Good Post from one of the Masters of this fishery. Just dont forget the Sabiki rigs they also work at times .One should always keep some at hand. This time of year the MACKS are usually on the bottom use nothing less that a six ounce sinker. Please NO DIAMOND JIGS. One reason is that the average winter time depth is 150 ft.A Diamond Jig has no business being used they are dangerous this time of year and for the most part too light. I will usually always call out the depths on the PA system. Listen closely because when we get them started sometime they come up off the bottom and are any where from mid water to the surface.
The galley will be open , but most of the Mackerel being served on board from my experience have been served RAW with some type of red dipping sauce.
As for my my other two pals that commented from the peanut gallery.( STEVE and RAY) I love you guys also, but Give it a break . Dont ruin a good informative post here .I do this because i enjoy running a party boat and this fishery. You know all the political hoo ha and why i am here. As far as positioning ive run fast boats , slow boats, medium boats . I ve held my own. We are not racing for rock pile , a pile of bird life, trying to catch the tide or racing to a tight area of jig fish. There are only 3-4 boats that do this on the whole East Coast now 1 guy out of Brooklyn. who in the beginng of this run is closer to the grounds so throw speed out the window he is on them first . The 2 sponsor boats in Belmar and 1 in Non Sponsor in Point Pleasant who does it part time if they are close and splits the day with bottom fishing. We get to an area we go slow and "LOOK " for the readings because if ya go too FAST you WILL MISS THEM ! Im sure the 7am departure will give me PLENTY OF TIME !! Like i said earlier. Lets not ruin a good informative post here.This is a winter fishery. The temps are gonna dipped below 40 degrees
Time to hibernate like the bears and squirrels all winter long,
because in my 15 + years i have known and fished with the 2 of you I have yet too have the PLEASURE of seeing the both of you on any winter MACK boat i have run. Better Yet on ANY BOAT that does a winter fishery at all
Happy New Years guys i do love ya i mean that
See ya in the Spring
Signed
Capt Midnite
