Author Topic: Hunter 2- Raritan bay suprise. 10-17-2013 (Read 40696 times)

Hunter 2 · « **on:** October 17, 2013, 10:20:32 PM »

I pulled out of Keyport this morning with a bushel of clams to try a different tactic to landing some Stripers in the bay. I had an outgoing tide with a misty overcast sky and a water temp of 60 deg.
   My first stop was anchoring up near the 11A buoy and starting a slick. After an hour and a half of catching skates it was time to make a move. My time was limited so I made a move to Old Orchard rockpile and dopped the anchor again about 50feet from the structure.
   At this location a couple of dogfish and several Skates took my offerings. Things were not looking very good. All of the sudden I get a really nice hit on my very light Shimano scimitar rod rated at 1/4 to 5/8 OZ lure with a Shimano Corvalus 300 reel. I thought to myself, "Finally a nice Striper". This fish was making hard runs to try to get back to the bottom, pulling drag like crazy..Everytime I gained 10 feet on the light tackle it took it back. The rod was completely bent in half but this fish was not raising in the water column as a Striper would. It started moving under the stern of the boat towards the bow and anchor line. I had to use plenty of muscle to finess it away from the running gear and trim tabs.
   Finally I was able to see that it was a large Blackfish "tautog" and grabbed the net with my right hand with rod in the left. With the fish in the net I double checked the regulations to make sure it was in season.
   It taped out to 24" and weighed 9.8 lbs. Back at the marina after it had bleed out it was officialy 9.55 certified. My personal best.

  Its stomach contained only small crushed muscles,notice in the picture the clams I was using..
   I'll be fishing out of Pt.Pleasant Saturday with friends.
   Good Luck everyone, Eddie

ChrisL · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2013, 10:58:06 PM »

Wow

News:

Author Topic: Hunter 2- Raritan bay suprise. 10-17-2013 (Read 40696 times)