My Monday fluke trip was cancelled in the am by the crew. It was raining back home and they didn't want to chance a bad weather day. Can't say that I blame them. However, I was at my trailer, just minutes from the boat, and the weather there was overcast, no rain, yet.
At about 10am we did get about a ten minute shower. The sky remained overcast, but the rain was over for the day.
After a few cleaning chores at my trailer I headed to the boat. I needed to fuel her up for our next trip. After putting a small fortune in the tanks, I decided to see what the ocean conditions were like.
On the way out and passing by the Belmar marina, a young man on the dock yelled over to me, "Hey, you got room for one more on your boat?" I was alone and had all the room in the world. In looking at this guy, I accessed that he was in the military or just got out. His hair cut and manner of dress were big clues in this.
I motored over to the dock and spoke with him for a few minutes. Told him I was only going out for an hour or so to see if I could find some bunker and bass. Found out that he was in the marines and recently got back from Iraq and was heading back in a few weeks. (A month furlow, if I remember correctly).
I invited him aboard and off we went.
Hit the ocean and looked for bunker, none in sight. Went to Asbury and dropped some fluke lines down. No drift, no fish. But the bunker did show up.
Went over to a pod and snagged a few. Put them out for bass. The marine, his name was John, hooked up with something that took a lot of line. The line eventually parted. Upon retrieval, it looked like it either frayed on something or was chewed off.
Another hook up a short time later and John was onto a shark. Don't know what kind, but it had a wide girth, and was not a dogfish. It was about four foot in length. After several twists and turns the shark frayed the line and the line parted. Let me tell you, John was in his glory.
Tried a few other pods with no luck. After about two hours I had John back on the dock. He told me he never had an experience with catching the bunker and hooking up with a shark before. That made his day and his attitude made mine.
No fish to show for our efforts, but a good memory of watching him fight that shark.
John, stay safe and thanks for fighting for our country.
