Left the dock with Johnny Oz, Andy, Bob G and Ed aboard. The game plan was to head north toward Shrewsbury Rocks looking for bunker or working birds on the way, fish for stripers if we got any bunker and then fish for fluke.
We recorded water temperature of 48 degrees, way to cold for fluke. The fog as thick and stayed like that most of the day. As we headed north the temperature was rising.
We found bunker north of Asbury and snagged a dozen or so. We sent some down to the bottom but the bass were no shows at this point.
Made our way to Monmouth Beach and made several drifts inshore for fluke. The water temperature there was 59 degrees. Still too cold for fluke but we had to give it a try.
Nothing doing there so we went into the rocks and drifted around for a while. No fluke or bass but did boat a sea robin and a doggie.
The conditions not any better off shore of the rocks and the catching was the same. Nothing.
Turned around and began the journey back. Made several stops with nothing happening except for a bluefish biting a bunker in half. The bluefish never made it to the hook.
Getting close to the inlet and the end of the day and not satisfied with getting a skunk, I wanted to try one last spot and it paid off. We arrived at this last spot, off of Bradley Beach, and began our drift. As I exited the cabin Andy asked if I saw some good marks. I told him that I had no marks at all but there was some good structure here. I then proceed to put my bunker in the water. As it was falling to the bottom it picked up speed. And then more speed. Has me confused at first then I realized that a fish was pulling the line out. I slammed the reel in gear and the rod doubled over. I proceeded to cranked in a bass that measured 44 inches and weighed in at 34 pounds on an uncertified scale.
I called South Paw Vinnie and told him we found a bass and gave him our location. Vinnie headed over.
We drifted off of our structure and headed back for another drift.
Made a second drift and Andy hooked up with a bass similar in length to mine and almost as thick. Vinnie could hear our hooting and hollering on this fish.
I talked to him on the phone and he was also hooked up.
Another drift and Johnny Oz hooked up with his bass. This one was just a smidgen smaller than the first two, but still a respectable bass. Johnny Oz was able to retrieve his bait and fish it again.
The action stopped just as quickly as it started. Back to the barn for us to clean bass and the boat. With all the barren area we went over today this was a great way to end the day.
I spoke to Vinnie and he managed two in the 30 pound class also.
