Not sure how to post backwards?

Hey Pards,

Now back home and quite disappointed as the fish came in late this year, water temperature just below 50, quite warm air, and had to leave to satisfy Xmas commitments. I'll get back to covering all I learned this year. For now, it's enough to know that I did indeed catch two stripers and the last one was a citation (pictured above) at 48 pounds and 51 inches. Think it's verified on Facebook at Chris' Bait and Tackle on the 14th of December. Think something like 30 citations. Bill got two boated, a dink about 30 pounds and a 38 pound striper that looked like his second citation. Yogi helps Bill Fowler heft a boated striper.





Learned how to fish the CBBT pilons, the 4th island, and many new holding areas in the lower bay for stripers. Mainly buoy 38, Plantation, and Cabbage Patch. Lattimer Shoal wasn't productive as the main migration hadn't come into the bay before we had to leave. This is the first year that I had a pardner and could take advantage of light wind/seas to fish the CBBT pilons, island, and tube. Didn't catch fish, but we did get the teaching and made the effort. Next adventure, we won't sit waiting for the fish to come to us, we'll go to meet 'em, so to say.

There's still opportunity to fish after the first of the year at Kiptopeke, but it's all CPR. No matter, the learning goes on. Now know that we must have light casting gear to toss 1-1 1/2 ounce bucktails, and other lead heads tipped with sand eels.



Speaking of eels, the eels the stripers feed on come out of the rivers into the bay fleeing from cold water. While in large numbers, the stripers feed on them. However, as the eels flee out of the bay, the stripers go to other food sources, like Menhaden, sand eels, and other crabs and fish. Eventually, all the bait is gone from the bay and the stripers move off shore. This usually happens as the water at the CBBT drops to 43 or so degrees.

Teacher and Adam keeping a close eye as they advise Team JTB on where to fish. At Kiptopeke, if yer to be successful, ya gotta have a network, just like Kerr. And like Kerr, breaking into being a member of a network doesn't come easy.

Ramrod fell while climbing onto the dock at Kiptopeke launch and was badly hurt with possible internal and head injury. I can assure you the being older is the pits at times. Ramrod returned to his home in NC and to this date, Jan 12, is still recovering from his injuries. A reason for a network and not to try to launch solo.

There's often reference to the "Highrise". Gives a reference to a fishing area. Several arches to the left (South) of the Highrise bridge, there's a hole of about 80 feet deep. Water always seems to rip through this area regardless of what the tide is doing.

Coastal water temperature watch . . .

Don't know when the stripers follow the bait down the coast, but I decided to start a log of the temperatures for future understanding of striper migration.

Location Date
10/24
Sandy Hook, NJ 60
Cape May, NJ 66
Lewes, DE 63
Ocean City, MD 64
CBBT, VA 65
Kiptopeke, VA 66

Got a few round to its accomplished. Mounted the tie down, greased the hubs (one had white that indicates a mix of water from inside the hub, maybe open it and regrease before I leave, but have a spare rebuilt hub assembly) pulled a new line between the stern starboard hatch and the console. The old one got hung and couldn't run it either way. Lubed the steering zerks and those on the motor. Have one spare tire mounted and will carry a second in the truck. Need to put the trailer axle jack in the truck before I forget.

Plan to take the Kerr striper gear off the boat and remove the bait tank today. Need to mostly remove the cover that is keeping the leafs out of the boat. Should install the eel tubes (1-1/4 PVC as shown in photos).

The batteries check OK, 2 - 12 volt for the Trolling Motor, 1 - 12 volt for the sonar, 2 - 12 volt start batteries. I have a perko switch on the start batteries and only run one, leaving the other in reserve. All other electronics run off the start battery as the motor charges while underway. Need to check Nav lights. Have two torches, one fully charged and the other works only off boat battery. I have a third torch that needs to be charged.

Likely I'll discover additional round to its as the day wears on.

The link is finally broken, cut off . . .

