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This morning Dan Marino (Tom) and Mark joined me on my 16' Scout center console. The wind forecast called for low winds. We launched from Sandy Point at 7:45 to a flat calm lagoon. Once we cleared the jetty, we faced steady 2' swells. The further out we rode, the worse the seas became.
After taking on lots of spray, we made our way to the down-current edge of the western shore rockpile. Tom told me he had never done LTJ (light tackle jigging) in the bay before. I didn't think things were fishable, but wanted Tom to get a feel for how LTJ was done. I handed him my custom 6'2" jigging rod with a 2-oz jighead and hot-rodded 8" plastic tail. Mark and I were jigging on one side of the boat in a strong current. Less than a minute after I told Tom to drop his lure, he was hooked up with a strong fish. As it reached the surface, I moved over to help him get the fish in. Rather than lipping it or grabbing the jighead, I lifted the fish by the leader. As the fish tail cleared the water, the knot broke, and Tom's 23" prize fell back in.
The currents and waves were much too strong for us to stay at the bridge. We rode around looking for good sonar marks. Finally we found a large group of birds diving on bait south of the bridge. As soon as we moved in, Mark and Tom hooked up with stripers using small lures. I saw good sonar marks near the bottom and continued jigging heavier lures, hoping for larger fish. The other guys quickly caught at least 10 fish each, but I managed the only other keeper of the day (just barely -- at 18.5", I did not want to mess with the shrinkage factor.) The fish was released. I also caught the only two bluefish of the day --both were 13". I kept them for a good dinner.
Just for fun, at the end of the trip, we returned to the same corner of the rockpile where Tom caught his striper earlier. Once again, within less than minute, his rod bent over. This fish was a foul-hooked perch that had dark coloration (black back perch). That corner of the rockpile will forever be known as "Tom's Corner" for me.
Even at the end of the trip, the darn waves, albeit somewhat smaller than earlier, were there to throw us around on the way in.
After taking on lots of spray, we made our way to the down-current edge of the western shore rockpile. Tom told me he had never done LTJ (light tackle jigging) in the bay before. I didn't think things were fishable, but wanted Tom to get a feel for how LTJ was done. I handed him my custom 6'2" jigging rod with a 2-oz jighead and hot-rodded 8" plastic tail. Mark and I were jigging on one side of the boat in a strong current. Less than a minute after I told Tom to drop his lure, he was hooked up with a strong fish. As it reached the surface, I moved over to help him get the fish in. Rather than lipping it or grabbing the jighead, I lifted the fish by the leader. As the fish tail cleared the water, the knot broke, and Tom's 23" prize fell back in.
The currents and waves were much too strong for us to stay at the bridge. We rode around looking for good sonar marks. Finally we found a large group of birds diving on bait south of the bridge. As soon as we moved in, Mark and Tom hooked up with stripers using small lures. I saw good sonar marks near the bottom and continued jigging heavier lures, hoping for larger fish. The other guys quickly caught at least 10 fish each, but I managed the only other keeper of the day (just barely -- at 18.5", I did not want to mess with the shrinkage factor.) The fish was released. I also caught the only two bluefish of the day --both were 13". I kept them for a good dinner.
Just for fun, at the end of the trip, we returned to the same corner of the rockpile where Tom caught his striper earlier. Once again, within less than minute, his rod bent over. This fish was a foul-hooked perch that had dark coloration (black back perch). That corner of the rockpile will forever be known as "Tom's Corner" for me.
Even at the end of the trip, the darn waves, albeit somewhat smaller than earlier, were there to throw us around on the way in.
Seriously a great report!! Glad there were fish to bend your rods!! Not often are rock piles are given names to honor those WHO fished them. Good job guys!! Memories made stories to be told friendships bonded!! That what it is about! Phil
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