Sea bass and BIG porgies

[dakota560]

We fished the sea bass opener yesterday and had a good day with sea bass and porgies. Left SRI and headed north to an area we've done well in about 70 to 80 feet of water. Little bouncy out but the fish were chewing. We ended with about 20 or so sea bass, largest around 5 lbs caught by Billy Mayfield, about the same amount of porgies and one ling. I've never seen porgies as large as the ones we caught yesterday. The biggest measured 20 inches and weighed 5 lbs 4 ounces! We had 6 over 4 1/2 pounds! They were absolute beasts! Pound for pound porgies are one of the best fighting fish in the ocean, real blast to catch and good eating to boot. Great day on the water.....a few pictures attached.

[Taxman]

NJ record is 5 pounds 14 oz caught in 1976 in Delaware bay

What a beast

[dakota560]

Taxman,

Definitely biggest porgies I've ever seen. They actually fought and felt more like cod on the way up. Was good to see them that size, I remember my father telling me stories of shad or hump back porgies when I was a kid and it was probably fish like this he was talking about. Real nice fish for sure!

[DEEP POCKETS]

Nice report man way to go.

What do you like eating better the sea bass or porgies? I never had porgies before.

[dakota560]

Not too many fish which beat sea bass in my opinion but porgies are pretty good table fare.

[DEEP POCKETS]

Not too many fish which beat sea bass in my opinion but porgies are pretty good table fare.

Thanks, good to know and agree sea bass is my favorite:)