Irish Ayes first trip for 2008

[IrishAyes]

Left the dock at 8. Topped off the fuel tanks, OUCH, and headed out to sea.

Made our first stop south of SR Inlet. Nothing happening. From there, we worked our way north. Stopped at several spots and eventually made it to Monmouth Beach. Had three short fluke and one keeper at 20 inches. The keeper fluke was hanging around Long Branch. The short were just shy of last years keepers.

We did have a field day with the blues. All while fishing for fluke. Most hit when the bait were down on the bottom, some grabbed the baits as the guys were reeling in.  Brought back 12 blues as one of the guys makes a kick-butt salad out of them (so I have been told). Will also use some for shark bait when they arrive. 

The drift was slow, when the wind started to pick up in the afternoon the drift went from bad to worse. Wind against current, current being the stronger, pushed us into the wind but not very much. Very slow drift all day. At least the weather was a winner. 

Will be back on the water tomorrow to try again.

[Bucktail]

Nice Joe!  Bet it felt good to just get back on the water and start the new season!

[wink_man]

Good report, glad you got out, hopefully tomorrow will be even better.
 Garry

[Capt. Mike]

Capt. Joe you guys are the best you gave them hell. The water is just too fen cold...
 Great job hope to see your reports soon, catch em up...

[Hotrod]

great try Joe..  I'm sure when they are ready.. you will be right on them

[PeggyLee]

Nice to out there...
Good Luck in the A.M.

[hareball]

Nice try Capt.

As much as we want to start fluke fishing it would be nice if it started a few weeks later and ended a few weeks after it closed.

On the plus side it looks like we have nice clean water and alot of bluefish so bring on the SHARKS

[Fishin Dude]

Good Job. Nice day out there today. Fish in the box> <'((((><

[Uncle Luna]

nice report joe those blues always save the day when nothing else is biting

[CapBob]

Good job Joe.....way to make the MAiden voyage (other than bringing a Maiden )

[mboy]

 

[Still Running]

Nice report Joe 

[Reel Time]

atleast ya tried, instead of wishing you where fishing

[Hunter 2]

Nice report Joe, How long will it take for the 17" Fluke to grow an inch??   

[Pops Soul]

Nice Report as always Joe. I thought for sure I would here of some Bass action from you. When I got back to my marina there were a few guys that were up in the Red Church area who scored on some nice bass pulling plugs trough the water. 

[Luna Sea 5]

nice start

[ped579]

Good start to the young season...

[wb]

Nice Joe
...and so it begins....
they will be cooperating better soon.

[IrishAyes]

Nice report Joe, How long will it take for the 17" Fluke to grow an inch??   

Eddie, here's the only thing I could find on the growth of a fluke.

Young fry taken in Chesapeake Bay, had increased in length from about 0.9-2.4 inches long in May and June, to 3-5 inches in the last week of July; were 4.7-7.1 inches by December and January when one year old or a little less; about 8-10 inches long in the following October, when they were a little short of two years old; and they measured 10½ to 11 inches by their second May; i. e., when a little more than 2 years of age. The subsequent rate of growth has not been traced, so far as we know.

Length Average weight in pounds
15-16 inches 1 to 1¼
17-18 inches 2 to 2¾
20 inches 3 to 3½
22 inches 4
27 inches 8
30 inches 10
37 inches 20

Anything else would be a guess on my part as to how fast they grow an inch. 

[irenegade]

Great report and info!  Really makes me jealous!
But... I get seasick just looking at a picture of a boat on the water.  I used to be very into fishing as a kid thanks to my uncle a career navy man, and some of my buddies.  I had both fresh and salt water set-ups and remember loading everything on my bike stopping off at a deli for a hero and coke and hit the ponds and lakes with my friends.  I was always prone to motion sickness but tolerated fishing in Long Island's bays and inlets.  Then one fateful day when I was about 16 or 17yo, we were heading out deep for cod and hopefully tuna when after pulling in a few shark, whiting and cod, I got incredibly sick. It was so bad we turned back in and fished for flounder until I couldn't take it any more. That was the beginning of the end.  So now I'm starting fishing up again, but sticking to the shore!  Man how I miss being out there!
Jeff