Finally, after weeks of delay getting parts to finish off some warrantee work, we met our dealer around mid-morning on Friday at the ramp under the GW in palisades state park to launch Fluka Brasi for the '09 season. My buddy Dave joined me for the run down the river, while my bro Rob drove the van down to the marina in Keansburg after dropping us off at the ramp. Despite steady rain and fairly stiff winds, the boat ran great and we made fine time to Keansburg, beating Rob there by a few minutes.. thanks to a strong wind and tide on our tails..
After seeing the snotty conditions and not a single other boat on our entire trip across the bay, we decided to bail on the planned fishing for Friday afternoon. and got Fluka settled in her slip and ready for the next day.
Rob and I met Dave at the dock Sat am, and we pulled out of Keansburg at about 6:30 and headed straight out to the Reach for that last of the incoming. After setting our first drift on the edge of the green side of the channel, I went about rigging a couple rods, while Dave and Rob dropped in.. As we drifted up the edge on onto the flat, Dave hooked first a fat Bird, and then FB's 1st Fluke of the year... a nice 20-21 incher on spearing/squid.. Our hopes soared with such a nice fish coming so quick, but we where soon brought back to reality wih a long string of shorties and birds, through the last hour of incoming.. At the slack, we headed east, and tried a few drifts with the mobs around the hook, decking more shorties before moving outside to find a sizable, but gentle swell left over from friday's blow.. Spent most of the rest of the day drifting off the beaches with steady action most of the day, but very few keepers amoung them.. Ended the day with only 3 in the box, and 1 about 19" getting a reprive, when i decided I was cool and tried to lift him in before Dave could get the net.
Oh well.. In general it was a fantastic day.. with georgeous weather, tons of laughs ..Left the camera in the truck, so no pics this trip..gotta knock the rust off some, but it sure felt great to be back in action..
