Well hope this is the beginning of a good thing to come. Couldn't help but insist on splashing on the day of the NJSWF dinner even if it honked 20+ MPH. Hope to make this a continued tradition. Got the boys together for what should have been a 4 Dramamine excursion. The crew included one of the steadies and sure fire fisherman T-bone, his son Nick B. and Nick’s cousin Joey Pops. Pretty sure we should have had our heads examined but busted lines at 8:00. Wind out of West and the Shrewsbury dumping water against it made for some serious white caps in the river. We motored slowly on this seasons shake down. One minor problem.... Sounder wasn't reading depth. Knew what the problem was for sure. The shoot thru airmar either leaches or the sounding solution dissipates over time. Figured we take a pre-marked route loaded in the C80 out to the SH bay just to inspect conditions. HOLY SMOKES.... 5 footers at the mouth of the bay and river. Never seen conditions like that this close. For a moment, I thought mother nature relocated the RIPS and was playing a nasty trick on us. Had to gauge the timing on a full 180 so we didn't get breached by an incoming. Needless to say, the bow got buried a couple of times. Felt like I was taking the car through the shammy shine. Water over the top...wipers keeping time but ineffective. Counting intervals and frequency, the window appears. Throttle hammered downward, the wheel cranked hard port the crest of a wind- pushed wave graces the Armstrong bracket and transom giving us a shove back into the river. We headed back to the marina and tied up to reassess the game plan.
The fellas were still looking to get some activity in. If we were doing anything, it was going to be the river. First order of business... top off the ducer. Not a prayer, we were going up there without real time sounding although routes have been logged to some favorite locales. While taking care of business, Nick B and Joey Pops made a bee line to get chum logs for a revised plan. So, we motored off up river to dunk a bunch of clams chunks and pieces to see if we could raise some interest for either stripes or flounder. None of the channel markers are in the Navesink, although, the no wakes and the channel splitter buoy are there. I guess they’ll be getting around to anchoring the balance of them shortly.
A couple of the head boats out of AH brought their handful of fares up into this area to get out of the wind. We anchored up just past the OB and started chumming with fury. A couple of clammers were here raking away. Figured this might be a good scene with a stirred bottom. After two and a half hours we had one keeper flatty T-bone hooked on light tackle and not even a touch by the stripers on fresh clams. No way. Just can’t have it that way. Pulled anchor and told the boys we were taking a ride. Headed right back out to the wall of terror. Wind slowed a bit and the river completed the purge. Hit the route to a decent near port spot right outside of the tip. Dropped the hook in some rocky conditions but good enough to give it a shot. Half a bag of RED clams and 3 dozen fresh still left, we started the process all over. By now, it’s about noon. Tide just about to finish the turnover. If it was going to happen, we had about 1 - 1 ½ hr. Nick claims he has a touch. Everyone focuses on his rod tip like a bird dog on point. Sure enough, tip is bouncing again. Nick grabs the rod and attempts a set and there’s a swing and a miss. Within a minute, his dad, T-bone jumps on his gear and raises the first striper of the season on Z’Obsession. A keep - 29” is thrown into the cooler. Everyone’s spirits are amped up 10X. More chum delivered. Bat is cracking clams. lines are reset with fresh bait. Intensity level HIGH. We’re feeling like we’ve got a timer on this thing and we about to be buzzed off the game show floor. My St Croix flexes. I immediately recall the sensation from late last season and go into auto pilot. I’ve got Tikki in one hand and begin barking out requests to take it off my hands. Joey Pops comes to the rescue. The croix is jacked out of the holder and hook set in one motion. This feels like a striper. She comes to the boat rather quickly. A short - 24”. Felt good to break the ice. Nick is still at it. Now it’s his turn. No miss this time. He has the same results. Another short to returned. Time is quickly passing. Tide is starting to slack. We continue to get bites here and there. Joey Pops had mother nature call and makes way to the dispensing bucket. He’s dead sticking. I watch his gear. Go figure, it starts dancing in the holder. I’m telling him he better drop the P bucket and get on the stick. He’s confused… not wanting splash the boat … I’m yelling to drop it or throw it over board. He finally manages to put it down. Picks up the rod out of its holder…. And you guessed it. Another free meal. Damn…. Hate when that happens. Shortly after that my rod takes a dump again. I’m on it like wet rag…. Hook set. Got a little weight this time around. Nick B does the netting honors on the second keep for the day 30.5". We had our 1hr or so of glory but just as it turned on, it shut down just a quick.
Overall, an adventurous day. Not a bad way to start the season. Only one thing topped it. One hell u va party at the Captain’s Inn. Thanks fellas.
Till next time.
