CITATION AWRD WINNER

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Central
Location: Chesapeake Beach

Grown men with a Friday off from work, well you don't have to ask this angler twice about going fishing during the Maryland spring Rockfish season better known as, "The Trophy Season." 6:00 AM couldn't arrive fast enough for this crew of 4. Readying the boat in double time we were able to pull the 30 foot Albemarle, appropriately name "Wooley Style," away from the dock at 6:30 on the nose. From the get-go a sense of excitement was already in the air, and despite the weatherman's unfavorable forecast the day was shaping up nicely.

Pulling out of Deale into Hearing Bay neither wind nor waves were present. Looking across the still water, the Eastern Shore could be seen and above he thin line of trees the sun was already rising and in the orange yellow glow a handful of gulls scurried about. It was a picture perfect morning - post card style. We headed southeast into 40 feet of water where we began to slow the boat down and toss planner board over side donned with 140 feet of toe line. Next we started dropping lines in the water, 12 in all sporting a combination of both umbrella and tandem rigs, white and chanteuse buck tails and sassy shads of various weights and lengths. Coming up on green can 81A we turned a southerly course.

With the Randle Cliff red and white radar antenna on our starboard the first hook up came at 7:15 AM. With a minimum fight that lasted only a few seconds the fish was able to spit the hook back at us; however, this little bit of action brought our enthusiasm to new heights. At 7:30 we got a second hit and this time brought in a healthy 34 incher; hi fives were given all around. The good luck continued through out the morning at roughly 60 minutes intervals. Almost like clockwork, on the half hour a rod would bend down hard and the cry, "FISH ON" could be heard and each new fish was bigger than the last. In addition to the first Rockfish, we landed a 36", 38" and at 10:30 a citation size 41 incher. Having reached our limit, we pulled in all the gear and headed back to the dock. By far April 29, 2011 will be one of my most memorable days fishing on the Chesapeake Bay.