The frozen link is cut and a new ratchet tie down will be installed. Just another small round to it needed for the upcoming Kiptopeke adventure.

By golly, some very old tools work just
fine today. The rebar cutter shown
below is at least 40 years young.
Most bit the dust trying to cut Japanese
rebar.









Got my truck back and the pad wear indicator wasn't the problem. It was some kind of gimble bearing ( electric that works the 4X4) and lightened my wallet by near $500. Wonder why prep for Kiptopeke always seems to involve expensive truck mainteneance/repair.

Only 32 days to wait . . .

Made it to the BISC meeting in Henderson, NC only to find a handful of fishermen interested in keeping the club running. No discussion of Kiptopeke fishing. Guess that's in another world and a different time.
The travel to the BISC meeting takes me about 60 miles cross country and frequently I get lost near Henderson as the GPS usually leads me around in circles. But this trip was different as I had a rumble strip sound occuring frequently all the way to the meeting. Leaving the Golden Corral felt like something was grabbing and breaking loose. Resumed the rumble strip when I got out of the lot. At home, I thought I would lose the truck on the road, but it made it into the driveway. Next day, crawled under to see any obvious defect. Now think it is a wear indicator completely shot and killing the rotor. The shop down the street will let me know in the morning. If not, I'll need to go to the dealership for a diagnosis/repair. :(
Water at Kiptopeke Beach is 69 degrees and at the CBBT it's 68. Not cold enough up North to drive the bait South. Maybe arriving at Kiptopeke too early for the COWS. Tidalfish.com isn't giving much in the way of current fishing reports. http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/632.html can provide daily wind, wave, water temp, at several locations near the mouth of the bay, including Kiptopeke. Another link that seldom works for me is http://stripertracker.com/ Think it only gives striper information for the lower Delaware coastal area.
Still got hubs to lube, new tie-down to install, motor lube to do and maybe a visit to the boat shop to evaluate motor needs. Been 3 years since it's been checked. I have been careful to use only alcohol free fuel, use startron, seafoam, and a Yamaha decarbon additive. Two new start batteries in the aft hatch and replaced one of the trolling motor batteries. The boat is rally gungy and I'm sure the stripers would never suspect that I'm a pro looking for them.
Got my annual statewide pass for the VA State Parks. For a handicap senior, the annual pass is $44. A good deal with the launch fees going up all the time.Yet, for Kerr, ya need an annual pass for the Corps ramps in VA and a Dept of Nat Resources annual pass for the NC ramps. Really easy to get things mixed up. Too bad they can't get together and have one placard!
While Ramrod plans to be at Kiptopeke during the same period that I am, he just finished should surgery and may not be fully recovered in time for the COWS. Sure hope so as he knows where they hide.
Other frequent fishermen are lodging from Smith Beach, well above Cape Charles and scattered all the way to Sunset Beach Resort. Ha, ha, like providing info about stripers, few will provide exact locations for their lodging. Yet, sharing on the water for safety is of critical importance for me.

A word about lodging . . .

OK, time to get serious about lodging. A word back from Kiptopeke Inn, that most consider the armpit lodging, says my reservation will be $899 plus tax and $50 a month for Xacho. OK to bring my refrigerator, microwave and the $300 increase over last year will cover any electric issues including charging the boat. Kiptopeke Inn has a cleaning station out back. I opted to take room 141 along side the pool. A straight shot to the end of the building parking lot without running electric line across the road. Good thing is that there's no clean up fee.

Sunset Beach Resort where Ramrod is staying will run $850 plus tax. Rooms can have motel microwave and refrigerator. There's lots of parking and outside electric plug ins for charging the boat. I like the breakfast buffet and the restaurant. May be worth the extra $100 for Xacho for these ammenities.

Teacher is staying at a house on Smith Beach, well North of Cape Charles.

Would be nice to know where others plan to stay, but most are very quiet about their lodging.

