Albies -- 2024

[Woolly Bugger]

#24 — 98

Strong winds out of the north today and the temperature dropped a bit into the 60s.

Albies at the spit early on in chaotic conditions of wind, waves, and boats. After missing a few decent shots we retreated back to calmer waters were they were busting here and there in a whack-a-mile fashion, I had one hooked but it popped off while running when the line got under my foot. I little later I hooked another one that ran directly under the back of the boat, I was trying to make my way to the stern when a wave forced me up against the gunwale and all hell broke loose. It ended with the backing being cut by the prop and it was only later that we discovered the broken rod tip.

I switched rods and had another hook up on a hot fish way into the backing when another surge broke the fish off, Sarah said it must have been a wind knot. IDK

Finally after losing 3 fish, a fly line and a broken rod I hooked and landed one!

It wasn't too long before I landed another. Unfortunately things got quiet and the fish weren't playing our game.

We ran down the bank and flound a few small pods around ft Macon but they didn't stick around so we motored on down searching for working birds and cooperative fish — they weren't to be found, so we went back to where we started and found the Jones Brothers Boats holding a safety meeting. No action at all so we called it a 1/2 day and that was that.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

         

[Woolly Bugger]

#24 — 99

17 knots out of north made for some snotty conditions today. The fish were playing in the early light but rough conditions gave them an advantage. 4 the the boat and lost one more when the line got caught under my boot.

The weather was windy, cloudy, with a chance of rain, so the camera (phone) didn't come out until later when the action slowed down a bit.

The later part of the morning was chasing after small pods of 2 to 4 fish that were gone just as quick as they appeared.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment. 

You cannot view this attachment.

[Woolly Bugger]

#24 -- 100 FYI Marine Gas $3.95 / Gas $2.85

First thing after breakfast I shipped my broked Sage R8 off for repair.

It is blowing 30+ knots today so Thursday was my last day out for albies this year. I was able to fish six days this year and it was a grand time. I've already reserved 5 days next year the same 2nd week in November.

Reuben, a PFFer, joined me on Sarah's boat, he's been fishing the run for decades, and is a regular aboard her craft. We left the dock at 6:15 heading out at first light. The red sky was fortelling the blow to come.




I put Reuben in the bow, he felt some pressure, but came tight with the first albie of the day.





We watched the sand people run about as fish were sighted crashing bait down the beach where they had been waiting and watching.

Shortly after that there was a mishap, and his fly line got fed into the motor. Sometimes this is an easy fish and Sarah and Reuben began the chore as the wind was blowing us into the beach at the spit. After a few moments Sarah cried out, "This isn't going to work", and ran to the bow to throw anchor. Firmly secured, she went about the task of removing the rest of the line. Later, Brian came over and commented to Sarah, "You are a smart lady! I would have ended up on the beach."



Albies were busing all around the spit and there were some buffaloes in the mix. I caught my first one shortly after the fly line incident.



The action was chaotic, and mishaps abounded with lines being stepped on, short cast, slack lines, and catching birds.



The fast action at the point died down and we moved into the bight where I hooked another one.
A quick photo and then the release.



We were chasing small pods now as they chased bait up onto the ledge. Checking my fly, I realized that I caught some bait.



Reuben caught another one, and Sarah was intrigued by her choice of flies, so she shot the close-up.






Then during mid-morning, things died, and we began running about looking for busting fish, and chasing birds. The darkening sky looked ominous and many of the sailboats anchored inside the hook were headed for shelter to the south.



Venturing out past the rock jetty and along the beach we saw some spotty activity but then Capt. Sarah spied birds working out near the shoals and we ran out to investigate, the wind had picked up and conditions weren't ideal but not too bad, we had many good shots but the fish weren't hitting our flies, the Capt., changed my Popovic's Bay Anchovy Fly to a clouser and that got their attention and I hooked one a few cast later. As the line zipped out though the guides I noticed a knot in the running line. "I'll worry about that later", I thought as I began reeling in backing. When I got the fly line on the reel, I hollered at the Capt., "Hey Sarah, what do we do about this?" Without a word she grabbed the line, wrapped it on a cleat, and got the knot out, obviously having delt with this dilemma before. The fish was still hooked and landed it short order.

I think I ended up with 5 and Reuben had 3.

We had several more good shots as we were ending our day, Reuben lost his footing and crashed to the deck and I followed shortly after that with a nice butt landing, head knocking fall myself, to which the Capt. said, "Aright, that's it, I've knocked both of you down, it's time to head it."

[trout-r-us]

Glad you had a nice time.
Thanks for taking us along via your reports. 👍

[troutboy_II]

Glad you had a nice time.
Thanks for taking us along via your reports. 👍

What he said. I won't ever fo this so it was cool to see. Thanks again.