Eyes on First Ave-Win a Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler-Game On!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hi everyone! It is time to raffle off that Yeti Roadie 20 Cooler that Costa so generously donated!!! So here we go-In order to be entered into the raffle, you must be a registered NJFishing.com member and post one of the following on this thread:

1. A picture of one of your best catches.
2. A funny fishing story.
3. Your best day out on the water.
4. A picture of you in your Costa's.
(Or all of the above!)

I wanted to keep it simple and I wanted to give all members an opportunity to participate and win so I hope this works for everyone! Anyone who posts and shares on this thread will have their name entered into the raffle. Once you post I am going to respond with a your in! If I do not respond right away, do not worry I will get to it. It may take a day or two depending on how busy I am in the store. The deadline to post is Thursday, May 29th. A raffle ticket will be pulled out of the cooler on Friday, May 30th and announced in the afternoon. Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing what some of you characters are going to post. :D

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/CostaYeti.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/CostaYeti.jpg.html)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/RetroTrucker-1.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/RetroTrucker-1.jpg.html)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/C-line-1.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/C-line-1.jpg.html)

[hartattack]

First time on a Party Boat (SeaHunter) my daughter nails this 8 pound fluke, sweeps both pools and gets her name in the Star-Ledger. More importantly it seeded the passion that she still has. She caught the big one at age 7 and is still out-fishing me (that's easy) 13+ years later :)

[Gerry Zagorski]

So it's spring of 2006... Just put the boat in it's slip a few days earlier and head down to the marina with a bucket of supplies and a long list of to dos. Had no intention of fishing but when I arrive at the dock my boat neihbor Bill is tempting me to go fishing... What are good neihbors for, right?

We head out for a few hours and fished on the edge of the Swash for an hour or so and only had one Rat to show for it so Bill decided to make a move into shallower water up on the Shoal. Wasn't log before we had a few fish on board. A few in the teens and one that went about 20 pounds.

Must have been around 3:30 or 4 or so when I reeled up my line to check the bait. The Rats must have picked the ribbons off the clam bait since all that I had left was the tongue. It was getting late and Bill and I talked about leaving so I didn't even bother to put a new clam on. I just threw it back over and put the pole in the rod holder in free spool with the clicker on and started getting the boat in order for the ride back home.

I was screwing around doing something and noticed my pole tip bouncing. You know… the telltale twitch-twitch you get before the clicker starts screaming. I picked up the pole, put it in the 3:00 position and let her take a little more line. Once she started running I set the hook and could feel it was a decent fish. This is the first one of the day that stayed down rather then come to the surface. She was peeling line off the little AVET SX pretty good and I said half joking to Bill "Maybe we should come off the anchor and run this fish down". We both kind of shrugged it off and I continued to gain some line here and there. Bill mentions the boat record is 28 pounds and we start to get excited. Must have been 10 minutes or so when she finally came boat side.

I couldn't believe my eyes!! I knew she was big but I had no idea how big. Bill gets the big net and I steer her into it head first. She's bigger then the net so Bill lifts the net up and she folds up into the net. He tries to lift her over the side with the end of the net handle and she's too heavy. I bend over and grab the frame of the net and horse her up over the gunnel and laid her down on the deck. WOW!! This is the biggest Striper I’ve ever caught.

Bill gets the Boga grip and the fish buries the scale..... As he goes into the cabin to look for a heavier scale I'm looking down at her think “Do I keep this fish”?? We put her on a heavier spring scale and she weights 40. We put her on the Berkley electronic scale and she's 39. After that I turn to say to Bill "Maybe we should keep her". With out hesitation Bill says "Nah we should really let her go" I thought about it and said " Yep Bill you're right". So now we set her back in the water to try and revive her.

It's not looking real good. She's tired and not really breathing. I have her by the gill plate and can't really get her in the current the way I’d like so we decide to put her in the net. She still does not seem to be recovering so Bill calls Frank Tenore who’s fishing a short distance from us. Frank suggests sticking the salt water wash down hose down her mouth. I try and tilt the net to get her head up so we can hit her with the hose. She flops out of the net and makes one strong swoosh of her broom size tail and swims off.

Man.... I'm so glad we released that fish. We were really bummed when it didn't look like she'd make it. Once the Adrenaline wore off I’m sure the ride back to the dock would have been pretty somber seeing a beautiful fish like that lying dead on the deck.

Once back at the Marinas Bill and I started commiserating…. I probably could have won the annual dock pool with that fish or maybe even had a place in the Fisherman Magazine Dream Boat standings for a month. But you know what? Returning that fish to the sea and seeing her swim off was a more of a rush then catching her.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

First time on a Party Boat (SeaHunter) my daughter nails this 8 pound fluke, sweeps both pools and gets her name in the Star-Ledger. More importantly it seeded the passion that she still has. She caught the big one at age 8 and is still out-fishing me (that's easy) 12 years later :)

You are the first one in hartattack! Great story and I love the then and now pictures. The smile on your daughters face is priceless. Good luck.

[dfish28]

First time out in the canyon to try for tilefish... Crushed them in three hours... Found a new love in fishing-deep drop- never did it before but went for tuna a lot, found a new fish I love to catch, and another fishing tackle item to buy- electric reel... My pb so far at 38# - man that hurt me!

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/dfish28/null_zpsa71a7989.jpg (http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/dfish28/media/null_zpsa71a7989.jpg.html)

Some of our catch with a kick a$$ group on an even more kick a$$ boat!! Steel Leader
http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/dfish28/null_zpsd5a80a8d.jpg (http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/dfish28/media/null_zpsd5a80a8d.jpg.html)

[EyesOnFirstAve]

So it's spring of 2006... Just put the boat in it's slip a few days earlier and head down to the marina with a bucket of supplies and a long list of to dos. Had no intention of fishing but when I arrive at the dock my boat neihbor Bill is tempting me to go fishing... What are good neihbors for, right?

