My new work schedule in 2018 has been kayak fishing friendly! Affording the ability to fish TKAA and then the Columbus Day Weekend Boondoggle the week after. The Boondoggle is a kayak fishing camping social event created by the founders of Yak Angler and Kayak Fishing Radio back in 2010. With two yearly scheduled events falling on Presidents Day and Columbus Day weekends. My last attendance was the VA Beach event in 2013.

This years Columbus Day weekend Boondoggle located at Kiptopeke VA is an excellent location as its somewhat local to me. When it was announced in 2017 I booked my camp site that November! I was already thinking of the excellent fishing and fun camping with my fellow anglers.

Before I knew it the date was upon me. Joe and I headed down to the eastern shore Thursday night to set up camp and prepare for early fishing Friday morning. I took my 2014 Jackson Kayak Big Rig for this trip. Equipped with the Torqeedo Ultralight 403 this is my big game fishing setup. We hit our usual spot to find a ton of small speckled trout, flounder and one small bluefish. It was good fishing although all the fish were smaller.

The next day we set out for bull reds. Its October now so catching spot and croaker for live bait can be a task. It ended up taking us 6 hours to gather 10 baits keeping them alive in a mesh sack. 

I even tried throwing the cast net. This is something I had never done before but from the deck of the Big Rig actually isnt too hard. Next time in going out armed with a sibiki rig!

Finally we started live rig fishing for the bulls but only ended up with a bunch of brown sharks. Ironically the 10 baits we caught lasted a total of maybe 4 hours. Loosing four baits in the first 10 minutes.

The sharks were fun to catch although were not the target.That evening we went and hung out with the rest of the boondogglers and enjoyed swapping stories around the camp fire. Unfortunately we were starving after our 12 hour fishing day and made food at camp. The boondoggle pot luck looked amazing but was too full to sample.

The next morning we tried for the bulls again. Fishing was very slow besides pods of dolphins swimming by. Unfortunatlly had to cut it short as I had to leave to be back in Delaware to the next journey at Ohiopyle PA. Delaware Paddlesports team trip. One adventure to another. I missed the low country boil and fishing Monday but it was worth it to be on another trip of a lifetime!

Camping Kayak Fishing and Fun at Janes Island Maryland!

Every year I put together a Kayak Fishing Camping and Paddling weekend. This year the selected location was Janes Island Maryland. Located on the Eastern Shore a just outside of an old crabbing town named Chrisfield. Janes Island is a campers paradise.  With its beautiful sunsets that can be seen from any campsite. Also a kayakers destination featuring marked kayaking trails. You can take in nature at its best or paddle to a sandy beach on Tangier Sound a portion of the Chesapeake Bay.

However it’s April and we are here to fish for the large striped bass (aka rock fish locally) that will migrate south through the Chesapeake Bay and eventually swim north to their summer waters in the Northeast. Although extremely windy on Friday the winds calmed down to allow us to explore and learn how to fish a new body of water.

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Camping Kayak Fishing and Fun!

Although the Saturday wind forecast was wrong and we intended a late start. There were a few small striper caught right near the launch. Starting with the creeks on the outgoing tide marked a decent amount of bait. Fishing wasn’t hot. The water temps still at a cool 52 degrees apparently had an effect on the fish in this area. Although in my home waters of Delaware fishing was pretty hot through the winter with water temps in the high 30’s.

We navigated the creek as it became very shallow nearing the entrance to the bay. I was able to paddle through with my Kilroy. Others decided to portage over the short beach area to avoid paddling their pedal kayaks through the shallows. Once in the bay we targeted the drop offs and even deeper water with no good results. Easily an eight mile day of trolling. A local boater went by and stated there’s no one rock fishing yet the water is too cold. Well figured that out the hard way. Made the best of it and was able to explore a bit.

On the way back to the ramp Corey and I found a few really small fish up to 22 inches. Ending the day not skunked was a bonus. Being on the water on a small craft such as a kayak is relaxing and somewhat empowering. To be one with the water and the sky. If you understand what that is like then you may be closer to god than you really think!

Finding the fish is typically a task. This makes you a better angler honing your skills. To even catch fish in these cool water conditions was a great achievement!

Enjoying being outdoors!

Another great part of camping besides the camaraderie is the food! The first evening I prepared london broil and fire roasted potatoes. The next night Ed made a pork stew and the last night I cooked both our meals on the grill which consisted of chicken breast potatoes and some salad greens. Simple but its camping! We found out Ed has a knack for getting the fire roasted potatoes perfect! Also we enjoyed breakfast consisting of eggs and bacon prior to fishing.

The last day of fishing was also pretty uneventful with myself catching the lone rock fish for the day which was a total of around 13 inches! I however do look forward to fishing this area again in the summer when the reds and trout come in. The area seems to be a really fishy area on the right time with its sandy bottom with tons of vegetation.

In all it was great to visit a portion of the Eastern Shore that was new to me and enjoy its beauty with friends doing what we love best.

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.

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