Oyster Bay Memorial Day Weekend

[fishfalcon]

Went down Friday afternoon with some friends and their kids. While we were getting the boat ready to launch, I put a live pinfish out and told my buddy's son to watch the rod for me. By the time we had all the gear on board and dropped the trailer onto the hitch, I looked up to see him holding on to a rod bent double. I ran over to help him land his prize. Normally, we catch sharks and catfish, but occasionally will catch a redfish and I was hoping that was what he had. He got the fish close to the bank and it gave the unmistakeable headshake of a trout- a big trout. Not being ready with a net (it was on the boat), I did what any wade fisherman would do. I had him ease the trout in front of me and did the Texas trout grab which got her out of the water but I had grab her in a choke hold with with second hand because of her size. I was using a circle hook, but unfortunately she was gullet hooked and bleeding so with trembling hands I walked her up the boat and the fishbox. She measured out at just over 28 inches. We took a bunch of pictures and then went to launch the boat. Needless to say, my buddy's son volunteered to watch the rod while we were gone. The next day we fished using pins and various gulp baits in the Shell Point/Oyster Bay area. We landed numerous shorts, sharks, and 5 keeper trout to 19". The better fish came on pinfish. We ran in to clean fish and my buddy's son decided he would fish from shore while we did the work. After a few minutes, he shouts that he needs help and I went to unhook about a 5 lb sailcat. He rebaits and I go back to cleaning fish. He then starts hollering at me again that he has another fish and it is fighting funny. Suspecting a ray, I walk down beside him as he brings the fish up into the grass. Big flounder! As he is pulling him up, the flounder shakes his head and regurgitates the pinfish and the circle hook. Aw shoot! I scoop my hands under him and fling him toward the sand. He hits in about 1" of water and the wrestling match is on. I finally get my fingers into his gills and it is game over. He measures out at 21" and is thick. At this point, I suggest he catch a redfish to round out his slam and he says ok. I rig him up again and we begin shucking oysters and drinking beer. He catches another catfish which we release and then it happens. The rod is bent double and the fight is on. He is struggling with this fish but doing a great job. Finally the fish begins to tire and he starts working him towards the grass. I can see the spots and the square tail, but I don't want to make him nervous. I grab the leader and then lip his redfish. We turn around for a quick picture and then lay the fish on the tape just short of 35". Back in the ocean she goes. That 9 year old had an inshore slam that this adult could only dream about. I tried for the next two days to reproduce his luck, but only caught catfish, rays, and sharks. Truly a great weekend capped off by a fresh fish and oyster fry.

[mjsigns]

Dang ! Let's see the pictures. Sounds like the boy is going to be addicted to fishing the rest of his life.

[Jumptrout51]

(bdp)

[rocket]

nice!!

[Salty Gator]

Incredible, truly the slam of a lifetime. Way to work for the trout and flounder. Congrats!

[fireant21]

awesome report

[fishfalcon]

I tried the forumpictureprocessor but it says that service is no longer available. I will try and get them up.

[Jhults11]

photobucket.com, copy the img code an paste it in your thread. Congrats to the lil guy, days like that when your young will get u addicted real fast, I know first hand!!

[SS-342]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[mjsigns]

Both http://photobucket.com/
and
http://www.imageshack.us/?no_multi=1
will work for hosting your pictures

[duckbill]

Awesome report!

[charlie tuna]

Plus --- next trip you can save a lot of money by leaving the boat at home and fish from the dock !

[WolfeMan]

Oh man, gotta see those pictures!

[JPVolunteer]

That made me smile almost as big as if I'd done it. It's great to hear about a kid's day to remember.

[LuckySOB]

Went down Friday afternoon with some friends and their kids. While we were getting the boat ready to launch, I put a live pinfish out and told my buddy's son to watch the rod for me. By the time we had all the gear on board and dropped the trailer onto the hitch, I looked up to see him holding on to a rod bent double. I ran over to help him land his prize. Normally, we catch sharks and catfish, but occasionally will catch a redfish and I was hoping that was what he had. He got the fish close to the bank and it gave the unmistakeable headshake of a trout- a big trout. Not being ready with a net (it was on the boat), I did what any wade fisherman would do. I had him ease the trout in front of me and did the Texas trout grab which got her out of the water but I had grab her in a choke hold with with second hand because of her size. I was using a circle hook, but unfortunately she was gullet hooked and bleeding so with trembling hands I walked her up the boat and the fishbox. She measured out at just over 28 inches. We took a bunch of pictures and then went to launch the boat. Needless to say, my buddy's son volunteered to watch the rod while we were gone. The next day we fished using pins and various gulp baits in the Shell Point/Oyster Bay area. We landed numerous shorts, sharks, and 5 keeper trout to 19". The better fish came on pinfish. We ran in to clean fish and my buddy's son decided he would fish from shore while we did the work. After a few minutes, he shouts that he needs help and I went to unhook about a 5 lb sailcat. He rebaits and I go back to cleaning fish. He then starts hollering at me again that he has another fish and it is fighting funny. Suspecting a ray, I walk down beside him as he brings the fish up into the grass. Big flounder! As he is pulling him up, the flounder shakes his head and regurgitates the pinfish and the circle hook. Aw shoot! I scoop my hands under him and fling him toward the sand. He hits in about 1" of water and the wrestling match is on. I finally get my fingers into his gills and it is game over. He measures out at 21" and is thick. At this point, I suggest he catch a redfish to round out his slam and he says ok. I rig him up again and we begin shucking oysters and drinking beer. He catches another catfish which we release and then it happens. The rod is bent double and the fight is on. He is struggling with this fish but doing a great job. Finally the fish begins to tire and he starts working him towards the grass. I can see the spots and the square tail, but I don't want to make him nervous. I grab the leader and then lip his redfish. We turn around for a quick picture and then lay the fish on the tape just short of 35". Back in the ocean she goes. That 9 year old had an inshore slam that this adult could only dream about. I tried for the next two days to reproduce his luck, but only caught catfish, rays, and sharks. Truly a great weekend capped off by a fresh fish and oyster fry.