We head out for a few hours and fished on the edge of the Swash for an hour or so and only had one Rat to show for it so Bill decided to make a move into shallower water up on the Shoal. Wasn't log before we had a few fish on board. A few in the teens and one that went about 20 pounds.

Must have been around 3:30 or 4 or so when I reeled up my line to check the bait. The Rats must have picked the ribbons off the clam bait since all that I had left was the tongue. It was getting late and Bill and I talked about leaving so I didn't even bother to put a new clam on. I just threw it back over and put the pole in the rod holder in free spool with the clicker on and started getting the boat in order for the ride back home.

I was screwing around doing something and noticed my pole tip bouncing. You know… the telltale twitch-twitch you get before the clicker starts screaming. I picked up the pole, put it in the 3:00 position and let her take a little more line. Once she started running I set the hook and could feel it was a decent fish. This is the first one of the day that stayed down rather then come to the surface. She was peeling line off the little AVET SX pretty good and I said half joking to Bill "Maybe we should come off the anchor and run this fish down". We both kind of shrugged it off and I continued to gain some line here and there. Bill mentions the boat record is 28 pounds and we start to get excited. Must have been 10 minutes or so when she finally came boat side.

I couldn't believe my eyes!! I knew she was big but I had no idea how big. Bill gets the big net and I steer her into it head first. She's bigger then the net so Bill lifts the net up and she folds up into the net. He tries to lift her over the side with the end of the net handle and she's too heavy. I bend over and grab the frame of the net and horse her up over the gunnel and laid her down on the deck. WOW!! This is the biggest Striper I’ve ever caught.

Bill gets the Boga grip and the fish buries the scale..... As he goes into the cabin to look for a heavier scale I'm looking down at her think “Do I keep this fish”?? We put her on a heavier spring scale and she weights 40. We put her on the Berkley electronic scale and she's 39. After that I turn to say to Bill "Maybe we should keep her". With out hesitation Bill says "Nah we should really let her go" I thought about it and said " Yep Bill you're right". So now we set her back in the water to try and revive her.

It's not looking real good. She's tired and not really breathing. I have her by the gill plate and can't really get her in the current the way I’d like so we decide to put her in the net. She still does not seem to be recovering so Bill calls Frank Tenore who’s fishing a short distance from us. Frank suggests sticking the salt water wash down hose down her mouth. I try and tilt the net to get her head up so we can hit her with the hose. She flops out of the net and makes one strong swoosh of her broom size tail and swims off.

Man.... I'm so glad we released that fish. We were really bummed when it didn't look like she'd make it. Once the Adrenaline wore off I’m sure the ride back to the dock would have been pretty somber seeing a beautiful fish like that lying dead on the deck.

Once back at the Marinas Bill and I started commiserating…. I probably could have won the annual dock pool with that fish or maybe even had a place in the Fisherman Magazine Dream Boat standings for a month. But you know what? Returning that fish to the sea and seeing her swim off was a more of a rush then catching her.

Great story and a touching ending! Nice to see your sensitive side. :)Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

First time out in the canyon to try for tilefish... Crushed them in three hours... Found a new love in fishing-deep drop- never did it before but went for tuna a lot, found a new fish I love to catch, and another fishing tackle item to buy- electric reel... My pb so far at 38# - man that hurt me!

http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/dfish28/null_zpsa71a7989.jpg (http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/dfish28/media/null_zpsa71a7989.jpg.html)

Some of our catch with a kick a$$ group on an even more kick a$$ boat!! Steel Leader
http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/o588/dfish28/null_zpsd5a80a8d.jpg (http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/dfish28/media/null_zpsd5a80a8d.jpg.html)

Wow, awesome pics! That's a crazy amount of fish. Your in, good luck.

[howarda780]

Chad Bennett and I had a banner day cod fishing on a local NS.
Surprised yesterday to make the cover of the Fisherman.

[KevinH]

My grandfather first took me out on a party boat out of LBI in 1998 when I was 8 years old. I was having a great first day fishing with a cooler full of fluke. At the final horn at the end of the day I start reeling my line up and wham! Almost lost my rod. With a little help from my grandpa I boated a 5 lb fluke and won the pool. This was my best day on the water and the day that ignited my lifelong (and expensive) passion for salt water fishing.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

[QUOTE=howarda780;356755]Chad Bennett and I had a banner day cod fishing on a local NS.
Surprised yesterday to make the cover of the Fisherman.[/QUOTE

Congrats on a great day of fishing and making the cover of the Fisherman! Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

My grandfather first took me out on a party boat out of LBI in 1998 when I was 8 years old. I was having a great first day fishing with a cooler full of fluke. At the final horn at the end of the day I start reeling my line up and wham! Almost lost my rod. With a little help from my grandpa I boated a 5 lb fluke and won the pool. This was my best day on the water and the day that ignited my lifelong (and expensive) passion for salt water fishing.

Great story! Your in, good luck.

