We started easing our way out to Grey Mare and in the process managed to ding the prop and skeg on a rock hugging the bottom in some shallow water. No real harm done so off we go to the west side of Grey Mare. We set up several drifts picking up a few shorts and 1 more solid keeper and a nice little Sand trout at 14". We move in closer to Grey Mare, though still on the west side, and pick up a few more shorts and the big fish for the day, a trout weighing 2.94 lbs. on a topdog jr.
It seemed like we would pick up 1 decent fish everytime we moved to a new spot. So we kept moving and kept chunking topwater baits and occasionally a grub. Just east a stoney bayou, Jackie catches a real nice trout on topwater. By now the water is really rising and we start hitting a few creek mouths hoping for another decent trout but have no luck. I decide to head out to an area that Chalk and I had had a little luck on Fri. morning.
We get out near the birdrack and can only convince a big bluefish to bite. Time is now getting short so we head in and fish a drift or 2 near the river channel without any luck. Chalk and I had agreed to meet a 2:00 p.m. to help each other load up, so with 15 min. to go I head up to a little cove off of the East River to try and get 1 more trout. Running 5 minutes late we catch 1 more solid keeper on topwater that was holding in a cut ripping with current between 2 small grassy islands. Off to the lighthouse we go.
Chalk's running behind and Jackie steps up and does an excellent job of backing an unfamilar truck and trailer down the ramp and we load up. Chalk finally drags in and I help him load up. As I'm pulling him out, I notice the Man cooling in the shadeadjacent to the ramp. I stratigically park his boat next to the Man insuring a quick get away while Chalk keeps the Man busy.
We arrive at Jerry's with minutes to spare to discover that although we thought we were struggling we had not faired too badly. Our 5 fish were good enough to take 2nd place and the big trout I had caught at Grey Mare was good enough to take the big fish money. No one was more surprised than Jackie and me. We honestly thought we had done poorly all day.
Many thanks to Steve and Mike for the well run tournament and for making the new guy welcome. A special thanks to Scott Paterna for the facilities and the cool drinks. Also a big thank you to Jackie Cantor for putting up with me and my 6 yr. old son. You're a real fisherwomen and I would be happy to fish with you anytime.
Can't wait until next time.
Nice report~
