Break The Streak, the Rogue's session log.

"The bottom line is that when hordes of boats are in the “best” fishing spot, it can be so darn crowded that any keeper flounder who dares swim by is plucked from the water in short order. Get away from all those competing hooks and baits, however, and you can improve your chances of enjoying a fresh flounder dinner."     -Lenny Rudow

Uncrowded salt flats of Sinepuxent Bay, home of keeper #2. Assateague Island, 7/22/2023

      Been a while since that last keeper. 2022. 30 miles out in the Atlantic. Sea Bass fishin' aboard the Morningstar. Even longer than I can remember in the back bays. Hours tossing rigs into the cloudy abyss. The right bait combo, difficult to find. Throwback after throwback after throwback. Was ready to break the streak. Had a boatfull. Wife and sister, couple of nieces. Get this particular group together, and conversation goes to a new level. I liked this group.

East Channel pickin's.

They were along for the ride. I could focus on the fish. First drift, East Channel by Harbor Island. Couple of Penn rod combos. Fire Tiger Mullet Gulp! and a strip of squid. Two minutes drifting...TWO! No sooner had I tossed the 2nd jig, and went back to check the first then, BAM! Fish on! Nice keeper flounder. Approximately 18 inches. Approximately. Let it live to fight another day. Goin' to dinner after fishing. Did not want to chance killing this beauty before I could clean it. Couple more drifts. Nada. That's okay. Still early. Passed through the Rt. 50 Bridge into the Sinepuxent. By marina-bar row. Past the inlet. Into that part of the bay behind Assateague.  Air in the upper 80s. Water around 80F.

Flattie in the Flats.

Winds at a light 6 knots. Couldn't help but take in the day. All the way up to the Verrazano Bridge... and back. The flats next to the island, across from the OC Airport. Slowed and got to within twenty to thirty feet of the sandy shore of the island. Probably pulled at least two drifts. Felt what seemed like nibbles, or crabs, or seaweed. Then the rod jerked and bent down. Another flattie. Not quite as big as the first. Yet a little more wranglin' to bring this one in. Met the 16" requirement. Maybe 17". Heft seemed about the same. Like the fight these Summer Fluke give. Lotta fun. At this point, the dinner bell was ringin.' Actually stomachs were growlin'. Freed the flounder. Headed north towards the commercial harbor and dinner at Harborside. Not sure what's more challenging- docking in their narrow slips, or the menu. Finished the day's voyage with two nice size flounder, a dockside seafood feast, and an elevated sunset cruise back to the ramp. Straight up stoke.

Verrazano- road to the island.

     Beer pairing. Successful day fishing, and a beer called Slow Tide. Fin City, the first brewery in the OC. Most actual brewing done in Baltimore. Beers are quality. Slow Tide was an Amber Ale. Little hoppier than most at 38 IBUs. Brother called it a "wide" beer. Bad story. Orange-amber pour. Off-white, 2-finger head. Caramel and roasted malts in the nose. Flavors of toffee, and caramel. Citrus-hop bite in the final act. Smooth. Not overly sweet. Close to and English style in it's bitterness. Part of a sixer. At 5% ABV... doesn't scare ya away from another. Rated a B-.

Return flight on the "Jet."