[Quanman]

I was going to school and had a friend who had a boat. We talked about fishing and decided one October day we would head out for the Football bite. His boat was docked in Edgewater and when I got there it was a 22' modified V hull cuddy cabin. I thought this could be challenging but I already had lunch packed and my case of beer and fishing gear ready. We climb aboard at 4:30 am and head down the Hudson River in the dark and fog. I stayed up in the bow looking for floating logs as we made our way slowly to Sandy Hook to fuel up and get bait. Now we head east towards the Mud hole ready for some fishing. The sun comes up and it is a beautiful October day. I don't remember how long it took to get out there but it seemed like hours. I see a fleet and figure that's where the action is. I cut up some butterfish and start chunking. Within a few minutes we are covered up with Mahi's. My buddy who's boat it is goes down in the cuddy to get his rod and comes up two minutes later looking a little green. I pay it no mind and start catching Mahi's. Not two minutes later he's chummin like crazy. Now my friend that I brought with me sees this and he starts pukin right next to him.Within 15 minutes they decide they need to leave and get back in. I'm freaking fuming because there are fish around the boat and we have to leave. So for the ride home I put on a 4" red devil, sit on my cooler, and start letting out all my line. Now I figure hell with it and start drinking beer after beer after beer and then WACK the red devil gets hit. Stop the boat these two guys start puking again while I reel in a nice little "fat albert". Now off we go again and there I go again beer after beer after beer. Get inshore and even that proves to much for them to handle so my buddy decides to head home the back way around Staten Island and the nasty back rivers. Needless to say I wasn't very happy and the 3 beers left in my cooler was all the proof needed. We get back to the dock I go to step up on the dock and "Splash" right in the water, fish in hand. Well at least we had a laugh to end the day....

[stevelikes2fish]

OK, here's my Costa's pic, luv em'.

[FlukeFlukeFluke]

So last year.... My dad, my neighbor, his wife, and kids went out fluking. I think it was July 11th? Any ways, as we headed out, at about 7ish, we hot out our first stop. Within 1 cast/person, we had 1 keeper and 2 shorts. Then the action died. We headed over near the edge of NJ waters and fished for a while. HUGE hits and 4 keepers. So as the day went on, we headed over to the sticks. After a few hours of non stop fishing with non stop action, we finished the day with 16 fluke :) hahah if I knew how to add pics I would hahha. It was a lot of fun

[Jay]

Here are my pics! :D

[FlukeFlukeFluke]

Don't know if you remember me jamie but I was in with my dad Tim Morley one day an we brought two pairs of costas lol :) hope everything is going good:)

[shrimpman steve]

How do they get such a big fish in a little can

Deck full of tuna

[Artie Lange]

Out fishing just off the hook on mother's day my daughter caught her 1st striper. She has the best mom she wanted to go fishing on mother's day

[TimM]

Hey Jamie.




Throwback Style

[Joey Dah Fish]

My best day on the water was approximately 12 years ago on a November morning. A sponsor boat Capt gave me a call around 9am. Hey Joe you want to go on a fun trip to the Canyon for Tuna. I said sure when? He said be at the dock in an hour and a half. I was in the middle of an install total the client sorry got to go. Made it just in the nick of time. Jumped on and off we went. Flat calm made it to the east wall in about 3 hrs and 30 mind. We decide to throw in some baits prior to starting to set a slick. Well the first bait to hit the water gets hammered. Fish on!!!!! We never started a slick almost every bait that landed in the water was hooked up. We were on fish from about 5pm to 2am constantly. Two of us stopped fishing to clean fish at 10pm then again at midnight then again at 2am. We headed quartered and stuffed every box the boat had. All in all we got 72 Long Fin. Had to stop Fishin because the boat was full on fish and my arms were going to fall off. This was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this and the last as well. Thank you to you know who you are. IMHO the boat Tuna fishing Capt and Crew in NJ

[Grateful Dad]

Here's me in my Costas after a decent day fluking. I should be entered twice, because the picture of Hart Attack's daughter was taken on my boat!

[SaltLife1980]

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/527x395q90/809/gcrs.jpg


One of my best catches bc it was with my sister

[stw]

Please enter me in the raffle this is a picture of me on the Fisherman with the pool winner after being skunked for about 4weeks in a row thanks

[Madgriffer]

This is the biggest fish that I landed last year in the Hudson.

Please enter me in the Yeti drawing.

Thanks,
Marc

[SplitShot]

Flukin' and Costas... Perfect Together!!!

[BCinerie]

1988,
Salmon River trip with my Dad!!

[JonDevin]

I've probably fished over a thousand days on the water, but this one was by far my favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKUk_Z6T49M

Followed closely by this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmvgGer6Co

And then these days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmvgGer6Co

As much as I enjoy fishing, I enjoy sharing the experience with others.

[PeteyHD]

NH Pollack Bonanza left them biting for obvious reasons. Please add me to the raffle that's an amazing cooler and shades!

[Irish Jigger]

My little brother with a marlin on a Cabo trip!!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

I was going to school and had a friend who had a boat. We talked about fishing and decided one October day we would head out for the Football bite. His boat was docked in Edgewater and when I got there it was a 22' modified V hull cuddy cabin. I thought this could be challenging but I already had lunch packed and my case of beer and fishing gear ready. We climb aboard at 4:30 am and head down the Hudson River in the dark and fog. I stayed up in the bow looking for floating logs as we made our way slowly to Sandy Hook to fuel up and get bait. Now we head east towards the Mud hole ready for some fishing. The sun comes up and it is a beautiful October day. I don't remember how long it took to get out there but it seemed like hours. I see a fleet and figure that's where the action is. I cut up some butterfish and start chunking. Within a few minutes we are covered up with Mahi's. My buddy who's boat it is goes down in the cuddy to get his rod and comes up two minutes later looking a little green. I pay it no mind and start catching Mahi's. Not two minutes later he's chummin like crazy. Now my friend that I brought with me sees this and he starts pukin right next to him.Within 15 minutes they decide they need to leave and get back in. I'm freaking fuming because there are fish around the boat and we have to leave. So for the ride home I put on a 4" red devil, sit on my cooler, and start letting out all my line. Now I figure hell with it and start drinking beer after beer after beer and then WACK the red devil gets hit. Stop the boat these two guys start puking again while I reel in a nice little "fat albert". Now off we go again and there I go again beer after beer after beer. Get inshore and even that proves to much for them to handle so my buddy decides to head home the back way around Staten Island and the nasty back rivers. Needless to say I wasn't very happy and the 3 beers left in my cooler was all the proof needed. We get back to the dock I go to step up on the dock and "Splash" right in the water, fish in hand. Well at least we had a laugh to end the day....

