Our Last Summer

    My last summer before going to college is nearing its end. Just thinking about it is rather bittersweet, as I'm ready to move on and am excited about the future, but of course it is not easy to put an end (or at least a pause) on big parts of my life. Being in such a reflective situation, I look back at, among many things, my fishing accomplishments, the friends I've made through it, and most importantly, the memories and good times I've been fortunate to have by fishing. Fishing is definitely something I look forward to taking with me and continuing exploring in college and beyond.

    Before heading off to college, my friends Davis and Milan and I wanted to go on at least one last fishing trip (for now). We'd been talking about going to the Keys for a long time, but especially considering the roughly two hour drive to and fro the preferred bridge and our busy schedules, any plans had fallen through. This time, however, we set out the time to embark on an epic final pre-college fishing trip to the Florida Keys bridges.

    I woke up at around 8 before heading to Davis', from where we would then go to pick up Milan and head down. Throughout the whole trip, the three of us would often remark on the fact that the drive was really not that bad from our houses, and how cool it was that we made the trip. It's an interesting realization, and one that I've begun to experience fairly recently with the acquisition of my driver's license, that we can really go and do whatever we wanted. We are fortunate to live in Miami, which is not only a world renown travel destination itself, but is also so relatively close to the fishing paradise that is the Florida Keys. If we want to wake up one morning and spend the day in the keys, nothing is stopping us. It may seem like a straightforward epiphany, but it's nonetheless an important lesson. We all sort of appreciated our ability to do these types of things easily.

    On the way over, we just spent our time talking about things like college, summer so far, and of course fishing, with stories about our techniques and experiences in the past and possible trips in the future. We also poked a little fun at Davis, an easy and willing target. I also mentioned how after fishing in different places around the country, I've come to really appreciate the relative ease of catching a large variety of fish in South Florida. At one point, while Milan and I were saying that it would be a nice, relaxed day on the water with fish as a bonus, Davis partially joked that he would be fishing competitively.

    It rained as we picked up bait at Key Largo Bait and Tackle on our way down to the Channel #2 bridge. It was about a half hour from the fishing spot, but we stopped there because I called ahead and found that it was one of if not the only bait shop that had live shrimp. As I'd found out previously, live shrimp is rather rare in the keys in the summer months.

    We arrived at the bridge to find it quite packed. It was alright, however, as we walked further down and found a few vacant platforms. The water around us was also beautiful, with all different colors and shades visible. It was a great place to fish. We had five dozen shrimp and a chum block, which we threw out as soon as possible. Immediately, tons of snapper, jacks, sergeant majors, and more surrounded the block. With that came HUGE barracudas as well. They would lurk behind the fish at the chum block, then dart over to snatch an unsuspecting fish. We tried catching one by rigging Davis' heavy rod and throwing out a grunt that someone near us caught, but the smart fish inspected it then turned away each time Davis brought it near.

    There were two problems with the shrimp that plagued us: although the bait and tackle shop did have live shrimp, many were tiny and almost unusable. I definitely had to downsize to a small snelled hook under a snap swivel and egg sinker, while Milan and Davis had a very tough time with larger hooks on larger jigheads. Also, the fish were extremely pesky and often stole the bait from our hooks before we even realized it was gone. I felt nibbles almost immediately after I would drop it every time, but they would subside almost as quickly. It was frustrating to keep on repeating the process of baiting the hook, dropping it, reeling in to see I lost the shrimp, and re-baiting. The fish in the keys bridges clearly don't get so big by being fooled so easily.

    We were pretty stuck until Milan asked a fellow fisherman for some squid. Luckily, he was willing and graciously gave us much more than we thought he would. It was just one of many examples that showcase the helpfulness of the fishing community worldwide. This was great because squid is much stronger and thicker than shrimp, and is significantly harder to steal off the hook. Sure enough, it worked - and quickly. After about two drops of prolonged nibbles, I stayed patient and tightened the line at the perfect time to hook up on our first fish of the day. I was using my old, slightly rusted Ugly Stick/Shakespeare combo, which has clearly seen better days. Although it has served me very well over the years, today's trip showed that I am in need of a new rod and reel. As I was trying to reel in the fish, which fought well and took line (thankfully the drag was still working well), the reel would sometimes lock up on me. I was very nervous that I'd lose the fish, but I somehow managed to reel the fish up to the surface. At first it looked like a flounder or some other flatfish, but as I handlined the fish over the side of the bridge, we identified it as a Grey Angelfish. A new species for me! It was a really cool tropical fish, and we were all glad to avoid the skunk and get on the board. Davis wanted to take it for his aquarium, but it was too big to carry back to Miami in the cooler we brought.

    The next fish was a Porkfish that I caught. Always glad to catch a fish, but it wasn't the snapper we were looking for. Milan started fishing on the other side of the bridge, away from the road and facing north. He was able to bring in two Mutton Snappers, which are really cool looking (and great tasting) fish, on the jigheads we picked up at Key Largo tipped with squid. As our time and bait was running out, however, it was Davis, who said he would fish competitively, that had yet to catch a fish. We were joking with him about that until he pulled up the chum bag to pack up and saw that a big sergeant major was caught in it. We had earlier cut a small hole in the bag to free Davis' hook, which had snagged the rope of the bag. It seemed like a consolation prize or something of that sort, as it seemed he did end up catching one!

