Happy Holidays!

As we grow up we are handed down traditions from our parents and close friends. One that was passed on to me from my best friend's father, Dave Sr., was slow cooked spiral ham on the grill slathered up with honey mustard all over and in between each slice. As times change we are forced to change our traditions. I am still making the ham for Christmas dinner but am forced to make it Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. My mother has moved into a condo now and they have no terraces so they cannot have a grill. I don't think it will be a huge let down as everyone loves the ham left over cold, so it will still be enjoyed but not entirely the same.

A new tradition has been the addition of cheesecake to the dessert menu. I posted the recipe a few days back and it should be ready to come out of the oven by the time I post today's entry. It took some refining and everyone was happy to sample each version as I honed my recipe. We have even figured out the optimal transportation method for winter and summer so it will not run after being carted from our house to our destination.

In recent years it seems we have less and less time on our hands to do things. This time of year make time for your friends and family, and make time to keep your traditions alive and create some new ones you can pass down through your family.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

All Covered Up

With snow at the house and then the boat, I shoveled the snow and ice from the walks and driveway and headed down to the marina. Luckily there was no accumulation there. I removed a few items from the boat and started erecting the frame for the cover and then got her covered up for what seems like it will be the worst winter we have had in a long time.

This year I am trying the tennis ball tip in Saltwater Sportsman to help prevent chaffing on the cover from the rocket launcher. It makes a lot of sense, and I added a little twist to it. I made two small holes opposite each other in the tennis ball. I then passed a length of shock cord through it and adjusted the length so there would be just enough to slip over the bottom of the rod holder and keep the ball in place over the top of it.

Next week I will remove the rest of the gear and get the v-berth and pilothouse cleaned. After that I will start on my many projects.

Jersey Joe's Cheesecake

I thought I would spread some Holiday cheer and share my NY style cheesecake recipe. It took me about a dozen tries to hone the recipe just right to accommodate fat free cream cheese but I got it, and it was fun along the way sampling all the results. It also works wonders in getting clearance from the Admiral for that weekend long fishing trip. Enjoy.

CRUST:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 tablespoons melted butter

FILLING:

• 32 ounces fat-free cream cheese
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 eggs, separated
• 5 fluid ounces heavy cream
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, and butter together in a mixing bowl. Pour the mixture into the springform pan. Cover your hand in plastic wrap and press crumbs into the base. Using your fingers press crumbs in the sides of the pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Let cool.

In a food processor, cream the cream cheese and the sugar together. Add the vanilla, blend until smooth. Add 4 egg yolks and heavy cream, pulse until smooth. Pour into a large clean bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until a soft froth forms. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar slowly to the egg whites and continue to whisk until soft peaks form. Fold into the cream cheese, a little bit at a time until fully integrated. Pour into the prepared springform pan. Wrap springform pan and sides with aluminum foil and place in roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with 3/4" to 1" of water and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until firm. Let cool for 1 hour and 30 minutes, then refrigerate for at least three hours.

Hauled, Weighed and Blocked

With 2008 winding down and the threat of a bad winter as well as some much needed drive maintenance I was hauled out today. But first before blocking we had her weighed just about full of fuel, no water and with full gear. She tipped the Toledo at 6,300 pounds. I thought it would have been a little more but at that weight being full I can tow her with the new truck.

Once she was blocked I flushed the motor, changed the oil and filter and winterized the motor. This weekend I will get the stateroom and pilothouse cleaned up and then get her covered up. Then I can start in on my winter projects.

1. Have wheels re-pitched
2. Drive service
3. Replace bellows
4. Replace gimbal bearing
5. New aft bilge pump
6. Replace forward bilge pump
7. Replace two rod holders
8. Add three new rod holders
9. Install outriggers
10. Install inverter
11. New cockpit power point
12. Plumb outdrive discharge overboard
13. Install fishbox macerator

And I am sure I will find a few others. A few of these items I have been putting off for some time, hopefully I can get them all taken care of this winter.

Last Trips a Bust

With the lackluster fall striper run we decided to mainly target tog our last two trips. Saturday we set out a little later than normal, probably around 7 am. We were returning North to Elberon Rocks but never made it there. Instead of NW winds we were greeted by stiff N to NNE winds and steep four to five foot waves. At that point we decided to surf back home and poke around the inlet for some bass. We had almost no marks on the fish finder the entire time. We then ran out to the Axcel Carlson to scout out a few spots for Sunday and stay closer to home.

We checked a few wrecks and three out of the five looked very promising with many marks swimming around them. Upon returning on Sunday, our top three picks had dive boats on them and the sun was not even up yet. Then after dealing with a ground tackle issue on another spot we were inundated with dogfish and bergals. With the wind and seas pickup up we called it quits and began reflecting back on a season that had many firsts and personal bests for us.

Bunker Spoon Rods & Reels

With the Holidays coming there have been questions flying around what rod or what reel should I use for trolling bunker spoons. Whether you may be buying these items for someone or planning on using cash or gift cards received to buy them after the Holidays I thought I would share my experiences and opinions about them.

Rods for spoons have a very specific blank that is used. Typically they are surf blanks that are cut down from 12 or 14' to 8, 9 or 10'. Some blank manufacturers have started rolling blanks specifically for spoon rods. They have a soft tip with a parabolic bend to them. This allows them to 'pump' and work the spoons properly.

