Rockport Perch Jerkin' 8-6-24

[chubby chaser]

Got an order from the extended fambly to make a big pot of “Pig Out Perch Chowder”.  I figured Rockport would be a good place to gather the main ingredient…perch.  I was right.
 
Launched about 7 am from the ramp.  Air temp 70 and water temp 70.  Amazing.   But the air temp warmed up to over 85 by noon departure. 
 

Started out by heading south…making S turns and watching TV.  Din’t see much.  But once I got to “Perch Point” the perch were there in abundance.  And they smacked everything I served them…as long as there was a bit of sweetener (worm) on the hook.  Got one on my first and last casts...and a lot in between.  Didn’t find any big ones today.  Almost all were between 7 – 10 inches…with many being in the 8-9 inch range.  And the sonar showed both the baby perch and the predators.

 
I moved south…toward the inlet area…looking for bigger fish.  But there wasn’t much showing on either sonar or my line after I left the first area.  So I went back and finished up there also.  Didn’t keep any for the first two hours.  Kept 20 the last hour before heading in.  Got off the water at 11 but spent some time loading up my gear and filleting my catch.  First time I ever used that fish cleaning station.


Pretty quiet on the lake today…at least the early part.  Only a couple of boats out and a couple of kayaks fishing.  But a little while before I bagged it a lone ski boat hit the water and headed straight for me.  They passed well within the proximity zone…waving a friendly wave.  I waved back…not using all my fingers.  Then…with a whole lake and no other fishermen in sight, they came back to make sure I could see and admire them.  And the skier even dumped a short distance away…just to be sure I didn’t miss the show.  I could see some other big boats pulling into the launch area so that was my cue to bag it.
 

One of the high points…or 3-points…of the day, was a pair of deer that wandered down to the lake to watch me for a few minutes.  And of course to get a drink.  Also got to watch the resident osprey doing his thing.  Love those birds.

Im curious, for a "sweetener" have you ever tried using the gulp maggots?  I wonder if they would attract perch as good as a worm?