I'm still trying to get a big one this year but nothing is working out. Left the marina at 5pm yesterday and hit the sandy hook rips just in time for the high tide. Drifted eels till 11:30 or so and all we got were 2 keepers at 31" and 32" and about 10 shorts. There was plenty of marks and the tide was going out so everything was perfect for big ones.
I had so many hits and lost a few and the 2 of us went through 18 eels. All I can think is that there was a lot of bait out there. I'm not good with my fishfinder yet but there looked to be lots of bait. lots of small marks close together...will try again on friday.