WOW

[John M]

Of the many trips I make this one warranted a report. It was the most amazing of trips for me. Rolled out to the point about 9pm friday night. Felt those warm Sw winds, that was real nice Fished saturday moring was pretty slow a few pups and of course the ever present Doggies.

Started fishing the point about 330 hoping for a bite on the hightide. We had been taking the water temp all day and by this time its was 64/65 degrees and primed. Started witha few pups then the bigguns rolled in and all hell broke lose, I dont know how many were landed, it just seemed that when everI turned around another 40# drum was being landed. Been a lng time since i saw that many big fish. One of the fellas I was with, Kip, had a nice one about 41 inches. Poppy broke off a monster about 50 inches int he wash. I saw one drum go 52 inches and several go 50 or so. Personally I had tales of woe fighting bugguns to the beach only to lose them to a tangle While they were fun to catch it dont count as a release I finished the day with 11 fish 5 pups and 6 yearlings to 39 inches. Very frusterating couldnt get that 40 incher.

Sunday was abotu the same alittle calmer but once the breezr kicked in the watyer warmed and we all hoped for a repeat. Mid afternoon a school of drum came in chasing bait. Have you ever seen a school of 40# drum chasing bait and slashing through them? ITs quite a site One fish was taken then. The school circled and we watched the boats circle and catch them. Finally about 5pm they cam in on the tide. I was stading on the point and the fish pushed fro the south to the point. I watch rod after rod bend as everyone hooked up. I dont know how many there were but there were 100 people lines up and half were hooked up or so it seemed. The drum were running the beaches sometime not very far out. You could see them slashing oon top see them in the water....it was site. the bite was fromtyhe tip of the point to a few hundred yards south. I hooked a biggun pulled the hook. Hooked another only to lose him on the tip of the point when there wewre several hooked up guys there and out lines crossed. I saw that fish again about 10 yards from me. CLose, as I went to the truck i cursed a blue streak wondering what i had to do? i sat down had a beer and retied. I realized i had my camera in my pocket. I took it out left iti nthe truck. walked down right in front of my truck threw out and hooked up immmediately. I laned the fish as the sun went down finally gettin my biggun. 44 inches a quick measure and a coupel of quick pics, (I hope that fellas sendsme those pics like he promised ) I walked down caught a yearling that was close then a 41 incher. I was all wore out by this time. so I stopped fishing. these fish put a whippin on ya let me tell ya. I finished with 8 fish, 2 citations, 4 yearlings and 2 pups.

Great trip, great weekend, I had a blast. Made soem new friends, fished with some old friends. Fished with Kip and Poppy saturday. alwasy pleasure. Tres was there too thanks god too, cause he had the dickel So taday I am stiff sore and my hands are a mess I saw 300 or so citaitons this weekend, thats why i go to hatteras

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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com

[Steve in Mass]

John - Glad ya had fun and it was worth the trip for ya. Hope ya get a repeat for the cobia soon!!!!

[fm/nj]

congratulations, john! you had the trip of a lifetime.....not many get to experience a drum bite like you did...you'll remember that forever!

next time you 'feel it in your bones', i hope you repeat the scenerio.

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fm/nj

[kip]

TextText

John M,

enjoyed fishing with you and congrats on the 2 big fish, see you during cobia season!

[Rooster]

Hey John, congrats on finally getting the timing right. Sounds like a hell of a weekend. How did the Outcast handle the fish? Sounds like it may have the mojo you've been looking or in a rod .

Wish I could make a trip down this spring but it isn't likely with the new house. I'll be there in the fall.

Rui

[Shag]

Hey John congrats on what sounds like a great weekend. When I read your post this morning I broke out in a sweat, and started scheming on how I might get down there. It just ain't gonna happen. So how long will this go on, and where do they go once the water warms up a bit? Again way to feel it in them bones.
Shag

[John M]

I have no crystal ball to predict these things. I had good teachers, y'all know who you are I go by what every else does, the internet and word of mouth. Sw winds and 65 degree water make for high probability of a drum bite. Thw real reason the fish showed was my wife. She felt badly that i missed the prior weekends blitz due to her condition. So she said a few prayers for me and made me go this weekend......when my wife prays god listens

Kip was a pleasure.......I had a blast, looking forward to cobia and some time up here this fall.

Rui, if ya put enough time in things are gonna happen sooner or later The outcast has caught a fair number of fish already, though all the bigguns I lost were onthat rod the 2 citations came otnhe 2/1......

shag they will be around for a while yet. It all depends on how warm the water gets, but they will be back later october As for the scheming.....relax wind is going northerly this week that will cool things off, I am most likely staying home this weekend.




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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com

[derf]

[font="Comic Sans MS"]

!!CONGRATULATIONS!!

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wish I could have been there , must have been a ZOO . Derf

[Rumble Fish aka Poppy]

John M…I should have stayed, you were right! And I thought Saturday night was great.

I am glad your hard work paid off…you landed some nice fish. Next time you need to talk me into staying longer…

What a weekend…a very memorable trip for me or anyone that was there!

Love those Drum!!!

[B. Myers]

John...you best put a big G on front of "the man's"name...especially after the weekend you had..

3 days of upcoming NE but I'm hoping Sun. it'll go back SW and be that way Sun. and Monday. Alot of warm water around- so maybe it won't drop too much. Hope to see ya this weekend, but if not I guess maybe the second weekend in May?? or are you done till Memorial Day and the start of cobia season.

Don't worry- I'll take care of that screen...

B.

[John M]

B I got a window this weekend and next, than thats it till cobia season. Might be able to wrangle a trip mid may, but that will take soem fast talking on my part. As for the screen I looked at ti monday and I couldnt even move my fingers let alone put it in......if I comoe this weekend I will install it........


Poppy, you seemed pretty set on splitting.... I love them drum too, tell ya what, my calling them diesel powered stripers, might have been an understatement

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John M
johnm@stripersonline.com