backwater poking around and some cutts

Paddled back into a large estuary yesterday and spent the entire day exploring the inter-tidal zone. I'm working to become a CMI (Certified Mudflat Inspector)!
I was hunting for searun cutts with my flyrod.  Found a few! Released 'em all except for one 14"er (legal keeper) that was hooked in the back of the tongue and bleeding. It might have survived, but I needed an excuse to bonk one for dinner.
The paddle out against a stiff onshore breeze and surging incoming tide was a bit of a gruel for the last 3 miles, though. Well, what doesn't kill ya only makes ya stronger, unless it cripples ya with repetitive motion injuries. I'm glad I didn't have another mile to go.

Early next week might have decent wind conditions for fishing the Jetty in the morning and early afternoon hours. Wind has been notching up a couple mph just after 1pm, and then kicking up a few more mph after 4pm each day. I'm keeping my eye on the forecast.

You keep making those kind of threats, and I'll be there soon enough. Cuts on the fly are a pretty amazing time. pound for pound they are the feistiest trout I have ever caught.

If there is a good jetty afternoon between next Thurs-Sat I'll be there. It's only a matter of time before I get the necessary sched/weather combo I need to make the drive.

Thanks for all the coastal updates 

The last fish I hooked on the way out just refused to come to the net! It was only about 13" but it kept running away from my yak every time I got it in and tried to net it, stripping out line and making my drag sing. Jumped a few times, too! I started worrying about being late on the incoming tide, as it was picking up steam and going to be harder to paddle against, but I finally got that mighty midget into the net, where the hook just fell out (fishing barbless). It revived immediately and darted off. Love to hook that little champ again next year, if it makes it! I at least hope that fish makes it to the spawning grounds. It showed evidence of damned good fighting genes!