For the past 2 years Jersey Cape Kayak Fishing (JCKF) a New Jersey based kayak fishing club has organized a Jamboree for kayak anglers to get together have fun while camping and fishing the Susquehanna River Delta at the Chesapeake Bay in Havre de Grace Maryland. The Jamboree’s format is not that of a tournament but much like the boondoggle except an entry fee which supports a roast pig dinner with sides an event shirt and all funds left over benefits Heroes on the Water Chapters of Maryland, Central Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As always there is a few calcutta’s which are voluntary. The class is Striped Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Catfish, and Slam. Longest catch photo release wins entire pot per category.

This year Jim Dolan president of the Heroes on the Water organization joined us. It was an honor to have him spend the weekend with us and also have a few veterans from previous HOW outings join in too.

Fishing was uneventful for most during the event. The photo of Gary ‘Fishenfool’ on the left describes it well! The lack of fish or fish that were feeding was blamed on the amount of water flowing through the Conowingo Dam and as a result the 48 degree water temps on the flats.  It was expected after a cold winter. A few catfish Large Mouth Bass & Small Mouths were reported. Only four total Striped Bass were reported to be caught and released. Although the Calcutta weigh in board stated one cow was 46 inches.  The raffle was immense this year with many sponsors donating product and swag to benefit HOW.

For me it was just relaxing to get out on the water with a fishing rod for the first time this season. Wake up call was at 4 am. Ended up being the first one out of camp as the gate wasn’t even open yet.  On my way to the park where the decision was made to be the launch I made a stop at Royal farms for coffee and ice. Arrived at the ramp around 4:50 and there were a lot of bass boats showing up. Parked close to the boat ramp and begun to gear up the Big Rig. Being this was the first time taking it fishing I had to figure out where all of my gear was to be stored and also attach a few Ram Mounts here and there. It took me about 45 minutes to figure everything out and finally drop into the water. Must say everything went smoothly. Although missing the sun rise was a bummer.

The Torqeedo on the Big Rig performed well for trolling. I did paddle for about an hour though to get used to the size of the Big Rig. It seems the Torqeedo will run all day at slow trolling speeds. I fished from 7 AM til 12 PM and only used 40% of the battery! I need to figure out how to export the GPS tracks on my Lowrance chart plotter. Trolled 2 rods with Xraps Yo Zoris Bombers Ratl Traps you name it. Should have dragged that tube and worm behind me. Two feet of water 10 feet of water marked massive carp in the channels and also saw them jumping.

It was great to see those that fish these events and meet new people as always! Looking forward to the upcoming mid-Atlantic saltwater season. The Striped Bass should be off the shore and in the back bays of New Jersey soon.

Thanks to JCKF for all of the hard work to put this event on in elite style!

Starting a new Kayak Wars Kayak Fishing Team for 2014! Fish Stix!!!!

A first for me in the fall season a surf launch into 50 degree waters. As I don’t typically surf a lunch anyway due to the local Raritan Bay being such a productive and vast fishing location this was a bit out of the ordinary. Every fall the Striped Bass migrates south like many other species. The migration can last a month or a few days.

I have fished the mouth of the bay near the tip of Sandy Hook in the fall and been successful there. Unfortunately while the fish were migrating through that area the weather did not hold and or I was at work. So unfortunately I missed the northern Jersey Bass migration but last chance headed out with “The Coordinator”  Matt Williams on Sunday.  After an hour and a half of driving and stopping at two bait and tackle shops for bait/lures we arrived at the beach. An area we have never fished before. After loading up and dressing up in dry gear onto the sand we wheeled our yaks to the breakers.  When you drop in the same way all the time and go to a surf style launch you need to do things different. This includes stowing gear. What to take with and what not to take. 

The entry is the easy part its all about timing. The waves were small at this point in time and entry was very easy. Once i was off the beach I unpacked my rods and placed them in my rod holders tubes behind me realizing I had forgot my rod leashes. I figured i would be stowing them in the rod stagers and have never dropped a rod overboard so it would be fine. I didn’t have to paddle far to the birds maybe a 1/4 mile. There were thousands of birds and hundreds of boats. Dead calm too even though there were so many boats you could only breath in diesel exhaust and burnt 2 cycle oil. It sounded like a constant oil tanker was going by. Incredible. Fish swirling everywhere. My fish finder was marking big fish on the bottom so i started jigging. About 20 minutes of jigging i went to set up my other rod with a live eel.  Low and behold it was gone. I didnt tighten down my rod holder and it work its way horizontal and my rod slid out. First time in the salt and no leashes. Nice.. If you love it leash it.  So that was a big dilemma. I had planned to fish two rods one drifting live eels and the other casting plugs and jigging. Now i was typing every lure on since i couldn’t find anything that would work although i somehow snagged a window pain (sun dial) with the 3.5 oz Spro buck tail jig! So I at least wasn’t completely skunked.   Finally 2 hours later switching to live eels and drifting around where birds were working. Not even a shake down on the eel. Another hour went by and this is around the time o took the photos. It got cloudy again and then a dense fog rolled in. I couldn’t see 30 feet in front of me. 10 minutes went by and i noticed a ground swell starting.

groundswell [ˈgraʊndˌswɛl]

Upppp and Dowwwnnnn. Still calm and no wind at this time but chances of surf landing successfully was quickly diminishing.

Now to find the beach. This was one of these gearing up decisions that I made. Bring the GPS or Not to bring the GPS. Well im glad i brought it. I was paddling as i thought towards the beach i look at my GPS and I was moving parallel.  I changed course and a few minutes later i could see the tops of the breakers but that was it couldn’t see the beach. I could see the waves were now huge. So i stowed my rod tackle and gear. I tried to time it out but the waves were much faster than  anticipated. Cleared the first two now about 20 feet from the beach the third one caught me odd turned the boat then rolled me. Into the water i plunged boat flipping . As I came to the surface due to my PFD floating me I flipped my boat over seeing that i had forgot to buckle my center hatch. So a few lures brand new sinkers went streight to the bottom. I righted my boat gathered some of the floating stuff and swam to shore holding the rope i attached to the front handle of the yak. Matt helped me with the boat as i went back in the surf to gather my fish finder which i had detached and stowed which was floating in the water (surprised) a water bottle 2 bags of storm shads and a pair of gloves. Loss was the new spoon i bought that day & 3 sinkers along with a Spro hard swim-bait and a Spro buck tail. All i had to do was latch the webbing straps that keep the center hatch latched closed.

I was happy that I wasn’t injured in the surf. Anything could happen including getting tangled up in the boat rigging to the boat hitting you in the body or the head as its being carried by a wave.

Lessons learned. Everything lost could and should have been avoided. Rods should always be leashed. Stow gear and tackle before landing and don’t forget to secure the hatch their stowed in. Two piece dry gear will not keep you dry at all. It just gives you time to get out of the water. The gear also wasn’t completely tucked together right as i had to open it to relieve myself out on the water. It wouldn’t hurt to bring spare clothes and a towel with you to keep in your vehicle Especially if its cold out.

The ocean is a dangerous place. Plan what you will be bringing what you need for safety. Always wear your PFD.