    Before we left, we gave the ice we bought to the friendly fisherman who had given us the squid earlier. A YouTuber, he explained that he was getting back into making videos for his channel The Tactical ECD Outdoorsman and that so far he had caught a few grunts and a 40 inch Moray Eel.

    As we were walking off the bridge and deciding where to get food, Milan said he was in the mood for a fish sandwich. I knew exactly where to go - Robbie's, on the other side of that island. I'd been there before with Sam, and had been craving the hogfish sandwich ever since. It did not disappoint.

    Also at Robbie's, you are able to buy a bucket of threadfins and feed the huge Tarpon that surround the dock. It was a really fun experience, and topped off a great day fishing in the Keys. Milan will be going to college in the Keys soon, so we were saying that it was like a good sneak peek for him. It had just hit him that he'd really be living there, and he sure was excited, as am I. I'm sure he'll have a great time there. We also discussed possible plans to meet up with him and fish again in the winter.

    We had a great time enjoying the weather and reflecting on the day driving back to Miami with the top down in Davis' convertible. It really was a memorable day, and a great send off before college. Until next time... tight lines!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Eastern PA Fishing // 100th Species

    Today my dad, brother, and I decided to drive up from Philadelphia to Reading to watch a minor league baseball game. We had some time before the game, however, and so luckily had the chance to go fishing (for the second day in a row, pleasant surprise). My dad is not the biggest fan of fishing, so I really do appreciate his willingness to set aside some time to fish.

    Upon arrival in Reading, which was surrounded by green Appalachian ridges, we stopped at a live bait shop I found online. The shop was essentially made into the basement of a house. Despite receiving good reviews from a few months ago, I walked in to find the bait shop empty and seemingly abandoned, with bait prices labeled but no bait. Odd. It was certainly an interesting introduction to Reading, PA.
We then went to a Dick’s to get bait. I picked up night crawlers, but asked around about the best bait for Smallmouth Bass, seeing as how I am not from the area. I was told that waxworms make for the best bait, but that nightcrawlers would also do fine. Nightcrawlers were the only bait in stock, so I’d have to make do. We left the store and drove over to the fishing spot at Gring’s Mill Recreation Area.
I had found the fishing spot online the night before. Although it feels mundane, I really appreciate the ability to use the internet to find so much about fishing spots in places you’ve never been to in such a short amount of time.

    We parked at the lot and walked a bit to the bridge/dam crossing the Tulpehocken Creek, which would shortly flow into the Schuylkill (which then goes to Philadelphia and out into the Delaware). The creek was extremely clear, and we could see fish and rocks easily. We put the Phillies game on the radio and started to set up. It was definitely a really cool place to fish, and I was already happy to spend some time there, regardless of whether or not we would catch fish.

    The flow of the river was moving especially rapidly because of the dam, so I knew that the rig with a bobber that I had tied on from a previous fishing trip was not going to work. I tied on a simple rig with a swivel and split shot sinker and tossed it in. I placed the baited hook adjacent to the bank of the river, so that it would be near the visible rocks and structure, and a bit out of the strongest part of the current. This way, I would be more likely to catch fish that come out of their holes and bite its unsuspecting prey. Luckily, the plan worked rather quickly.

    Soon after, I began to feel nibbles. Although the fish stole some of my bait, I was able to hook one at last. Jacob and I reeled it in (the old spincast reel was pretty iffy and showed signs of its age today). We brought it over the railing to see that it was a Rock Bass! Closer related to a sunfish rather than bass, it was a new species for me and also (surprisingly) my first fish in Pennsylvania! The Rock Bass is a really cool fish, with a unique pattern and deep red eyes. Jakes and I took pictures, unhooked the fish, and threw it back. It was already a great start to the trip, and I was excited about what was to come.

    We kept trying to catch fish by drifting the baits near rock piles and doing our best to be patient while schools of fish would bite at our baits. There were aggravating instances when fish would either bite the hook enough to pull the rod tip down but then spit it out before we had the chance to set the hook, or take the bait straight into a rock where the hook would get stuck. Regardless, I caught the second fish of the day, a Bluegill. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the fish, considering that since we were fishing new waters in a new place I was sort of hoping to catch new species. That being said, a fish is a fish, and I was glad to come up with another one.

    It’s always fascinating talking to local fishermen in places that I do not normally fish. This time, I had an interesting conversation with some other fishermen from Reading that were going for sunnies (sunfish) about the fishing results and some minor league baseball stadiums. They were a little surprised to hear that I was from Miami, which I figure is reasonable. After all, it’s not every day that a Floridian would be found at a local fishing spot in a small town in Pennsylvania. But that’s what I love about fishing and how universal it is. There are always different fish, different types of waters, and different ways to catch them, and I love experiencing as many as I can.

