'Shaark' Part 2

So, I was finally able to get out, at least for a quick time of suds in the surf with our grandchildren last week.

Some bloodworms and fishbites on a sabiki rig produced some nice sized Spot (aka Lafayette)

Spot Leiostomus xanthurus

Spot are a short-lived baitfish that are also known as spot croaker or flat croaker. Spot are part of the drum family and the males can make a drumming noise with their swim bladder. They are a schooling fish that can tolerate a wide range of temperature and salinity, making them common to a variety of habitats in large numbers.

Spot are commercially and recreationally fished for as bait using gill nets, cast nets and haul seines¹². It is not uncommon for fishermen to use spot as live bait. They can do this by hooking the fish using a Sabiki rig. These rigs are multi-lure rigs that are made to be able to cast into a school of baitfish. Spot are considered good to eat and are commonly harvested as food. Commercially harvested spot are also used by pet food processers.

Spot feed on benthic invertebrates, including copepods and polychaetes. Similar to previously discussed baitfish, spot turn these primary producers into sources of energy for species higher in the food chain. Adults are fed on by striped bass, sharks, seatrout, bluefish, mackerels, gars and flounder.

Finally, took a head from a spot and threw it out on my conventional rig: a 9' MH conventional rod, Shimano Calcutta 200B reel spooled with 40lb braid, and a 5/0 float rig on a wire leader, 4oz sputnik sinker to help hold in the longshore current which was an in-between artifact of TS Fred and the oncoming Hurricane Henri (on-ree' par le voux Francois?) 

Surf Anglers can take advantage of NOAA rip current forecast model.

 

Below is the press release from NOAA about the National Rip Current Forecast Model. Great for helping lifeguards, boaters, swimmers, and beach towns for water safety. This will also be a great tool for surf anglers. We fish cuts, but prefer rip currents. The more gnarly the rip the better. Rip currents create and destroy new structure all at once. Stirring up and flushing food out of the sand. These rips bring in the fish to feed. which in turn bring in other fish to feed on the fish.
Knowing days out when these rip currents will occur is a huge advantage for surf fishing anglers. It will also help in knowing that rough conditions could mean swales and higher tides. Which is good to know for some people who drive through swales or park too close to the surf.

NOAA (April 11, 2021) … For the first time, NOAA is launching a national rip current forecast model, aimed at saving lives of beach-goers around the country. This new model can predict the hourly probability of rip currents along U.S. beaches up to six days out.

NOAA’s National Ocean Service and National Weather Service collaboratively developed and implemented the model, which leverages wave and water level information from the recently upgraded National Weather Service’s Nearshore Wave Prediction System. Similar to predicting weather or precipitation, the model predicts the likelihood of dangerous seaward currents on a sliding scale – from 0 to 100%.

“Safety for beach-goers and boaters is taking a major leap forward with the launch of this new NOAA model,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, acting director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service. “Extending forecasting capabilities for dangerous rip currents out to six days provides forecasters and local authorities greater time to inform residents about the presence of this deadly beach hazard, thereby saving lives and protecting communities.”

“Improved model resolution will enable forecasters to issue more accurate and detailed rip current forecasts further into the future,” said Allison Allen, Chief, Marine, Tropical, and Tsunami Services Branch, NOAA’s National Weather Service. “This information enables public safety personnel to better prepare for hazardous beach conditions and inform the public of potential for danger before they head to the beach.”

The forecast model covers a majority of the U.S. East and Gulf Coast and portions of California, Hawaii, Guam and Puerto Rico. Additional coastline coverage will be expanded in the future.

“Rip currents account for an estimated 100 deaths in the United States each year,” said Gregory Dusek, NOAA scientist who developed the model. “Before this, forecasters were manually predicting rip currents on a large section of the ocean twice a day and only a day or two into the future. The earlier prediction has potential to substantially increase awareness and reduce drownings.”

Further improvements are on the horizon and the application of webcam imagery and artificial intelligence identification of rip currents is showing promise across the research community. Partners in this work include the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) and academia.

Heat

The heat of the day is keeping me off the water.

That and rain.

Or lightning.

Ok, I confess.... I've just been OFF the water.

But at least I've taken care of some surf chores...specifically, getting some old fiberglass surf rods restored by a local maker/restorer, Tom K. One of my favorites is below

This is an old (I'm told) Lamiglass blank which Tom completely stripped down, added cork tape, new guides, and did a masterful job of restoring. Thrown in the deal was a Penn Peerless #9 reel.

This was my father in law's favorite rod for the surf or pier. For pier, it was for throwing gobs of bloodworm out for bass or preferably and more likely weakfish!

Al Q's "Holy Moley" Sand Crab pattern

he's got it out on his blog, and I don't want to plagiarize, but this looks like a great pattern!

Al Quattrocchi

Al is a big time chaser of corbina, but also has an interest in a variety of species and fly fishing in general.

https://alquattrocchi.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/qs-holy-moley-sand-crab/

Press On To The Fall

I always know something has become too popular when the media starts marketing what was already a popular but local phenomena.

I'm talking about what is now known as "The Second Season".