Has a similar situation in St. Martin, two girls kept getting sick. However it was a charter so they had to deal with it until we were done and I did not fall in the water and the end of the trip.:D Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

OK, here's my Costa's pic, luv em'.

Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

So last year.... My dad, my neighbor, his wife, and kids went out fluking. I think it was July 11th? Any ways, as we headed out, at about 7ish, we hot out our first stop. Within 1 cast/person, we had 1 keeper and 2 shorts. Then the action died. We headed over near the edge of NJ waters and fished for a while. HUGE hits and 4 keepers. So as the day went on, we headed over to the sticks. After a few hours of non stop fishing with non stop action, we finished the day with 16 fluke :) hahah if I knew how to add pics I would hahha. It was a lot of fun


Sounds like a great day, pics nice but not necessary! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Here are my pics! :D


Nice Costa Blackfins and fish pic! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

How do they get such a big fish in a little can

Deck full of tuna

Hi shrimpman steve! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Don't know if you remember me jamie but I was in with my dad Tim Morley one day an we brought two pairs of costas lol :) hope everything is going good:)

Of course I remember you! Congrats on your big catch in Cabo, your dad showed me some pics. Everything is great, thank you. Hope your great as well.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Out fishing just off the hook on mother's day my daughter caught her 1st striper. She has the best mom she wanted to go fishing on mother's day

Great pic and congrats to your daughter on her first striper. Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hey Jamie.




Throwback Style

Hi Tim! Love it, your in. Good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

My best day on the water was approximately 12 years ago on a November morning. A sponsor boat Capt gave me a call around 9am. Hey Joe you want to go on a fun trip to the Canyon for Tuna. I said sure when? He said be at the dock in an hour and a half. I was in the middle of an install total the client sorry got to go. Made it just in the nick of time. Jumped on and off we went. Flat calm made it to the east wall in about 3 hrs and 30 mind. We decide to throw in some baits prior to starting to set a slick. Well the first bait to hit the water gets hammered. Fish on!!!!! We never started a slick almost every bait that landed in the water was hooked up. We were on fish from about 5pm to 2am constantly. Two of us stopped fishing to clean fish at 10pm then again at midnight then again at 2am. We headed quartered and stuffed every box the boat had. All in all we got 72 Long Fin. Had to stop Fishin because the boat was full on fish and my arms were going to fall off. This was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this and the last as well. Thank you to you know who you are. IMHO the boat Tuna fishing Capt and Crew in NJ

Great story and fishing Joey! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Here's me in my Costas after a decent day fluking. I should be entered twice, because the picture of Hart Attack's daughter was taken on my boat!

Nice Costa's and fish. Sorry, only one entry per member. :)But that was a great picture of Hart Attack's daughter. Good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/527x395q90/809/gcrs.jpg


One of my best catches bc it was with my sister

Nice picture with your sis. Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Please enter me in the raffle this is a picture of me on the Fisherman with the pool winner after being skunked for about 4weeks in a row thanks

Congrats on your big catch! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

This is the biggest fish that I landed last year in the Hudson.

Please enter me in the Yeti drawing.

Thanks,
Marc

Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Flukin' and Costas... Perfect Together!!!

Could not agree more.:D Great picture and holy Fluke! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

1986,
Salmon River trip with my Dad!!

Great picture! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

I've probably fished over a thousand days on the water, but this one was by far my favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKUk_Z6T49M

Followed closely by this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmvgGer6Co

And then these days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmvgGer6Co

As much as I enjoy fishing, I enjoy sharing the experience with others.

These videos of your son are so precious and priceless. Thanks for sharing, your in. If you win, you may have to give him your Yeti cooler as it's obvious he is quite the fisherman!:)

[EyesOnFirstAve]

NH Pollack Bonanza left them biting for obvious reasons. Please add me to the raffle that's an amazing cooler and shades!

That's a lot of fish, awesome pictures! Your in, good luck

[EyesOnFirstAve]

My little brother with a marlin on a Cabo trip!!

Nice Marlin! Your in, good luck.

[ReelNauti]

Hiya Jamie!!

here is a picture of ......ME....CockRobin.com STYLE- WITH COSTAS

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1006285_10151707457058148_7742254_n.jpg


see you June 1st to pick up MY cooler!!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hiya Jamie!!

here is a picture of ......ME....CockRobin.com STYLE- WITH COSTAS

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1006285_10151707457058148_7742254_n.jpg


see you June 1st to pick up MY cooler!!

Looking good with that fish and in your Costa's! Feeling confident about winning the Yeti I see. LOL Good luck, your in!

[CAPT PETE]

One of the best Bluefin trips I was on. We caught them good and had bigger fish mixed in. Here's a pic of one I caught and the one that got away after a 75 minute fight.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxaGUtIWTxo

[FASTEDDIE29]

First and foremost, thank you again for another fine give away! This is AWESOME!!!

