The rock and sand bars along the south shores are holding shoals of happily feeding fish. Far away from the rivers full of bunker and bass up inside the bay. Separate from the contently popping bass inside the estuaries and saltponds. These fish have remained to feed and play in the wash. Six or seven inch presentations have been the key to their hearts and mouths.
They are aggressive and routine and they are everything a springtime surf bass should be. The flanks of fish caught along the rocky, dark colored bars shimmer in bronze, gold, silver, purple and green. As the moon waxes closer every night their colors more brilliant. Fish on the sandy bars take on a more dusky, muted appearance. Their bodies appear white under the glow of the moon. Stripes almost invisible and their bellies are fat.
Some bars create a soft, slow wave break that changes with the tide while others are more furious, crumbling over themselves with the help of the tide zipping beneath them. The lack of wind leaves us with a steady ocean swell arriving like clockwork. The bass have timed their feeding with these cycles.
The hiss of spilling breakers is nearly deafening as you push out around the dunes. The shallowest stretch of the bar is easily spotted by the carpet of foam and steadily crumbling wave tops charging shoreward. The hardest part of the walk is the first 50 yards in the water. The water is shallow but the bottom is uneven. The smaller steady break beats your thighs every few seconds as you continue the wade. It throws water up at your face as you press seaward slowly. Pushing out past the beach break leaving the whitewater behind, the sound in the air softens. Almost silent. You can see the darkened water in the rip sweeping out past the end of the bar. This is where the first breaker line stands up silently and begins to crack at the top. You work out far enough to be just inside of the crumbling waves.
Fish move around on these bars, but it is routine and predictable to a limited extent. Fanning casts find their initial positions between sets. Bring two consecutive fish to hand then begin the search pattern again.
The surf is full of energy. This energy is cyclical and charges up with the incoming waves. Between sets the water lays still. Initially you're anxious, wondering when the next set will move in on you and how big it will be. But after several sets you adjust to it's rhythm and are confident of your footing as the breakers approach.
You settle in and stop fighting the cresting wave assault. Your mind and body are engaged, but to some extent working separately. You trust your body to deal with and anticipate the force of the oncoming water. If you allow this you will find yourself moving with the sea rather than defending against it. Over compensation for these forces will leave you feeling uneasy and unstable, but lifting and shifting with the water you feel at ease. You're not in control, but not out of control and you are safe. This leaves your mind to work on the fish. What are they doing now?
The leading edge of the next set approaches and signals that the fish will come in on the second or third. Time and place your casts with thought but you do it without thinking. The break will tell you where and when to cast. Once in the water the next approaching wave begins to tug at your line. Let the water pull it, dropping your tip so the plug slides back over the crest. When the water stops pulling on the backside of the wave you twitch and move it forward again. Give and take. The fish are sliding in on the face of the wave and turning out to head back or across before it crumbles. They will take on the front or the back so be ready.
After the waves pass some fish push back out and others push further up along the side of the bar. Now is the time to fan for them until the next set concentrates their activity again. Several minutes pass and it all repeats.
You take waves to the face and occational breakers to the chest. Clouds pass against the moon shifting the colors of your lure. Fish strike with fury and purpose. It's challenging and rewarding and thoroughly delightful. Frustration and aggravation are set aside to be dealt with at the office.
It's one in the morning and you can't wipe the grin off your face. The water is warm and the fish are all around. It's springtime in the Rhody surf.
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