2026 has been a tough fluke fishing year for many of us including me but as with much in life if you keep at it good things eventually will happen (or you go insane per the definition). Anyway, I’ve been on several action packed outings catching shorts but keepers have been elusive for me until last week when my brother, Chris, and nephew, Jake, came to town. They only had a few days and were chomping at the bit to get out. On day 1, Tuesday, conditions forced us to stay inside so we fished the sedge islands at both ends of peak tide and lighting it up with lots of action and my first two keepers. 
Wednesday, we were able to get outside and headed to Seaside on the strength of an outrageously strong report from someone working at one of our local B&T shops (several packages of gulp were sold in the process). Fishing there was good but not great and worsening conditions curtailed my plan to cruise to Axel Carlson. The guys left Thursday with doormat dreams on hold for next Summer.
Dawn and I went out Saturday for a short bay trip. Another rough outside day and the clicking August calendar brought out boats in droves and made fishing in and around the channels nearly impossible but I was lucky enough to connect with a 23” fish over by the dike. Things are looking up.
