Big Red

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Lower Bay
Location: Near James Island

Upon boarding Captain �Waleye� Pete Dalberg�s 27� Judge Fishing boat at Beacon Marina in Solomons Island harbor, I spoke just two words to Pete as he positioned himself at the forward helm, �BIG RED�. Pete looked at me as if I was some kind of nut case and went on to explain that he could not target red drum because they are such a scarce species in these parts. I explained that I was lucky and felt as though I could catch one and get it off my bucket list. I reminded him that he was present at Sandy Point State Park when I was lucky enough to win the first prize, a Toyota Tacoma Truck in the 2008 Maryland Fishing Challenge.

We made our way out into the Patuxent River to Cedar Point Rocks where the four PSG members, Rich Holewinski, Bob Ruck, Dave Vanmetre and I, Fred Menage along with Capt. Pete who have a combined fishing experience of about 300 years threw top water plugs towards the churning waters near the rocks. We started catching rockfish right away although most were short of the 20� minimum size a few went into the fish box, then we started chasing birds to the south and caught a mix bag of rocks and blues keeping the larger fish.

Next stop was across the bay at the Hooper Island bridge where some larger and keeper size rockfish filled the fish box with our limit of nine fish. We made our way under the bridge into the Honga River when we drifted with the outgoing current while jigging paddle tail jigs on the bottom. Rich had the magic touch and landed three speckled trout while the rest of us caught small rock and bluefish. Bob hooked up with a very large trout of around thirty inches that shook the hook loose on top of the water about five yards from the boat. I guess that he was a wise old fish who got that big by knowing how to spit the hook. I was glad to see it swim away and live to fight another day.

Pete had caught a red drum the previous week under some flocking birds marking breaking fish feeding on bait fish in the bay up north towards James Island, so he decided to give it a try. So off we went on a scouting expedition looking for the birds. Every few miles, Pete would stop the boat and use his binoculars to scan the horizon looking for activity. Finally as we neared James Island Pete spotted some activity on the western shore near Parker�s Creek. We fished lead heads with 6� BKD�s and caught and released several small rocks and blues.

Then after dropping my rig to the bottom next to the boat for some vertical jigging in about 25� of water, I got a hit just below the surface that almost pulled the light fishing pole that I was using out of my hands. I held on for dear life as the fish peeled line off the Penn Battle reel and headed south as I tried to get control of the fish and turn it back to me, but the brute force could not be stopped as it glided away from the boat near the top of the water column. Fearing that we were going to spool the line on the reel, Pete started the motor as the other anglers brought their lines in and put their rods away and the fight was on that lasted about 30 minutes and with miles of water crossed over as we chased this beast around the bay. Was it a skate, a shark or maybe a large redfish? Did I see it when it hit? No! Did I see a wing? No! At last the fish came to the surface and the color was reddish brown and it did not have wings, so after three attempts to bring the redfish to the net Rich was able to corral and fill the net with a very large fish. Pete and Rich were able to haul it out of the water and into the boat as I opened the bail to relieve tension on the rod and line. I was totally worn out, but we had to hurry to get photos and release this 48� and 42 lb fish, it was difficult to lift and hold the fish after the long hard fight. This was the longest, hardest and most exciting battle that I have ever engaged with a fish in my lifetime. I have hooked larger fish but they have broken the line off as I use monofilament on my reels. Pete has good light rods and reels and uses braid on his equipment.

I feel very fortunate and lucky to have caught and released such as magnificent creature and I need to thank my captain and fellow anglers for their encouragement and patience in helping me catch a fish of a lifetime. This is an experience that I will have for the rest of my days and this is why the Pasadena Sportfishing Group has been so important for me to be a member of.

Captain Pete, thanks for wonderful and memorial day of fishing!