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July 31, 2008
Headed up to where we fished yesterday and had excellent fishing once again. We only had 12 anglers today, but those 12 put 41 keepers in the boat. Today's pool was a "menage à trois" of sorts with 3 people tying for the pool. The fish that would have been today's pool fish, correctly planned his escape by jumping out of the bucket and under the scupper at the perfect moment. I guess the fish wanted it more. Today's high hook had 6 keepers.July 30, 2008
Wednesday, 7/30/08 Report
We decided to completely change recipe and try something new today by heading up to the north. Our gamble paid off big time with the best fishing we have seen in almost a month. Right from the get go we had excellent fishing, and it lasted till we blew 3 whistles. The keeper ratio wasn't great, with some catching 40 and 50 shorts, but many angler made out well. High hook had 7 keepers and a few others had 6 and 5 a piece. We had close to 100 keepers for 30 fisherman. Dennis Daniels was today's pool winner with a 6 1/2 pound fluke. Let's hope the good times continue!!!!
July 29, 2008
Tuesday, 7/29/08 Report
The big story of the day was the 9.12 pound fluke caught by Dennis Doran of Toms River, NJ.
We started our day fishing the western end of the Reach. Had an early shot of fish that dried up pretty quick. Worked our way east making a few stops along the way, but it still wasn't anything more than a very slow pick. Around 11:00 magic happened for Dennis Doran as he hooked into a big fluke. After boating and taming the beast, we weighed it in at 9.12 pounds. Made another drift over the area where we caught the big one, but nothing followed. Headed east into the ocean to finish the day. Made drifts along the beach and in the channel with not much more than a pick of shorts and birds. Tough day once again.
July 28, 2008
Monday, 7/28/08 Report
We had a good start to the day, but unfortunately it didn't last. 6 outbound tankers and 4 inbound killed the channel fishing for the day. Made some moves inshore with no luck. Came back to the channel later in the trip, but it just didn't happen. The ship traffic did us in. James Dicono was today's pool winner with a 6 pound fluke.
July 27, 2008
Sunday, 7/27/08 Report
The fluking bounced back today with some pretty good fishing in the Reach. Some people were more fortunate than others with the keepers, but overall it was a decent day. Tom Salerno was today's high hook with 7 fish, and the "Pat Attack" won today's pool with a 6 1/2 pound fluke. Joe "Bottles" was a very close runner up with a 6 pound fish.
July 26, 2008
Saturday, 7/26/08 Report
Fishing was not too good today, as it was tough on all ends. The shorts didn't bite nor did the keepers. Mike Lee won today's pool with a 6 1/2 pound fluke.
Friday, 7/25/08 Report
We had a poor day of fishing today. Wind against tide along the Reach had us heading out into the ocean in hopes of finding some float. Made drifts on the Knoll and Sandy Hook Channel with minimal success. Headed back to the Reach late in the day, but could not get anything going. Just a bad day of fishing.
July 23, 2008
Wednesday, 7/23/08 Report
We didn't make it out today and it probably was a good thing because we would have sunk the boat from all the rain that was predicted. (Sarcasim mode turned on!!)
Tuesday, 7/22/08 Report
Started the morning with a quality conversation regarding the Giants Super Bowl DVD, mainly focusing on their playoff win against the Cowboys. What a way to start the day!!! Fluking was good again today. We didn't see the amount of keepers that we had yesterday, but the fishing was still good. The bite slowed up somewhat on the change of tide, but it was still much better than any time last week.
July 21, 2008
Bill "The Innovator" Burnett did it again today by not only winning the pool with an 8 pounder for the second week in a row, but kickstarted us back into high gear by catching his limit.
Monday, 7/21/08 Report
The fluke attack is back!!! We started to see some signs of life yesterday with short action late in the day. Today we took another step in the right direction with the best fishing we have seen in almost a week. Keeping wasn't great, but the action with the undersized fish was at times non-stop. We did have one limit on the boat, Bill Burnett, Middletown, NJ, who made it back-to-back trips winning the pool with an 8 pound fluke. Overall it was a very positive day. We caught some fish. Threw some back, and put a few in the buckets.
Alec Feltri, Toms River, NJ, won Thursday's pool with this 7 pound fluke.
July 20, 2008
Sunday, 7/20/08 Report
More of the same today. Terrible fishing for most of the day. We did start to see a bounce back with the short fluke, however, the keepers still didn't want to bite. I have a feeling that tomorrow the fishing with improve.
July 19, 2008
Saturday, 7/19/08 Report
I am trying to think of a positive to write in this report, but it's not going to happen. Today was no good. Hopefully we can get out of this funk tomorrow.
Friday, 7/18/08 Report
The dog days of summer continued today. Nothing positive to report because we are in the middle of the mid-July fluke shut down combined with a full moon. Every year for about week or so in July the fluke get lock jaw and just do not bite. Hopefully within the next day or two we can get things going.
Thursday, 7/17/08 Report
Fishing was not good at all today. We did not see many shorts or keepers. This looks like it's the beginning of the mid July shut down. Alec Feltri, Toms River, NJ, won today's pool with a 6.12 pound fluke.
July 16, 2008
Wednesday, 7/16/08 Report
Oh man!!! Today was a tough one. Wind against tide for the majority of the trip. We didn't drift 10 feet until well after 12:30, and didn't see many shorts or keepers all day. We are just gonna turn the page on this one!!!
