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Got to the dock with Grandson in tow to a cold west wind and a light crowd. Capt. Mike was at the helm and Capt. Bob jumped on to fish! We turned north to see increased winds and bird play. On the first drift a customer hooked up in the stern. This fish ran up current and pulled drag bending the rod to max load. The customer hammered the drag and pop went the line. I thought that we were in but the fish had other ideas. We read huge balls of bait with bass underneath but couldn't get them to commit. We kept moving hitting readings and bird schools. The wind was moving us at a good pace and it was cold! Caden drew first blood with a 40+"er on an Ava 47. Capt. Bob came over and fished with us . He dropped a line puller after a couple minutes on a gold hammered diamond. I caught a Dogfish. Grandson and Capt. Bob caught big Sea robins. It was getting tough to stay at the windy side rail. The cabins warm interior and hot coffee called between drifts. I had go put my slicker coat on to break the wind. Grandson caught a Dogfish and I caught a 14" Fluke. The horn sounded and Capt. Mike took a long ride south. We stopped on ink blot readings with bass under them with bird play. I went to the sunny side of the boat with Capt. Bob and Capt. Mike. I changed to my Kunan rod and jr. Jigmaster with a naked silver ava 47. Capt. Bob caught 2 large Stripers in quick succession. Saw 2 fish broken off and had one nudge. Fired out a long cast almost matching Capt Mike( he always beats me) I was talking to Mike about 10 turns in and I get bit. I didn't swing and just kept reeling until the Kunan loaded up and I was on! I had a real one on this time. She headed towards the bow unlike Capt. Bobs who went under the boat. After a few minutes she turned and came to the surface. Joe netted her and Chris measured. She was 40 1/2" long . took pics and back she went. Capt. Bob was doing battle with a slob with a couple others fighting fish on our side and a couple others being netted on the other side. I started to catch Mackerel on the next drift. We probably had a couple dozen for the trip. The wind finally started to lay down a bit as time ticked down. Capt. Mike headed towards the inlet but didn't sound 3 horns. He had his eyes on some thing north of our inlet. We stopped and it was game on . I got bit 3 or 4 times only having 1 come tight for one run. Thought I broke my hook. There was a mix of keepers and overs. Mike stayed out a little over for this late bite.
Gold hammered jigs and Ava 47s caught most of the fish. The wind was bad till almost the end. Way too many break offs. Check your drags !!!
My thanks to Capt. Mike for traveling all those miles and staying late. To Joe and Chris for their usual great service and Capt. Bob for showing us how its how its done.