Never did get with the advertisement for Fisherman's Paradise advertised on state 184.

There's a commercial ice house across from the Mickee Dee on Rt 13. Seems like it said $2 for 10 pounds. Guess it's OK based on need.

Kind of necessary as I plan to use the 3 bucket accessory for keep a small number of eels. A dozen a day is reasonable use, unless November has Blues in the bay. Anyway, take a look in the archives for the 3 bucket setup. I put ice in the top bucket, holes in the bottom drip ice water on the eels in the middle bucket that also has holes. I put 5/8 inch rope through holes in the side of the top bucket to keep it off direct contact with the eels. The bottom bucket retains the runoff slime, etc. Can put it in the room bath tub without the bottom bucket and wash the slime down the drain. Ice is the key as cold eels are easier to handle and maintain alive for several days. Haven't decided how to use the 5 gallon insulated water container yet. I have an air stone that would keep a dozen eels frisky, but requires a water change. With the 3 bucket system, I can give the eels a dunk in the bay during the day on the water.

Time to get on with Kiptopeke 2011 and more

OK, it's that time of year again. Kerr has turned over and the stripers changed feeding, can't find 'em with the Ray Jefferson due to the stripers sitting on the bottom and also too much debris in the water. The bait went somewhere and I lost my fishing partner to deer and turkey hunting. So, time to get the show on the road with fishing at Kiptopeke. Since last year, the stripers left the bay when the water settled at 45 degrees, I decided to book lodging at Kiptopeke Inn for the Nov 18 to Dec 18 period. Costs are higher this year at $899 plus tax for the month. Don't know about electric for charging the boat yet. Guess if things go badly for fishing, I can change to a weekly rate of $299 plus tax.

Informed Bill Fowler, Ramrod, Steve Smith, and Teacher of my decision to book. Don't know if I'll have company or not.

Plan to use the 3 bucket setup for holding eels by purchasing them a dozen at a time at Chris' or across the bridge if the opportunity happens. The top bucket has holes in the bottom and drips ice water on the eels. The bucket with eels has holes in the bottom so the fluid, etc. drips into the bottom container. If the temperature warrants, the top two buckets can be in the motel bathtub (hot/freezing) outside. On the boat, just take the 3 buckets. Always have a towel or paper towel to grasp the eels. The dripping ice water will keep from being too frisky. I'll leave the bait tank home. Yet, I have a 5 gallon water cooler and an airstone with 12 volt pump that might prove useful. Well, that's the plan for the eels.

This year, I plan to spend a few days near Hatteras in January. May do one day with Devin Cage, but he's expensive to say the least. Affordible with a party of 6 at $495 for a half day. Not sure what Yogi will charge and need to get in contact with him. Don't have his phone number talk with him yet.

Teacher mentioned Mojo rigs for Hatteras area and trolling rods. Have to learn how to make the rigs and how to fish them.

I'll plan on using the large ice cooler outside the room for food storage. May have to talk to the folks at the fish house up the street to see if they can freeze a catch. May have to ferry some fish back to Scottsburg. There's an ice station on 13 and hopefully it's in operation.

For cooking, I'll have a small propane cooker to use outside the room.

Will have to run a coffee maker in the room as that's critical for breakfast and to start any day. Yet things will be different this year as I'm thinking the motel will severely restrict electric use. I'll have my Honda EU2000 just in case along with a several hundred foot electric cord.

I'll have two types of cold weather insulated boots and appropriate wool socks. The boot/sock/glove drier runs on a hair drier and should be OK in the room. Have gortex bibs/parka and will find layered underwear to try to keep warm this year. Wanted to buy one of the cold water immersion suits, but I can't come to a decision about fit, etc.

Eventually, I'll get a list that can be subject to critique. Yet much of the accessories for the boat and dress are identical to last year and listed in the archive of this blog. Just gotta look. I'll add photos as needed. Hopefully lots of happy faces holding huge stripers.