Bonfire under the full super moon.

It was great having the venue being the Kayak fishing store. I arrived around the same time as many others. Scattered around were RV’s tents and car campers being set up on the grounds of an old boat grave yard which also houses the Kayak Fishing Store. There were kayak anglers from many walks of life and places. They came from as far north as Maine to as far south as Virginia. Captain Jim had arrived with the newly patched old moldy his pop up camper which we would call home for three nights.  A bonfire was set and a Dutch Oven was placed into it. A 1/4 cooked roast was offered then there was a half stick bang to start off the festivity’s and fishing.  The 7th Annual Cape May Kayak Fishing Jamboree was officially underway!

The next morning it was fishing time. Awaking prior to the sunrise the night temps must have went down to the low 30’s. As a few anglers were already out fishing with my camera in hand i awaited the fiery sunrise. The wind was stiff and cold.

As more people arrived we went out and fished the Herdon inlet Rock walls. The fishing was pretty good with our whole crew limiting out on Tautog. I had a beauty at 17.5″ Its not hard to limit out as each angler is regulated to keeping one fish over 15″ The tide starting moving again so we headed in to enjoy a fish fry along with some fresh steamed clams Dee raked from her home waters on Long Island. Fellow anglers stopped by our campsite and enjoyed some of our catch. Moving around camp there were some other excellent meals shared among the attendees present.

Saturday Morning meeting Charlie (Lunchbox) LaBar at the 2 mile launch we fished a bit in search of Stripers. While waiting for the tide to flow out hues of the sunrise glistened from the East. Marking fish was nonexistent along with no strikes on the line. Over the radio was one casualty a fellow angler went into the water trying to rescue a fishing rod. Fortunately he was ok. October presents cold air and water temperatures which for kayak anglers is a risk. The tide changed and we were sucked out the Cape May inlet. No paddling really necessary. Once at the tip of the southern jetty wall it was game on. Green crabs and sinkers at the ready drop a line. Around 15  total anglers made the trek to the ocean. Many tog were landed and it was a great time. A nice black drum was also landed had to be 25 lbs or so.

Just about the last ones out there we quit and headed back. Charlie was running his Torqeedo on 0% which amazed me because I have never ran mine past 20%. But he made it and kind of against the tide. IT was about 30 min before slack.  Loading up and headed over to charlies summer home for a much needed shower.

Back at camp traded stories of the day. There was drones flying by taking the effect.  Gary ward and Larry Newman were still fishing. I don’t think they even enjoyed a meal the entire time. They fished hard and wanted that calcutta more than anyone. The evening set in and it was time for dinner and prizes. The iconic seafood pasta and roast beef was served once again as a yearly feast. Three tables filled with prizes and a Pelican 120 kayak were up or grabs plus the Wolfpack beer raffle. This night the bonfire was amazing and photoed above. All kinds of strange graffiti appeared on a red ford. Ribs were grilling. The sole owner of everything ate everyone’s food and all was good.

Sunday morning was a pack up day for most.  Best of all the calcuttas were awarded to Gary Ward and Larry Newman respectively as they got the bass and blues regions. I never got a final list of  Calcutta awards but its a non tournament. All for fun and that’s they way it should be. If you have ever been to a boondoggle the jamboree is the same just the northern way.

Excellent job by Chris Parson The Kayak Fishing Store Prostaff team and JCKF!

Looking forward to october 2017 for the next one. Hope to see you all there.

A New Venture In Life

On June 28th 2016 I embarked on a new venture in life. Like many others said goodbye to New Jersey for a more relaxed and affordable way of life. Moving to South Eastern Delaware is a dream that has come true finally. Although I will always be from Jersey I’m happy not to be living there any longer. Setting it straight Jersey has much to offer. In the burbs mostly a safe place to live. New Jersey has a lot to offer from its sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and its inner bays to its vast forest land and lakes. However the middle class is running away and have every reason to. From stupid laws for stupid people that kill freedom to its harsh unreasonable firearms laws the state has become a tough place for outdoorsmen to enjoy the freedoms that they are their god given right.

Some of you may have noticed that posts on The Plastic Hull have slowed. This was due to my big move in June – July. It took most of June to pack up and sift through everything acquired over the past 14 years living there. Able to purge enough to only make 2 trips with a 12 x 6 box trailer that Chris Parson of The Kayak Fishing Store graciously let me borrow. IT however was a giant billboard!

I quit my job giving myself about a month to move and unpack comfortably prior to starting a new job lined up prior to moving in Lewes Delaware the second week of July. The moving process was painful. At the 2 weeks away point, feeling way ahead of where I thought turned out to be an illusion. There was so much more to do and to the bitter end.  Thanks to my friends and family for all of the help. Especially my buddies Leonard and Dan. Without their help I would still be living in NJ.

I thought there would have been time to do other things especially a bit of fishing but the time just slipped away. I was able to accomplish a few bucket list things prior to leaving. Mainly visiting brewery’s in NJ and the surrounding area.One final Heroes on the Water event in Wildwood and with a good friend showing me around the Philly area which previously had never experienced. Good times and cherished every minute as the deadline was set.

Leaving a place after living and working locally for 14 years was in a way hard but in another a huge relief. A new start is welcomed! Departing wasn’t hard. It was funny because i stopped to get gas and a bite to eat at a Quick Check and for the first time saw Chris Christie the NJ governor in person just getting a drink. I had to do a double take. What a great way to leave. I plotted a route to take the Scutters Falls bridge out of NJ so I didn’t have to pay a toll to leave. How gratifying is that! It was an excellent cool night to make the last drive with the trailer and the bed of my truck fully loaded.

