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View Full Version : 8/18: Fshg w Josh (the Gulls)


Tuna
08-19-2001, 01:31 PM
Fished with Josh and his father Saturday. Had great hopes of tunoids (its getting to be that time) and to see Little Gull Island with someone who had been there before and could point out the rocks.

Morning started slow, with just a hint of activity at Goff Pt and blues at Eastern Plains Point with a number of guide boats sharing the action. We were a bit surprised to only land two blues, but they were bigger than the rats I found last weekend.

Off to Great and Little Gull, but very little water moving.

Off to the race, and thoughts that the blues we had gotten would be it, and that at least it was a very pleasant, low wind sunny day.

Chased some mystery pods near the race, then had a decision point. I was up to racing to the south shore, to cover more water and maybe see a tunoid. Luckily, Josh's pop suggested we take one more look at the Gulls before we headed off. It pays to respect our elders (well, not sure if he's elder than I), and the return to the Gulls did pay off.

When we got back there, there were fish feeding in the rips between the Gulls. Water was moving very fast, so after a few unsuccessful attempts at the fly, Josh and his pop tried spinning. Tried a lot. Tried jigs, plugs, spoons. Got a few momentary hookups, but nothing landed.

I was still thinking they were mostly blues, but Josh was seeing bass.

When the tide slowed a bit, we started getting them on the fly and Josh was right - they were bass, from 25 inches to new age keepers. First surface bass feed I've seen outside of the fall run for a few years.

Not easy fishing though, as even though the tide was slower, it was still keep the engine running or say hello to the rocks.

For well over an hour we had shots and got bass here and there. (Probably would have gotten a few more, but there were a few real lunkheads sharing the area with us, pretty oblivious to cutting us off repeatedly - oh well, that's Saturdays for ya).

We left after a few keepers landed and with the feed spreading out and getting less predictable as the tide began to die again.

So instead of a mere pleasant day, it was a very good fishing day for the time of the year, even if we never confirmed any tunoid sightings.

I got some video of one of Josh's fish (tough fight, as we were near the rocks and the water was moving fast and had to keep the engine pushing us off them). Had a chance to video Josh's keeper, but left the lense cap on (second time that day).

Thanks for showing me the spot Josh, that was a fun fishing day.

joshr
08-20-2001, 01:31 AM
Peter--

Great fishing with you! My Dad and I both enjoyed the day thoroughly...next time on our boat to return the favor.

Oh, and stop thinking of yoruself as an old man...My Dad is 20 years older than you!...(and I'm just 10 or so younger) ;-);

Did you fish Sunday? We took the day off to do stuff around the house...drop by the beach...have some time with our wives so they won't leave us. Turned out to be a nice day....we shoulda been on the water. ;-);

Talk to you before the weekend. I suspect some albies will be around this weekend, but my theory is Labor Day weekend--with its spring tides--will be the first really active, concentrated feeding we're looking for.

--Josh

Tuna
08-20-2001, 08:36 AM
No, didn't fish Sunday, had a week of NJ chores to catch up on.

I never feel old when I see fish, and we saw a lot.