red drum fishin virginia style!!!!!

[Miles Offshore]

Hey Guys- met Mike down at his boat "Miss Mollie" around 6 pm to make a little drum run. Picked up bait earlier in the day , had some scumptiious hard crabs, large menhaden for the chum meister and some nice 2lb+ bluefish for bait. (also had some cherrystone clams but these were better eaten size than bait size [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] . we got anchored up about 45 minutes later in between 12 and 14' of water and the tide was about flood. things were kinda slow so we poped us our favorite adult beverage while working the chum meister and watching the sunset-




Shortly thereafter- I had something kinda messin with my bluefish bait and low and behold when i pick the rod up the line starts peeling off straight under the boat. sheet!!!!! By now the tld-20 is screming with me trying to hold the rod tip under the boat and just hope the fish doesnt turn up towards the anchor line or cut me off on the boat bottom or the outdrive. - three or 4 minutes later I manage to guide the line under and away from the outdrive but the fish hasnt stopped peeling line yet. (not real fast now but i wasnt getting anything on her at all. relieved I was clear of the boat anchor and outdrive i finally got the girl to tire after about another 15 minutes of battle. these big reds dont give up so easy though and she spooked a couple more times up around the boat making the dreaded runs again under the boat. Man- I really dont think it gets any better than this!!!!!!! forgot to mention that while I was fighting this fish , Mike had a screaming real for a minute or so with another one but his fish pulled the hook. Got the net under her finally, took a couple pix and released her. 53" long- i went to the website that has the drum size calculator and the fish should be around 75.25 lbs. Felt like it to me cause i couldn't pick her up!!!!Took 3 or 4 minutes of reviving her until she flapped that big ol tail and swam off. "SWEEEEET". Had 2 more screamers that someone didnt hook up (called ofer3, [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ). heres some pix-







Son I think we are gonna need a bigger net!!!!!!!!!!!!



were back at the slip at midnight so all in all a good quick trip!!!if the thunderstorms lay low were going to try again tonight- peace

[ScottM]

Nice fish Craig!! What's the typical size for a red drum? I'm guessing this was a monster.

[Miles Offshore]

hey scott- this fish was larger than average for me- usually running 40 to 48" or so. every inch thoughis a big difference. legal size to keep is between 18 and 27" here. Havnt caught one smaller than 40" in the last several years though out where the big boys play!!!! very fun especially in the shallow water!!!! see ya- craig

[Capt Chuck]

Dude!!!! Nice Job [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Whats the Slot size in VA? I don't know if their good eating when they are that large, but are you allowed one over the slot in posession [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[Miles Offshore]

hey chuck, not allowed anything over 27" at all. i believe its two fish minimum 18 max 27 per person per day. guy in a kayak had one 61" last week ( close to if not world record size but who will ever know??? pitchpoled the yak and came close to making the guy meet his maker- huge drum though!!!!

[Doghouse4x4]

Craig, nice work man!I'm hopin to get out on Sunday for some reds. Work has had me tied up on the eastern shore for the past month, so everyday I drive over the bridge I get to watch you guys fish!

[Miles Offshore]

thanx guyz- doghouse if you're making the trip to the shore every day then you would know what island that is in the background then eh?????

[Doghouse4x4]

Judging by the sunset, it looks like you guys were on the outside! There's been a flotilla of boats fishing the bar by the High Level damn near every day, and it's agonizing driving past there!

[Miles Offshore]

10-4 on the outside and a mile or two north- hope you are able to get on em soon !!!! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[peterb]

Wow!!!

I just looked it up and the Virgina record red drum is 85 pounds and the world record is 94 pounds.