Went fishing for Smallmouth Bass this past wednesday. So I'm out on the river catching a bunch of small fish and just happy that I'm catching something. All of a sudden I see BIG SMALLIE cruising the shoreline so I get out of the water and go up on this small cliff too get a better look at her, she's BIG for a river Smallie. The cliff I'm standing on is about 8 feet high over the water. I try like hell to catch this fish but she doesn't want anything I'm offering. Finally after throwing one of my least favorite lures on, I hook the BEAST. HAHAHA, but how am I going to land the fish standing on top of the cliff? Alrighty then, into the water I go. Yup, I slid down this cliff ripping a hole in my waders, jeans and boxers just to get this fish to shore. After landing the fish I realized my backside felt a little damp, hmmmmmmmmm!!! Well, I managed to take a nice chunk out of my backside during this fishing fiasco. Funny thing is I didn't feel a thing, adrenaline and excitement had taken over. Anything to land the fish safely and return her back to her home. My waders are repairable, jeans and boxers are in the trash. My backside was sore for 2 days and it's still bothersome if I sit a certain way. LOL!!!! That's my story of the week and I'm sticking with it! Not sure if this is a funny story but I was laughing all day just thinking about how I heaved myself off a small cliff for a fish. That's passion for you I guess. Good luck all!

TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t599/fasteddie2927/DSC00758_zps44b6d340.jpg
20 3/4 inch Smallmouth Bass

[EyesOnFirstAve]

One of the best Bluefin trips I was on. We caught them good and had bigger fish mixed in. Here's a pic of one I caught and the one that got away after a 75 minute fight.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxaGUtIWTxo

Nice pic! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

First and foremost, thank you again for another fine give away! This is AWESOME!!!

Went fishing for Smallmouth Bass this past wednesday. So I'm out on the river catching a bunch of small fish and just happy that I'm catching something. All of a sudden I see BIG SMALLIE cruising the shoreline so I get out of the water and go up on this small cliff too get a better look at her, she's BIG for a river Smallie. The cliff I'm standing on is about 8 feet high over the water. I try like hell to catch this fish but she doesn't want anything I'm offering. Finally after throwing one of my least favorite lures on, I hook the BEAST. HAHAHA, but how am I going to land the fish standing on top of the cliff? Alrighty then, into the water I go. Yup, I slid down this cliff ripping a hole in my waders, jeans and boxers just to get this fish to shore. After landing the fish I realized my backside felt a little damp, hmmmmmmmmm!!! Well, I managed to take a nice chunk out of my backside during this fishing fiasco. Funny thing is I didn't feel a thing, adrenaline and excitement had taken over. Anything to land the fish safely and return her back to her home. My waders are repairable, jeans and boxers are in the trash. My backside was sore for 2 days and it's still bothersome if I sit a certain way. LOL!!!! That's my story of the week and I'm sticking with it! Not sure if this is a funny story but I was laughing all day just thinking about how I heaved myself off a small cliff for a fish. That's passion for you I guess. Good luck all!

TIGHT LINEZ!!!:D
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t599/fasteddie2927/DSC00758_zps44b6d340.jpg
20 3/4 inch Smallmouth Bass

Your welcome. Great picture and a great story, I found it pretty funny, except for you hurting yourself. Hope the backside feels better soon! LOL Maby a nice new Yeti cooler would help. Good Luck!:)

[tjc76]

My personal best smallmouth bass from last summer. Sight fished while wearing my Costa permit 580 g's.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

My personal best smallmouth bass from last summer. Sight fished while wearing my Costa permit 580 g's.

Your in, good luck!

[MVP]

Hi Jamie

Enclosed is picture of me sporting my Costa sunglasses and hat I got from you during the Hi_MAr tournament. Unfortunetly the stripers wanted to take a closer look at them and had to pay the price for getting to close.

Nice thing you are doing with the raffle.

Alex

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hi Jamie

Enclosed is picture of me sporting my Costa sunglasses and hat I got from you during the Hi_MAr tournament. Unfortunetly the stripers wanted to take a closer look at them and had to pay the price for getting to close.

Nice thing you are doing with the raffle.

Alex

Great picture and nice catch! Your in Alex, good luck.

[Chris G]

Count me in Jamie!!! :-P

[MattRedShirt]

....an old man was just hanging on the rail watching all the other party boat anglers trying to scare up some fluke. He watched and waited and then took out a bag of Doritos for a snack....after finishing off the bag of chips he rips off a small piece of the bag and attaches it to a simple rig.....bang, he pull in fluke after fluke...He both won the pool and made $20 selling pieces of his Doritos bag to the other fisherman who were convinced he discovered what the fluke truly want!

[Mikey topaz]

Me and (jimmy live bait)sharking off the beach last year,and of course as always rockin tye costa's http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag82/fvkathyk/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/8DBCA428-FD20-449D-ADA8-42AF6C198CE8_zpseh1evi69.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/fvkathyk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/8DBCA428-FD20-449D-ADA8-42AF6C198CE8_zpseh1evi69.jpg.html)http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag82/fvkathyk/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/ABCCFC65-43F4-402D-BD6F-9ADECDC9C575_zpsf91oseej.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/fvkathyk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/ABCCFC65-43F4-402D-BD6F-9ADECDC9C575_zpsf91oseej.jpg.html)

[chrislars]

19 pound gator bluefish in the Cock Robin last fall. Would love to get a 40# bass this year, just no time to get down to fish! Thanks for the chance to win the cooler!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Count me in Jamie!!! :-P

Your in Chris, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

....an old man was just hanging on the rail watching all the other party boat anglers trying to scare up some fluke. He watched and waited and then took out a bag of Doritos for a snack....after finishing off the bag of chips he rips off a small piece of the bag and attaches it to a simple rig.....bang, he pull in fluke after fluke...He both won the pool and made $20 selling pieces of his Doritos bag to the other fisherman who were convinced he discovered what the fluke truly want!

