Blast from the past – 12/23/05
I’ve been wanting to post some late fall and winter reports from years past, especially since there has been so little to write about this season. So here goes…
For the past 10 years or so, one of my annual fishing traditions has been to hit the Outer Banks “on the way up” to Pennsylvania to celebrate Christmas with my family…for our traditional Christmas Eve seafood dinner in particular. So, the trip was really necessary – after all, I was obliged to bring fish up north for the holiday (usually accompanied by a growler of beer from Outer Banks Brewing Station). In the early 2000s, I could hit the Banks and pretty much expect to score a couple jumbo stripers – the white flaky flesh is perfect for the fish salad that I usually make (per my Mom’s Italian recipe). But, as y’all know that bite has become unreliable at best. Specks and pups make a decent substitute however.
This particular year, I spent a late night hunting stripers (both soundside and ocean) and then mid-morning grubbing and plugging for trout and had thus far struck out. On the way out of Buxton, I took a look over the dunes at a likely spot and, well, I’ll let my journal take over……….
Slept in, due to being out late the night before. Woke to a glorious winter day, sunny with very light/no wind, increasing to light/moderate SW by nightfall. Water was very nice everywhere I checked. Clear and calm south of the cape and calm, but slightly turbid/muddy north.
<location withheld> Checked this out after lunch around 1 pm and immediately saw a guy land what looked like a decent speck, but I think was actually a short pup (which he kept). Decided to put some time in and damn’ glad I did as it was the best pup bite of my life. I caught fish steadily for hours, until sunset. Ended with well over 30 pups and picking out 5 or 6 specks, with 3 nice ones mixed in with the pups: 16″/1.75#, 19″/2.5#, 21″/3.25# (stunned/snagged in the belly). The pups were mostly shorts in the 16-18″ range, but I had 4 or 5 that were in the 20-24″ range. Great action on the cream/chartreuse tail saltwater assassin. A few hit a chartreuse curly tail teaser also and once I caught a double header of pups. There was really no outer bar. Most of the fish were in the calm water on the other side of the beach break 30 or so yards up the beach. Later in the afternoon, pups were hitting right on the edge of the break. At one point a school of peanut bunker moved through and I even snagged one on my lures. Freakin awesome sunset – powder blue and pink pastels. Almost left early to check out Pea Island, but couldn’t leave the bite. Found out later that big blues hit Pea Island around the boiler. Not sure how long the bite lasted though. Finally left around 5 as I was getting wet/cold.
Not heading up to PA this year, but should be getting some fishing in this weekend. You can bet I’ll take a peek over the dunes at that particular location and probably make a few casts…just to keep it honest.
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