Greetings All!
Sounds like everybody is stoked!
First off, I got Ed's friend name wrong -- its Chris, not Phil. He's done some fishing in the past and looking to start back up again. This should be the perfect trip to get him back into fishing!
Fifteen foot rods? Capt Dave has all the radio antennas he needs! My longest rod is a nine footer -- I do mostly jetty fishing in my old age -- hate carrying all that gear through the sand. Won't be using anything over seven feet on the boat....
Capt Dave supplies light six foot rods with Penn spinfishing reels spooled with 20 lb test. He supplies Octopus hooks and split shot for chumming, and hi-lo rigs for bottom fishing.
Everyone should bring a liveliner rig (mine is on a seven foot Shimano Tiger Ugly stick.) If you have a favorite light action rod, bring that too, especially if you want to pitch jigs or metal (really don't want to be overhead casting on the boat!) The light action rod will be good for grabbing the spot at the Choptank before the trip, which is 2:00 PM, not 3:00 PM. Bring a plastic minnow bucket to keep the spot alive (I have an aerator....)
I'll be bringing my tackle bag, just in case I want to get fancy (especially while drift fishing.) Capt Dave usually starts fishing with each stop, just to prove his rigs and bait will work. Of course, when he ties into fish you pretty much have to hawgtie him to get him to stop. With just me and Ed we didn't mind so much, but with five guys we don't want him cutting into our limits or taking up valuable space at the rail. Gilbert keeps the bait coming (actually baits your hook so that no one is wasting precious bunker guts!) The bunker guts are worse than chicken livers, and if they're not hooked right you'll be cleaned before you feel the hit!
The price is $520.00 which includes the mates 15%. That's $104.00/man. Fish cleaning is extra. Ed is pretty good at haggling with Capt Dave to get the fish filleted for a set price. There's a fish cleaning station back at the dock if you want to do your own. If you stay overnight, Kool's in Cambridge will fillet fish for a buck a pound (that's the weight of the fish, not the fillets!) Just have to ice them up good overnight.
That's all I can think of for now. Here's the more detailed directions:
DIRECTIONS TO SAWYER AT RIPPONS MARINA, HOOPERSVILLE, MD.
• Follow Rt. 50 E. to Cambridge, MD.
• At 5th traffic light, turn RIGHT onto Rt. 16 (Wal-Mart Plaza).
• Follow Rt. 16 to Church Creek (approx. 7 miles).
• At intersection in Church Creek, turn LEFT onto Rt. 335.
• Follow for about 10 miles to intersection of Rts. 335/336 (across from Gootee’s Marina).
• Turn RIGHT and follow Rt. 335 to Hoopers Island (about 6 miles.)
• 1 ½ miles after first bridge onto the Island, turn RIGHT on Hoopers Island Rd. (before “Dead End” sign). Follow this road for 6 miles, crossing over the taller bridge to Hoopersville.
• Rippons Marina is on the LEFT. The boat “Sawyer” is docked right next to the parking lot.
Sorry sand flea for using up so much band width for this charter - I'll make it up to you in my 2004 donation! Thanks for a great site!
he he.