If I did it all again, which I might next year...I would go with two pairs of custom rods from a reputable rod builder, they are about the same cost as production rods from Seeker in 8 or 9'. I currently have the 8' Seeker rods and would definitely go with a 9' rod next time for spoons. I would also get a pair of shorter 6' 6" or 7' strictly for umbrella rigs. This does not mean that you have to have two pairs of rods, you can get a pair that can perform double duty and troll both spoons and umbrella rigs. With the amount of trolling we do I find it more pleasurable to use a shorter rod when not pulling spoons.

There are two big advantages to getting custom rods. If you are going to only troll braid you can have lighter less expensive guides put on. And you can get removable butts which make them much easier to store on the boat. Plus you have many more options for other components-guides, swivel roller tips, grips, butt material and reel seat material, etc.

If and when I get new rods I will also opt for cork fore grips instead of foam. I like the feel better and I think they hold up much better.

The reels are very much personal preference. The Penn Senator 113HSP seems to be the defacto standard but there are more and more converts to Shimano Tekota's and other brands with heavy duty level winds. I have fished 113HSP's with and without the Accurate one piece frame, Accurate spools and Aftco Star Sets. I personally have the Shimano Tekota 800's and love them. They do require a little more diligence with maintenance due to the aluminum spool. But you get a lighter reel (5.2 oz lighter), they come with a one piece frame, they have a heavy duty level wind, they have two more bearings, are capable of four pounds more drag and they crank in 7" more line per crank than a Senator 113. 7" may not seem like a lot but when checking rigs for weeds or if they are fouled from bouncing bottom or to pickup and run to another location they do crank in a whole lot faster.

The only thing I miss on the Tekota's is the Aftco Star Set. It is a very nice feature to have but we work around it. But when I do go to a four rod setup (2 for spoons, 2 for umbrellas), all four will have Tekota 800's unless something newer and better comes along, but as of right now that would be my ideal setup.

Don't Believe the Weatherman

Despite the gale warning we wanted to give blackfishing a shot. Worst case we figured we would just turn around in the inlet and go to the diner for breakfast. I got down to the boat at 5:15, all the flags in the area were limp, and proceeded to brush the snow off the dock. Then brushed off the boat, some of which we saved for the cooler...nothing like free ice! Got the gear setup, extra anchors on the bow and left the dock at 6. Broke the inlet at 6:30 to a flat windless ocean as we suspected. Just a very light 1-2' ground swell. Ran up to Elberon Rocks for some inshore black fishing.

Tied up on the first spot in 30' of water around 7. It was so calm it was hard to come tight at first. Around 8 a light breeze picked up and kept us tight over our spot.

Very slow for the first half hour, only one short but as the haze cleared a bit and the water temp went up a degree the bite picked up and for the next 2.5 hours we had a halfway decent pick of keepers and shorts.

Fished till about 11 and headed in as the wind started gusting to about 15 knots almost due west. Seas were still a ground swell with maybe 6" of chop on top. We looked around for bait and birds but did not see any and decided to head in.

We were glad we decided to at the very least take a ride to the inlet and look and see if it was fishable and the morning certainly was. Total for the day was four for the table to 4.5 lbs and 8 shorts. It was Tommy's first blackfish trip and he fed them quite well for most of the trip till he started to develop the touch and ended the day catching the biggest fish.

Short Shot @ Bass'n

I had only a few hours to go fishing since I had to be home and ready to leave for a family party at 13:15 but we gave it a shot with a forecast for a bluebird day. After breaking the inlet just before 6:00 I was hoping to get a call that the party was canceled, it was one of the nicest days of the year on the water.

Knowing we had only a few hours and we would be fishing all day, weather permitting, on Sunday we did sort of an exploratory trip. We knew many boats, including charters and head boats limited out several days in a row to the North so we made a left turn after looking North, South and East out of the inlet through the glasses.

On the way up there were no birds working but rather just sitting and waiting and we only marked a couple of small bait balls with no fish around them.

When we arrived at the the rocks there were only about four boats there, and two minutes after getting there we were greeted with birds working and huge splashes about 75 yards away. It seemed to good too be true, and it was. It only lasted for about three minutes and we barely had time to get over to it before it broke up. Later I found out it was not bass but the giants had returned inshore on their migration south and we missed our first shot at a giant in December.

We jigged and trolled the area for two hours with only a small bluefish to show for our efforts. Being pressed for time we started South and stopped and jigged on some marks along the way a few times. We did manage to find a good school of adult bunker but there were no takers in or around it.

I look forward to reading the day's reports later to hear if anyone did hook up with the giants and to see where the reports of keeper bass will come in from so we can make a last minute decision on what to target and where to go on Sunday.

Busy Weekend

Friday, don't think I will be down early enough for the afternoon bite but will be able to refuel and get the gear set. Also have a fishing club meeting.

Saturday I have a family event so that only leaves me about three hours fishing time...but we will make the best of it.

Sunday I should be out all day depending on wind and if it stays out the West when it picks up.

Not sure if I will be turning right or left yet waiting to hear from some guys who may be fishing to the North tomorrow and Friday. Should be leaving the dock Sat & Sun by 5:30.

Only 12 days, 1 hour 46 minutes till she is hauled out...have to make the most of it.