Written by Christina Gordon Tuesday, 04 May 2010 13:53

Week of May 2, 2010

By Rick Goines

Last week I told you about my exciting Roanoke River trips with Bobby Mason and John Partlow at Scotland Neck, and my morning on the water in Weldon with Captain George Beckwith of Down East Guide Service (DEGS).  WOW!  Two great days!  I have two more fantastic outings to share with you now.

Saturday April 24^th -  By this time my crew had grown a bit.  Rich, Adam, and I were joined by my stepson, Thomas Tharrington of Wilmington, and my old Havelock pal, Dennis Scoggins, who now calls the Atlanta, GA area home.

We shoved off about 7 AM from J.W. Shearin’s river front pier with Mike Shearin at the helm of one of his 24-foot Sun Catcher pontoon boats: Very roomy and comfortable for my oversize, aching body.  Captain Mike is definitely one of the most knowledgeable, respected professional guides in the Weldon area.  He grew up fishing the Roanoke River, and puts that experience to good use helping his parties catch fish.   The man knows his business.  It was interesting seeing the other boats watch and copy his movements.  As they say, imitation is the finest form of flattery.  You da man, Captain Mike!

In less than 15 minutes we were below the Big Rock drifting and bouncing small shad minnows on the bottom.  Four of our crew posted the $40 entry fee to compete in the 2^nd annual Rockfish Rodeo going on that day.  It wasn’t long before rods were bending, and Captain Mike was working up a sweat running up and down the boat netting fish.  We caught a bunch that morning, and broke off about lunchtime to hit Frazier’s for grub, a local Weldon favorite eatery.

About 2 PM we were back at ‘em.  My brother Charles from Lanham, MD, and Mike’s very attractive, capable business manager, Jill Dawes, that was functioning as our mate, joined us.  I have fished with professional guides and charter boats for 45 years.  Hands down, Jill was the best looking fishing mate I have ever fished with.  I have had mates on some trips that looked like they had been beat with an ugly stick, and had to put their teeth back in before they could answer a question.  Jill is the total package, and the real deal!  She is a pretty lady that knows her way around a fishing boat.  What a combination!

Fishing was a little slower in the afternoon than the morning, but we still caught some fish.  Adam Brosius led the pack in catching striped bass Friday and Saturday with his superior fishing technique and skills.  Adam is a fish catching machine, and loads of fun to watch.  He has the “touch,” no doubt.

About 4:30 we called it a day, a full box of fish, tired, sore, and worn slam out, but very happy!  Rockfish action is a very small part of what Captain Mike has to offer. Get the full story at www.roanokeriverrentalsandguides.com.  J.W. Shearin’s cabin rental info is also available at that web site.

Cook Shack, of Louisburg, NC, deliciously catered our Saturday evening meal at J.W. Shearin’s picturesque, beautiful waterfront cabin on the Roanoke River.  What a view!  Head chef, Austin Murray, cooked us a beautiful 87-pound pig with all the trimmings.  I have been to more than a few pig pickings in my day, but this one was special.  Austin is a great cook, and served up good eats all around.  If you walked away hungry, it was YOUR fault.  Check out the nice folks at Cook Shack at www.cookshackcatering.com.  They are a full service catering company that does it all, and does it well!

Sunday April 25^th – My big brother, Charles, and I climbed aboard a DEGS boat Captained by Ray Massengill in the boat ramp cove in Weldon early Sunday morning.  Like most DEGS people, Ray REALLY knows his stuff.  We caught fish immediately in Little River, and quickly had fish flopping around in the cooler.

 We watched a gentleman nearby catching fish repeatedly with a Zoom White Fluke type bait.  You don’t have to tell us twice.  We started tossing similar baits, and had some success.  Charles lit up with excitement when a healthy Rockfish inhaled his yellow fluke.  Seeing the joy and unbridled enthusiasm that Charles got from catching fish on that fluke was worth the price of admission to me.  I love to see Charles catch fish and enjoy himself.  My lifetime of fishing fun all started with him 50 years ago on the Potomac River in Maryland.  Charles taking me fishing and teaching me to fish was a priceless gift that keeps on giving 50 years later.

The richest man in the world with all his money could not buy a more exciting, pleasurable 4 days than I enjoyed recently pursuing Rockfish on the Roanoke River.  Good fishing, great quality time with family and friends, tasty eats, and a head full of pleasant memories.   I know it’s a worn out cliché, but it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Hotspot of the Week – It’s all catch and release now, but the rivers are still chock full of spawning Rockfish.  May usually sees some exciting top water action.  Throw your favorite top water lure, and hold on with both hands.  Please remember that the single barbless hook rule is still in effect in the Roanoke River anyplace upriver of Highway 258.  Ease those beauties back in the water ever so gently to survive, thrive, propagate, and fight another day.

Want to see a neat picture?  Go to www.ncwildlife.org, scroll down and key Roanoke River Fishing Report, click on the 4/29/10 report, and feast your eyes on a picture of a 52-pound Rockfish the WRC shock troops buzzed up recently in Weldon.  Gadzooks!

Rick’s Soapbox – Sorry, no room this week.

Catching fish?  Tell us about it.  Better yet, send us a picture with all the details.

See you on the water, my friend!

Caption for picture:  Adam Brosius, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Rich Goines of Tampa, FL, and Thomas Tharrington, of Wilmington, NC, participated in the 2^nd Annual Rockfish Rodeo on the Roanoke River in Weldon.  The trio enjoyed the tournament competition, fishing with professional guide Mike Shearin of Roanoke River Rentals and Guides, but did not place in the money. Tharrington recently returned from NC National Guard’s 1/120^th Combined Arms Battalion deployment to Iraq.