West Bay

 

OSOK and I gave it the ole college try Saturday. We launched from 8 mile road around 9 or so and paddled directly to the north side of North Deer Island. We fished the dropoff of the intracoastal for quite a distance while we waited for the sun to get higher and for some of the expected strong incoming tide to bring some water in. All the reefs were exposed along the ICW. The tide was ripping, but we were getting nothing. We pecked along at several spots until nearly noon or later. Decided to work our way back toward South Deer Island and fish the holes and guts. Finally, along the eastern most edge of N. Deer Island, along the rip rap, OSOK hooked up with a nice red, just not a keeper. I chunked corkies, sand eels, catch 2000's, even mirrolures for a while to no avail. Continued our paddle back towards the launch and as we rounded N. Deer Island, could see all the boats down at the mid bay reefs west of Sportsman. Guess we went the wrong way. Not sure if any of those folks were catching fish, but we were pretty much the only ones in our part of the bay. So much for going to deepest water, and the surrounds near that deep water. We were too tired to make the paddle out to the reefs as it was now about 3pm. So we gave it up. Would like to hear if anyone happened to be fishing West Bay and did any good Saturday.