5/7 - "FIRSTS"

Had Mathew H. his brother and dad aboard today. It was a really nice day, but it was "packed". I was told there was two tournaments going on, on top of it being a nice Saturday.  After some big winds and seas early this week.

We started on the last of the falling tide, float-rig fishing. Had to get the guys "in the know", for later when they'd have to know what they were doing. A few bites, but nothing serious. Then, we tried a spot during the slack tide, and bottom fished. I was hoping one of them would hit a Black Drum or Sheepshead, a few Sewabass later it was time to move on as the tide changed.

The went and looked to get "pogied up". Running North of the North Jetty to find some Pogies for Redbass. The Pogies were there, for sure. Deep, scattered and I caught 3. Time was of the essence, and this "snipe hunt" was taking too long. So with our 3 Pogies we stopped along the North Jetty and pitched them out. BLUEFISH! They chomped each Pogie in half. If the Blues were in there forget about getting a bait to the Reds. So we quickly shifted gears again.....

Back to the float-rigs. The tide wasn't exactly screaming, but we pushed the spot to work. Mathews rod went doubled, his reel was a buzzing. What ever just took his float down was a HOSS! He did great battling in on the light tackle. The fish came right by the boat and under water about 2 foot. I'm looking, ready with the net. Thinking this has to be a monster Redbass. When I see it and it's no Redbass. But rather a Tarpon!!  And right then the fish comes unbuttoned. Mathew looks at his hook and the point of the hook is missing, broke right off.

Hell, we're fishing for Reds, Trout, Sheepshead and use a small easily carried hooks for these small live shrimp. But the steel like jaws of the Tarpon broke the hook point clean off.

FIRST OF THE YEAR, NUMBER ONE.  First Tarpon hook up of 2011. And the Tarpon never jumped, either and thank goodness it didn't, or it would have been surely gone. It looked like a "crowd pleaser" , aka: a small 30-40 incher.

Then, a few Reds were caught. And can ya believe they were perfect keepers too at identical 26-1/2 inchers.
















Then, not long after Mathews brother hits a nice fish and can ya believe it's the years first Pompano on the float-rig!

FIRST, NUMBER TWO. A fine eating, delicacy, is what a Pompano is. I usually will have caught many pomps during April. But as usual, nothing is ever the same year to year around here. And the inconsistancies, I suppose make us better anglers. But are frustrations in my book.

Another Red comes to the boat, but it was a small one.

Then, Mathews dad catches a small Sheepshead and about then the tide completely slows to a crawl. The boat swings and right there may have been our window on this spot.

I look around, there's boats everywhere. So we might as well stay put.

The schools of Mullet were pouring by us, along with cow nosed rays. "Hell with Pogies, the Mullet are every where." But they are completely unmolested as usual. There's not even Jack Cravalles busting them. I'd think the Jacks would be here and we'd be catching them. But I've had one caught and that was back on the 15th of April.

Not much went on after the current slacked where we were. So we headed back to the dock.

Next up:
Taking my Mother out on Sunday, and then have 2 guys on Monday.

5/5 - BIG WIND, BIG SEAS

My UPS delivery man didn't know it was windy today. My mother did know it was windy today. But holy cow was the wind a serious problem. I read the marine forecast, and didn't think that when it read; NE WINDS 15 KNOTS that this meant sustained and unrelenting.

That's why it was so cool. We had that NY air blowing down here. Certainly didn't mind the air temp one bit. But 15 knot never ending wind wasn't what I thought we were getting into.

The inlet was a "soup sandwich....Pea soup, between white bread all the way."

Had Keith from Atlantic beach and Andrew from Indiana on board today. Both have been out on the Jettywolf before. But nothing like this.

We had no current today, no matter where we tried, no matter what I did. The rising tide was a real SOB. Starting at the jetties, no bites and whitewater. Add one ship after another, coming by.


Then, we looked for Pogies, I found them on the inside tip of the south. Right where it was rolling about 6 foot back to back.
No luck, gave up and headed up river.

Fished and fished and fished, with a few miniscule bites in deeper water with hard bottom. When the tide finally turned and started to drop we made a move to a spot where I've got plenty of over sized Redfish. The wind would not let me get where I wanted.


And we finally caught a Whiting! And it ate a half a dead Pogie I tried for bait.












Disgusted and wind burnt, we packed it in. While, today Momma Nature won. And at the same time reminded me why I call a rising tide and NE hard wind. The K.O.D. - "the kiss of death". Yeah, that's a bit over dramatic. But at least that's how I feel. It's so hard to win with that weather/tide combo.

Working on my teleflex hydaulic steering, once again Friday, so I can be ready for ??who knows what?? on Saturday.

Gawd I hope so:
SATURDAY - NORTH WINDS 10 KNOTS BECOMING EAST LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.

5/4 - Vacation?

Had me a nice little vacation for a week.....nothing going on, except some really goofy calls.

"Hi, is this Capt Dave?" (I'm the only one ever answering my own cell phone.)
"yes"
"I wanna do a 1/2 day for 8 people tomarrow morning." 
(this is what I meant by, goofy.)

Kids haven't busted outa school yet, and if there is a vacation season this year at all, it hasn't started yet.

Took the time to get all new bait tanks. http://www.keepalive.net/ I like the fact that I can call Tom of Keepalive, get the best prices, and get the items shipped from Tampa to me thewnext day delivery.

My bait tanks were all messed up....aka: "Redneck Rigged"
Or at least one was, so I went ahead and just started new for the two I have carry on board.

One is always for live shrimp, and now the other is a Pogie Tank. Using all the right components from Keepalive. Thanks to Tom.

Pogies (Menhaden...."BUNKA" to the Northerners) are a real sissy bait. Needing lots of recirculating water, water flowing in a direction, and a good turn-over of water in the whole tank. To keep amonia, scales and slime, to a minimum.

(here's an example of a big $$ set up)
But any round tank can be converted.

I took a brand new Keepalive 14 gallon tank, added a directional flow fitting, and a large over-flow water discharge fitting. Yeah, a 14 gallon tank isn't going to hold allot of pogies, but it works for me.

I also have the pump that supplies this water (my washdown pump) on a timer. Once I get the water clear in the tank, the timer can be set to run for one minute, and be off 3, 5, or 7 minutes saving valuble pump wear and tear and battery power.

This tank will also be holding Threadfin Herring (know as greenies, locally) and Mullet, as the summer progress'.

KEEPING LIVE SHRIMP IS SO MUCH EASIER, AND BUYING THEM IS JUST AS EASY.

But, it's summer, now. 

Looking forward to a few "smoka's"

Busy, busy , busy, starting Thursday.