August 20, 2007

    Oil barrel size flounder caught today in Rudee Inlet 12lbs 14oz 33.5 inches long by Stephen Zawisa Jr while on an Ocean Eagle Kayak fishing adventure.  I paddled into the wind and casted a hurricane red head jig/white tail.  Using my paddle as a rudder I let the wind propel the kayak and held my rod tip up as the jig bounced off the bottom.  I felt two little light tugs and set the third into the fish's mouth starting the battle.  The wind was pushing my kayak so I kept it straight with my left paddle hand and kept the pressure on the fish with my right.  I started to make some gains on the fish and just when I thought I had everything under control my line starts screaming drag off the reel.  I kept up the pressure and after 15 minutes of pulling I saw the flounder come to the top only to jump out of the water and dive back down to the bottom.

    I finessed the fish to the surface and was pulling the fish with the momentum from the wind blown kayak.  I reached into my stern crate mate after seeing this fish's big sharp teeth and pulled out a rappala fish grabber and made an attempt to secure the fish.  I reached down, missed and the fish dove to the bottom.  I managed the fish back to the top and realized the string on the fish grabber was off.  I scrambled the deck of my kayak and found it tied in back on and prepared my self for the second grab.  I got it right in the fish's mouth, but this flattie gave a power surge and roll that yanked the grabber out of my hand and the fish took off to the bottom.  At this point I thought all was lost I started to pull out my camera to capture a picture, but came to my senses and kept the pressure up.  I finessed the fish back to the top and slowly maneuvered the kayak so I had one more chance to grab.  I took the opportunity and grabbed the handle and swung this huge flattie onto the deck of the kayak I quickly put both my feet on top of the fish as it flapped away.

    I paddled up to a boat that was crabbing and asked him to take a picture he took one look at the fish and told me not to jack around and get that fish on land.  I took his advice and paddled to the owl's creek inlet launch where I met Karl working on his boat once he saw the fish he told me to get that fish on land but persuaded him to take some pictures while I was on my kayak.  I visited the Virginia Beach fishing center for a Virginia Flounder Saltwater Citation weight of 12lbs 14 ounces.  33.5" in length back of tale to end of jaw.  I have heard a lot of locals call them door mats but Oil Barrel size.