    The Smallmouth Bass was our main target of the day. It’s a staple game fish in the northeast, caught in waters from mountainous North Carolina to the midwest and the northeast well into Canada. I’d targeted them before, but I’d never caught one before. I rigged up a rod, casted it out to a rock pile, and gave it to Jakes when I felt nibbles. I went back to rigging the other rod, telling him to be patient and keep calm while feeling the nibbles, unlike how he had been all day. Fishing is not an activity for the impatient. I also told him to let out line and leave it slack, and only to reel in and set the hook when the line started going out rapidly and consistently. That was the technique that was working for me. Sure enough, he hooked one and I went over to him as he was reeling it up. We brought it in, and I had to do a double take to make sure. It was a Smallmouth Bass! From my research, I knew that they were in the creek. It was really cool to finally see one in person, on the end of our line. We had caught a small one, but it is still a Smallmouth Bass. It had the golden color typical of Smallmouth, especially younger ones, with the distinct bars on its body and patterns near its mouth. It was a pretty fish, and we felt great about it. After taking a lot of photos and admiring the fish one last time, I threw it back and was happy to see it swim away easily. Another fish crossed off the bucket list, and perfect for my 100th all time species caught!

    We spent the rest of the fishing trip cutting up our nightcrawler into manageable bait pieces and trying to catch fish with them. Jacob caught the last fish, a small rock bass. It was a nice way to end a great day of fishing at a new spot. We then made our way to the baseball game at FirstEnergy Stadium (a quality minor league stadium, I must say) to cap off an awesome day in Reading.

    I was really glad it worked out. As I was explaining to my dad on the way there (while listening to Overkill by Men At Work), one of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned from fishing is the importance of just going for it despite what worries you might have. In this case, especially with my dad, who is not exactly a fisherman, I was a little worried that we’d leave the trip empty handed and that it would seem like a waste of time. However, as I’d heard from other fishermen, you can’t catch fish without putting your line in the water.  I definitely wasn’t going to catch fish if I didn’t go fishing in the first place, so I had to go and see what I could find. Especially when fishing, you can gain even if you don’t catch fish; knowledge on what to do better, info about a spot, fishing method, bait, the input of other local fishermen, or even just a good time out on the water. I’d found what seemed to me like a diamond in the rough, a not-so-well known beautiful spot on a great creek. I would have enjoyed the time on the water even if I hadn’t caught anything. It just goes to show that you can’t let worries and fears of what may happen keep you from putting your line in the water. You just might end up with what you’d hoped for.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Summertime And The Fishin' Was Easy

    I'm currently in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia. While in town visiting family and the Phillies, I figured I'd get some fishing in while I had the chance. I'd been excited to revisit Hopkins Pond - I'd tried it years before, But I had not used good bait and the lake was too overrun by Alligator Snapping Turtles to get any fishing done. This time, we were going to be more prepared.

    My grandfather, brother, and I headed out to Dick’s to pick up worms for bait and gear such as small snelled hooks, swivels, and bobbers to replenish the low supply I had left in NJ from previous trips. However, while getting back in the car, it didn’t start. It’s an old car we’ve got up here, and the battery certainly showed it. Long story short, we had our bait and tackle but would have to wait until later to go fishing.

    Despite the setback with the car, which was thankfully fixed the next morning, we were not deterred and excited as ever to head back on the water. It was a perfect and clear summer morning with temps in the 80s when we decided to go out, this time straight for the lake.

    After parking at the lot next to the lake, we took the trail alongside the shore through the surrounding trees until we found a nice shaded spot to drop our lines.

    When we first arrived, Jacob and I had the same I idea: it may start off slow, but it was going to be a good day. We turned out to be right on point. Greeted by a large snapping turtle at the bank, we tossed our baited hooks in. Jakes and I switched off all day between two rigs: one with the hook suspended under a bobber, and another setup with the line connected to snelled hooks attached to a swivel, weighted with a split shot sinker fastened to the line above the swivel. Both worked.

    Unlike the last time I was here, the fish started biting almost immediately when we dropped our baits in the water. As I was explaining to my grandfather on the way over, fish tend to look for shade and structure on a hot summer day, making the tree root-riddled shore of the lake a perfect place to catch them. We were going for sunfish, testing the lake, with the hope of a new species. But, of course, the main goal was to have fun.

    It took a bit to actually start catching, since although the fish were nibbling, they frustratingly took the bait off the hook before we could set the hook. However, eventually, I was able to put us on the board with the first fish, a Bluegill! Once I caught that one, the catching was almost nonstop for the next few hours until we ran out of worms. I caught about 10 and Jacob caught about 16, but his higher total was obviously because I spent more time rigging and baiting. Obviously.

    The fishing was going so well that even Zaide, who had just been taking pictures so far, got in on the action. He caught two bluegills as well, after which he said with a smile, “well, that was enjoyable.” While editing some of the photos, he showed me a caption he gave one of them: “It Was Summertime And The Fishin’ Was Easy,” similar to a line from a favorite play of his, Porgy and Bess. I thought the line described today perfectly - a fun, easy day of fishing with family on a nice summer day. It doesn’t get much better than that.