clear (2’-3’ visibility) and the temp started out around 59 and we saw 61 before we got off the water. All fish seemed very aggressive and wanted the bait moving with some pace to it, not your typical winter slow presentation.
Aside from the 16" trout (which was skinny), the others were VERY fat and healthy looking. They hit the bait aggressively and they had plenty of fight. I caught he 20" trout and after it thumped my swimming trout trick, it came straight to the surface and head shook its way across the water’s surface to the side of the boat.
I love reading your reports, bang. I’m green with envy, but I love reading them nonetheless. Thanks for taking the time to write them up. Glad ya’ll were rewarded for the effort it took to get down here and on the water.
I appreciate that, MK!! I enjoy sharing our experiences on the water. I know some on here get butt hurt when people give too much detail in their reports but it’s the people on this site and the information they’ve shared with me that has helped me catch more fish in the salt. I’d say be more “successful” but for me, when the boat hits the water, the trip has already been a success. Everything else is gravy and experience added to the data banks.
Stump, we took a few pictures but not many. Don’t want to give the picture police too much to get their panties in a bunch about. HA! I may post them up a little later.
Nice report bang! I’m still looking forward to my first trip to salt this year. You guys are about to convince me to move over to plastics which is something I rarely do in salt water,
Kevin
1720 Sea Hunt w/ 115 hp Yam
M’Ocean Sickness (SOLD)
2018 Sportsman 212 Open w/200 hp Yam
M’Ocean Sickness II
Thanks, KU. I’ve never been big on soaking bait. Obviously it works. Just about every report on here involves some form of cut and/or live bait fishing. It’s just not my style. My buddy, Juice15, and I are bass fisherman at heart so we automatically gravitate to artificials. They have and do work for us, consistently, so we stick with them. Plus, I love being able to go out and trick the fish into eating something that isn’t natural to them. I prefer to be the hunter as opposed to the hunted.