Roger reported another very busy fishing day aboard the Gail Frances today. It was graduate level ground fishing for sure with the breezy conditions and a SCREAMING tide running all lines HARD towards the stern on a wild and often uneven swing, just like on some of the the famed offshore wreck trips of yesteryear. Keeping a line tight on the bottom was challenging to say the least and even the most seasoned veterans struggled at times today. For those who could tend bottom there were plenty of nice size sea bass to be had. A handful or two of bombers with the best easily pushing the 5 lb mark. Not nearly as many cod today but a few handfuls for sure with hi hook boxing three nice keepers and a couple other gentlemen scoring two keepers apiece. Congrats to Al Lamperelli from Montville CT who took the pool with a nice green cod just under ten pounds today and he was one of the lucky fellas who had two keepers today. Some short cod as well. Congrats to Mike Kwok from Pallisades Park NJ who had one of the biggest sea bass of the trip with a brute no less than 5 lbs. Pictures of both gentlemen appear above today’s fishing report today courtesy of Roger. Some nice size ocean perch and at least one large sea flounder and at least one good size ling to round out the species assortment for the day (desirable species anyways). Unfortunately the unmentionables were as frisky as the weather and tide conditions today, or at least they were the first half of the day. Anglers who used two hook rigs were remarkably busy with the miserable critters. These things ranged from little rubber toy size specimens to four footers and everywhere in between. There was also a surprisingly large amount of squid being used today and if there is one thing the unmentionables like more than clams its squid!! One hook down low was the way to go, at least for today with the shorter leader the better. Also worth mentioning that the conditions most certainly favored stout and simple gear today as 16z of lead was needed for many to accurately tend bottom. Warmer weather on tap for tomorrow and a bit less breeze is forecast so Capt. Rich will be ready to set sail aboard the Gail Frances at 6 am.
Capt. Mike reported solid togging today aboard the Lady Frances. A handful of limit catches and some big togs with the pool fish around or just over the ten pound mark. A fair amount of shorts and just a couple sea bass big enough to be kept. Capt. Mike will be ready to set sail tomorrow morning at 6 am for tog aboard the Lady Frances.
Roger