8-15-07
Angela Rose Charters hosted the Chris O'Brien Deep Water Fluke Charter. Along with Chris was Chuck, Matt, Ryan, (Scuba Nut) Bob T. and Bob M. We left port at 0630 and headed to some nasty grounds a couple miles east, outside the inlet. The day before, a small fleet of boats loaded up with some good fish and some decent numbers. Before running offshore, we figured we would give it a shot. We made several drifts with an average of a keeper per drift along with 5-8 shorts. After we put a few in the box, and fishing slowed, we motored north to the SG Reef and set up shop. On our first drift, we put 5 good fish in the box up to 24 inches. It came time to set out for some bigger fish. Angela Rose II motored out 18 miles offshore with wind and waves building on out way out. The first drift in 125 feet of water had some disgusting bottom. Bob T. started snatching up sea bass while nearly everyone else had their hands full tying new rigs. The seas started to build up pretty solid and our drift became better then 1.5 with a sea anchor. It was time to head back inshore after two short drifts. Upon arrival, we made a handful of drift and still put a couple more fish topside. In the time we returned to a new wreck on the SG Reef, the wind was a stiff 25 knots out of the South and seas built up to stacked 6's with some 8's mixed in. Although, Angela Rose II didn't have much effect on her, the sea conditions were not in our favor anymore. Our time was up so we tanked our way back to Manasquan Inlet, and put 3 drifts in the river so see who was home. A 1.7 knot drift reaped our rewards and sent us packing 45 minutes after our scheduled time.
Over all we put 13 fish up to 5 pounds and 9 meaty sea bass on ice with somewhere between 50-60 fish making their way back.