Greetings from Capt. Dave & BAYMEN. What a morning….!!!

On board today, regulars, Chris & Molly DeVillers for light tackle striped bass. At first light, high tide dropping and near calm seas with a wisp of West wind – perfect conditions for what we were about to get into.

We found fish very quickly but they were spread over a large area and it took some time to figure out. They were running wild and not holding, chasing mackerel and also what looked like mullet, in 1-4 feet of water! We motored very slowly into  a couple topwater breaks. The bass were in run and gun mode. So, we set long drifts on the outgoing and did not try and chase them. We let them come to us, and boy did they ever!

As the fish would slap mullet into the air, Chris and Molly would cast right on top of them and the hits on our topwater poppers were explosive! The chase downs were ever more exciting with fish slamming the poppers right by the boat. It was skinny water striped bass on topwater poppers non-stop for several hours – my specialty for most of my guiding career.

Total catch and release was a whopping 42 striped bass, with 14 of them being “keepers” up to 14 pounds. Lots of slots in the mix and some just under slot (28″-31″). The top lures were Hogy poppers and a brand new popper style with inline single hooks that was slammed non-stop all morning long. I am sold on inline single hooks on topwater poppers. Captain Dave’s Tip: If you change out your trebles, go up THREE SIZES on the inline hooks.

What a morning and certainly one for the books. I wish you could of all been with me.

Back at it. STAY POSTED:

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, baymenlife.com 31 Years Guiding The Bay. Still In Love.

Soli Deo Gloria!