Eight anglers and eight keeper rockfish

When you leave the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the early morning you are often treated to spectacular sunrises as the boat heads east.  So it was Saturday, April 27 when I took my third trip in the last twelve months with Capt. Dave and Capt. Billy out of Ingram Bay in Virginia's Northern Neck.

We soon turned north into Maryland waters where the spring trophy rockfish season begins earlier than Virginia's.  In addition to the Capt. and Mate (Capt Dave, for this trip), there were eight anglers, and we drew cards to establish the order of who grabs the trolling rod that a fish has hit.  The fish bit at a generally steady pace during the day, eight keepers, each angler landing one.

My friend, Chris, had the biggest fish:









Here is Capt. Billy keeping his eye on a passing tanker:

Here is my fish:

After we reached our eight fish limit, we pulled in the sixteen lines and headed back to the marina:

Always the gracious host, Capt. Dave provided a cook out at his home next to the marina.  After dinner I drove the 2 1/2 hours home, and Pam and I picked up Becca and Sean at Union Station at midnight.