Pretty decent Rockfish day

[ttitan27]

I hit my favorite striper water at daylight this morning. I felt like it had the potential to be a good day based on water conditions. I asked five different people to go with me and all declined for one reason or another. Some were valid reason while others weren't. Some of these people have begged me to take them but when they find out how early we have to go their enthusiasm wanes. My main fishing partner was out of town so I was stuck by myself. Action started early with a hookup of a nice little 11.5 pounder on a bone colored redfin lure. It was followed by several near misses and lots of lookers and followers. I finally hooked up with a bigger fish that weighed 24.5 pounds on the Boga grips. A bit of a dry spell followed when I came upon an area where I hooked a 40+pound fish last year so I made the same cast as that time and as the redfin approached the boat I could see it being trailed by two big fish. The first fish swiped twice without hooking up and as soon as it wheeled to leave, the second fish absolutely attacked the redfin while I had maybe 15 feet of line out. Luckily the drag was proper and he pulled close to 100 foot of line or more. Eventually I was able to put him in the boat and after a quick measurement of 40 inches, he tipped the Boga's at 32 pounds. I spent a lot of time with these fish trying to make sure they were revived and released so that they may live to fight another day.

I always use redfin lures as I really am not a live bait kind of guy for this water and these fish. Cumberlandish river system is all I will say as far as location.

I made sure to text pics and weights to all the goobers that didn't want to lose their beauty sleep to catch world class stripers. Although it would have been nice to have one of them with me to take better pictures.

11.5 pounds



24.5 pounds



32 pounds

[white95v6]

Sounds like a great day to me. I gotta put more effort into chasing those monsters.

[txnative]

If you ever "need" to fill an empty seat, let me know...I will gladly give up my beauty sleep to chase me striped obsession, lol.


Chris

[MNfisher]

Nice work! Great fish!

[Alphahawk]

Congrats on a great trip! Yeah...I hear you about folks not wanting to get up early.....everyone wants me to take them crappie fishing until they hear the time we have to leave....LOL.



Regards

[agelesssone]

Let me know when you need a partner in the boat!

Being retired, I can pick and choose my fishing times and trips. AND, I always insist on pitching in for gas and such.

Being a boater myself, I know the boats don't run on air, the trucks that pull the boat usually get terrible gas mileage, etc.

I'm not a guy who goes rockfishing a lot but like to make a trip or two a year.

[StriperFan]

Great fish and post. I'm a big fan of artificial lures, more intense action and usually not as deeply hooked. Though with circle hooks I haven't been deep hooking hardly any on live bait.

[ditz1]

I am impressed with your catch regardless of your fishing and traveling hours. ......We used to work all day, drive all night, and fish all day but alas, age has caught up with me and I now generally fish afternoon and evening hours. I am a fly fisherman and would sorely like to add a stripper to my list of catches. I will never make it to the northeast fish the surf. Maybe one of these days I will try to make it to the Cumberland. I understand that they are normally fished deeper than I like to go with the fly however. Keep your line wet after those strippers. You seem to have them figured out. Great job

[ttitan27]

Ditz, the redfin lures I use only go one foot deep and I usually keep them slow and just a few inches under the surface. It is a very early and very late bite. Once the sun hits the water well the fish shut down on the redfin. I was done yesterday by 9 am.

[txnative]

Ditz,

There are a few places to target stripers with the buggy whip. If you're interested, shoot me a pm.


Chris

[white95v6]

gotta get up what ever time the fish want to feed. 2am ok sounds good.lol

[jad2t]

Looks like beyond a decent rockfish day!

[Trealtree]

Originally Posted by txnative

If you ever "need" to fill an empty seat, let me know...I will gladly give up my beauty sleep to chase me striped obsession, lol.


Chris

x2 lol

[ttitan27]

Trealtree doesn't need my help. I've seen some of his pics!

[nomad60]

Very nice fish!

Originally Posted by ttitan27

I made sure to text pics and weights to all the goobers that didn't want to lose their beauty sleep to catch world class stripers.

LOL!