Where are the Larger Bass?

We broke the inlet about 6:30 and looked around. With no bird activity and no marks near the inlet we started to run South towards Seaside and IBSP. I had great reports from during the week from that area and with a spotty forecast we figured we would take the shorter run to the South over the longer run to the North.

We had constant bird activity all day but they were very temperamental. If anyone motored remotely close to them they would scatter. The smarter guys realized with the quick drift that you could stop 150-200 yards away and be on top of them in no time. We picked up a couple of shorts on the first couple of passes.

Once we learned that Eric had again brought a banana aboard and it was promptly offered to the fish gods we had a double hookup as soon as the offending fruit sank beyond view. It was pretty steady short action from there.

The birds broke up and there was scattered activity but did not seem worth chasing. At this point we decided to go on the troll. The wind had also shifted direction and was picking up a bit. We had fish on before we could get the second line in. A double header of shorts on a tube rig. We finally got both lines out and were heading inshore for a wind break and North towards home and the intermittent overheating issue decided to rear its ugly head.

After reeling in the lines, taking a beating in steep 4' seas drifting while looking into the issue she had cooled enough to test. Started her up pointed towards land and attempted to get up on top of the seas. Once up on plane the temp dropped to normal. We all decided to just pack it in and head for the barn.

Despite the mechanical troubles it was an enjoyable day on the water. We were greeted to flat calm seas early in the morning and once back above IBSP it was mainly just chop. My cousin had two personal bests with the short stripers-his largest bass to date and also the most caught in one trip. In the future we will be sure to frisk Eric to make sure he is not attempting to smuggle an offensive fruit on board.

I know the Cape May guys have twenty to forty pound bass stacked up down there. I have also heard reports that the CT and RI guys have big fish to the North. I wonder if we will see some bigger fish soon.