Yeah, I know, locals at the shore have always known, but chambers of commerces, weather stations, radio personalies, have been pushing this now for the past few years and creating a buzz to extend their "season"... really for the benefit of local businesses. That's not all bad, but for locals, we've enjoyed the solitude, uncrowded beaches, connecting with wildlife (and not the kind that comes with screeching tires at 3AM, after partying at whozonit's downtown wizbar).

Real life, the beach. No shoobies. No bennies.

Philippians 3:14New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

A great way to line your plug bag

is to use vinyl fence railing and downspount tubes, cut to length

here's a pic from another anglers... NOT my idea:

zoned out - part 2

Last week I was out in the surf, along a back inlet, and on the inlet rocks.

Bait was basically all over and some fish were busting the surf, had to be striped bass or blues, though probably small, and not many.

Never got a hookup and got one quick bump on my lure/teaser combo.

Found out that the bait was likely sand eels. SAND EELS!

Never even occurred to me, but when fishing with that bait around, one uses very different tactics than what I was doing.

Perhaps it would have made no difference, but I do tend to stick with one method too long.

The Jeep

Last year we turned in our trusty 2005 Jeep Liberty, and took possession of a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara.

Wow, what a difference on the beach.

Power, traction, handling, room, utility: all hands down better than the Liberty.

Also added a nice rack, which I could not do on the Liberty:

Here's a profile:

2013 Jeep® Wrangler Sahara
The all-American icon shines on

No model in the Jeep lineup better exemplifies the spirit of unbridled adventure than the Wrangler – the linear descendant of the very same truck that carved through the sand at Omaha Beach on D-Day almost 70 years ago. To help you explore your limits, the 2013 Jeep^® Wrangler Sahara, on sale now here at our dealership, gathers a host of must-have equipment into one value-laden package.

From its all-access aptitude to its refined, four-passenger interior, the Jeep Wrangler (MSRP $22,295) delivers unrivaled versatility for drivers looking to cruise through their daily commutes and negotiate hillside scree all in the same vehicle. The Trail Rated^® 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara (MSRP $27,895) enhances that versatility with new standard and available amenities aimed at boosting comfort, convenience and capability.

Leading the list of fresh features are redesigned seats (wrapped in embroidered cloth) that offer thicker side bolsters and greater support. Ambient lighting now brightens the footwells and cup holders. There’s also an auto-dimming rearview mirror with LED map lighting. On the infotainment front, the available premium Tire Pressure Monitor displays inflation measurements for each tire, while audio performance reaches new heights courtesy of the available Alpine premium speaker system.

Exterior enhancements include a new premium Sunrider^® soft-top that’s composed of three layers for better sound insulation, and dual windshield washer nozzles for greater visibility no matter how much mud the trail throws your way. New Sahara-specific 18-inch alloy wheels sport a polished lip, sparkle silver paint and 255/70R18 Bridgestone Dueler tires.

New just last year, the Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 produces sufficient grunt––285 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque––to tackle steep slopes and rocky trails. Balancing power with efficiency, the Pentastar V6 (one of Ward’s “10 Best Engines” for 2012) uses advanced features such as variable valve timing, electronic throttle control and low-friction pistons to deliver an EPA-estimated 21 mpg highway. Power is routed through a standard six-speed manual transmission or an available five-speed automatic. 

Count on putting boundaries behind you thanks to the standard Command-Trac^® “Shift-on-the-Fly” four-wheel drive system, which sends power to the rear wheels under normal driving conditions, then distributes torque evenly between the axles when you shift into Four-Wheel High. The available Trac-Lok Differential senses wheel slip and sends power across the rear axle to the wheel with the best bite, while Brake Lock Differential––working at all four corners as part of the Traction control system––uses the antilock brake system to mimic a locking differential and keep the wheels moving at the same speed for greater safety across even the most torturous terrain. 

Legendary Jeep capability includes a best in-class approach angle of 44.3 degrees, a breakover angle of 25.5 degrees and a departure angle of 40.4 degrees, numbers that leave competing SUVs and car-based crossovers quivering at curbside. Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control are also on hand to ensure you’ll enjoy your adventures without any interruption.

Thanks to its rugged body-on-frame construction, solid axles, stamped-steel skid plates, heavy-duty suspension with gas shocks, and forged-steel tow hooks, you can live the high life in your Wrangler Sahara, off-road and on, for the long haul. Should that haul include the need to tow a camper, the Wrangler Sahara meets the challenge with a Trailer-Sway Control system and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

This year, the Wrangler lineup earned two “Best Resale Value” awards––top-10 overall, and top among competing compact utility vehicles––from Kelly Blue Book’s Kbb.com website. At the root of such exceptional value is a generous roster of standard and available equipment, highlights of which include air conditioning, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote keyless entry and deep-tint sunscreen windows. Also on the list are automatic headlamps, power-heated exterior mirrors, a 115-volt AC outlet, foglamps, tubular side steps, body-color fender flares, the Uconnect^® infotainment system and SiriusXM Satellite Radio with a free one-year subscription.

Following an evaluation of the Wrangler that took them over smooth streets and rock-strewn trails, the editors at Road & Track wrote, “There’s nothing that passes for a road that can’t be negotiated, so you’re never turned back by doubt. It’s quite liberating, and it allows you to visit places you’d never go with a car, or even with a longer and lower SUV.” Experience exploration free from doubt by scheduling a test drive of the new 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara today.

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