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| SW wind, from Point to Park, the boy. |
I actually had Thursday off and Friday morning, and none of
the plans lined up with the weather or surf conditions. Dolf said he was going on Friday morning since
he was busy with kid sports all weekend, but he ghosted me for sleep, I
guess. Saturday also looked like a
window, and I was packed up to go with Jeff.
When I woke up at 3:30 AM, however, I had a text from a jamoke at 12:30
AM saying he’d had an accident and couldn’t make it. Instead of rolling ahead without him, I decided
to save my energy for a promised trip today with my son. He was pretty hype after witnessing a bunker blitz
last week and landing a fish on a pencil popper. Even after today’s terrible outing, he wants
to give it one last shot next week. That is cool with me. I
need that secondhand excitement these days to get me up early for the long
ride. It’s a lot of work to be a PA surf
angler! Based on the low participation
out there this morning, I am thinking that it’s been a tough week for the
land-based anglers. It was not perfect,
that is for sure: SW winds, a significant northward sweep, a little stain. The boats were way out there, barely visible without
binoculars, but one dude who glassed them while we chatted noted all the birds
diving around them. In other words, it
was probably still a good weekend for the boat crew, even though their
participation dwindles each December too.
Do I pay for December in the slip or not, you know? The
boy and I covered the Point down to the Park and back a couple times just
searching after coming up fishless at a few sexy looking spots. I miss some of those missing year
classes! Even without blitzes, I used to
count on a few fish at first light if I found the loons and a nice bar or two
before doing the run and gun thing.
Bunker is fun, but some mornings I miss the sandeels dug in for weeks at a
time, especially when I am trying to get my boy on a couple fish, regardless of
size. Almost time to chase the trouts
again, but I have at least a couple more surf trips in me. Those boats are still on something, so surf
blitz chances remain if the winds get right again.
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| A skunk, a sense of humor, a shout out from Jeff's Rum Runner amigos? Almost quitting time... |
"It’s a lot of work to be a PA surf angler!" I know the drill! When Dad sold his trailer in Bethany, I spent a few years driving to LBI to surf fish and with no experience there, and no network to boot, I bailed on that plan and bought the Dbay cottage. Retired, I started my 2 and 3 week excursion to OBX each fall and am happy. The only thing there is it is mostly a bait gig. Small Speckled Trout is the only lure game there and I am envious to see you throwing artificial stuff at Bass.
ReplyDeleteI am really happy to see you and your son bonding through this, great stuff!
RR
I appreciate it, RR! The boy and I have bonded mostly over his stuff for a long time (I played plenty of video games!). It is cool to see all the time we spent outdoors when he was small got into his blood and is starting to come out more and more as he gets older. Plus, he'll be off to college in the fall, so this time together, even getting skunked, is great and important.
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