Who would have known, a Dorito bag. Great story and picture. Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Me and (jimmy live bait)sharking off the beach last year,and of course as always rockin tye costa's http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag82/fvkathyk/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/8DBCA428-FD20-449D-ADA8-42AF6C198CE8_zpseh1evi69.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/fvkathyk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/8DBCA428-FD20-449D-ADA8-42AF6C198CE8_zpseh1evi69.jpg.html)http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag82/fvkathyk/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/ABCCFC65-43F4-402D-BD6F-9ADECDC9C575_zpsf91oseej.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/fvkathyk/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-08/ABCCFC65-43F4-402D-BD6F-9ADECDC9C575_zpsf91oseej.jpg.html)


Great picture and nice Costa's! Your in, good luck.:)

[EyesOnFirstAve]

19 pound gator bluefish in the Cock Robin last fall. Would love to get a 40# bass this year, just no time to get down to fish! Thanks for the chance to win the cooler!

Your welcome! Your in, good luck.

[Bison81]

Gator sea trout Captiva 2012 with my Jose's

[JonDevin]

It just got better! Took my 4 year old for his maiden voyage on his own kayak. I thought I'd be lucky if he made it 20 minutes. 2 hours later and a trip across a lake and back and I had to drag him out. He was amazing! He also kept asking me when he can go fishing in his kayak.

I am a very excited papa right now!!!! Time to mount a rod holder on his kayak.

Here's a link to a blurry video of him: http://youtu.be/RIzFlzrI2O4

[eSet Solutions]

Ever since getting my Costas I wear them for pretty much all my outdoor excursions.

I wish I had the idea to take a selfie while I kayaked the Navesink a couple of weeks ago… the background of some of those houses would make for a better photo. However, here I am with my Costa sunglasses on during the MDW kayak trip of the D&R Canal.

[Cuz]

Coming out of Shark River Inlet I made a left turn and started fishing for fluke off Avon Beach. I heard whistles blowing and saw everyone getting out of the water looking toward me. I noticed two dorsal fins swimming side by side fifteen feet from the stern of my eighteen foot boat. Low and behold there were two hammerhead sharks twelve feet long swimming around my boat. I backed down to get a better look and my fishing line became tangled in the propeller. I pulled the motor up and started to untangle the line. All of a sudden the motor dropped down throwing me into the water. The sharks were eight feet away from me! I bust my butt trying to climb up the engine to get into the boat. As I was doing this the lifeguards were coming out on there lifeboat to help me. But I succeeded to climb in the boat. My bathing came down and I accidently mooned the two lifeguards.
Found out years later when sharks are mating they swim in sync with each other and are not much of a threat when they are doing this. Thank god for love!
-Cuz-

[Gerry Zagorski]

Coming out of Shark River Inlet I made a left turn and started fishing for fluke off Avon Beach. I heard whistles blowing and saw everyone getting out of the water looking toward me. I noticed two dorsal fins swimming side by side fifteen feet from the stern of my eighteen foot boat. Low and behold there were two hammerhead sharks twelve feet long swimming around my boat. I backed down to get a better look and my fishing line became tangled in the propeller. I pulled the motor up and started to untangle the line. All of a sudden the motor dropped down throwing me into the water. The sharks were eight feet away from me! I bust my butt trying to climb up the engine to get into the boat. As I was doing this the lifeguards were coming out on there lifeboat to help me. But I succeeded to climb in the boat. My bathing came down and I accidently mooned the two lifeguards.
Found out years later when sharks are mating they swim in sync with each other and are not much of a threat when they are doing this. Thank god for love!
-Cuz-

Oh man.... We could have charged admission to watch that scene Cuz :D I'll bet those two liefguards will never be the same.... Probably blind now :eek:

[Joint Venture]

17 lb Fluke on a livelined adult bunker. I obviously was targeting bass when she took the bait. Caught a few years back off Great Kills, the NJ season was closed (although the NY season was open). She was 37 inches and was released.


Please count me in for the Yeti, thanks!

[cigar Bob]

Paper works better than plastic.

[Chris1129]

Hi Jamie,

Please enter me in the raffle...Here is a photo of me in the Fisherman magazine…didn't know I made it until someone sent me the photo. I'm sporting my first pair of Costas, purchased at Eyes on First.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Gator sea trout Captiva 2012 with my Jose's

Nice fish and Costa's! Good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

It just got better! Took my 4 year old for his maiden voyage on his own kayak. I thought I'd be lucky if he made it 20 minutes. 2 hours later and a trip across a lake and back and I had to drag him out. He was amazing! He also kept asking me when he can go fishing in his kayak.

I am a very excited papa right now!!!! Time to mount a rod holder on his kayak.

Here's a link to a blurry video of him: http://youtu.be/RIzFlzrI2O4

So cute! Thanks for sharing the video and congrats on your successful voyage. Good luck again.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Ever since getting my Costas I wear them for pretty much all my outdoor excursions.

I wish I had the idea to take a selfie while I kayaked the Navesink a couple of weeks ago… the background of some of those houses would make for a better photo. However, here I am with my Costa sunglasses on during the MDW kayak trip of the D&R Canal.


