VA Beach Part 2

[Blue_Runner]

Starting a new thread for an upcoming trip the weekend of the 25th. My regular fishing crew are leaving NC Thursday evening for Rudee Inlet and plan to fish the 25th and 26th. Three boats as of right now and around 12 people. As long as the weather and conditions allow, we will be there.

So who else can bring their V? Or whatever boat you striper fish with. The more the merrier!

[Blue_Runner]

Alright Dammit - ask your wives, lie, beg, borrow, cheat, steel...whatever you have to do. Lets go catch some fish boyz! I know we have quite a number of VA boyz - Cy, Slot, StillRunning, who did I leave out? What are your excuses?

[Stillrunning]

I might throw the boat in for one of those days. Right now the bite is moving around a little as boats are finding them north and south out of Rudee. If you are putting in at Owls Creek the only ramp in Rudee they have had several days (weekends) where the police have shut down the ramps do to parking and trafic. They do have overflow parking but even that has filled up very quickly causing them to shut down the ramps as early as 9:00am on weekends. I've heard of people getting to the ramps around 7:00am only to find 1/4 mile back ups taking up to an hour and more to launch boats and thats before they even close down the ramps. I'm not trying to put a damper on your trip but thought you may want to know what has happened the past couple of weekends. If its cold out usually it will reduce the boats making it much easier to launch. As a back up plan you may want to get directions to other ramps located around the Lynhaven River. By the Lesnier Bridge their is a nice public ramp and a few other private ramps. That brings you out into the bay but you are only about 5 miles from Cap Henry and the ocean. I just noticed that the 25th is a friday so you should be ok putting in at Owls Creek but may have to use the overflow parking. If you make a left out of the ramp parking lot it is the first right about 1/2 block up the road. I will try to take that day off and hook up with you guys.

I just posted this on the Hey Reel thread then found this thread.

[Blue_Runner]

Roger that SR - I will PM you my contact info :)

The boats are:

Blue Runner my V21 (of course)
Two Moons which is a 21ft Kentcraft Challenger CC.

and the other is a CC Mako which I don't know the name of...

[Stillrunning]

I checked the weather and it says around 50 both Fri and Sat. I'm about 75% sure I can go and will work on my crew this weekend. I'll touch base with you when I know 100%.

[garagenc]

Hey guys, Here's the pictures of last weekend out of Rudee. The big fish weighted in at 41lbs after we gutted him (one of the guys wannted the roe).

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/garagenc/LeesFish009.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/garagenc/LeesFish008.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/garagenc/LeesFish007.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/garagenc/LeesFish005.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t70/garagenc/LeesFish001.jpg

[Blue_Runner]

Very nice! Save some for us!

[Franco]

Hey Blue, Thats my old backyard! When you go, stop by Beach Bully and have some REAL BBQ, not that Lexington style stuff!

[Blue_Runner]

Franco, will do! I'll be sure to take a bottle of Lexington style sauce give it some flavor.
:beer:

[garagenc]

I'm going tomorrow to Rudee and see if I can snatch a few for Killin and Grillin.

[Blue_Runner]

Go get um! I talked to my buddies tonight and we were going to go to Bass Pro to buys some much needed supplies but 2 of us ran late and Chad is going to be driving right by there tomorrow for work so he is going to hook us up. We also secured a couple of rooms for the 4 of us. The other 8 or so got there rooms too. The boss said ok to taking friday off so we are heading up there Thursday evening.

I can't wait, its been two years since I've been able to hit a hot bite and from what I'm seeing its BIG FISH o'clock

Scout em out for us and don't forget that camera!
:sun::happy:

[garagenc]

i didn't go because of the black ice (ck out my post for cold motor), i'm planning on going maybe wednesday or thursday, if i go i'll let you know., leave me your cell ph and I'll call you in case you wont be able to use the computer because of being on the road.
garage (lee)

[Stillrunning]

Well its not looking to good for me as of right now. I think work is going to get in the way and I was having trouble finding a crew. Blue, I'm not sure if I gave you this sites info (tidalfish.com) but go there and look up the Virginia fishing board. I think you have to sign up (its free) but the locals post fishing reports and I usually check there the night before I go to see where the fish were hitting that day. I'll let you know if I'll be going out probably Thursday. If you have any questions about the area let me know.

[Stillrunning]

I don't know if you care or not but the Va. Beach boat show is going on that week you will be in town. If your staying at the Va.Beach strip area its within a mile or so. Here is a link scroll down the page for more info.
http://www.vbfun.com/conventionCenter/conventionCenter/showEvents.asp

[Blue_Runner]

We are fishing Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th. Give me a shout if you can make those days. PM sent garage.

SR - thanks again for the info. The boat show might be the ticket if we get worn out from catching a cleaning fish.

