Hello to my readers and fans! My apologies as it has been quite some time since I have posted on www.theplastichull.net. Unfortunately work life got in the way of hobbies and fun and turned into work seven days a week. During the “pandemic” I worked more than ever within my drafting and design business along with working at Delaware Paddlesports part time. Although work is a part of life, I am eager to get back to kayak fishing, rigging and, posting articles. I have missed this over the past two and a half years.

I am fortunately still a pro staffer for Jackson Kayak. 2022 is my 11th year on the fishing team and I really enjoy being apart of their family! Also have continued to support Bending Branches, Torqeedo Fishing, and YakAttack over the years.

2020 A Tough Year

In the little spare time allotted I did attempt kayak fishing for a few hours and any chance I have a hour so I indulge in my Photography. 2020 wasn’t a fishing year at all. The Jackson Kayak Yupik was also introduced and I took the opportunity to get back on a sit on top from fishing a 2017 Kilory LT the past 3 years.

I did embark on a camping trip to Janes Island in Maryland however never had much luck with the fish cooperating there. It also rained most of the trip but still nice to get away for a weekend.

With most saltwater tournaments cancelled was only able to join my traveling fishing crew in October. What was once the Cape May Jamboree is now just a few guys that get together just to fish and have fun. Of course there’s always bragging rights and jokes!

2020 Photography

Participated in two Photography Contests and Placed in both! One was for the Delaware Estuary Partnership. I won Third Place. The other was my first attempt at a submission to Delaware Beach Life. A local prestigious life style and culture magazine. Surprisingly I placed 1st and 2nd in the Landscape Category out of 3 submissions!

2021 was a bit better

Took one of the longest trips with my kayak to Florida! Was able to enjoy kayak fishing the West Coast and to meet up with fellow anglers that had relocated to the area! Was able to manage some nice puppy drum and speckled trout while enjoying some beautiful weather in March! The trip didn’t end in Florida. Did some camping at Okefenokee Swamp. Exploring the swamp lead to some unique photograph opportunities! Although I didn’t fish the swamp the sheer size of the refuge was amazing. Only had one day on the water due to weather the next day. I highly recommend kayaking there. I will be planning a trip back sometime soon!

2021 was a bit better. Took one of the longest trips with my kayak to Florida! Was able to enjoy fishing the West Coast and to meet up with fellow anglers that had relocated to the area! Was able to manage some nice puppy drum and speckled trout while enjoying some beautiful weather in March! The trip didn’t end in Florida. Did some camping at Okefenokee Swamp. Exploring the swamp lead to some unique photograph opportunities! Although I didn’t fish the swamp the sheer size of the refuge was amazing. Only had one day on the water due to weather the next day. I highly recommend kayaking there. I will be planning a trip back sometime soon!

Traveling to the TBO Trifecta tournament which I took First Place catching the Largest Flounder (Fluke). Personally I don’t fish tournaments to win them. Rather enjoy the time on the water relaxing with my fishing buddies. So it was nice to place while not really trying to.

Also fished Cape May in October again. We had one of the most amazing October days ever! Flat calm in the ocean and in the 60’s air temp! Those days never last and the Saturday we were blown out by a gale that lasted into Sunday with rain. Still a great time was enjoyed by all.

Acquired a 2021 Jackson Kayak Bite which I rigged up with a Torqeedo 403 Ultralight and foot control steering. The kayak really flew but I sold it without the motor package. I really ended up missing the bite due to is light weight mobility. So I purchased a used Demo from Delaware Paddlesports in December. I will be re rigging that hull with the Torqeedo in 2022.

2021 Photography

On the photography side I did very well in 2022. With a 2nd Place and Honorable mention in Delaware Beach Life Magazine. Friends of Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge contest I Took 1st Place in Native Plants category, 2nd & 3rd places in The Beauty of Prime Hook Category, and 2nd Place in the Delmarva category! Very exciting!

2022 Is Here

Its February in Delaware and haven’t been able to catch a break with the weather or free time. Been hiking a bit to keep in shape. Registered my kayaks with the state and purchased my fishing license. Hoping for a good day to hit the water soon!

So please check back for future posts or follow The Plastic Hull on Facebook and @ThePlasticHull on Instagram for updates! Looking forward to seeing you out on the water, and answering questions you may have!

I’m pumped for the 2022 season!

Spring 2017 What??

Well The Spring of 2017 flew by just like the wind. Yes it was incredibly WINDY!! From March to May it seemed every day was gale force winds or more. Fishing from a kayak this is never fun or even doable most of the time. I can count on both hands the amount of times I was out fishing from the kayak. Although there were a few days the wind wasn’t so bad and most of them were when I was working.