July 15, 2008
Tuesday, 7/15/08 Report
Decided to change the recipe this morning and head to the far western end of the bay. The change did us well, as we had the best fishing in over a week, and the keeper ratio was much higher than any recent trip. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last. A southeasterly breeze came up against the tide and prevented us from drifting for the rest of the outgoing tide. We did have another shot of fish very late in the day after the change. Kenny "The Legend" Havens was high hook with 7 keepers and won today's pool with a 4 pound fluke.
July 14, 2008
Monday, 7/14/08 Report
We didn't sail today, and you know what that means? Mid summer engine room cleaning. See you tomorrow.
July 13, 2008
Sunday, 7/13/08 Report
Everyone battled tough conditions with wind against tide for the majority of the day. Hammered away at the shorts with little going on in the keeper area which made it disappointing for everyone.
July 12, 2008
Saturday, 7/12/08 Report
Another tough day of fishing. We picked away at the shorts all day, but just couldn't find enough keepers for everyone. Covered most of the Reach Channel from the western end out to around the 6 buoy. High hook had 3, and today's pool was a 4 pound fluke.
July 11, 2008
Friday, 7/11/08 Report
Another day with a horrible keeper ratio, and another day with a big fish being caught.
Finding keepers has been a struggle this week. We are catching a very good amount of fish, however almost all have to be released back into the wild. We covered a good portion of the Reach Channel and it was the same everywhere. The one bright spot of the day came around 10:00am when Bill Burnett landed a beast. Unlike Doug Kay from Tuesday, Bill is a believer in the Spro and Gulp trend. You see, Bill is an innovator, and his innovating ways paid off today when he caught an 8.2 pound fluke and won the pool.
July 10, 2008
Thursday, 7/10/08 Report
Another day with a bad keeper ratio. Once again we caught a ton of fish, but most went back. We covered the Reach Channel from the western most end all the way to the 6 buoy with the same results. The only positive thing about the fishing is that we have been catching some beasts the past few trips, such as the 7 pounder that Nestor Nieto caught today.
July 09, 2008
Wednesday, 7/9/08 Report
Today we had a hard time finding keepers. We caught a ton of fish, but the ever elusive 18" fluke was just that. Elusive!! Carl Bertram was the only angler on the boat who had no problem in that area. Carl accounted for 1/3 of our total catch by putting 5 in his cooler along with the pool fish.
July 08, 2008
Tuesday, 7/8/08 Report
The story of the day was Doug Kay of Union Beach. After battling through a tough day of finding keepers around the boat, Doug stayed true to his roots. It was late in the ninth inning and frustration was beginning to set in. Choosing not to follow the latest trend of jigging Spro's and Gulp's, Mr. Kay decided to remain old school by fishing only a basic rig with a spearing. Doug's old school ways paid off big time when the 10 pound fluke he hooked into came over the rail. The lesson of the day today is, it's never too late for a walk off home run. You just have to keep the rally hats on and believe!!!
July 07, 2008
Monday, 7/7/08 Report
We pulled out of the slip today and headed to the usual fishing grounds out on the Reach. The fishing was ok, but today keeping was a major problem for most. We covered the whole fluke limit spectrum from one angler catching his limit, to one angler getting the skunk. It is hard to complain when someone catches their limit, but if you took away one man's all-star performance, it was a fairly mediocre day.
July 06, 2008
Sunday, 7/6/08 Report
Somewhat of a disappointing day today. We caught a ton of fish, however the keeper ratio wasn't too kind, with most anglers struggling to throw one or two in their coolers. This wasn't the case for the 4 "Team Fluke" guys. "Team Fluke" combined to catch over 20 keepers on the day, with Tom Salerno taking the pool with a late day 6 pounder. Scott Smith was also on the board today with a 6 pound fluke of his own.
July 05, 2008
The Return Of The Assassin
Juan Ortiz showed why he is known as "The Assassin" today by owning it on the fluke grounds!! Not only did Juan win the pool with this 6 pound fluke, he caught his limit, and threw a few in his buddies buckets too.
Saturday, 7/5/08 Report
The good fishing continued in the Reach Channel today. Drifting conditions were perfect, and we put together a good catch of fish. Keeping was an issue for some. One angler told me that he caught well over 20 fluke with only 1 keeper. However, the ratio was kinder for other anglers, such as Juan "The Assassin" Ortiz. Juan was all business catching his limit of fluke and winning the pool with a 6 pounder. There were a few other anglers with 4, 5, and 6 keepers on the day. Overall a good day for the boat.
July 04, 2008
Friday 7/4/08 Report
Happy Independence Day!!
Slow start to the day, but after the change of tide, the fishing picked up. We did have a very good drift on the change, and it remained steady for the rest of the trip. Lenny Borer was the star today catching his limit on fluke.
July 03, 2008
Thursday, 7/3/08 Report
I am not going to waste my time or your time reading a report about today. It can be summed up in one word. . . BAD!!!
July 02, 2008
Wednesday, 7/2/08 Report
The fishing bounced back today, almost to where we had it over the weekend. Perfect drifting conditions all day. We saw some very good moments early on, and continued to have a steady pick all day. The keepers did add up for some. 2 anglers caught their limit of fluke. Overall we had 91 keepers for 33 anglers. Today's pool was a 5 pound fluke caught on the last drift of the day.
July 01, 2008
Tuesday, 7/1/08 Report
Very good fishing for the first drift and a slow pick for the remainder of the day. High hook had 5 keepers, and the pool winner was a 4 pound fluke.
