Headed to the Pungo on Sat to fish with my uncle aka "Reel Papa". Headed out and were met with less than desirable conditions with a stiff sw wind. Pull up to spot one and the trolling motor decides not to work. We driftfish casting the banks and catch a handful of flounder and a few short stripers. It got really hot fast and the bite seemed to be really off. We were fishing the upper Pungo and the water had a cheerwine reddish tint to it. Last year around this time, it got really hot and there was a lot of "dead water" in this area. I suspect this might be happening again. So we call it around 11:30 and make a run for the a/c.
On Sunday, I hooked up to my boat and got Reel Papa to meet me on the Pamlico. We launched around 5:30 and the wind was howling. At least 10-15kn sw and probably gusting to 20kn on the main river and we get soaked on the way to the first spot. I had planned on an area that would be slightly sheltered from a sw wind and when I get there the wind is almost s/ sse and pounding the shoreline we want to fish. With not many options with the rough conditions we work the bank and put the power pole to the test. It did not disappoint. My uncle gets hung up behind the boat while we are poled down, so he decides to leave the line out there and grab another rod to cast in front of the boat. We work that area over catching a lot of short flounder and head to pick up his snagged jig, when about 1/2 way to it, it actually comes loose and a fish is on it. A small red comes in the boat. We continue to work the bank, sticking and drifting, catching a lot of flounder and some short reds. My uncle gets snagged again and puts the rod in the holder and grabs another rod to cast out front. We continue to fish and tell stories for 5 minutes or so, when all of a sudden I see his rod double over and its game on. After a nice fight, I net a nice 21" redfish, that actually unsnagged his lure and hooked himself, pretty cool. We catch flounder off and on all morning with 3 keepers to bring home. Around 12:30 we call it and head for the ramp. A nice side chop the whole way back completely soaks the left side of my clothes, but it felt really good. Can't wait to do it again.
On Sunday, I hooked up to my boat and got Reel Papa to meet me on the Pamlico. We launched around 5:30 and the wind was howling. At least 10-15kn sw and probably gusting to 20kn on the main river and we get soaked on the way to the first spot. I had planned on an area that would be slightly sheltered from a sw wind and when I get there the wind is almost s/ sse and pounding the shoreline we want to fish. With not many options with the rough conditions we work the bank and put the power pole to the test. It did not disappoint. My uncle gets hung up behind the boat while we are poled down, so he decides to leave the line out there and grab another rod to cast in front of the boat. We work that area over catching a lot of short flounder and head to pick up his snagged jig, when about 1/2 way to it, it actually comes loose and a fish is on it. A small red comes in the boat. We continue to work the bank, sticking and drifting, catching a lot of flounder and some short reds. My uncle gets snagged again and puts the rod in the holder and grabs another rod to cast out front. We continue to fish and tell stories for 5 minutes or so, when all of a sudden I see his rod double over and its game on. After a nice fight, I net a nice 21" redfish, that actually unsnagged his lure and hooked himself, pretty cool. We catch flounder off and on all morning with 3 keepers to bring home. Around 12:30 we call it and head for the ramp. A nice side chop the whole way back completely soaks the left side of my clothes, but it felt really good. Can't wait to do it again.