Mo's 2018 Virginia Beach Trip

[mo65]

   My Brother and I drove out to the beach this past week to do a variety of fishing. He had a few business meetings and we fished around them. We started off on the pier Monday morning. Fishing was good, no big fish but lots of eater size Roundheads with a few skates and sharks mixed in.







   Back out on the pier Tuesday afternoon found rougher weather blowing in. We got soaked...but filled the cooler with Roundheads again. Also saw some really nice 48"-53" Reds caught out on the end of the pier.



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   Wednesday morning we caught a head boat out into the bay for some Croaker fishing. Passed what looks like a Navy Destroyer at one point.





   When these guys came back in they were all riding in the big boat because the larger dingy was full of fish and the smaller one was packed with crabs!



   Who would ever think you'd see a pre-war LB 60 on a head boat...unbelievable...nearly 80 years old and still fishing!!



   Ahh...Thursday we shifted out of "googan" mode and hopped a 17 hour deep drop trip. We went about 50-60 miles out...seemed like an eternity...but on the first drop started yanking up nice Blueline Tilefish. I got three of these doubles.



   The next spot produced more Tiles but also gave up some Sea Bass.
We drifted back over the spot many times, and I thought my arms were gonna fall off before we limited out.



   On the way in the sea was almost as calm as a mill pond, and we were escorted back by some dolphins.



   Finally...Virginia Beach on the horizon...just as the sun set on a fine week of fishing!

[xjchad]

Nice Mo! Looks like a blast!

[Gfish]

Great pictures Mo! Tired arms ona fisherman is good thing.

[Maxed Out]

Wow, nice variety of fishing you guys managed

That last fish pic of the black looking fish looks like something really big tried eating it. The missing webbing on the fins says it all....and the tail is nearly gone. I'd say you did that fish a favor

Ted

[theswimmer]

Nice fishies Mo!

[Rivverrat]

Dang that sounds like a fun time you had.

I still cant believe all the different fish some of the fellas here have access to... Jeff

[Jigtosser]

Glad to hear you got out on the big pond   
Some good eating fish you guys brought in

And yes, that is the USS Gravely DDG-107. She is the 57th built of her class, (Arleigh Burke class)
She is big, fast (4 GE LM 2500 Gas Turbines) and heavily armed. A true fighting ship.
She is probably with Carrier Group Two @ Norfolk. I tend to follow these things.
Once upon a time, I served aboard  DDG-24, a different class in the 70's
DDG = Destroyer, Guided Missle

Thanks for sharing
Dan

[Dominick]

Good job Mo.  Glad you had fun.  Dominick

[Swami805]

Looks like a fun trip, Nice pictures. Long Beach getting it done!

[Midway Tommy]

Looks like you guys had a great trip, Mike. Good for you!

[Benni3]

I was just up there,,,wish I could of fished with you  can't wait to see you getting some cats again 

[Tiddlerbasher]

Way to go Mo - sure looked like fun

[STRIPER LOU]

A bit of everything on that trip, mo! Looking good!

.........Lou

[conchydong]

Very nice trip. Those little Black Sea Bass are good eats but we don't get them too often in S. Florida. Looks like you were using a hand tied dropper loop chicken rig with Mustad 39977 EZ Baiter Long shank circle hooks. That is identical to what I tie and use for Blueline Tiles and Vermilion Snappers in S. Florida. Was that the boats rig or did you make that? Just curious.

Scott

[Ron Jones]

I missed you by a couple of days!
I'm not thrilled about paying to fish off of a pier, but the fish are coming in no doubt.
Good job
Ron