Fall is Here

It's the fall fishing season.  The sun is lower in the sky and the lighting is noticeably softer, the air is cooler- it was even cold the past few mornings, and walkers in sweatshirts have replaced sunbathers.  I went up to the beach early the other morning anticipating a surf session, but the wind hadn't switched yet and was still blowing ESE.  It was barely light, but I could tell by the look of the ocean there were fish somewhere.  Later that day I heard there were fish somewhere- and that it was a pretty good bass bite in the rough waves.  I surfed that afternoon with the W wind and there were mullet darting all around.  And then I saw something slap the water that was greenish and golden.

Columbus Day- the day for big bluefish- was a little off, but at least the weather was actually cool.  I pulled onto the beach and immediately saw rain fish getting roughed up on the surface- a classic Columbus Day sight.  Here it is!  And I was all alone, too.  I cast out my metal and teaser as fast as I could and it didn't take long before I had a double header . . . of 6 inch bluefish.  What the heck?  I called Donald and reported the 'action' since it was dead where he was.  I put on a popper to test if there were some bigger fish outside.  There weren't.  Donald arrived, so did Steve, and we messed around with the little blues for a bit.  It was a blitz in miniature.  "Columbus Day is always the day for blues," Donald reiterated.  Steve was shaming us 3 to 1.  I had no shame asking him for his secret.

It's fall.  It's really a nice thing to be bundled up on a chilly morning casting for striped bass.

Inspired by the cold nights, clear air, and my surf session in a school of fish I decided to go for my first plug the entire first light session.  I put on a Gibbs stubby needle and filled my bag with a Daiwa SP, a Mega, and an Atom popper.  There was just a little bit of light on the horizon and the water was still dark.  To me that is being a little early, I like when the light just starts to show on the water, but since it was my first day I eagerly began casting.  I worked the stubby needle.  On about the twelfth throw, just as the light was starting on the water, I had an aggressive strike.  Yes!  And then I felt the nyah nyah nyah.  Ah bluefish.  But at least this one felt bigger.  It took some drag.  This is great!  I got it in, and discovered it was maybe 3lbs.  Oh.  Ah whatever.  It was fun, I kept casting but that was it.  It got all the way light and the scene was quiet.

Not deterred by the relatively unproductive morning, I was happy to be in my waders and wool sweater in the chilly air.  Having the proper weather is a big part of my overall enjoyment of the fall experience.  And the weather forecast for at least the next 10 days looks like a real gift.  Right now, I just have a real good feeling about this fall being classic.  Not last fall- with an amazing number of great fish but no fall weather and horrible crowds- no, I'm envisioning a fall like from maybe 6 or so years ago.  I want this to be a fall where the weather bites more, the fish are more challenging, and people are more selectively social and selfish with their finds.