Wild weather this morning both helped and hurt the fishing. Went to the usual
productive east end spot at 3:30 AM, about an hour before low slack. Every drift
of the eel produced a hit and every fish except one was a blue, although larger
than what I've been catching (most over 8 lbs). I tried swimming the eel toward
me instead of letting it drift, and each retrieve would result in 2 or 3 solid
runs.
About 4:00 AM a squall line came through with serious lightning nearby. That was
enough to get me off the water for 45 minutes, which just happened to coincide
with the best part of the tide for eeling. By the time I returned the tide had already
turned and was running hard to the east. As is the case when this happens in this
spot, the bite turned off.
Walked down to calmer holding water nearby and eeled a 26 inch striper.
After dawn, I tried jigging at one of the bulkheads on the Cape side. Nothing
showing on top, but got a number of hits on a 6 inch clear sparkle sluggo on
a two ounce leadhead. Caught one keeper right at 28 inches and a few shorts.
-bd