Chirstmas time fishing

Sat morning I hit a local creek that I've had success w/ drum lately but found it a bit tough to fish w/ the really strong West winds pushing all the water out plus it being low tide. Hit a few holes w/o a bite and returned to dock around 10 smelling like a skunk but I knew that was only the first half of my fishing day so it was easy to accept, especially giving the conditions. I had plans to fish the Pamlico river and go for my first attempt at kayak striper fishing the next day w/ CaptCameron and stay w/ him in Greenville that night. Went home, ate lunch and called him up to report my not so exciting report and he asked "Are you still hitting ***creek on the way up?" I said "Heck yeah, I dont want to stink your spare room up w/ the smell of skunk" and w/ that I hit the road. Got to the creek around 2:30 w/ the wind still blowing but felt a bit more sheltered and started trolling a white x-rap and Mirrolure TT808 while casting Mr17 808 to the banks. 20 minutes into it had the x-rap get slammed and pulled in a nice 18" trout that helped justify a hard windy day of fishing. Fished till dark and picked up 2 more trout around the same size but each of these hit the TT808. Just at twightlight I saw what I thought was a small bird on the water flapping his wings until I got closer and realized it was a deer swimming across the creek. The wind which was blowing 25+ in the morning was now dead and there was a deer swimming 15ft from me! What a magical way to end the day. Went to CaptCamerons house and we got to hang out, plan the next day and catch up w/each other. While hanging out, CC gave me a Strikeking Ragetail Shrimp(white w/ greentail) that I was admiring in his tacklebox.

Sunday we got up early, met up w/ CC's neighbor Steve who joined us and hit the river. Steve was the 1st to pick a fish up about an hour into it. Nice 16" striper. About half hour later I picked up a 15" striper trolling a Smithwick Rogue. Few minutes later same bait got slammed and pulled in an 18"r. I tried casting various baits w/ no luck and talk on the water was a few fish but slow. Steve took off and CaptCameron and I carried on. Took an hour or so to pick up another one, this time trolling a Rapala Husty jerk. CC was paddling by me as I released the fish and I went to pull in my other line I was trolling then BAM, that line got hit and another rock landed on the Smithwick, this one my biggest of the day @ 19"s. CC asked me to touch his lines so he could get one and just then one of his rods bent over and he landed a nice striper. Figuring we hit a active school we worked this area for another 30 minutes but nothing so we decided to go in, eat some lunch and hit the creek I got some trout in the night before. Got on the water again around 1pm and I went w/ the same set up as the day before (xrap and TT808 to troll, MR17 casting). Found the water higher than the day before and a lot more leaves/grass in the water and trolling was tough, getting trash on our lines a lot. Great afternoon on the water but very slow. I did end up picking 2 stripers trolling the x-rap. Said my goodbyes and Merry Christmas's to CaptnCameron and hit the road home.

This morning (Monday) I wanted to try the same local creek I got skunked in Sat and oh-boy what a different day. Started a bit later, launching around 11 and the 5-10mph wind was so nice compared to the 25mph+ I delt w/ last time here. Got to the intended spot, tide low and saw some pelicans dive bombing on the hole. I've seen pelicans diving next to me most my life while surfing but these guys were diving as fast and deep as I can recall ever seeing pelicans diving. 3rd cast and fish on! Landed and released a 17" puppy drum. Next cast and fish on. As I got the fish next to the kayak out of no where a gray herring swooped in and started pecking at the fish! I got the fish in my lap, released him and the herring just stood about 5ft away from me. I was anchored up in some shallow water and it was pretty intimidating w/ him looking down on me. I to move to the other side of the hole, anchored up, got a fish on and here came Mr Herring, trying to get the fish as I pulled it close. I decided I'd paddle to another hole I knew a little away and went on. Found my spot, anchored up, casted and looked over to see the herring land right next to me again. I didn't know what to think at this point so I decided to head back to where I just caught a few but this time just anchor up right in the middle of the channel where it's too deep for him to stand next to me w/ that intimidating look down on me. Didn't see him when I returned. At least not until I got anchored up, threw out and got a fish on and sure enough I saw him flying at me as I pulled the fish in. He swooped but then hit the creek bank by me and stayed there about 25ft away from me as I caught a few more drum. About 6-7 fish pulled in and released and it must of been too much for he then came and landed on the bow of my kayak!!!! I had a milk crate and fishing pole in holder between us, but I was still a bit freaked. As cool as it was having a gray herring hanging out on my kayak w/ me, I wasn't that comfortable w/ the look he was giving me. A few waves of my fishing rod in front of him and he returned to the bank. He was keeping me distracted from the fact I was on one of the hottest (small)drum bites I have ever experienced. I continued catching drum from 16-18"s for the next hour w/ Mr Herring returning to the bow one other time and decided I was done when he landed on the back of my kayak about 2ft from my head. Got back to the dock by 2:30 having just caught 22 puppy drum, all on that Strikeking Ragetail shrimp CaptCameron gave me Sat night. What a Christmas Eve fishing experience! Merry Christmas everyone, thanks for reading my story!!!

Only snapped one quick photo of each kind of fish I caught. I really wish I would of got a picture of the herring on my kayak, but that wasn't really on my mind at the time.

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