Got to the boat real early Saturday morning(6/7/08) as I just couldn't sleep. Made it to the boat first at 3am and put my cooler in line. Took my lil spinner and went up on the pier. One guy was up there bait fishing for bass/blues with no results. Worked a bucktail tipped with Gulp in the shadowlines and around some pilings. Had two good bumps but no hookups. Outgoing tide was moving pretty good. Went to a spot that usually holds fluke and started working the bottom. Had a few stops but felt like small fish. Saw another Sea Hawk angler come up on the pier to fish a bit too. Finally hooked one and got it up onto the pier. Still dark so cell didn't really capture the moment too well. Did send it off to T who was home. Got a grumpled text response. She was a bit under the weather and just couldn't deal with a day in the sun/heat.
Released the fish which was about 16" and walked back to see what the other guys were doing. The guy that was up there originally packed up and left, while I BS'd with Timmy and he soon caught a short fluke as well
Tried a few more casts, couple more minor bites, then broke off on a snag.
Figured I didn't want to use up all my luck so headed back to the gate to BS with some more flukers that were showing up to sail on the SH.
Caught up on things with a few old Sea Pigeon regulars that I haven't seen in awhile and had to tie up some rigs for Marilyn. Did get a nice new fish towel for my efforts though
Being first got me my choice of spots so went to old reliable that I haven't fluked from yet this year, starboard stern corner.
A good crowd was onboard, but far from railed. Was good to see some kids and a few female anglers onboard
I sabiki'd up a few baits but the current made it difficult at first. Put a few tiny snappers and about a dozen "sardines" over the rail with a couple rainfish mixed in.
Headed out to the bay and captain steamed a little further then where he's been getting them at. Got some time to BS and catch up with mates Rob and Nick.
Action was hot and heavy on the first drift. I boated the first keeper of the day and figured that'd be the "kiss of death" for me. Lots of action. Bottom seemed to be paved with fish. Lots of short fluke with half of those being "just short" and tons of sea robins. Some truly big ones that fought remarkably well. A few were bloated and must be ready to spawn.
I started out the day with a pink/white bananna head jig tied by Billy Vivona my rod builder himself. Put a 4" glow Gulp grub on it and was into the fish pretty good. Pretty sure it was an ouce jig and wanted to scale back a bit, but kept catching so I didn't change...until the third yellow-eyed demon on it decided to make it hairless Had 3 keepers by then.
Tied on a 3/4 oz Spro in chartreuse/white that had seen better days. Even had to sharpen the hook as it was rusted. No barb and had to reshape the point
Back on track and hooking fish again. Easily was on pace for getting a keeper after boating 10 sea robins and 6 short fluke, so had ALOT of action.
Had to move from our drift for some large barges and once we were able to get back to the spot the current died out and the bite shut off. Captain made some moves and power drifted to produce some flurries of action and a pick of fluke.
Did get a little slow and I tried to add some flavor to the my jig/Gulp combo with a fresh strip bait that took another keeper and some searobins. Also tried the snappers which must have been crack to smaller fish as they were instantly hit but only small fish hooked. Back to just the jig/Gulp and caught some more shorts about 17.5"
Ended the day with a few drifts in back of the bay were I caught some more bluefish with one deciding to take my jig home with him. Couple more sea robins and short fluke to end the day.
Thought I was stuck at 7 keepers as the mates kept telling me every fish I caught was short, even the pool fish. Ended the day with my limit. There were a couple nice fish onboard from 4-6lbs as well. A few onboard struggled or only caught shorts. Jigging was definetely the way to go that day, even though a few tried it and gave up early on Didn't really have to jig hard, but had to keep it moving, not stationary or shorts&trash fish were all over it.
All in all a good day with it being very good for me
