Newport (launched from the USCG beach), 10-24-03, 8-10pm

Way too foggy, but little wind and almost warm. Got to the water and thought it didn't look to bad. I was wrong. It was clear, but the electric tide was in full swing. In fact it was as bad as I've ever seen it. Every fish could easily be seen, and there was lots of bait to see. I couldn't even see the moored boats off to the left so I stayed very close to the docks and the lit ones at that. Tide was at lull, so it was off and on the whole time.

From future experience I knew the glow-in-the-dark baits I'd just poured wouldn't work, but I tried them anyways. They didn't work. Tried some other night baits I'd just poured. No love there either. Tried various sizes each color. No Love. No bites. I finally broke out my red tide bait, this is the only one that produced continually during last falls red tides. It's a 5 or 6" Mojo worm with front fins like a Brush Bug, but a craw head w/ legs and claws. Very odd bait. Brown and dark purple laminate. Anyways I fished it for a good 1/2 hr, even venturing out to the boat line and deeper water. Fished it out of gear and in, every trick tried. No love, on the go to bait at that.

Headed back to the dock to work my way back. Casted close to a dock and back paddled to get some line out. Felt a tap and dropped the rod tip, let the line go tight and the rod load, then set the hook. Drag pull right away, a couple times. A minute later there's an bright blue explosion off the dock end. Nice bass. Get it in and it's about a 3.5lb spot, my best in a while. In fact for whatever reason I haven't seen many spots this year, let alone bigger ones. Released it. Next cast I dumped another, and that was it for the night.

Saw lots of bait everywhere, and even a lot of surface action from the bass (very rare in Newport). Also, all night next to one dock (about every 10 minutes) something would push wads of bait to the surface. Like when pelagics work a bait ball. Sounded like rain, but no big splashes. Figured it was a school of spotfin or something that was keeping all that bait in one place.

Based on my previous experiences, I think the big problem with fishing clear water red tides at night is that the fish can clearly see the line. Yet in the day, that same water would yield fish I'm sure. Red tide w/ gross water, bad fishing day or night. The difference is probably due to O2 levels in the water.

Overall though, it was just good to be back in the yak. The light show was cool too. Plus, I got on some good prayer time. Definitely a good night. Next week I'm going to try for Shelter in the daylight. Any company is welcome.

Amish Ed
You Can't Catch it again if
it's Dead!