Finally was able to make it out again after going 2 weeks without a shot. Had to play hooky from work (hope my boss isn't reading this) in order to give it one more chance before the season shut down.
Went out planning on running North and hoping they blew the forcast which they pretty much did. Other than a really big swell, it was pretty nice out there.
Started off Long Branch and immediately had action on the seabass. Put 3 big ones in the box along with a bunch of other shorts. One short fluke as well. With it being to very calm we ran furthur north off of the rocks and had decent action as well. One more really big seabass in the box and more shorts. I switched over to a 3 ounce bucktail and teaser and bounced it around getting some decent action. Then I felt a hard tug, so I set the hook and held on. At first I though it was a massive fluke but it started to run and pull out drag!
I fought it and got it boatside to see a huge white belly on the top hook, and a bluefish on the bottom! Then the bluefish took off again taking the fluke for a ride. After a nice fight and a couple of trips around the boat my pops netted the fluke while I grabbed the leader and brought the bluefish in. Keeper fluke and some shark bait. Man was that fun. After that the tide shut down and so did any action. We aimed south stopping along a few spots but ended up with nothing so we went in.
Maybe next year.
