Da Muskie was da place to be today!!!!!

[Capt. JJ]

My friend Chris (who showed me quite a few great places) will disown me if I burn any more spots (but its not like there ARE any secret holes or spots these days!) but suffice it to say I felt Da muskie was da place to be and I was right!

Got to the stream at 5:45am and was da only person on a VERY famous location....water was still high, flow was more gray than brown which shows its settling down...

Started off with pink shrimpie eggs.....had 2 small bow's right away....bite slowed and about 15 minutes later one more guy showed up (where da hell was everyone???!!!)...decided to try a yellow panther martin....had a monster brookie hook-jaw follow on first cast....kept swatting at it but no hook up (and da fish was sitting 6 feet in front of me) so I changed to a small bronze phoebe....first cast and it was instant slamo-o!

Fought it for about 10 minutes and had some net assistance from the gentleman across the stream.....after some tough, quick, deliberation...I decided to do da release thing on a 28" brookie that was my personal best here in Jersey, hoping that karma (and a lack of fishermen) would get me more fish.

It did in spades!

Another 19" female bow on da next cast!!!! I had my limit before long, and the guy across the stream also managed a nice 19" bow.

Stopped at few more spots on da Musk and managed trout at each stop....

As da morning moved on da hot lure was a yozuri purple-top diver....first time I used one and it was amazing!!!!!!

Kept my limit of smaller bows and let all da monsters go......

2 weeks till I start salt water fishing for real.....a couple trips wit' da Mongers, and then its all Capt. Bill Kulka on his maine coaster out of Barnegat.

Between Jerry and Bill, you simply cant ask for better fish-catchers.

I am blessed to know them, and today was simply another in a long line of amazing trips on our state waters!

Chris: I did NOT burn your damned spots, but I was SOOOO damned close to '78 I coulda' hitched a ride with one hand and cast the line with my other!!!!!



Capt. JJ