The forecast called for a sunny day starting with 5 mph wind from the N.East gradually climbing around 11am to 10 mph to 13 mph. We pulled out of Keyport at 7:15 am with Cashin, Jersey joe and Scott G with live eels and trolling gear. The water temp was 64 deg. As I rounded Sandy Hook we slowed down to find a nice chop caused by the hooks tip. The party boat fleet was anchoring up on Flynns knoll and I saw some Black sea bass coming over the rails. Further south along the hook we tried eels around a clam dragger and also the rip with no luck. We made a move to the deeper water by the SHC buoys and drifted.
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Another move was to Romer shoal " nothing here" . Out goes the trolling spread from Romer to the red side of the Ambrose channel heading up to West Bank and then South down the chapel Hill south channel. No birds, No fish. We then motored over to what was Old Orchard light and drifted eels one more time. Jersey Joe pulls in a keeper fluke that had its teeth clamped on to the eels tail. He shook it off boat side. The wind never did kick up and it turned out to be a beautiful day.
Back at the marina at 1:30 pm for lunch at the Bluerock.
I'm pulling the boat out today cause the raw water pumps acting up again. We will be back in and fishing by next weekend.
Good luck everyone, Seabass seems to be the ticket until the Stripers are more plentiful
