Fellow Anglers,
Took the Parker out for her shakedown run and some exploratory fishing with my mate Mark along with some very good friends Steve Marx of Ringoes, NJ, John Cuozzo of Advantage Promotions and Donnie of Tastee Subs in Somerset, NJ. Left the marina at 7:30 am planning to fish the entire incoming tide in Raritan Bay. Our plan was to hunt down spring Stripers in the bay. With all the runoff from our rains I was cautiously optimistic about our trip. The Shrewsbury, where the boat is docked, was quite clear and clean, but as we turned and headed north around the Earle pier the water started to discolor and we knew we might have some trouble to today. But onward we went.
Headed west to our planned destination around the Keyport flats area on the advice of our resident back bay expert, Donnie of Tastee Subs. Marked few fish around the Union Beach/Keyport area so we decided to anchor up while seeing a few other charters friends of mine within site in the area.
Clammed our rear ends off to raise one (1) short bass and a legal flounder for our efforts. We were clamming the incoming tide which I really thought was going to produce today in gorgeous weather with a light southeast breeze. Bottom line........for boaters, the bass bite with good consistent numbers, is still a week or two away. Don't get me wrong, they could flood in here with the arrival of bunker and cleaner water at any time, but as of yesterday it's slim pickings out there.
Tight Lines,
Capt. John
