RodFather
10-10-2004, 09:00 PM
First off let me just get the skunk statement over and done with, two days = no fish. :(
The On Da Rocks teamed headed up a bit north for an early ASA tournament this weekend out of Manasquan Inlet. The weather was great and crew even better. The water was again nice a clean up that way almost like we left it in the spring, although those Bass that we left there had not arrived yet. Water was still 71 degrees in most areas. On Saturday I had Rottn Captain and Moses Mako6950 on board for what we felt would be a promising day. We had a plan to hit the Shrewsbury rocks if the weather let us. Well just as forecasted the morning started out real nice and calm. We made our 15 mile trek up the coast from the Manasquan Inlet to the rocks. When we arrived we found plenty of of boats doing their normal thing of trolling. We decided to do what we know best and that's to chunk Bunka! tongue.gif We found a nice little slough with a rocky bottom and set the hook. As we started our chunk line and got our rods out it really felt good to be bass fishing again. We had the likes of several bass sharpies trolling and drifting around us like Chris Hill and his crew, Young Guns Sportfishing and others. After the first half hour of no action other than the occasional rod tip fluttering I decided to put a Sabriki on a smaller rod to see what was lurking in the rocks below. Low and behold I was rewarded with immediate action of Sea Bass and Porgy. I even managed a Huge Scupp of about 14" and a nice hard fighting Trigger fish of 16". Rottn Cap. was licking his chops when he seen them. :D Well that kept us busy for a while but we were there for bass and by the looks of things NO ONE was having any Bass action. The weather was still nice so we decided to head further North in hopes of cooler water and a better shot at the Stripers. After all, there was a New boat on the line for the winner. So we headed about another 11 miles North to Sandy Hook area and turned the bend and headed away from the crowd over to the NY side near Coney Island. Starring at Brooklyn in the face we found a spot that served us well in the spring and setup for the chunk once again. I was amazed that I was now about 26 miles from Manasquan inlet looking at NYC in the background. I have never traveled so far in my boat before but thought this is nothing compared to the Fountain crew who ran 120 miles one way to CT to fish. Well needless to say we never did anything there either as the water was still 71 up there as well and listening to the radio those guys in the Raritan and up the Hudson harbor haven't even smelled a bass. Big Blue's and Doggies kept us busy. At about 3:00 PM we watched a wind line come across the channel from were Chilly was fishing in Romer Shoal. It was amazing as we watched it take it's time and come right at us. As soon as it arrived it got real snotty and my heart dropped as I imagined the 26+ mile trek back would be a killer and it was. :( I motored back directly into a 15 knot head wind that chopped the ocean up into consistent 2' to 3' foot chop with some nice swells mixed in to keep it challenging for my little skiff. The crew was a tough but we got beat up pretty good as it took us almost 3 hours to get home. My boat took it well and managed only a few scares to show for it with some loose screws on the cumin pads and a new small crack in the center console helm from someone's knee. :(
Day two began as we swapped Moses for the ReelMasterBaiter. Our plan this day was obvious, stay close :D . We drifted eels early in the AM at the inlet and worked some rock jetties after that with eels and Storms, again with no success. We ended the day early after setting up on the chunk again by the inlet. The highlight of the day was when we finally had a school of bunker swim by the boat that lifted the spirits a bit but after snagging a couple and feeling how warm they felt when they came out of the water, compared to the cool air, that confirmed it was a bit too early for bass. We had some real good laughs thru out the weekend that I am sure the boys will share, poor lady Liberty took the brunt of the jokes once again :D . Thanks to a wonderful crew for a great weekend and a special Thanks to Tommy Guns for all the background help and motivation. As a far as I know only three bass were caught and they were in Norhern NY and CT waters, a little too far for this crew.
Come on No Bones ;)
[ 10-10-2004, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: RodFather ]
The On Da Rocks teamed headed up a bit north for an early ASA tournament this weekend out of Manasquan Inlet. The weather was great and crew even better. The water was again nice a clean up that way almost like we left it in the spring, although those Bass that we left there had not arrived yet. Water was still 71 degrees in most areas. On Saturday I had Rottn Captain and Moses Mako6950 on board for what we felt would be a promising day. We had a plan to hit the Shrewsbury rocks if the weather let us. Well just as forecasted the morning started out real nice and calm. We made our 15 mile trek up the coast from the Manasquan Inlet to the rocks. When we arrived we found plenty of of boats doing their normal thing of trolling. We decided to do what we know best and that's to chunk Bunka! tongue.gif We found a nice little slough with a rocky bottom and set the hook. As we started our chunk line and got our rods out it really felt good to be bass fishing again. We had the likes of several bass sharpies trolling and drifting around us like Chris Hill and his crew, Young Guns Sportfishing and others. After the first half hour of no action other than the occasional rod tip fluttering I decided to put a Sabriki on a smaller rod to see what was lurking in the rocks below. Low and behold I was rewarded with immediate action of Sea Bass and Porgy. I even managed a Huge Scupp of about 14" and a nice hard fighting Trigger fish of 16". Rottn Cap. was licking his chops when he seen them. :D Well that kept us busy for a while but we were there for bass and by the looks of things NO ONE was having any Bass action. The weather was still nice so we decided to head further North in hopes of cooler water and a better shot at the Stripers. After all, there was a New boat on the line for the winner. So we headed about another 11 miles North to Sandy Hook area and turned the bend and headed away from the crowd over to the NY side near Coney Island. Starring at Brooklyn in the face we found a spot that served us well in the spring and setup for the chunk once again. I was amazed that I was now about 26 miles from Manasquan inlet looking at NYC in the background. I have never traveled so far in my boat before but thought this is nothing compared to the Fountain crew who ran 120 miles one way to CT to fish. Well needless to say we never did anything there either as the water was still 71 up there as well and listening to the radio those guys in the Raritan and up the Hudson harbor haven't even smelled a bass. Big Blue's and Doggies kept us busy. At about 3:00 PM we watched a wind line come across the channel from were Chilly was fishing in Romer Shoal. It was amazing as we watched it take it's time and come right at us. As soon as it arrived it got real snotty and my heart dropped as I imagined the 26+ mile trek back would be a killer and it was. :( I motored back directly into a 15 knot head wind that chopped the ocean up into consistent 2' to 3' foot chop with some nice swells mixed in to keep it challenging for my little skiff. The crew was a tough but we got beat up pretty good as it took us almost 3 hours to get home. My boat took it well and managed only a few scares to show for it with some loose screws on the cumin pads and a new small crack in the center console helm from someone's knee. :(
Day two began as we swapped Moses for the ReelMasterBaiter. Our plan this day was obvious, stay close :D . We drifted eels early in the AM at the inlet and worked some rock jetties after that with eels and Storms, again with no success. We ended the day early after setting up on the chunk again by the inlet. The highlight of the day was when we finally had a school of bunker swim by the boat that lifted the spirits a bit but after snagging a couple and feeling how warm they felt when they came out of the water, compared to the cool air, that confirmed it was a bit too early for bass. We had some real good laughs thru out the weekend that I am sure the boys will share, poor lady Liberty took the brunt of the jokes once again :D . Thanks to a wonderful crew for a great weekend and a special Thanks to Tommy Guns for all the background help and motivation. As a far as I know only three bass were caught and they were in Norhern NY and CT waters, a little too far for this crew.
Come on No Bones ;)
[ 10-10-2004, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: RodFather ]