Coolers with ice for drinks and food – check.
Ice for the fish box – check.
Bait, rods and reels, lures, hooks and weights – check.
Plan of attack – well, kind of a check.
With an area surrounded and full of water, and with so many boaters, fishing is nothing shy of a religion in these parts and a vast majority of vessel owners spend this time of year in pursuit of a good catch.
But fishing isn’t everything this region has to offer the casual – or even serious – boater.
How about something as simple as several hours just tooling around on the water. It’s not nearly as complicated and in many ways can be just as rewarding.
For our folks at Lynnhaven Marine and others who tie up their vessels behind theirs’ or a friend’s house, the Lynnhaven River system offers miles and miles of coastline and tons of nature to make a day on the water more than a little satisfying.
And for what it’s worth, a little easier.
Now don’t get the wrong idea, you still have to make sure you have your you-know-what together – life jackets, fire extinguisher … all that stuff you need to be Coast Guard approved.
But a cooler of drinks and snacks, and your family is ready for quiet rides.
There is a lot to the Lynnhaven River system and a lot to see.
Fancy houses along the shorelines, other boaters and plenty of wildlife.
Ospreys, red tailed hawks, bald eagles and a variety of other birds can be seen at any time and anywhere.
At low tide, you can see oyster bars loaded with the sweet and salty edibles that are some of the most famous in the world.
Bait abounds and often can be witnessed grouping up and leaping out of the water as it gets chased by puppy drum or speckled trout.
There are even chances to see a few dolphins and every now and then a manatee.
You and the rest of the family can even pull up to one of the restaurants along the shore near the mouth of Lynnhaven Inlet for a nice feast and a break from the water.
If there’s one word of caution, it would be the current in the river. As the tide is coming in or going out, it’s usually swift and can carry someone who has fallen off their boat away in a hurry. Be prepared and have at least one other person onboard who can run the vessel.
Yeah, fishing is at the top of the priorities list for most boaters. It’s a fantastic thing to do and it offers some of the best fishing in the country this tine of year.
But it’s definitely not all our wonderful region has to offer.
To read more of my work, go to: leetolliveroutdoors.com
