Lifer Trip - Salt and Fresh 12/4/21

[Johnsfolly]

I haven't been fishing in a while. A lot of that had to due with work and other interferences. I have been wanting to try for a new blenny species that is found down in the inlet area. I also have been having some conversation with a local guy about how he goes about fishing some of the unusual freshwater species like banded sunfish, mud sunfish, pirate perch, etc. Since I know a spot where there have been banded sunfish caught that I tried back in July that is not too far from the Ocean City spot (only another 25-30 mins tacked on a 90 min one way trip - thinking of @fishinwrench). The spot where this guy had success after dark on some banded sunfish was within a few miles of my target spot. My wife came along to try her luck.

We got to a small free pier in OC and I had on a #12 hook about 4 inches above a 3/8 oz bell sinker. I had a small piece of blood worm. The tide was incoming, but still really low.  I didn't get much luck on the outer edge of the rocks. So I dropped the bait into the crevices of the rocks. That was the ticket. I got three bites in the first hole, but no hook sets. These were not blennies, but a silvery fish. The next hole I was able to get a hookset and caught the first juvenile sheepshead of the day.

I caught another and then knew that I had a pattern. I ended up catching five sheepshead. This was the largest of the group and he gave me a bite as I unhooked him. These wern't the first of this species for me this year since we caught a few down in VA, but were the first in MD. I would have liked them to be 5 or 6 lbs, but they aren't 🙄

Sue was having no luck on sandfleas or fishbite baits.

The wind gave us a chill and we headed to my target creek. The goal was to get there right around sunset. I fished another spot on the way hoping for some pickerel action on a paddletail bait. Most excitement was a jogger kicked up five hens that flew towards me. One landed above me and I pointed her out to Sue. No luck on fish and we moved on. 

There was little water movement in the creek and it still had a film on the surface. That would later prevent me from seeing any fish after dark. I cut off the bell sinker and put tow split shot above the hook and added a little redworm. I poked that bait into the weeds and around the edges while it was still fairly light out. I got bit when i put the bait in front of the culvert pipe and landed a fish that I have tried for on other occasions, a redfin pickerel. If you read about our FL trip last spring that was the species that Sue caught and I lost one at the last minute and threw my rod in disgust 🙄. Now I have one in hand and am so excited.

This was the lifer that I needed after a long drought in my fishing. I didn't catch anything else and really didn't see any other fish with the limited visability. I'll be back down that way again. Mayber later this winter or next spring.