Imagine your fishing out front in late March. You don't expect much but this very water was where you wanted to be in the fall 2022. Fish left and right and up and down the beach. It's close to home, easily assessable except for the near cliffs that have been formed from failed beach replenishment. There has been so much sand loss that the stratified layers of shells are now exposed like a paleontological dig. On one of your casts you feel a bump and can feel your fly is riding weird in the water column and when you retrieve it in there's a quarter sized scale stuck on the tip of your hook.
That's part of the story I got from Bill Sistad regarding an outing he had last week. He waited several days to share "The best big fish day I've ever had". I have seen Bill at the Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodder meetings but we've never talked. I see him from now and again on social media. And I see whenever there's a one-fly tournament or some other kind of club outing he's always comes in first, and if not a close second. I had to reach out and get his story. Now wait, Bill, it's the last week of March and you're waving a fly rod on the ocean side, really? Bill's an Ocean County guy and that's his local water. I won't mention where he was but it's one of those places, unless you're in the know, where the split highway drives you mad trying to get over to the water. But let's get back.
This isn't an incredible story of a one and done outing of a lifetime. He caught a beautiful fish on day one plus a few other that were small, you know, 34-38". No photos needed there of course. But he then backed that day up with another, and better banner day. He states he was walking looking for some sign of life. The waters clear and there's enough liquid in the trough that even a passing lady without a fishy eye could pick out big fish swimming by. Well, that's all she wrote. Just to add, no birds, no bait, no one.
As Bill talked and I had to focus on taking notes down so I could get the numbers correct. It was something to the effect of "two on the high end of the bracket (slot) and four fish over to 46 inches", with his biggest flirting with the 40 pound mark. Yes Bill, God did give you some day(s).
Bill said he caught all his fish on a pattern he calls the "Fishmaker". He modeled it after what I think is a Red Fin chicken scratch lure. Looking at his fly box below and the consistency and the numbers he throws up I'd say he has a winner there.
And then there will be the internet detectives and haters. "Can't be true". "He was fishing in Maryland". "That doesn't happen". Believe what you may. The game has changed. No longer is March
the go-to time for the clam and bloodworm soakers perched on a chair, sinking deep into the sand I mind you, waiting for early season schoolies to bite. There are fish everywhere and they are active. You can, and will, drive yourself mad trying to chase reports and hot bites. What happened last night over here was last night and these fish are on the move and things change with the moon, tide and wind. If Bill didn't have pictures no one would believe him, and you what, he could care less, he fishes for himself and the fun of the game.
Remember unicorns do appear from time to time. Remember in May 2019 when Keith "HipFish" Allonardo was casually walking the beach with his girl and dog and decided to make a few casts? That's a 50 on a small Clouser with nothing showing in the air or water. Doubt the 50? Keith goes about 6'5" and around 300.
So congrats to Bill for a hand well played. Why are there big bass down in Ocean County and on the beach? Who knows. The game has changed and we are left trying to figure these striped bass out. Hopefully with the start of April we will have some warmer and more consistent weather. I'm hating getting skunked and cold. I need one of those God-given Sistad days.