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Skunk at the Hot Ditch

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  • Skunk at the Hot Ditch

    After getting some suggestions for Virginia Beach fishing spots over the weekend, I decided to try the Elizabeth River Hot Ditch today. The nearby launch spot is no longer available, so I had to launch at Top Rack Marina ($5 fee). Most days of the week they are open until 10:00 pm, but on Mondays they close the gate to the parking area at 5:00. I did not realize that until I got there, and needed to be back to the parking area by 4:30 to allow loading time.

    I launched at 1:20 and paddled a bit more than a mile up to the Rt 64 bridge where I started fishing. The waters in the channels around here are warmed somewhat by a nearby power plant discharge. The water was flat calm with pleasant air temperatures. I trolled three rods for nearly three hours without a single bite. I ran different combinations of Mirrolure, Rapala XRap, spinner bait with root beer minnow (the lure that caught my first ever redfish in Lynhaven), and Gulp baits.

    I paddled slow, medium, and occasionally fast. I tried shallow areas near the channel edges, mid-depths (4-10 ft), and deeper areas in the middle of the channels (12-16 ft). At one point I saw lots of fuzzy screen marks (see photos below) and paddled through those zones for hundreds of yards without a touch.

    Near the end of the trip, I paddled across a shallow bar near a point. The rod with the XRap started shaking a bit. I excitedly began reeling in but soon realized there was not much extra weight. It turned out to be a silver dollar sized oyster shell that snagged on the rear treble of the lure and changed the hydrodynamics of the lure. At least I had 10 seconds of pullage!

    I talked to a few other kayak anglers I met. They had caught a few fish, but overall it was a slow day.
    Attached Files
    John Veil
    Annapolis
    Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

    Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

  • #2
    did you try over the oysterbars by ches. yachts?
    Interstate Kayak Fishing

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Pinch View Post
      did you try over the oysterbars by ches. yachts?
      Since I did not know the area in advance, and had no fishing partner for Monday, I trolled around many different areas that had been indicated on several YouTube videos I found, including in front of Chesapeake Yachts facility. The oyster shell that caught on my plug was just across from the yacht club ramp. I very well may not have fished over the optimal areas.
      John Veil
      Annapolis
      Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

      Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

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      • #4
        I have found that darker colored soft baits work well there.
        Interstate Kayak Fishing

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        • #5
          i don't understand. did you get skunked, or did you catch a shellfish?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Southerly View Post
            i don't understand. did you get skunked, or did you catch a shellfish?
            I snagged an empty oyster shell. In my opinion, that does not qualify as a caught fish. Therefore, I registered a skunk.

            Usually when trolling in relatively shallow waters for several hours, I will snag at least one rod on bottom debris or a branch. I did not even do that on Monday.
            John Veil
            Annapolis
            Native Watercraft Manta Ray 11, Falcon 11

            Author - "Fishing in the Comfort Zone" , "Fishing Road Trip - 2019", "My Fishing Life: Two Years to Remember", and "The Way I Like to Fish -- A Kayak Angler's Guide to Shallow Water, Light Tackle Fishing"

            Comment


            • #7
              sounds like a day that they didnt want to chase a lure. sometimes they just want meat.

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