[Airslot]

I just found this post, guess I been slacking. I've got to go to Deleware to take an exam Friday, but if the weather is good Saturday, I may wander down that way. Heck, I need to go through the boat and make sure all systems are worthy. She ain't left the trailer since Christmas:sad::sad:

I'm slammed at work all week, so won't be around much I'm afraid.

'Slot

[Blue_Runner]

You got plenty of time...put the boat in a and go feeshun. Some real pigs swimming through right now.

Blue

[Blue_Runner]

weather for friday is looking pretty crappy. Maybe we'll at least get a shot on Saturday.

[Stillrunning]

I saw the same thing and have ruled out Friday. I will take your number home and we may make it out on Saturday. I know for a fact I'm going Sunday but was hoping to move that up a day so we could meet up and do a little fishing. It allways helps when you have more boats spread out looking for the big ones. I heard on the News today that a guy caught a 73 pound striper of Cap Henry which is some kind of record.

OK, here's a teaser link to see this hog of a state record.http://hamptonroads.com/2008/01/chesapeake-man-shatters-virginia-striped-bass-record

[Blue_Runner]

Yep I saw that PIG. I would have come straight back to the dock if I caught it. He darn sure wouldn't fit in my fish box or cooler.

Well, I guess we are going no matter what at this point. Fingers are crossed for Saturday. I got my red/white stretch 30's ready to go! LOL

[garagenc]

I went to day and we lost a nice mid 30lber at the boat and lost 2 more before we could get them close to see.

I hooked them between Damneck and Sandbridge in aby 30 ft of water.

Most boats are now running to the VA/NC line.
garage

[tlb888]

We went yesterday and were fishing in same vicinity of the 4A when the 73lber was caught. We did not have that great of a day. We went 2-3 with a 34 and a 38. It sounds as if the bite has been on fire right before dark though. Will be back out Sat most likely. I cannot stress enough if you guys are going Sat out of Rudee get there before sunrise. I did my last trip out of Rudee on the weekend 2 weeks ago. I will burn the extra gas and run from Little creek or Lynhaven and not be blocked in or take 1-2 hours to get in or get out.

Tracy

[Blue_Runner]

Sitting here looking out the sliding glass door. Mother ocean is Angry. I mean she is pissed! Hoping it will subside and allow us an opportunity later in the day. Time will tell. W are staying right across froma place called Schooners Inn called Beach Budget or something like that.

I'll report back if there is anything to report. :hi:

[tlb888]

Blue,

If you can't get out in the Ocean there is always going to the high rise via kiptopeake with a North wind and do some C&R with eels or you can head down to the intercoastal in Coinjock, schoolies but at least you'd be fishing.

[Blue_Runner]

We made it out on 1/25 but it wasn't until 2pm and not very eventful either. Didn't mark anything hardly before having to come back in before dark.

On 1/26 - yesterday - we got the boat in by 6:30 (at the ramp by 5:50am) and by 7:30am we were 28 miles south of Rudee and ended up about 35 miles south with about 1000 other boats. The bite was scattered but there. Had we not lost 4 fish we would have ended the day 1 fish shy of our 4 person limit before 11am. The 3 fish that stuck were 2 - 22lbs and a 20 lber. After 11am the catching completely died off for us and it was just a boat ride at that point.

I'm in the car heading home right now. I'll post up a good report either tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for all the helpful tips - especially about the ramp getting backed up in the am. That saved our butts. The other 2 boats that fished with us got the big fat donut yesterday. They got to the ramp just a little after 6am at owl creek and it was backed up so far that they just went back to the room until 9am and it had cleared out some.

[Stillrunning]

Good to hear you pulled a few in. That ramp is really a mess this time of year but I will say as busy as it gets it seems to run very smooth.

[Blue_Runner]

SR - don't know if you saw it but I put up a full report this morning in a new post....

[sqdqo]

I'd like to see pictures of your boats. I am considering the purchase of a used V21 and would like to see your set ups and hear your opnions of the boats...ride, handling in rough water, anything you could offer would be great!

Scott

[Blue_Runner]

Welcome to the site. If you go into the Gallery from the homepage,

Here is my gallery and there are a few of my V21 pix in there, but some of the older '73 V20 I used to own as well.
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/album33

Here is a link to the V21 gallery
http://www.wellcraftv20.com/gallery/v21_step

As for handling, I love the way it handles. For me the V21 is everything I want and need in a boat. Handles really good in some pretty snotty stuff, but honestly you don't want to be in ANY boat when its too rough for a V.

Its the perfect size, fuel economy is not too bad depending on which motor you go with, easily trailered, not too much boat to maintain, has a cuddy - I get a good bit of use out of my cuddy. The last fishing trip I crawled down there and slept the whole ride back to the inlet +/- 30 miles...Its a good all around family boat or fishing boat or Fire and Rescue boat
:sun: