For the first few days of the month I got caught up on much needed boat maintenance, tied up my Albacore flies and restocked other such gear. I spent a fair amount of time researching the once every 11 year occurrence of the solar storm we were amidst. I also got to catch up on some trout fishing from shore, which was quite productive and I enjoy greatly when I have time to do so. So today I actually ran a charter. My repeat client and his long time adventure partner drove up from a few hours South and met me at a local ramp near the inlet. I had them meet me later in the morning accounting for what I had hoped to be the better time of the day to hunt our quarry. As I awaited their arrival, I listened to the bleak but steady radio traffic from the other guides and experienced Albie hunters already on the prowl. However it did not lessen my ambition to cover ground for the day. As we loaded and left the dock, I informed them as we listened to the vhf traffic that the crowd seemed to be on the struggle bus. We continued on, I was excited to venture out after so many days land locked from cancelled trips and unsavory weather. Between the inlet and the Bight of the Cape the geographic changes were as always after such weather, amazing! Lots of muddy water and chop atop of a slight Easterly swell as I got closer to the shoals. To add to the vast geographic changes was a still astoundingly high tide. Bait was scarce, birds were chilling and scattered all over the beach. Around the shoals the water was warmer and slightly cleaner but there was a fairly large residual swell from the East pushing across the shoals stacking up. We opted not to cross. We covered the area well and cruised back to the beach looking schools of drum. Eventually we ended up back near the inlet where we chased small packs of albies around the slicks. We were not lucky enough to earn a hook up today. Was there anything remarkable enough about today to write about? Well not with the fishing per-se, the company was good. But rather what I find so exciting is despite a lifetime of venturing these waters sometimes every day for weeks at a time, I never know what I will find. On any day this is true, but especially after nearly a week of astronomical tides and fierce Northerly winds. To an astute mariner these changes are astounding! it’s difficult to quantify the metric tons of sand required to move a point 300 yards and carve a flooded slough between dunes and a beach head. Or comprehend a shoal that now extends a half mile further out than before the Nor’Easter. Then the moment you realize that the material the shoal is made of came from miles up the beach. It like your learning a beach or a cut all over again, the challenge and thrill never gets old. It’s no doubt the fishery has to be momentarily impacted at the least. Other fish might even be changing their patterns for the season, the cycle rejuvenates. Embracing the change is my favorite part of the game. One thing will always be the constant and that is the sea is always changing, the banks will always dance with the tides. Back and forth to and fro. Many of the jobs and careers I’ve had it was easy for me to figure and predict the challenges . Since I chose this path in 2006 it has not let me down, I never have it figured out. I learn each trip out, and look to learn from each and every client.
