It didn’t take long before I got the hoped for bite. A couple
of light taps and then my pole doubled as the black drum took off on a run. Lifting
my rod high I hoped the fish wouldn’t get my line tangled in the sharp oyster
beds.
The tide was running out and so the fish crossed all of our
lines as we moved poles trying to keep from making a giant mess. The fish
actually circled the boat before making another nice run. Finally bringing the
fish close to the boat Dave reached out and netted the beautiful twenty four
inch black drum.
Arriving in Rockport I heard that there was a great black
drum bite going on. Renita and I had purchased our fishing license and had
spent a less then fruitful afternoon at the Goose Island State Park pier. Still
we had seen several keeper sheephead and one forty inch black drum being caught
and released.
So the next day, when Dave asked me if I wanted to go out in
his boat I jumped at the chance! It was a calm day, somewhat unusual here, and
we quickly ran out to the intracoastal. Passing oyster bed after oyster bed
Dave turned the boat into a narrow channel before easing up to a protruding
shelf.
I eased the anchor in and having a good set cast toward the
edge of the oyster bar. Nothing happened for a while until I got a couple of
light taps. Sometimes a red drum will take the bait lightly and swallow the hook as it lays
down. Starting to wind in I had a good fight on my hands but it was an
undersized red, called a rat here. I had to cut my line to keep from injuring
the fish as it had swallowed my circle hook.
Moving to another bar our luck changed, Dave had found the
fish and it was a hectic time as we alternated catching beautiful slot fish,
(black drum have to be between 14-30 inches to keep). It didn’t take long and
we put the last fish in the cooler. Fresh fish for dinner tonight!
The pelicans, gulls, and herons all crowded us as we cleaned
the fish. We weren’t the only ones having fresh fish on the menu. Thank you
Captain Dave! Clear skies
Great fish story!!
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