11-9 Manasquan Bluefishing

[djtdmd]

Got out late as usual around 2pm. Headed south and saw a large fleet about 2 miles south of inlet. Tried some jigging, fishfinder not working well. Decided to troll, got one large blue on a Mann stretch 25. Used a downrodder or whatever they are called for the first time. The metal vertical rodholder that sits in the boats rodholder and keeps the rod angled down. What the heck are these called anyhow? It seemed to work well, had the lure out about 100 ft. Since I am lazy and disorganized by nature, I only trolled the one line. My son went to sleep in the cabin out of boredom, and then zingggggggggggg...I got him and had him bring in the blue. Trolled around a bit more, no takers. Came in around 4pm, and had bit of a problem- while docking, I sprung a power steering line leak, and lost steering to both engines. What fun. I managed to put it in the side floating dock by spinning the outboards as if I had twin inboard engines. Don't laugh- you try it at dusk with wind and current! I was surprised to learn that if this happens, there is no way to steer- no pressure= no steering. If this happened in the inlet I was screwed. Thank God for twins. And yes, my 26 Whaler is only 2 years old and meticulously maintained. Gotta love it- there should be a backup system if this happens- If I had thought to have some duct tape, perhaps I could have got some pressure/ maintained steering. Very tired, good nite.

[Pfishingruven]

Great report and nice catch!  Glad your steering went near the dock...

 

[blynch]

Got out late as usual around 2pm. Headed south and saw a large fleet about 2 miles south of inlet. Tried some jigging, fishfinder not working well. Decided to troll, got one large blue on a Mann stretch 25. Used a downrodder or whatever they are called for the first time. The metal vertical rodholder that sits in the boats rodholder and keeps the rod angled down. What the heck are these called anyhow? It seemed to work well, had the lure out about 100 ft. Since I am lazy and disorganized by nature, I only trolled the one line. My son went to sleep in the cabin out of boredom, and then zingggggggggggg...I got him and had him bring in the blue. Trolled around a bit more, no takers. Came in around 4pm, and had bit of a problem- while docking, I sprung a power steering line leak, and lost steering to both engines. What fun. I managed to put it in the side floating dock by spinning the outboards as if I had twin inboard engines. Don't laugh- you try it at dusk with wind and current! I was surprised to learn that if this happens, there is no way to steer- no pressure= no steering. If this happened in the inlet I was screwed. Thank God for twins. And yes, my 26 Whaler is only 2 years old and meticulously maintained. Gotta love it- there should be a backup system if this happens- If I had thought to have some duct tape, perhaps I could have got some pressure/ maintained steering. Very tired, good nite.

Very nice, d... i am out of manasquan river too (manasquan river club)  what dock are you at?? i feel like i've seen SCORPIO out there before, boston whaler conquest?

[shkbilly]

Nice report, thanks.

FWI When you buy the replacement hose, buy an extra and keep it with you. The kind of pressure a hydraulic steering system puts out will laugh at duct tape or anything you throw at it.

[IrishAyes]

Good report and nice job with the docking under them conditions. 

I believe the item you are referring to while trolling is called an out rodder. It holds the rods in a position where the rods are point out from the boat. They make for a wider trolling pattern.

[Hunter 2]

Sorry about your stearing problem, Are you using a mono or flourocarbon leader with the stretch 25? I like to use around 5' of 50lb Flourocarbon trolled at 5 mph.

[Bucktail]

Nice report!  Sorry to hear about your mechanical problems.  Hopefully you can get that fixed easily!