Had a small crew today. Only Bob G and Eddie (Hunter 2) could make it. Got to the boat at 630 am and shoved off shortly thereafter. Was hoping for some snag and drop with the bunker. None to be found.
Made our way to the Shrewsbury Rocks and started looking for marks. Saw some and jigged with negative results. Put out the trolling rods and Bob G hooks up with a nice fish on a Stretch 25. Gets it to the boat and leads it perfectly into the waiting net. A sweet 20-25# bass. I am the net man and go to pick the fish out of the water grabbing the rim of the net and lifting the fish. Well, I missed the rim on the right side and had the netting only. I lift the fish out of the water and roll it right out of the net. Not to worry, the fish is still hooked, or so I thought. NOT. Off it swims leaving me standing there with an empty net and feeling like a horses butt.
Trolled some more with negative results.
Took a long ride north after getting word that some boats were heavy into bass up there. Got there too late for the bite. When we arrived we did have fish finning on top but we couldn't get any to hit our offerings. This only lasted for one quick drift. Spent a frustrating hour or two without a single bump.
Made our way back to the rocks and out come the trolling gear again. Trolled around for a bit with out a sniff. Figured we'd pull the lines and make a mad dash south and see what was happening. As Bob was bringing in the shad umbrella me and Eddie hear a "fish on" from Bob. He proceeds to bring a 36" bass to the boat. I hesitently grabbed the net and get the job done this time.
We are now 1 for 2 and the lines go back in the water.
Trolled a little more and the shad umbrella goes off again. Bob yells to Eddie (who is on a nature call) to put his pole down
and grab the fishing pole, and Eddie complies.
The fight is on. The fish is pulling drag and I'm now thinking multiple fish on the umbrella. After a bit Eddie brings the fish boatside. Into the net it goes, barely. Onto the deck and measures out at a whopping 49 inches!!! Later to be weighed in at Scott's B%T in Bradley Beach at 43.7 pounds!
We troll around again and I bring in a measly ol' 33 inch bass, being well dwarfed by Eddies fish in the cooler.
Turned out to be a good day after all.
Eddies fish
Eddie's fish along side 36" measuring board
Eddie's fish on Scott's certified scale