We arrived just before midnight and the next day it was unloading time. Leonard stayed a few days although the weather wasn’t all that great. Dan arrived and we had a good time hanging out at Paradise Grill a local beach resort style bar/club on the bay. I could get used to the beach life! The following Monday I started the first week at the new job. This was the day I felt how laid back it is here. Working in Historic Lewes its loaded with tourists during the day. The first town in Delaware it includes historic homes and buildings. Located on the Delaware bay its is an old port town. Setters traveled by sailing wood vessels in to live in the USA. There is alot of History and unique architecture in Lewes which makes it a great town to work. Along with its unique shops and restaurants. I’m hoping there is ghost tours around Halloween!

Just when its all going well my truck decides its going to break. After the big move it seemed I needed just about a new everything else. Mechanic tried to fix the problem but it ended up being worse. It was time for a newer vehicle anyway i was just hoping for a few more months. SO after weeks of my mom helping me out by carpooling her to work using her Honda Pilot then me driving the rest of the way with my dad picking her up everyday was getting old a week in. 3 weeks later finding a used truck I liked but the salesman selling it to someone else for $500 above my offer i decided to buy new. Now sitting my driveway is a beautiful 2016 Ford F150. I don’t typically brag but its a beautiful truck!

I haven’t been kayak fishing since that HOW outing at Wildwood in June. I severely miss it. Although having to been able to get out paddling to keep me sane. Once my new kayak hauler is set up I will be fishing as much as possible to close out the summer and into the fall. This is one advantage of living more south. A longer fall season.

Delaware has much to offer. There isn’t really much of a “rush hour” as a matter of fact everyone that lives here are not in a rush. This is a good and bad thing. The worst part about it is while driving you could be the only vehicle on the entire road. A majority of people here will pull out right in front of you. Then proceed to drive 10 miles per hour below the speed limit. If your not in a rush then wait to pull out when the car with no one behind them passes. Other than that great beer is minutes away at both 16 Mile Brewing Company or Dogfish Head, My dad has been taking me to 16 Mile for the past 5 years now.

Fishing is in my backyard now. Within minutes to the bay 20 min tot he ocean and 15 minutes to the closest pond its the best of both worlds. Delaware Paddlesports is right around the corner so i plan on doing more with then as soon as i am set up with my truck.

Future plans are to be present at the CBKA tournament on Kent Island MD and then the TKAA Tournament at Norfolk VA. Hoping my kayak hauler is all set by then! On to making some local friends and fishing buddy’s. I will still see everyone that I love in Jerzy soon. I will fish Raritan Bay again in the future as that is the one place among a few others I will whole heatedly miss.

Even though the winter seems to pass by very slow in most instances, its amazing how fast the spring comes upon us. It was now time for the HOW NJ First Outing of 2016 at Lake Denmark on May 1st. What was once 3 months away in planning was merely felt like a week ago. A large scale event was planned with two trailers of kayaks and gear allowing 20 veterans and their familys along with 5 veterans with their own gear.  Yes HOW NJ has a few veterans whom enjoyed the outings so much they decided to purchase their own kayaks and gear.

As the event date approached my reputation for bad weather while coordinating an event was shaping up to hold true. The weather reports were calling Sunday a wash and Saturday to be beautiful. Couldn’t it have been the other way around?!! The thought of cancelling dwindled but holding strong the decision was made not to cancel the first outing of the season as many look forward to the occasion.

A few volunteers Prefished Lake Denmark on the Leap Year which turned out to be a beautiful day. They staged the trailers and gear for the following day. I fished later that night in the Aurthur Kill again to hunt down some big stripers. With no luck that night only snagging bunker while trolling had to call it early in order to be up early for the HOW event.

I awoke around 6 am and upon looking out the window seeing the ground was dry had a bit op hope that the day wouldn’t be as bad as forecasted. Being that the event was rain or shine i didn’t even look at the weather but once i closed my truck door to head out the rain begun right on que. It rained the entire time to the lake and while setting up. Despite the weather volunteers had already started arriving and loading their gear onto their kayaks. CDP was setting up breakfast and everything had begun to take form.

After a bit the second trailer arrived we immediately unloaded it. A few veterans arrived and after breakfast safety briefing and all we launched them. The rain didn’t really quit at all. My Colombia rain shell had become saturated and I had to change it out for a heavier rain coat. That and the bib (rain pants) I was wearing kept me dry and warm all day which is good since it was wet and in the low 40’s all day.

Our guests still enjoyed their time out on the water despite the cold and wet. Just goes to show that the military is a rain or shine job. A little dampness and rain doesn’t bother our Heroes! Around noon a hot lunch consisting of Chorizo Sausage, Burgers and Hot Dogs along with sides was being served. I brought with me a small pro-pain heater which I set up for anyone that was cold to warm up their hands. It was a good way for the people whom were really wet to warm up a little. It continued to rain and a a few of the veterans went back out fishing a lot with many of the fishing coach volunteers.

Pat and I were able to install a stabilizer on one of the Native Commander tandem kayaks which we had complaints were not stable enough. It seemed to do the job with our guest Father and Son fishing team! Jovani and his son had a blast. Jovani Jr. caught a few fish! I think hes now hooked on kayak fishing!

In all the event was a huge success with a higher attendance than expected with the weather as bad as it was. I for one am happy that we didn’t cancel it and we were able to get some of our Heroes out on the water! I’m hoping the HOW NJ First outing of 2016 is an opening to a great season of events!