Reel Class Saturday 7/6 -- Excellent Bottom Fishing!

[Reel Class]

Had Les Gray and the Fish On! club on again from MD. Initially the plan was to fluke fish but with our so-so results from Friday we gave the guys the option to switch the trip to a bottom fishing trip and they obliged.

Started off on a small spot 8 miles E of our inlet in 80' and had a slow but steady pick of nice seabass and a few ling. Couldn't anchor on it so we power drifted and picked away. We also caught a couple of tinker mackerel on the beaded hooks - first time I've seen tinkers inshore in awhile.

Once that dried up we hit two more wrecks a little bit north still in the 75-85' range and had just a few seabass and ling, so we shot offshore to fish some pieces in 100-125'.

First drop we had a few nice seabass and ling, then we settled in and had a real nice shot of codfish with a dozen coming up real quick, but only 2 made it to the box (both were 22"). Loads of pout on this spot. Bounced around out in the deep, found loads of bergalls, the occasional keeper seabass and ling, but couldn't really get it going.

We then hit a wreck a little north of where we were on the inside of the hole in 125' and we found the motherlode of ling with a few seabass mixed in. Several double headers, lots of nice 2-4# ling came up. We also had 2 jumbo winter flounder (both released!) and one 4# blackfish (also released) come up along with one huge sea raven and more banana cod.

When the guys had enough with the ling, we tried for more seabass on the way in and hit a couple of wrecks around 65' but couldn't buy a bite on them.

Finished with well over 100 ling, maybe ~120 or so in the box, a couple dozen seabass, and the 2 keeper cod. Real nice day, the guys went home with loads of meat. Back to fluking tomorrow - hope it bounces back!