We’re back from Kitty Hawk. First, let me say that I DID commit to the fly rod in pursuing my 1st saltwater species on the fly. I was advised to hit Oregon Inlet, BUT with postings showing heavy current & sudden dropoffs, me fishing alone in unfamiliar water & no other fishermen out there, I decided to play it safe & stick to the surf…8 days, early & late for this saltwater novice. It was tough going, but I did get ONE saltwater fish from the surf this past Saturday morning. Before you laugh at the picture of this tiny pompano (I THINK that’s what it was), keep in mind that it is an icebreaker for me in saltwater. Even though I had spinning gear, I would NOT fish it. I felt good as several of the “beach walkers” would ask daily if I caught one yet & were very pleased that I finally did. One gentleman said, “Well, you sure did work hard for it Mike. I’m glad you got one, regardless of it’s size.” His kind words made the effort worthwhile. I’m sure the ones that follow will come easier.
Here’s the lunker :rolleyes:
We did have fantastic beach weather…8 sunny days between 85 & 90 degrees. Ate too much, got real nice & tan, & of course, it was over too soon.
Mike
Nice going Mike. Pretty fish looks built for speed. That fly must have been fun to fling for 8 days straight.
I notice the deck chair in the back ground, perhaps if you had set up just a tad closer to the waters edge you wouldn’t have had to cast as far to reach where the fish were. LOL
Nice Pompano and yes its a Pompano. Surf fishing is tough. Next time a pontton boat or float tube slightly offshore with the tides and you will catch multiple.
That’s NOT my beach chair. Lots of folks just leave their chairs out there. None stolen the past week either. I didn’t take one when I fished. Maybe I should have, hunh?
Mike
Mikie sounds like you should have been sitting in the chair in your pontoon.
The salt can be intimidating at first till you get used to the tides and vastness of it all. Where I lived we had 31 foot tides. Its amazing to see that much water leaving town then coming back every 6 hours.
I hope you get to go back soon and tackle the surf again with a good tide chart, some local advice and your toon.
Thanks for all the kind remarks. I just wish I had found a “partner” with whom I could have fished Oregon Inlet. Due to Maggie & Ryan’s wedding next July we won’t be going, but I will be much better prepared for 2010. Maybe by then I’ll have hit it with Shorthaul. Btw, Mike (Shorthaul) was kind enough to loan me a Ross reel spooled with sinking line…another example of the generous & sharing folks we call Family here on FAOL!..Thanks Mike!!
Mike
Welcome Back and way to break the ice, kind of funny that your first “saltie” is smaller than the average gill that you usually catch at the “factory”!!
HEY MIKE!!! I just caught this post CONGRATS!!! Man now you got me going, I gotta do it…
From now on anytime I get close to the salt I’m gonna have a try at it, I can’t let you leave me behind… Dang Mike now your an official Pirate…lol
Mike…reminds me of Namekagon a few yrs back…never did break the ice on a NAM brown…
or the Kabekona recently…never did get that 10 incher.
Like me…sounds like you had a great time!
Dang Mike now your an official Pirate…lol