Great picture and nice Costa's. Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Coming out of Shark River Inlet I made a left turn and started fishing for fluke off Avon Beach. I heard whistles blowing and saw everyone getting out of the water looking toward me. I noticed two dorsal fins swimming side by side fifteen feet from the stern of my eighteen foot boat. Low and behold there were two hammerhead sharks twelve feet long swimming around my boat. I backed down to get a better look and my fishing line became tangled in the propeller. I pulled the motor up and started to untangle the line. All of a sudden the motor dropped down throwing me into the water. The sharks were eight feet away from me! I bust my butt trying to climb up the engine to get into the boat. As I was doing this the lifeguards were coming out on there lifeboat to help me. But I succeeded to climb in the boat. My bathing came down and I accidently mooned the two lifeguards.
Found out years later when sharks are mating they swim in sync with each other and are not much of a threat when they are doing this. Thank god for love!
-Cuz-

That's a scary but very funny story!:D Thank for sharing it. Good luck with the raffle Cuz.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

17 lb Fluke on a livelined adult bunker. I obviously was targeting bass when she took the bait. Caught a few years back off Great Kills, the NJ season was closed (although the NY season was open). She was 37 inches and was released.


Please count me in for the Yeti, thanks!

Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Paper works better than plastic.

Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hi Jamie,

Please enter me in the raffle...Here is a photo of me in the Fisherman magazine…didn't know I made it until someone sent me the photo. I'm sporting my first pair of Costas, purchased at Eyes on First.

Hey Chris! Did not know you were a celebrity, great picture. Looking good in your Costa's. Good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Hi everyone! Just a reminder, tomorrow Thursday May 29th is the last day to be entered into the raffle. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon. Good luck to everyone and thanks to all that have participated so far.:)

[shrimpman steve]

No, thank you!

[PeteyHD]

Hi everyone! Just a reminder, tomorrow Thursday May 29th is the last day to be entered into the raffle. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon. Good luck to everyone and thanks to all that have participated so far.:)

Can't Wait!!!

[JBird]

Great contest!
I have a story from my Dad about my Grampa.
When my Dad was a kid growing up just outside Chicago his family would sometimes take a trip up to Wisconsin for a summer vacation. They always went fishing and many times my Grampa would set a handline at dusk with a big cork bobber and a frog for bait. The hope was when he returned early the next morning there would be a big bass on the line. Bear in mind this was the 1950's and killing bass back then was acceptable, unlike today where people really get their panties in a bunch if you harm a largemouth. :rolleyes:
Anyway, he set the handline out one night and when he got back the next morning there was the frog, hook through his lip and all, sitting on top of the bobber! My Grampa figured that since the frog was smart enough to sit on the bobber all night out of harms way that he earned his freedom so he let it go.
Good luck to all with the contest and thanks Jamie!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

No, thank you!

:)

[Chris G]

Posting this for my technologically un-advanced buddy Capt Rob....

[jlrotary]

Caught, tagged and released this big girl back in May 2010. I remember the bass smacking into the boat chasing the bunker. Truley a night to remember aboard the Netkeeper.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/jl_rotary/2010%20FISHING/IMG_9585.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/jl_rotary/media/2010%20FISHING/IMG_9585.jpg.html)

[Tuna Tales]

Thanks for the chance to win!

Here are two from 2013...

20 lb class cod with my Costa's on...

234 lb Mako with my Costa's on (I am in the middle)



Best,


Joe T.

[JayO]

Attended my 2nd Beginner Tile fishing trip on the Voyager back in August, 2013. The trip was organized by the Reel Seat in Brielle. Epic day of fishing for everyone. I'm now hooked on deep sea fishing and plan to make a couple trips every season.

Thank You Jamie for the opportunity!

http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a572/josowski23/Tile_Aug2013_zps3f9c8acd.jpg (http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/josowski23/media/Tile_Aug2013_zps3f9c8acd.jpg.html)

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Great contest!
I have a story from my Dad about my Grampa.
When my Dad was a kid growing up just outside Chicago his family would sometimes take a trip up to Wisconsin for a summer vacation. They always went fishing and many times my Grampa would set a handline at dusk with a big cork bobber and a frog for bait. The hope was when he returned early the next morning there would be a big bass on the line. Bear in mind this was the 1950's and killing bass back then was acceptable, unlike today where people really get their panties in a bunch if you harm a largemouth. :rolleyes:
Anyway, he set the handline out one night and when he got back the next morning there was the frog, hook through his lip and all, sitting on top of the bobber! My Grampa figured that since the frog was smart enough to sit on the bobber all night out of harms way that he earned his freedom so he let it go.
Good luck to all with the contest and thanks Jamie!

Cute story Jeremy. Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Posting this for my technologically un-advanced buddy Capt Rob....

My two models are looking good! LOL Captain Robbie, your in.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Caught, tagged and released this big girl back in May 2010. I remember the bass smacking into the boat chasing the bunker. Truley a night to remember aboard the Netkeeper.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/jl_rotary/2010%20FISHING/IMG_9585.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/jl_rotary/media/2010%20FISHING/IMG_9585.jpg.html)

Holy striped bass! Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Thanks for the chance to win!

Here are two from 2013...

20 lb class cod with my Costa's on...

234 lb Mako with my Costa's on (I am in the middle)



Best,


Joe T.

Your welcome. Great pictures and nice Costa's! :)Your in, good luck.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Attended my 2nd Beginner Tile fishing trip on the Voyager back in August, 2013. The trip was organized by the Reel Seat in Brielle. Epic day of fishing for everyone. I'm now hooked on deep sea fishing and plan to make a couple trips every season.

