With the call I received on Friday morning I should have just said cancel this trip
You know the old saying nice guys finish last !
I am done chartering & filling spots on someone else charter !
Time to turn a negative into a positive
The boys from Riverdale,Pompton Plains & Pompton Lakes chartered the Little Hawk.
I arrived at the boat a 5:15 am.
Capt Joe Jr greeted me and by 5:55 am the dock lines were off.
Capt Joe Jr did tell me things have been tough Striper wise since Sun June 7th.
On the way out A few guy's from the trip yell out lets get a pool going.
$1 For the 1st keeper & $10 a man for the biggest keeper.
We all said ok.
Capt Joe Jr. took us to the 1st spot and we stayed there for a half hour and nothing was doing.Capt Joe Jr. took us to another spot where some clam boats were working & I thought for sure it was going to be drop & reel.Not the case.We took several drifts and once again nothing was happening.
Now I knew we were in trouble
Capt Joe Jr. moved us abit north and anchored up.
Everyone baited up with Clams and us soon as your line hit the bottom you were hooked up with a Blackfish.All Blackfish were released un harmed.Backwards Mike was 1 of the lucky anglers that landed 2 short Stripers and Lou Stru landed 1.
Capt Joe Jr calls me aside and says Art everyone that I talked to is having a tough time and I don't think things are going to happen as far as Stripers.What do you want to do ? I asked the other 11 guys and they all wanted to go Fluke Fishing.
Mate Jack changed all the rigs.
Capt Joe Jr set up on the 1st drift and as soon as my line I hit the bottom I landed a 19.5" Fluke.
$11 in my pocket
Lots of shorts were boated and Capt Joe Jr. set up on another drift.John S boated the next keeper and I followed with another keeper.
1 more keeper was caught that measured 19".And at 12:15 pm I had another $110 in my pocket because the 19.5" was the biggest keeper
Capt Joe Jr worked his butt off & Mate Jack was great.
Even though the catching was slow everyone had a great time.
After the trip a few of us went to The Keyport Fishery & munched out.
