Jason and I started our Saturday on the Sea Hunter. Arrived early and secured a pair of good spots next to my friend Cliff in the stern. Boat was relatively empty until about 7:10 then it got crowded. Started off up on Romer's. Nothing for the first 20 minutes, then Cliff hooked up. As he was fighting his fish I hooked up. We both landed a keeper with his being slightly bigger. A short while later Jason boated a short. Nothing else came over the rail except for some skates and a sea robin I caught. We lost the tide and moved over to the Knoll. Didn't appear as if we'd get anything going after 45 minutes so Robbie fired up the engines. As he did, Cliff hooked up again landing another keeper. Robbie cut the engines and we stayed there the rest of the day. Never got into a heavy bite but we picked away. Jason landed a keeper along with 3 shorts & I added 2 more shorts. By day's end a total of 9 keepers were boated with the pool going an even #14. maybe close to 30 bass in total caught. Cliff was high hook with 7 followed Jason's 4 and my 3.
A couple of negative notes; Guys were trying to jump into Cliff's, Jason's and my spot every time we went to put on a new clam bait. Had to tell them several times that these were our spots & that if they wanted a spot towards the stern to get to the boat early & not 10 minutes before we leave. Also guys fishing from mid-ships to the bow would let their line all the way that in some cases they baits were past ours in the stern. And finally, a word to the private boaters (hopefully non of those on this site). PLEASE don't run through another boat's slick or anchor up up 25 feet off their stern .Ha at least 4 boats do one or both of those. A a BIG F YOU to a boat named Hooked Up. This jackass ran full throttle about 25 yards off our stern. Take a look at Robbie's report for pictures.
Jason & I then hit the Misty Morn for some magic hour bassing. Had spoken with the captain earlier in the day and they had good fishing on Friday night.Unfortunately there was a brisk west wind of 20 with higher gusts in the back of the bay. That coupled with an incoming tide made for less than ideal conditions. Saw nothing on the machine in the spot where he had them the previous night. Went into search mode and found some scratches here & there but nothing concentrated. Mad stops on Round Shoal, Keansburg and then back to the west. 13 fares could only scratch up 1 short bass and a pair of skates. Reports over the radio seemed to indicate much of the same for the rest of the fleet.
All in all a good day to have spent with my son on his 14th birthday.