Thank You Jamie for the opportunity!

http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a572/josowski23/Tile_Aug2013_zps3f9c8acd.jpg (http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/josowski23/media/Tile_Aug2013_zps3f9c8acd.jpg.html)

Your welcome! Great picture, your in. Good luck.

[Delawareriver]

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/delawareriver/IMG_20130620_133002.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/delawareriver/media/IMG_20130620_133002.jpg.html) love chasing stingrays in the Chesapeake bay. Won't leave home with out my costas

[EyesOnFirstAve]

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/delawareriver/IMG_20130620_133002.jpg (http://s986.photobucket.com/user/delawareriver/media/IMG_20130620_133002.jpg.html) love chasing stingrays in the Chesapeake bay. Won't leave home with out my costas

Great picture! Your in, good luck.

[Foul Hook]

My Brother ,father and myself head to the SGR for a day of flukin. First fish in the boat is a fat 5lber caught by my bro. Next fish a nice 4 by me then a flurry of 3 to 7 lb fluke come over the rail caught by me and bro. We ended the day with 2-7lbers, 2 6 lbers 4 5lbers a bunch of 4's the rest being all nice keepers not to mention several seabass upto 5lbs all caught by me and my brother. My poor father lost just about ever rig in his box and got the skunk :(. Oh well! what can you do.

[Phish On]

Was fishing down in Costa Rica 2 years ago. Hooked into this large bull dorado. 45lbs.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

My Brother ,father and myself head to the SGR for a day of flukin. First fish in the boat is a fat 5lber caught by my bro. Next fish a nice 4 by me then a flurry of 3 to 7 lb fluke come over the rail caught by me and bro. We ended the day with 2-7lbers, 2 6 lbers 4 5lbers a bunch of 4's the rest being all nice keepers not to mention several seabass upto 5lbs all caught by me and my brother. My poor father lost just about ever rig in his box and got the skunk :(. Oh well! what can you do.

Your in, good luck!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Was fishing down in Costa Rica 2 years ago. Hooked into this large bull dorado. 45lbs.

Great picture and nice catch! Your in, good luck.

[tjmueller]

Slow fluke fishing close to beach at Sandy Hook. Cop friend of mine decides to wake up the fish with his sidearm. Got plenty of attention from beach goers. Made a quick move and landed on a nice pile of flatties sometimes it's the strangest things.

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Slow fluke fishing close to beach at Sandy Hook. Cop friend of mine decides to wake up the fish with his sidearm. Got plenty of attention from beach goers. Made a quick move and landed on a nice pile of flatties sometimes it's the strangest things.


Just saw your entry from last night, your in good luck!

Raffle is closed now! Winner will be announced by noon.

[shrimpman steve]

Did I win yet:D

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Congratulations to Irish Jigger(Sean Hennessey)on winning the Costa Yeti cooler, retainer and hat! Costa also included this new t-shirt last minute.

Thank you to Costa for their generous donations and to all that participated in the promotion! I really enjoyed reading all of the stories and seeing all of the amazing pictures. Have a great weekend.:)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/20140530_105537.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/20140530_105537.jpg.html)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/20140530_105621.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/20140530_105621.jpg.html)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/20140530_110048.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/20140530_110048.jpg.html)

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n219/theresagjertsen19_2006/imagejpeg_0.jpg (http://s113.photobucket.com/user/theresagjertsen19_2006/media/imagejpeg_0.jpg.html)

[Gerry Zagorski]

Congrats to Irish Jigger and thanks again to Jamie at Eyes on First Ave and Costa for the Yetti and Costa gear.

I guess the rest of us are going to have to settle for warm beer and string to keep the Costa's around our necks :rolleyes:

[Irish Jigger]

First of all thank you Jamie for the raffle and turing a bad day into a great day. We have purchased Costas from Eyes on First numerous times and the customer service is second to none!! Again thank you for the cooler but most importantly the excellent service you provide your customers!! If your looking for Costas you found the right place!!!!!!!

Sean

[EyesOnFirstAve]

First of all thank you Jamie for the raffle and turing a bad day into a great day. We have purchased Costas from Eyes on First numerous times and the customer service is second to none!! Again thank you for the cooler but most importantly the excellent service you provide your customers!! If your looking for Costas you found the right place!!!!!!!

Sean

Your welcome Sean! Glad we could turn a bad day into a great day and thank you for the kind words. Congratulations again!:)Enjoy your Yeti Cooler and Costa Gear.

[Wilson]

Congrats to Irish Jigger and thanks again to Jamie at Eyes on First Ave and Costa for the Yetti and Costa gear.

I guess the rest of us are going to have to settle for warm beer and string to keep the Costa's around our necks :rolleyes:

and bad hats:D

http://i920.photobucket.com/albums/ad44/spinfishguy/667773c0-0145-4876-b117-1f1e06fb80e4_zps5008e5ec.jpg

[Jay]

Congratulations, Irish Jigger! Awesome gear there! Thanks Jamie, for including me on the raffle!

[EyesOnFirstAve]

Congratulations, Irish Jigger! Awesome gear there! Thanks Jamie, for including me on the raffle!

Your welcome!:)

[Irish Jigger]

Thanks again to Eyes on First. Picked up my cooler, tee and hat over the weekend and I have to say this is one tough cooler!! Will defenitly come in handy on the boat!!
Thanks again!!

[Taxman]

Thanks again to Eyes on First. Picked up my cooler, tee and hat over the weekend and I have to say this is one tough cooler!! Will defenitly come in handy on the boat!!
Thanks again!!


It might be the worlds heaviest cooler, but it is tough and keeps the beer nice and cold