Mad gaffer 5/9-5/15 fishing reports

[Capt Ray Mad Gaffer]

I have not posted reports for a few days, primarily because we have had charters, and the fishing has been the same . For the past few day we have had fantastic blue fishing, both Chungking with Bunkers, and jigging with bananas and jigs. The fish have all been huge , and we have also managed to get a couple of striped bass every day, which have also been good size fish.The action has been nonstop , rods ,have been bent in half, and people have gone home with sore arms , and backs from reeling in all these big fish. It's true they're not all striped bass, but they are great big fish. The largest bass of the season to date has been about 45 pounds, this fish was taken on a Mojo upon reeling it in we knew it was a big fish , but when it was gaffed we knew just how big it was, And we knew it would be probably one of the biggest fish of the season, it wasn't until we got in the boat though that we knew how big it was. The largest bluefish todate tipped the scale at just under 24 pounds .The fish was weighed and released. That blue fish was caught by one of our more experienced anglers Joe Florida. After boating that fish Joe decided he needed a break, it took him twice as long to land that bluefish as it did the big bass, that was bloated two weeks earlier, the effort he expanded was much more then the effort the fellow that reeled in the big bass had expended. That bass was twice the size of the bluefish, and the bluefish out performed the bass by a a factor of probably three. This is really world-class fishing , yet people complain that they're not stripers, But yet the same people will break their necks to catch bluefish in the ocean in the summer, which has not really happened very much in recent years. People also think that these fish are not good to eat, they happen to be very good to eat . These are not your fathers bluefish, that were chummed on a 90° day, stored in a burlap bag, with the guts , and blood ,and chum still in the fish. Those fish were spoiled ! . In this day and age charter and party boats know , or should know how to bleed your fish, and store your fish. When that is done properly , these fish are fine table fair, the dark appearance of the meet is only temporary , when they are cooked they turned white ,as white as most any bottom fish. properly cared for they do not have a fishy taste or smell, but they have a flavor that can stand up to
different types of seasonings, and different cooking methods. I frequently cook them and bring them to the boat, and let everyone sample them. Usually I tell them that their striped bass, and then after eating them they tell me how good they are I disclose that they are indeed bluefish. Most then say they don't taste like bluefish, my responses is no that's what bluefish taste like when you're not spoiled. Then all of them take a few home , and try them and the response is that they were very good. It's one of the best fish you can catch, That has a decent bag limit , and one of the most exciting fish you can catch anywhere. On that note, we have open boat trips Monday, May 16, Tuesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 18. Call for information and reservations. You may also feel free to call me at the below mentioned number for information for both preparing and cooking and storing bluefish or any other fish, no matter who you fish with, No matter what boat you're on. Every charter boat and party boat does a good job, and I'm sure they would all like to promote these fish that we are so fortunate to have now

[Capt Ray Mad Gaffer]

Nice bass from the other day way to go gerry

[Capt Ray Mad Gaffer]

Fresh bluefish and a cold one

[tombanjo]

Excellent post. Come July when they can't find a blue over 1/2lb I hope they'll remember. No tougher fight then a 20lb+ blue pound for pound. Couple of years ago when we had that solid month of those monsters I had three jigs in a row bit off and I was down to my light fluke rod with a bait hook on it. Tie on another jig to the stronger outfit? Nah, stuck a bunker chunk on and BOOM! Off to the races. Got him in too, 12lb test on a crowded PB. 22lbs.