Father’s Day Report

[Skolmann]

I upped on a NS in the morning that was targeting bluefish for the first half of the trip and sea bass to to finish the day. Had a brief spurt of good action with #3 bluefish right away but they were moving north fast and you were only able to get 2-3 casts at them before we had to move. That action was broken up when a school of dolphin showed up & the blues scattered. I was able to boat 3 before the action died. Continued on our way and made it to our original destination. The next few hours were best described as a slow pick. I was able to boat 2 more. Moved offshore to a high spot and it was game on immediately with blues to #5. A few sea bass were also jigged up and those who switched to clams were able to boat a few keepers. I stayed with bluefish since the sea bass bite (on either bait or clam) wasn’t on fire. I ended putting 23 blues in the boat (most being released). Also a first for me, I jigged up a 14” blackfish on a plain A27.

Met up with Jason later in the day and we decided to hit the beach in the late afternoon/early evening to fish the last of the incoming tide. Our targeted species was striped bass & our bait of choice were sand crabs. I was able to put 5 on the sand to 26”s while pulling the hook on another which felt like a good fish & missed 1 other bite. Jason put 3 bass on the sand to 27.5”s. Once the tide slacked the bass bite died on the skates took over with each catching 2. Another first for me was while we’re fishing I saws my first ghost crab in NJ, I’ve seen them countless times when I go to the Outer Banks but this was the first time I saw one in NJ.