West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

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shoffer
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West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by shoffer »

Don and I hit up Jamaica Beach last night. Launched at 1 am, fished until 5:30 am. I caught four legal specs to 17 inches, and one 20 inch red along with 20 throwbacks.
2018-07-22 11.17.26.jpg
There were dozens of fish in many of the lights, but you know Jamaica - many were small, which is common for this area. Three trout were caught on a bone Super Spook Jr. worked over the top of white underwater lights - that seemed to call up bigger fish from the bottom, one on a Yo-Zuri minnow and the red was caught on a Down South glow/chartreuse.

Horrible solunar data, but did have a good incoming tide all morning. Temps were 81 all night, water temps 84 degrees, partly cloudy skies, and the winds were WSW from 12-15 all night.

Also tried out the trolling motor. I need to tweak the mount a bit and figure out a better battery situation in the Outback, but it looks promising.

Picked up some fresh shrimp from our new HEB here in Bellaire and tomorrow night, it's going to be on!
2018-07-22 11.45.31.jpg
Another tip. don't pay huge money for Dexter fillet knives - get roughly the same for 1/3rd the price at this site:
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/dexter ... EUQAvD_BwE
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Dandydon
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by Dandydon »

Yes, our Jamaica Bay trout last night were running small--but so many were visible in those canal lights! The constant SSW wind around 12-15mph kept us cool overnight against the 100-degree daytime heat, but our baywater visibility was only about 6 inches.
I'm nursing a sore back, so gave up fishing many lights in exchange for fishing a few of them more thoroughly.
After no bites on my lipped Rapala diver lures, I switched to a 4" white Cocahoe minnow tipped w/ shrimp FishBites. That rig started getting bites almost every cast, resulting in 5 legal specks along with about 20 throwbacks. My biggest trout was only 17", but the small fillets will fry up beautifully in peanut oil.
I like the Jamaica Bay underwater lights closest to the bay, but we missed the 3-4 big surface lights available at the Sea Isle bayfront houses. It's a mystery why more bayfront owners DON'T turn on their big halogen surface lights, especially on the weekends! I guess they ain't home... But Shoffer & I would be happy to turn on your lights & kindly fish them so we could catch some fish... then turn them off to save electricity. So meeting some kind & generous bayhouse owners is now a goal for The Fishing Attorneys!
See you on the water.
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kickingback
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by kickingback »

:clap: Way to go guys! Glad you had a productive night! I get to get out soon! I'm going stir crazy!
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karstopo
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by karstopo »

:clap: :clap:

The Night Rangers! Why do I prefer to be at home at night when the fishing and weather is cool? Nice report!
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gene1966
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by gene1966 »

:clap: :clap: way to go guys
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by AHP »

Nice job.
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shoffer
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by shoffer »

Thanks to Gene and AHP, KB and Karstopo for chiming in.
mwatson71
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by mwatson71 »

Good job, guys! Did you make it out the next night? I'm glad Don finally caught some fish to bring home.
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Dandydon
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by Dandydon »

Thanks, Mike! Bet I caught more than you, sailor. And I didn't have to throw irritating tandem rigs.
See you on the water (unless I see you first).


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TxAquatics
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by TxAquatics »

Thanks for the report. Can't wait to get out there again!
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YakRunabout
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Re: West Bay Night Session - 7/21/18

Post by YakRunabout »

Great reports, guys - congrats on finding the fish!
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