hawkman
Eight Pointer
Headed out to Ft Macon with the family yesterday, driving separate vehicles which is new for us and I'm glad we did it. I didn't realize you couldn't swim that close to the coast guard end of the beach, so the family went on to EI per our usual routine. I had picked up some live mullet at Chasin' Tails (not large) and fished Carolina rigged mullet with son. My neighbors on each side were fishing with shrimp and each caught at least one flounder. (The guy to my right said he caught what he thought was a seabass as well). The couple to my left were up against the wall that separates the park from the USCG station. The lady there caught some flounder on a bottom rig with cut shrimp. I cast a Gotcha a few times when terns were diving nearby, and I cast a Gulp white mullet for awhile as well.
I think we were there a few hours before high tide and stayed for maybe 4 hours. My turn against the wall came about 2+ hours after high tide.
Also, I was there mid-day from 12-430 or so. Admittedly this isn't the best time to fish...
The only time I think I got a hit was on the mullet, but I reacted too fast. The mullet was intact but had tooth marks. I could not replicate this again. However, I did seem to get that "flounder grab" numerous times, but I think it was the cable that lies on the bottom there. I'd feel the line go tight as I slowly retrieved that rig. I counted to 10, 20, 30, no matter what it didn't turn it into a flounder. It was like I was pulling it over something, sometimes even being a snag. It always came off.
Holy mother of frustration. I'm trying my hardest out there with nothing to show for it. We supposedly live in this land of fishing bounty but a day's work and no fish? It's gotta be me, yet even a blind squirrel ought to find an acorn now and again!! (I just want a 5 to 10 lb acorn!)
Any one else struggle at times?
My wife asked me "how much have you spent on fishing this year do you think?". I said "a lot" (which is relative, to many of you I've spent very little probably). She said "fishing with your son is important and you should do it but why don't you hire a guide sometime to help or maybe to get you that bigger flounder or trout you so desire?" Hmmmm. She might be on to something here. However, I don't want to be given a nice fish. I also don't own a boat, so "learning" from a guide on a boat would be great, but I couldn't translate it immediately to what I do on a non-existent boat....
Sorry for the rant against myself and the pity-party request. I just need one person who sometimes feels this way.
I think we were there a few hours before high tide and stayed for maybe 4 hours. My turn against the wall came about 2+ hours after high tide.
Also, I was there mid-day from 12-430 or so. Admittedly this isn't the best time to fish...
The only time I think I got a hit was on the mullet, but I reacted too fast. The mullet was intact but had tooth marks. I could not replicate this again. However, I did seem to get that "flounder grab" numerous times, but I think it was the cable that lies on the bottom there. I'd feel the line go tight as I slowly retrieved that rig. I counted to 10, 20, 30, no matter what it didn't turn it into a flounder. It was like I was pulling it over something, sometimes even being a snag. It always came off.
Holy mother of frustration. I'm trying my hardest out there with nothing to show for it. We supposedly live in this land of fishing bounty but a day's work and no fish? It's gotta be me, yet even a blind squirrel ought to find an acorn now and again!! (I just want a 5 to 10 lb acorn!)
Any one else struggle at times?
My wife asked me "how much have you spent on fishing this year do you think?". I said "a lot" (which is relative, to many of you I've spent very little probably). She said "fishing with your son is important and you should do it but why don't you hire a guide sometime to help or maybe to get you that bigger flounder or trout you so desire?" Hmmmm. She might be on to something here. However, I don't want to be given a nice fish. I also don't own a boat, so "learning" from a guide on a boat would be great, but I couldn't translate it immediately to what I do on a non-existent boat....
Sorry for the rant against myself and the pity-party request. I just need one person who sometimes feels this way.
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