Lack of Flounder Report

Well our suspicions were correct...the flounder have migrated out to the continental shelf following the heavy rains we had last week. Reports up until the blow prior to the rains were good but only a really slow pick of a handful of fish or no fish at all after the rain.

Well it was a beautiful day on the water. The winds were no where near the 15-20 knots as predicted or the gusts. We got setup at the first spot about 9:30 and had nothing. The water was gin clear and you could see bottom and watch crabs walking by in 10' of water. At 11:30 we moved out to the inlet when we received a phone call from the the Norma K II which just caught 4 keeper flounder and a few fluke. We setup in the inlet and immediately caught a 20" sea robin and numerous spider crabs. We also had one suspect bluefish due to the typical bite off when using very small, short shank hooks. When the K II headed in we moved to slightly behind where they were which did not produce any fish either. The current was ripping all day. The 4 fish that were caught on the K II were caught at slack tide as were the fluke. All in all it was a great day on the water and I am glad I did not let the forecast dictate my decision to leave the dock.

We did also take a quick cruise across the bay to blow out the cobwebs...we got up to 34.6 knots (With 3/4 fuel, 25 gallons water, and full load of gear and 2 passengers) before the channel turned and scrubbed some speed. I have to find a big enough, straight stretch of water to see what my WOT speed fully loaded really is. In any case 34 knots is plenty fast for me and most days you can't do that outside anyway without getting really beat up.

Get'n Ready for Bass & Fluke!

Well I got the first batch ready for an epoxy protective coating. I could not come up with a suitable way to make the ball jigs chrome, plus chrome tends to attract dogfish and skates anyway so we went with three of my four favorite colors. I have to do a few in school bus yellow prior to epoxy coating everything. The school bus color seems to work very well on early season fluke when the water is very clear. Early season bass love it as well.

This Weather Sucks!

Unless you are a duck! Well with the wind howling and the rain coming down in buckets we decided to stay tied up at the dock this weekend. As some of you know I don't usually miss too many trips due to weather. Unfortunately this time of year there are not too many species lurking in the rivers and bays. Winter flounder are the main catch right now and don't cooperate with murky water and cloudy skys. I did however get to work on more jigs for the upcoming fluke season. Got a bunch prepared to be painted in various paterns like bunker, herring, spearing and standard white.

More Ink!

Was just notified by a buddy that my opening day 2 lb. 13 oz. winter flounder picture made it into the Asbury Park Press. Now only if the weather would cooperate so I can get out and catch a bigger one!

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060421/SPORTS06/604210311/1017

Another Shity Forecast

Well this weekend looks like it id going to blow hard on Saturday as well as T-storms and then pretty much rain and T-storms all day on Sunday too. I was hoping to fish a winter flounder tournament on Saturday and possibly try out my new bunker spoon rods as well. Got them all rigged up today with 200 yards of 50# mono backing, 300 feet of 40# monel wire marked at 150', 200' and 250' topped off with a 12 foot 50# fluoro leader. I guess I have to wait till next weekend unless there is a huge change in weather in the next 24 hours or so.

Winter Flounder on My Own Boat!

Well I got back in the water late Friday afternoon. We planned on getting to the dock with plenty of time in case there was still mechanical problems with the steering affording us time to get over the party boat so we did not miss a day of fishing. We got all the gear loaded, started her up and at the dock everything seemed fine. It turned out to be a fine day. Mostly sunny and warm. Could have been a shorts and T-shirt day had I brought shorts. We were joined by my cousin Dave who caught the biggest flattie of the day. It was 1 lb. 15 oz. and 16.5" long. It was great to see him again. We had fallen out of touch for a few years after being very close growing up spending summers at the shore in and around LBI. My mother was high hook with 4 fish, I had 3 and Dave had 2 for a total of 9 fish for the day. We had as many shorts and a couple lost at net unfortunately.
The water was not clear but despite the rain and the wind the past few days it was not bad. There were really no weeds and grass to speak of in the bay and the water temp got as high as 56.7, which was at 5:30 when we started to head back in. All in all it was a great day on the water and a successful first fishing trip on the boat this season, hopefully followed by many, many more.

Under Warranty - Part IV

Well I got a call from the Volvo Service Center...They have finished the repair and I can go back in the water. They did not say for sure that it was covered by warranty but would submit the paperwork to Volvo on it. The dealer where I bought the boat and their mechanic seemed the think there was no doubt that they would not cover it under warranty. He also offered to go to bat for with Volvo if there was any issue. A great dealer that will stand behind their product is hard to find. Unfortunately they dropped the Sea Sport line...but they are still standing behind the product that they sold. Which is even harder to find these days.

Get Jiggy with it!

Started to tie up a few of the jigs. With all the materials I have laying around in my office I could not believe I did not have the correct size eyes for the Spro bucktail jigs. I had larger and smaller but not the right ones.

If You Can't Fish...

Well if you can't fish...make fishing stuff! We had the Annual Manasquan Fishing Club Sinker Party today. We molded somewhere between 600 and 800 pounds of lead. Yes between 600 and 800 pounds not ounces. You name it we molded it. Bank sinkers, cannon balls, Hatteras sinkers, drails, all shapes of jig heads, round, bullet, spire, darting, banana, SPRO bucktail jigs and shad jigs. The lead was all scrap picked up by members throughout the year as well as scrap donated to the club from various sources. Everyone went home with buckets full of sinkers and jigs. If you can't be on the water you might as well prepare for when you are. And we did not even need to break out the fire extinguisher!

Fisherman Ink Two Weeks in a Row!

Under Warranty - Part III

Well...I am being hauled out tomorrow and hopefully the repair work for the steering will begin later in the week. If not I was told they would start next week. Woo hoo!!!!! So hopefully by Easter I will be back in the water and in time for the end of winter flounder and the beginning of the spring bass run. Assuming the bass don't show up this week.

Under Warranty - Part II

I am now into my second week of waiting for warranty repair from Volvo Penta. I spoke to the Volvo dealer again...they were supposed to look at it this morning after a sea trial of another boat at my marina. They have not heard back from their tech yet so at this point I will not hold my breath. Hopefully I will be out on my rig this weekend crushing the blackbacks but the 5 day wait till Sunday seems like a year not knowing which boat I will be fishing from.

4/2 Winter Flattie Report

Well I went out on the Norma-K II again this Sunday. Still waiting on Volvo to show for warranty work. The morning have about 25 passengers if I had to guess. WE had about 10 keepers and a half dozen shorts. I personally got skunked probably due to my great opening day outing. The afternoon trip though provided its passengers with over 70 keepers to 2 lb. 4 oz. and dozens of shorts. The afternoon fishery is definitely much better in the early season and this just goes to prove that fact. Well next week we will definitely do the afternoon trip whether it be in my boat or the K II.