awful fishing for me!

[bulletbob]

Did the overnight drive down to NJ.. Took the day off .
Wanted to get in on the hot sea bass bite....
Got on a crowded NS out of AH at 6 am... After about an hour or so, I wanted to get off as I could see it was going to be a big crowd, and there were 3 other boats going out for sea bass with very light crowds on board, but I was embarrassed so I stayed where I was... I regretted it while fishing as there wasn't any room to try other spots on the deck.
I was at the stern, which was a bad decision... My total for the day was 3 porgies, and 1 small skinny sea bass, that was a bare keeper.. thats it... Others had 3 or 4 sea bass and several porgies, Hi hook might have had 6 or 8 bass and some porgies.. Some really nice ones too.
There were a few nice tog caught by guys using green crabs and nothing but green crabs.. One in particular fished for togs all day..
The crowd was big enough to have 2 pools.. One was $95,[tog] and second place was $45.[ sea bass].. Lots of guys were not in the pool I noticed.

I and several others at the stern just weren't getting bit, all day, no matter how many stops, or where.. It was maddening.. Using the same rigs as everyone else. my rigs kept coming up untouched with the clam baits intact every time, all day long.. I tried smaller hooks, larger hooks, more weight, less weight, different rig configurations. Bigger bait, very small bait, It didn't matter.. Rank beginners made me look like a chump, as well as a few boat regulars that fished the stern near me. I felt like i was poisoning the well!..
I was really humiliated.... I just don't seem to have the touch for bottom fishing I did at one time... Either that, or my hands have a weird smell thats turning the fish off.. I mean when I guy isn't even getting bergal bites, there is a problem.. Only thing thats helping keep me sane as I write this, is that several good old school fishermen did no better than I... REALLY tough day for me and a few others..
The starboard side mid ship had the best life all day, followed by the port side, except it died out on both sides as you got close to the stern.. I will NEVER figure out why this happens, but I have seen in a hundred times... It just sucks when you're the one it happens to....
Hopefully, next trip will be better, whenever that is.. Probably tog...... I need to lick my wounds first.... For guys that caught, fish bit in quick flurries as soon as the anchor line came tight, but each drop, it died within a minute or two to a slow pick, and stayed that way until the captain moved, and then it repeated the exact same scenario.... Think I will stick to sweet water.. I have an easier time catching Walleyes and Smallmouths than I do catching sea bass and porgies... bob

[makosnax]

Check pm

[WhaleFart]

I've been there dawg, got to roll with the punches. I've been humbled before on party boats a few times, where I would drop down get snagged, lose my jig .. time and time again while the rental rods were pulling them up non stop. This is why I also bring a 6er, at least I'll catch something... A buzz that is.


Alright alright alright,

Whalefart

[kurtisb]

Didn't know there was a NS party boat out of AH. All 8 that I know of are sponsors. Any way, I've fished all of the boats out of AH and have my favorites for certain fish.

[Rocky]

Those awesome reports of big limits will drive you nuts! I was out on my boat today and only managed 4 keeper sb for myself.

P.S. I would like to kick the weatherman in the balls for his sucky forecast today. 2' to 3's with 10 second intervals my azz!

[shrimpman steve]

Maybe your finger went thru the toilet paper this morning

It happens to all of us! You'll get em next time.

[Fin Reaper]

[QUOTE=shrimpman steve;379226]Maybe your finger went thru the toilet paper this morning

LMFAO, and all these years I've been blaming it on the sunscreen

Been there too many times Bob, hang in there buddy

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by kurtisb

Didn't know there was a NS party boat out of AH. All 8 that I know of are sponsors. Any way, I've fished all of the boats out of AH and have my favorites for certain fish.

I thought the capt told me he USED to be a sponsor but is no longer.. I could be mistaken.. The captain is a good one, he's been around a VERY long time, and knows where the bottom fish are.
He was terrific, it was just an awful day for me.. he kept checking on me, and I could see he felt bad for me struggling to catch a few fish.. His "regular" customer that did even worse than me got made fun of by the captain, in a good natured way.. The guy was a few feet from me and said "I couldn't catch my ass if I had both hands on it".

I wanted to go out on the Angler but he didn't light up, so i jumped on with a captain I had fished with before, a few times on a couple different boats over the years. I would not hesitate to fish with him again. He was great, I just sucked... bob

[seadog]

Everyone catching but you. I think that's happened to every fisherman more then once. It's like having a bad day of golf, it happens. Don't be so hard on yourself. After all being out on the sea for the day is part of the deal. If it was just about bringing home fish to eat I think most of us would agree that overall it would be cheaper to go to the fish market.

[howardrf]

Sounds like my fluke season this year. Couldn't get it right!!!