It begun with a 4 hour drive from my home to the destination of Camp Wright on Kent Island Maryland. Once past the beaten paths of NJ and onto Delaware after Route 299 (I will never go that way again) and onto Rt 301. Rt 301 was a desolate highway while driving within a group of 3 vehicles the entire way until hitting Rt 50 which is more heavy on traffic.

A first for me to be present at the Chesapeake Bay Kayak Angers tournament. I became aware of the event in the spring while at the Susky Jamboree while chatting at with NJ native John Foley one of the organizers. This year was the fourth annual. 

Camp Wright is a children’s summer camp that was gracious to host the CBKA on their grounds. The camps property is waterfront on the Chesapeake Bay and overlooks the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Upon my arrival I met up with Mullet Miller whom is sort of local to the area. We have known each other from other past tournaments and mutual friends. After talking with a few people that I have met in the past fishing the Susquehanna River Flats it was time to get registered. The captains bags were really heavy! They were stocked with some great stuff such as nice swim baits flukes and a ton of sponsors literature. The t shirts were nice I really like the safety orange color!

After rummaging through the captains bag i stepped out inside the back screened in patio area and there was 3 tables of food for the potluck. Some really good stuff. Im so glad i didn’t make chili because there was 3 other homemade chilies there!  The tables were fully stocked with cold salads Jalapeno poppers chicken wings chicken nuggets. Lots of food. To top it off there was 2 bushels of blue claw crabs for pickin. They were still hot too!! I love blue claw crabs with that Chesapeake Bay Seasoning and this was the first time this year I was able to enjoy them with a choice beverage.

Eight crabs later and a few hours of hanging out it was time to call it a night. My truck was the shelter of choice for the night. I did pack my tent but opted against pitching it as it was supposed to rain the next day and I was only staying the night.

The front bench seat of a Ford F150 isn’t the most comfortable but was able to manage about 3 hours of sleep between waking up uncomfortable and hot a few times. At one point during the early morning I woke up and turned on the vent.  This made it a bit more comfortable. was wide awake by 4:45 AM. Around 6:00 we were about to leave and i went to start my truck and the battery had died due to using the vent for too long. Thanks to Mullet Miller giving me a Jump it was off to the tackle store and 711 for coffee.

We arrived at the Kent Narrows boat ramp around 6:30 just before the sun rose. After rigging up yaks and heading to the boat ramp the sun was already into the overcast. The tide was incoming and we had about an hour and a half until slack tide. I was amazed on how much the tide actually ripped through the narrows being a three foot tide. I decided to start with an xrap on my Bull Bay Rod with the Lew’s SuperDuty Speed Spool casting reel.  Fishing this area is very different from what I am used to . Making use of all light tackle using small baits and plastics.

We fished the bridge for about a half hour eventually riding the tide in while fishing the bank. I ended up landing a small striper on the x rap casting underneath a small pier. It was early in the day and to have a caught a fish felt good! An hour later again caught another small bass that was the same size as the earlier catch. That was it all day. Fishing the Big Rig in this tournament  paddling a majority more than motoring. The Big Rig does paddle very well for its size. Turns on a dime and is pretty quick. A longer paddle is required.

It was a slow day but nice to get out and explore a new place. No better excuse for doing a little Yak Action!! See the video below for the full production. During this time i was also able to test out the new Sealect Designs footbraces I installed a few days proir. They worked flawless. Much better than the factory installed smart rudder footbrace track control. The gas peddal style is the way to go.

Around 1:30 showers moved in. It poured for about 15 minutes. Stuck in there for a little longer to get that last cast in. Wet chilly decided to call it a day around 2:30. Mullet Miller picked up a 14 inch needle fish just before we headed back to the boat ramp.

Back at the ramp we packed up and headed back to Camp Wright. Shower was first on my list then rinsing down my gear and the Torqeedo.

By this time it was awards raffle and dinner time. I had purchased a 5 pack of tickets but knew it wouldn’t matter since i have yet to pin a raffle at a tournament.

There had to be over 150 raffle prizes including a separate raffle for a Brand New Jackson Kayak Big Rig!! The raffle was started and winners were announced.

A 24″ striper took the largest bass along with a 13 1/4″ White perch that took the Junior and the White perch division. A 47.5″ overall leingth took the slam (White Perch Bluefish and Striped Bass) A lady angler won a yeti cooler for catching a 16″ needle fish.

I do recommend that you check out this tournament next year or in the future. It is very well run and there are many great people to meet. Overall its just a great time meeting new people with similar interests and to explore a different fishery.

Review:

This camera mount is by far the most rigid mount that is over 6″ in length I have tested yet. It has minimal flex therefore the camera is stable and captures a better shot than most other mounts. The mount featured in this review is the one with the Yak Attack style T Bolt gear track attachment also known as the RAM pin lock. This will mount to tracks from YakAttack, Jackson Kayak, Wilderness Systems, and Native along with other manufacturers bases. See the Kayak Rigging 101 Mounting Base Options Article!

Its ability to be bent and molded in any direction is phenomenal! Great for shots extended off the side of the kayak or underwater / top water shots.

This mount has become my new favorite camera mount. I haven’t even scratched the surface on camera angles it can provide.

Get yours at your local kayak dealer or RamMount.com.

Web link:

RAM Mounts Flex Arm Camera Mount

Below is Quoted from the Ram Mounts Website:

Post Pinlock Base, 18″ Rigid Aluminum Rod and Single Socket Arm

Description:

The RAP-B-200-1-TRA1-18U consists of quick release post pinlock base, 18″ rigid aluminum rod and single socket arm for 1″ ball bases/adapters. The pinlock base contains a unique t-bolt mechanism that stabilizes the entire mount, along with making it compatible with most kayak tracks. The 18″ rigid aluminum rod can be bent to position your device to its optimum viewing location. The single socket is compatible with all 1″ ball bases and adapters.

Features:
1. Quick release and installation
2. Pinlock system creates added friction and stability
3. High strength materials ensure product longevity
4. Suitable for marine environments
5. 18″ rod can be bent and repositioned
6. Compatible tracks include Yakattack’s GearTrac System, Wilderness Systems SlideTrax and common T-Slot Track Systems
7. Easily relocate mount along any point on the track
8. Extremely versatile for adapting to almost any application
9. Swivel/swing technology allows for easy turning of mount and prevents obstruction
10. Lifetime warranty

Material:
High Strength Composite & Aluminum

Ball Size:
1″ Rubber Ball “B” Size