Pilot and Capt Don Jr - Tog Limit 10.5 Lber season wrap - 11/23

[pilot2550]

They say the third times the charm.  At least that's the party line.  Well, I can tell you we had a real good day.   This is how it all unfolds.  Sitting on a conference call at 8:00 last night.  Did some premiliminary look at weather forecast as I had every intention of getting out on Wednesday.  Wind looked like a real blow out and options for the weekend were not that good between forecasted wind and other things scheduled for the next couple days after Turkey day.  How the heck can we squeeze one more in if the weather will not cooperate?  BB in hand, I rifle off a text to Capt D.Jr.  "I think I'm feeling a little sick for tomorrow. Are you in?"  He jumps all over it.  Makes a call.  Gets coverage.  I send a note off to the boss and we planning on a 5:45 meet for a run down to the marina.   We had 76 clams, a 2 dozen greenies left over from last trip sitting in the cooler waiting for the Wednesday run.   

We do our usual ritual stuff.  Donnie says he put on the same clothes as Friday's trip to not screw with the mojo.  I'm guilty of the same kind of superstitions.  Red & Black, white hat etc.   You get the picture.  You do it too!

We launch in a good ripping current in a tight slip with a little bit of high anxiety but clear our way to the Shrews and make it around the tip.   Like clock work, we find the bird activity predictably in the same vicinity between the channels.  Today was a little different.  Water was flat.  Bass were rolling on the surface with birds all over the place.   We through the jigs for a bit but no interest.  Donnie breaks out some surface plugs and we hug a pod of bass boiling.  A beautiful sight watching a plug get crushed.  Especially on the first cast.   Donnie is cranking away and puts the stops on a nice 29" that's got a bloated gut full of sandies.  We hung around with Bass right at the transom but couldn't get another one going.   No time to waste.  We got some dunking to do!

By 7:45 we’re at the destination and the markers dropped.   We get tight on the anchor on the first attempt and start dropping eight oz with clams and crabs.   Don is first to strike and continues to pound the tog.   Keeps are slow to come by and they‘re short by a half inch.  I'm not doing much here and feel like its going to be one of those days.  Pulled a few shorts but couldn't keep pace with Mr Steady who suggests " sometimes you just have to change it up entirely.  Give the Croix a shot"   I was working an ugly stick to see if it had the right touch. Probably does and it‘s operator error.   I'm thinking that experiment is over.   Break out the Croix and Wha La!  Hook up ratio improves dramatically.  One other boat came sniffing around and hung out for about an hour and then bailed.  The bottom we were working had all the right characteristics - jagged peaks, rocks, wreckage, debris and plenty of life.   

So, the morning passes fairly quick.   We have a count of 10 fish in the box.  All of which were a heartier stock than last report.   Most of the throw backs were just short 13.5 inch.   Clams seemed to be the bait of preference.  I slop on a whole clam  threading the loose ends around the hook to keep everything intact.  Drop it down and instantly get hammered.  "Don, Don,  this is what we came here for today"   The Croix is flexed.  Bent like a willow branch real good.  The drag on the Shimano was cranked down tight.  Good thing.. Tip up high and a few cranks gave me enough leverage on this brute.   Amazed by the power of this fish.   Made me think of a deisel motor with that low end crazy torque.   He fought.  Did not want to come up.  Decided it was  his gig not mine and dragged me back near home base but then gave up the good fight.  Still tugged all the way back on the line I just gave back to him.   Gets to the surface where Donnie has the net. He takes the plunge and puts the nylon wrap on this fish.   What a nice fish….we’re fist bumpin like we just won the trifecta.   Man what a way to wrap up the season.   PB - got an unofficial 10.5 lb on the hand held digital. Couldn’t have happened at a better time or with a better fishing partner.   He was net man on my PB Fluke too!       

Sad day, pulling the boat tomorrow but will relive some found memories fishing with the likes of Tbone, Capts Don Jr, Don Sr, Nickshaw, Snagglepuss, Joey Pops, Reel Tight, Paul, Lt Willy, Skunk, Kooz, Poor Dog, Silent Assassin, Pops O'Bryne, Brian, Shay Shay, Trash Talker, Witchesbru, Doc, The Bee Man, PA boys. Hope to widen the network next year.

Best of luck to all that are still fishing and here's to all of you during the off season! 

[Team Reel Tight]

nice work capt.......what a season and some great memories

[gottog]

NICE TOG!  Congrats on the double digit pb!

[Hotrod]

   Great trip guys .  Nice Fish

[shayshay]

Hey Brother sounds like you finished up  this season strong . Had a great time fishing with you this past weeeknd with a lot of laughs "knock, knock -who's there? Radio. Radio who?" as well as fish. I look forward to next year fishing on Z'Obsession.....

[Scott G.]

  Great trip guys .  Nice Fish

              

[wb]

great trip
congrats on the PB

[Tbone]

Pilot, What a way to end the season on a PB Blackfish.  You will be thinking of that fish all winter.  Well, just want to thank you for all the great trips we had this year. Spring claming and trolling for striper, mid summer fluke & then late season blackfish.  What a great year.     We have at least one more trip remaining.  Not over just yet    T-Bone

[Capt. Carl]

Congrats on the pb and way to wrap up the season!

[Kenny]

Sweet fish .... way to wrap up 2010 with a PB

[Tacklebox Joe]

 

[Noworries2009]

  Congrats on the PB

[IrishAyes]

Nice fish and great report. You had a fine season Jeff. Here's to an even better one next year.  

[Bucktail]

Awesome Jeff!  WTG!  Great season ender!

[Still Running]

  Nice way to end it. Congrats 

[Capt. Don Sr]

Nice TAUG  you worked hard enough,catching fish for your crew every single time you take us out on the Z OBSSESION,The hard work and the worring about being in the right place,or right tide and wind and bait and if the lures are right,or are we going to get SKUNKED today.CAPT Z you even made sure everyone had a butter roll in the morning before we started fishing.GREAT FISH FOR A GREAT GUY. YOUR FISHING BUDDY CAPT DON SR

[Treebeard]

Fine report    and an awesome way to put a cap on a great season   

[Hunter 2]

great report Jeff