Victory at Sea by Ed Valitutto

Posted on May 24, 2019 by VHFC

No not victory as we won something, but a reference to the old navy WWII TV series showing ships battling large waves as well as the enemy. Bill Dabney, Dave Spendiff and I hoped for a good start to the 2019 fluke season. We had our doubts weather-wise from the beginning but based on the prediction of high winds not starting until early afternoon, we decided to go out.

We departed BHW at 6:30 and headed south to Marshelder Creek. With the wind blowing 20+ when we arrived and the outgoing tide in the same direction, our drifts were 2.0 – 2.4 kts! Even with heavy jigs, you needed scope to hold bottom. Bill managed one almost fluke at 17.5″, Dave snagged a skate and I had an artificial shrimp bit in half by a likely bluefish. After two hours with an increasing wind, we decided to go home. The ICW was slow and sloppy but the real fun didn’t begin until we hit the open bay at the Middle Grounds. By now the wind was blowing 30+ and the bay was unlike I have ever seen it. White water waves every 3 seconds came over the side of my 24′ Sea Pro and hit me squarely in the face. Good thing there were two other sets of eyes to help find the buoys. It wasn’t dangerous like the ocean or the inlet, but very wet and slow going to get back home. There’s always tomorrow to try again!

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Fishing Facts

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