![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
Back in the old days, when I still got around without too much pain, I'd load the kayaks on the little trailer and make the drive down quite often to fish the bridge, and often take friends down for their first trip... act as a guide so to speak. It was worth it. The pay off came in the look on their faces when they turned the corner at the point and saw the bridge at night, and when they saw the torpedo shapes of the big striper ambushing bait fish from the shadows into the light under the bride. On a good night, we'd hit 'em hard. On a slow night, we'd still catch blues all night long. In the kayaks you could get right under the bridge, the $50,000 power boats would never get that close.
![Razz :P](./images/smilies/icon_razz.gif)
We were safe, we dressed for the weather, and made sure we could be seen. Here is a shot of my kayak as I was approaching the bridge one summer night. Note the SOLAS tape reflecting, the lantern marking my kayak, and the Life Jacket, we didn't take chances. We also had strobes and radios. Here is a shot of my buddy in my wake, we never fished the line alone either. A risk I never took. You can see the lights of the bridge in the background. Here is a picture of the view.... I never got used to the AWE as you turned the corner. I took Miss Tina down one night to fish the line and she hooked a monster. It started dragging her Hobie Backwards. I could see the concern on her face... actual fear she would capsize...
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
She had a handle on the process then, and enjoyed the rest of the night... but it was the last time she went. The current under the bridge, and the various aspects you have to deal with were not for her. She'll night fish on the lakes... but passes on the ocean at night.
I took a young firefighter down one weekend, and had explained the game to him. You cast back up into the current and reel slowly back. If we are lucky I said, You might see a big striper jump clean out of the water chasing a bait fish. About the time I said Jump... a two foot striper nearly jumped into Scott's kayak. I thought he would fall out of his kayak trying to get his rod out of the rodholder behind his seat.
Calm Down Son, I told him. We have all night. I was laughing so hard, I nearly fell out of my kayak. We caught about 30 fish each that night, before we got tired and headed back to the Richmond area. We both had commitments for the rest of the weekend. The funny thing is the young firefighter called me later in the week and share a quip. His LT had been down fishing that weekend as well and whining that he had spent about $400 for the weekend and caught three fish. We spent about $25 on gas and snacks and caught more than 60 between us, Catch and release.
His LT said they spent $100 on the hotel, $150 on fuel for his boat, and the rest on bait, and goodies for the trip, bait and extras.
Jim's Subaru gets great Gas Mileage, and we spent $10 on a couple burger deals at Hardees. We took snacks from home and the kayaks don't need fuel.
and you caught 60 Fish in three hours.... between the two of you.
Yup, most were schoolies... (12 to 18 inches) ... but there were some good ones... I have pics. His LT didn't talk about fishing for about two weeks.
Real Adventure? Kiptopeake Cows... stripers 40 to 50 inches long in the dead of winter... caught by fishing the concrete ships... but that's another story. (seriously...
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)