Rowan's Sturgeon!

I took Rowan out this morning to see if he could get his first sturgeon into the kayak.   Earlier this year Rowan hooked one and got it to the surface but I lost it as the hook fell out right next to our kayak.   So this time we wanted to amend that!

Several times through the morning Rowan would exclaim, "I got one!" but there was nothing there.   He likely did feel bites but wasn't hooking up.    About an hour into the trip, and after I had already caught 4 myself, Rowan yelled "I got one!  I really, really, really do this time!   It's heavy!".     Sure enough, he finally hooked into a sturgeon all on his own and was in the process of reeling it in!

I made sure to tell him to hold on tight to the rod, as I didn't want to see it go over the side, and set the camera to record.   Then I reached back, just to keep a few fingers on his rod to prevent an accident, and let him do all the work.   Rowan had been practicing the lift-and-reel routine at home, and knew exactly what he needed to do.

Congrats little buddy on getting your first sturgeon into the kayak!

Some nice feedback!

Below is an e-mail I received recently from a fellow that was part of a group of 5 whom I took out sturgeon fishing a few weeks ago.   It's great to get such nice comments back and really keeps my drive up for continuing with the guided fishing experiment I started this year!

If you know someone who would enjoy coming out to fish for sturgeon in the Spring or Fall, or taking in one of several other adventures through the summer think about giving a guided kayak fishing gift certificate this Christmas!  

Halloween morning, 2015, found my canoe buddies and me in full-on costume, ready to encounter some prehistoric creatures. We were on the shore of the Kennebecasis River, bundled for the cold, and ready to experience sturgeon fishing for the first time. 

Joe met us on arrival, with kayaks lined along the shore, and gear and hooks ready for action. From the first moment, we were impressed with Joe’s dedication to providing an outstanding fishing experience. Boats and gear were top notch, including the GoPro cameras thoughtfully mounted to record our adventure. He had even thrown on some calm and sunny weather for the day. 

In no time, we were all bobbing over the fishing spot, within sight of the put-in. It was mere minutes before yours truly hooked the first sturgeon of the day, and from there on, it was a steady chorus of “I’ve got one!” from the party. While nobody landed a fish to rival his own height or weight, we were thrilled with the fish we did bring in (all released, of course, to fight another day). 

Joe was constantly available to lend a hand with gear, suggest a better spot to drop a line, photograph a lucky angler and share some fascinating information about the river and the fish we were enjoying.  Our location was ideal, with bald eagles wheeling and crying along the clifftop above the solid blanket of brown oaks: the last color of the season. The sun sparkled off the wide, calm river, and we all ran the risk of mild sunburn, despite November being visible around the next bend. When it was time to head back to shore, nobody was in a hurry, and there was much talk of a return visit. This was certainly a memorable experience—one that can’t be easily replicated. Thanks, Joe!