Tagged Fish**** LONG DISTANCE TOG****

[fishingmortgageman]

Looking at Saturday's forecast for snow over night and thru out the day, I was not sure that we were going to get the fishing in. I headed out anyway and got the bad news when I talked to Chad at the dock. He said the words, that anyone that knows me knows that I hate, " we are going for a ride today boys". It was Eel Killer, Dennis, Finbar and the rest heading out for a two hour cruise, like Gilligan. Two plus hours later we make a warm up drop. Chad told us to put some clams on and be ready for the cod. I got hit, almost immediately, and soon had a 10", almost white, blackfish to the surface. I grabbed it and the sinker and they both were ice cold. I said to myself " this is not good". Several more juveniles came up, without any cod, and Chad continued on to his destination. As we are riding I am saying to myself, " I hate boat rides".

We got to our spot and I put a crab on and dropped. Pretty soon I notice fish on around the boat. Blackfish start coming up along with some ling and cod. There actually was a very good bite going on. The fish were hitting greens, whites, clams, or gulp and they were hungry. Of course Chad stole the show when he swung a real nice 8+# fish on to the deck. He had this big shit eating grin on his face. I hate it when he is right. I was fishing next to Finbar and watched him bounce his clam like he was fishing for ling. He was, however, pulling up blackfish after blackfish. I decided to give it a try and put on a clam and casted way out like he was doing. As I retrieved I got smashed. Up came a nice 6# fish. I continued and got 6 more fish in a row the same way. Fin told me that his is how they do it in Rhode Island. Moving bait seemed to be what they wanted yesterday.

We left the fish biting at that spot to try another drop. The action was very good again. We again had the mix of cod, ling, blackfish, and pout here. In addition we were catching some of Joe Murray's favorites, Sea Ravens. We had some pretty heavy snow flurries in the afternoon but it did not slow us or the fish down. We ended up with close to a boat limit of tog and a bunch of ling and cod. I had 9 keepers yesterday. I would call that a great day of fishing, for any time, but an incredible day for the middle of February.

I have to give Chad props for being willing to spend the extra money on fuel and bait to put us on the fish. Did I mention that I hate it when he is right? Jimmy busted his ass all day cutting bait, tying rigs, and taking off fish. He did a very good job yesterday, and really did not have time to fish, as mates like to do. The good company and great fishing made the long distance trip well worth while.

To put a perfect ending to a great day I took the family out to diner and had a delicious Veal Milanese with a 97 Brunello.