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2021 Year End Wrap Up

12/31/2021

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Congratulations on surviving the insanity of 2021!  Seriously though, I had a great year and it has a lot to do with all of you.  After guiding "part time" for 9 years, I finally had the guts to jump off the cliff and leave the safety of a job that no longer fulfilled me.  I packed my parachute with all of the support of my anglers, and it was more than enough to safely carry me through my first year of full time guiding.  I can't express how much I appreciate you all and how much fun I have on the water with you all.  Since it's the last day of the year, I wanted to take a quick minute and look back. 
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January and February of 2021 brought some great cold-weather clear-water sightfishing opportunities.  I'm a board shorts and flip flops guide, but I don't mind the cool weather when it results in a hundred Redfish daisy chaining right in front of the boat in ten inches of gin-clear water.  
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March and April arrived and we enjoyed the final weeks of clear water and schooled fish as the algae began to bloom and the marsh really came back to life.
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March and April also brought back the Albies for a few weeks, and I finally got to put my "new to me" Parker 23 to use.  After so many years of chasing Albacore in a poling skiff, it felt really good to be able to run further, faster, and dryer than in the past.
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April also brought one of my favorite fish of the year, the Atlantic Bonito.  I really wish these fish hung around longer than they do.  They are so much fun to chase, fight, and eat!
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We also got into a little bit of action with the Bull Reds in the ocean this spring.
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April was plenty "sharky" in the nearshore waters.  There's more physical abuse and ego destruction behind that shrimp trawler than most anglers can endure.
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May 1st found us back on the Roanoke for a change of pace.  I enjoy this fishery so much and can't wait to get back up there.  I may hit it for a week of shad fishing before we do the annual striper run in May.
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Stripers aren't the only fish on the Roanoke...we saw surprises from Common Carp to Catfish to Largemouth Bass...we even watched another boat hook up to a 300lb Sturgeon on light tackle.
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By the time I got back from the Roanoke, the Redfish were in full summertime swing.  The schools had broken up and they were crushing topwater, metal, soft plastics, and flies.
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Walking the Dog was the ticket this summer and we burned through a bunch of Skitterwalks and Spooks that were destroyed by angry Redfish.  I'm getting antsy right now, just thinking about it.
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In between Redfish trips, we ran the nearshore waters of the Crystal Coast and chased Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and a few other surprises on fly and spin.
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The big flood tides were awesome this year, and after 15 years of chasing tailing Redfish, it still hasn't gotten old.  
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It's as close as you can get to hunting with a fly rod.
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As summer transitioned to fall, our focus jumped back to the nearshore waters, where we chased what is possibly "pound for pound" the baddest fish around.
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October and November booked solid for me this year chasing Albies.  I had so much fun with all of you and I appreciate the support so much!!!
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November and December brought the Speckled Trout back to their winter haunts.  Although we usually focus on spots over specks, I always enjoy catching these fish.
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​And we ended the year with the same fish that started it.  The fish that built my business.  I owe a ton to these Redfish, and a ton to you all for coming and chasing them with me.

Thank you so much for such an awesome year, and I look forward to fishing with you all in 2022!

All the best,
​John
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  • About
    • Meet Capt John
    • Boats and Equipment
    • Pricing
    • Testimonials
  • Trip Options
    • Crystal Coast Inshore
    • Crystal Coast Nearshore and Ocean
    • Roanoke River
    • Blackwater Canoe Trips
    • Kid Trips
    • Eco Tours
    • Casting Lessons
  • Photo/Video
  • Journal
  • Podcast
  • Contact/Book
    • Contact/Book
    • News Letter