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Date: May 31, 2021 Body of Water: Plum Island - Newburyport, Massachusetts Moon Phase: Full Moon plus 4 days; waning gibbous Tides: High Tide at about 4:30 PM Boat: None With: Alone Target: Striped Bass Time: 2 PM - 6:30 PM Conditions: About 60 degrees; leaden gray skies; mild North wind swinging to NW to about 10 mph; after three solid days of strong Northeasterlies, heavy surf and rain; surf about 5 - 7 feet swell with lots of white water! What a miserable Memorial Day weekend (at least weather-wise). Based on weather, chores and traffic, I deferred trip after trip to Cape Cod. I started watching and considering a weather/tide window for a closer jaunt to the Plum Island surf, and by 12:30 PM on Day 3 of the long weekend, I finally hit the road in pursuit of a few stripers. I simply crossed my fingers that the surf would not be too heavy or weed-infested after the long stretch of strong winds from the northeast. I had certain conditions ostensibly in my favor. The skies were gray, the tide would peak during the middle of my session, and I expected little competition. I've not a lot of experience surf fishing, but conditions were seemingly lined up nicely for a daytime trip. I was fishing by 2 PM. The surf conditions dictated that I use a tin; weeds dictated a single hook. I started with a 1-ounce Crippled Herring, but rotated through an Al Gag's plastic sand eel on my way to a size A17 Diamond Jig with green sand eel trailer. I may have had an early touch on the Crippled Herring, but as more time went on without any action, I started doubting myself. There was little-to-no bird or bait activity. I was treated to a sturgeon, leaping out of the water directly in my line of site and only a very long cast offshore. I'd seen similar displays on previous trips to Plum Island and Crane Beach, but this was my first super-clear and confirmed sighting of a wild sturgeon, here. (I saw another, further offshore later in the trip.) After too long (1.5 hours) in the same stretch of beach (a cut in the bar provided a distinct offshore rip, here, and it both felt and looked good), I relocated a few hundred yards further north to a sand point and area where the adjacent beach was steeper. About 45 minutes before predicted high tide and at nearly my cast's length, I swung on a fish and connected! The fish was cold and the fight was lethargic and weak, but I carefully navigated the first striper of the day through the breakers and sweep. I'd avoided a skunk! The fish was only 17 or 18 inches, but was certainly a sight for me to behold! Many of my surf sessions have produced fish in bunches, once that first biter is found. That was not to be the case, this day. I stayed along this "productive" stretch for another hour or more without another bite. I decided to work my way back down the beach towards the parking area. I stopped at the next seam of interest. It was now about 45 minutes after predicted high tide. A seal was cruising offshore and some terns were now working some sporadic, small bait a cast-and-one-half out. My first cast was thunked, hard, again at the length of my cast. The rod bowed to a much heavier fish, and the fish pulled line against my drag at will. The fish never panicked, but stubbornly resisted coming into shallower water. After about a minute of contact, I lost touch with this fish in the midst of a big breaker. On the one hand, Success! But on the other... Once again, moving had produced a strike. I decided to accelerate the pace with which I changed water, and became slightly less picky about the water I chose to fish. I still focused on points, bowls and cuts where they presented themselves. At about 6 PM, (High tide plus 1.5 hours) my lure stopped for the last time. This fish was heavier than the first, but unable to pull line at will. It stayed hidden from me in the whitewash until virtually at my feet; I surfed it up the beach with the next wave and was pleased to land a fat 23-incher. I stayed for another half hour, but couldn't get anything else going. I guess I'd already had my share of fortune for the day. What do I have to say about this? It's been a while since I've lost a fish big enough to bother me. When bites are scarce, every miss hurts a little bit, and this was the case today. But my lost fish this trip confidently pulled steady drag, and so was quite a bit larger than the 23-inch fatty I landed as my consolation prize. I'm guessing the lost fish was easily in the 30-inch range, and it certainly would have been my largest surf striper to date. I don't like missing out on Personal Bests, but I guess my fishing execution will never be perfect. And, what a nice few hours; fresh air, wild surf, seals, sturgeon and stripers with nary a problem. This, in strong juxtaposition to the many things going on in life right now. I guess my living execution will never be perfect, either, but I have to keep plugging away! Pondering the questions of core essence and finding meaning in unexpected ways
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