CBBT #3

I hit the CBBT again on Monday with my normal fishing partner Auggie and a new friend, Rhomsey. After introductions, we set to the mole crab digging. My current method of choice is to use a small shovel and a 5 gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom to sift through the sand. This can be very tiring and tough on the back but its better than digging by hand as Rhomsey will tell you. It works best as a two man operation. I definitely think a mole crab rake is on the shopping list for next year. After we had satisfied ourselves with the mole crab haul, we paddled straight out to the first island. 

Almost immediately Auggie hooked up to a nice sized triggerfish. The three of us worked our way around the island fussing with little Black Sea Bass. As I got closer to the bridge I found a a couple of Triggerfish lookin to go home with me for dinner so I picked em up. It seems to me that triggers stay in groups close to the rocks and will eat both clams and mole crabs. I also think they like the color red because they seemed to be attracted to my bare hook. The 2/0 hook is just a bit too big for them but the 1/0 or slightly smaller is perfect. I was really hoping for a sheepshead but triggers for dinner will at least prove to my wife I was fishing. 

I went around The other side of the island then made my way back to the bridge. By the time I linked back up with the group, Auggie had picked up a 22" Black Drum. Nice new species checked off for him. 

Rhomsey was definately trying but a few Black Sea Bass were the only things picking up what he was putting down. 

As always, the paddle back was brutal but we made it to shore finally. It was another great day on the water. Thanks to Rhomsey and Auggie for comming out. Lets do it again soon!

CBBT (again)

The day started much like the last time with a few croaker hits around the pilings and a couple of black sea bass. I was using clam on a really small 1/8 jig head on a standard Carolina rig with a 2oz egg sinker about 18 inches up behind a swivel. I'd seen Kayak Kevin do this but it just wasn't working for me. My buddy, Smiley and I meandered up through the bridges to the first island where I started to work the rocks along the east side. Suddenly I found myself staring into the eyes of a big ol triggerfish. I gave him an offering of clam on the little jig which he ate right off without even considering the hook. He was so close to the surface I could see exactly what he was doing so I knew that the jig was still too big. I pulled everything off my line and tied on a red1/0 hook with no weights and gave it another go. Down went the clam drifting gently on the end of the line. I could see it hovering just within view, then all of a sudden, wham!  My rod bent over and I reeled in the first triggerfish that I had ever seen. I had to dig out my phone to figure out what it was and if it was regulated. My little hook and the clam worked so well that I gave it another shot and pulled in 4 more in a row. As I pulled the fifth one into the yak it was suddenly apparent that my time had come to an end. A large wave from one of the passing ships caught me off guard. I was pushed onto the rocks just enough to spill me and anything that wasn't tied down into the briny depths. I didn't loose too much, just the remainder of my clams and mole crabs, my sunscreen, and a few other odds n ends. The rod I had been using was still attached to that last fish and lucky for me I was able to locate it bouncing in the rocks. I deposited it and the fish in the yak though the little fellow decided he didn't like riding so high and dry and abruptly flopped off the hook and out of the boat.  Surprisingly, the rocks on first island seem to be covered in some sort of surface consisting of very sharp shells and barnacles. After scraping away some bits of flesh and pride, I climbed back into my kayak, took stock of what I had lost, and grabbed a clam from Smiley and tried to go back to pulling in the trigger fish. Alas, my swimming escapade must have turned them off for they were no where to be found. I returned home with a decent catch and

I hear these leather jacketed fellows taste quite good. Even with the spill I still will call this a CBBT success. Check out the video here!