Was able to get out with good friend Joe Hosler of the Delaware Paddlesports Hobie Team. We fished mainly back creeks and rivers to get out of the wind. He fished the Chesapeake a bit and did well. Unfortunately i didst make it over to that side.  When the big blues came in we fished Cape Henlopen at the pier and inner wall. Due to many Gopro issues I unfortunately was unable to capture some good fish pictures. Got out on the Indian River Bay on a few occasions in search of bass blues and flounder but had none.

Delaware Paddlesports Crew @ Cape Henlopen

A major highlight of the past spring was fishing from the Jackson Kayak Kilroy LT Realtree Camo Edition. As many of you that follow my blog know it is my new kayak for 2017! Since its first run out on the Indian River Bay it has been my main kayak. It is an excellent standing platform as well as swift paddling craft. Teamed up with the Torqeedo Ultralight 403 it is the Ultimate single person shallow water fishing craft! Check back for new videos and the extended use review shortly!!!

Always fun searching for the local fish. I hope to explore the spring more in the future. All I can say is please less wind next year!

So its hello summer and enjoying the long days for now. Flounder are in now and soon the Croakers will be too!

Bonfire under the full super moon.

It was great having the venue being the Kayak fishing store. I arrived around the same time as many others. Scattered around were RV’s tents and car campers being set up on the grounds of an old boat grave yard which also houses the Kayak Fishing Store. There were kayak anglers from many walks of life and places. They came from as far north as Maine to as far south as Virginia. Captain Jim had arrived with the newly patched old moldy his pop up camper which we would call home for three nights.  A bonfire was set and a Dutch Oven was placed into it. A 1/4 cooked roast was offered then there was a half stick bang to start off the festivity’s and fishing.  The 7th Annual Cape May Kayak Fishing Jamboree was officially underway!

The next morning it was fishing time. Awaking prior to the sunrise the night temps must have went down to the low 30’s. As a few anglers were already out fishing with my camera in hand i awaited the fiery sunrise. The wind was stiff and cold.

As more people arrived we went out and fished the Herdon inlet Rock walls. The fishing was pretty good with our whole crew limiting out on Tautog. I had a beauty at 17.5″ Its not hard to limit out as each angler is regulated to keeping one fish over 15″ The tide starting moving again so we headed in to enjoy a fish fry along with some fresh steamed clams Dee raked from her home waters on Long Island. Fellow anglers stopped by our campsite and enjoyed some of our catch. Moving around camp there were some other excellent meals shared among the attendees present.

Saturday Morning meeting Charlie (Lunchbox) LaBar at the 2 mile launch we fished a bit in search of Stripers. While waiting for the tide to flow out hues of the sunrise glistened from the East. Marking fish was nonexistent along with no strikes on the line. Over the radio was one casualty a fellow angler went into the water trying to rescue a fishing rod. Fortunately he was ok. October presents cold air and water temperatures which for kayak anglers is a risk. The tide changed and we were sucked out the Cape May inlet. No paddling really necessary. Once at the tip of the southern jetty wall it was game on. Green crabs and sinkers at the ready drop a line. Around 15  total anglers made the trek to the ocean. Many tog were landed and it was a great time. A nice black drum was also landed had to be 25 lbs or so.

Just about the last ones out there we quit and headed back. Charlie was running his Torqeedo on 0% which amazed me because I have never ran mine past 20%. But he made it and kind of against the tide. IT was about 30 min before slack.  Loading up and headed over to charlies summer home for a much needed shower.

Back at camp traded stories of the day. There was drones flying by taking the effect.  Gary ward and Larry Newman were still fishing. I don’t think they even enjoyed a meal the entire time. They fished hard and wanted that calcutta more than anyone. The evening set in and it was time for dinner and prizes. The iconic seafood pasta and roast beef was served once again as a yearly feast. Three tables filled with prizes and a Pelican 120 kayak were up or grabs plus the Wolfpack beer raffle. This night the bonfire was amazing and photoed above. All kinds of strange graffiti appeared on a red ford. Ribs were grilling. The sole owner of everything ate everyone’s food and all was good.

Sunday morning was a pack up day for most.  Best of all the calcuttas were awarded to Gary Ward and Larry Newman respectively as they got the bass and blues regions. I never got a final list of  Calcutta awards but its a non tournament. All for fun and that’s they way it should be. If you have ever been to a boondoggle the jamboree is the same just the northern way.

Excellent job by Chris Parson The Kayak Fishing Store Prostaff team and JCKF!

Looking forward to october 2017 for the next one. Hope to see you all there.