CBBT Report 12/29 after dark

[mike cozzens]

The tackle shops and internet have been full of reports of big fish lately. For the eel crowd, it seems like release citations are almost guaranteed. The reports from Plantation Light to the High Rise sounded especially promising. If the eel soakers are hammering them at the Highrise, then I knew there was a decent chance one of those big beasts would be sitting in a light line.

Last night things could not be lined up better. The bite was on, the wind was dropping out, it was warm, the current was perfect, it was Sat night, my best fishing buddy wanted to go and my wife and kids were out of town at Grandma’s. We even forgot the camera – virtually guarantying us some nice fish. It was like the harmonic convergence of Striper Fishing.

As my Dad and I approached the Highrise area we were in high spirits. “Tonight’s the night, man I can just tell. We are going to get them tonight. Everything is perfect. The only thing that could mess us up now would be… heck… something crazy like maybe a power failure on the CBBT and all those lights going out.”

And about ten minutes later a couple of miles of my favorite area for light line fishing just went dark.

Guess I brought that on myself huh?

We did catch some nice fish. Dad released a nice one right at 41. I lost one about the same size at the net. We caught a lot of smaller fish and maybe 4 in the over 30 less than 35 inch range. All fish were caught sight casting a 9wt intermediate line and a couple of beat up black clousers.

Good times. Too bad I had to insult the fish gods and cause my favorite section of the CBBT to go dark.

Those fish gods clearly do not like to be taunted. But there are some real nice fish out there. If you go, good luck and don’t mention the lights.

Mike

[Chris Newsome]

Way to go Mike! Glad to see that the big fish are back in the lights. I may try to get out tomorrow night if the winds are favorable.

Chris

[jschmidt63]

wo thats interesting how it works sometimes. Was it a power failure on the bridge? I first thought you were going to say you fished the Hampton Bridge that night. I left around 7 with slack tide but it looked promising, wind was nill and the weather was nice. The few times I decide to fish at night and my stern light fails. Nothing for me in the light line but some nice bigger schoolies at dusk up on the rocks.

Someone was sticking around to work the lights flyfishing along with a crowd of others and was wondering how he faired.

John

[Salmo trutta]

Nice job.

Dpost and I fished the light line on Thursday. It wasn't at all what I would call a good bite and we worked pretty hard to find them. First we weren't over near the high rise but we thought we were in a fishy area. Birds were working all over the place but we couldn't spot fish to save our life. WE stayed in the shadow line but couldn't see anything. WE had a few fish on but lost them while blind casting into the shadows and into the light.

How do you do it? How do you see fish? What would be ideal conditions? Bad conditions?

In the day on Thursday and Friday we scored some fish and the pilings on the shoal was the most consistant spot but we didn't try there at night. Maybe we should have? Were we too close to the lights from Lynnhaven area and it obscurred our vision?

I've had success in the past doing it but never where I could see them well. Only blind casting but I really want to figure it out one of these days.

Thanks

[Capt Harry]

Nice work Mike, and who better to be with than your dad for the experience. Convenient you didn't have the camera:rolleyes:, that always brings 'em in. Didn't you have the same thing happen last year at the end of the season?:thumbup::yes:
Keep leaveing the camera at home from now on man! Seems to work for ya. I know a guide that never brings his own camera because of bad ju-ju.
I've been out there before when the lights shut off. You can hear everyone in unison say "Fu@K!!!!"
Salmo, You gotta re-focus, it's more of a stare:eek2: You'll also start seeing the Wish-A-Fishes, you know the "Oooooh! Ooooh! Damn!!! I wish that would have been a fish, but my eyes and mind are going crazy!!!:D Makes your eyes burn like hell the next day too.
Later, Harry

[dpost2]

Thanks for the spotting tips, Harry, We didn't spot a single fish at the CBBT. It's a lot easier at the HRBT.

[mike cozzens]

Dpost,

Sometimes I see them and sometimes I don't. The most predictable place is the small boat channel, inside the first island. Practically anywhere between the small boat channel and the beach should be prime time for spotting fish. Fish an outgoing current, quietly position the boat under the bridge and peer down into the water. If they are there it's pretty obvious. They will be right smack at the edge of the shadow line, facing upstream.
I like to temporarily turn off the bow lights, but obviously if it's a busy night that is a bad idea.

Harry,

Yeah, same as this time last year, and the real sad part is there was not a night time CBBT trip in between those two trips! Funny what you said about the "wish a fish". The big one I hooked was deep enough that the shadow was not real well defined. I was seeing faint little shadows for the rest of the night!

Mike

[TroutThink]

Carma's a bit*h. You still have YEARS of misery coming to you for all the tourture you put on me and Chop

There I said it