The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tells us October was the second warmest of all Octobers recorded with surface and land temperatures pegged at 58.23 degrees, and until this week the coziness continued into November. So much like spring that Willie Williams of Cape St. Claire decided to troll his trophy season pattern.

Reports of big sea-run striper also played a role in the decision, and while fishing 50-foot waters between Bloody Point and Gum Thickets the rod closest to 9-year-old Kyle Nogel, also of Cape St. Claire, went down and the youngster was working on a striper of 441/2 inches.

“It was...