Weekend report (fluke/porgy/weakfish) and heavy hearts

[rockbottom]

It was definitely an eventful weekend-to say the least. After finding a new fluke hotspot late Friday we headed there bright an early Saturday morning with a light crew including Walter, Rick, and Abe. We get to the spot with almost perfect conditions and the first drift was lights out. We had non stop action with shorts, 2 keepers and a few keeper seabass. Went to repeat the drift again and just never could. We worked the area a ton and quickly had our limit of real nice seabass. We then had Abe bring his line up with some braid on it. My son took the line and started to pull it in. He told me he felt something on the other end. Pulled in quite a bit of line and then he said it got light. He brings the mono backing up and saw it curled which means it wasn't tied very well to the reel. We were pretty confident this was the pole that was lost the day prior, because it was the same area. We made a few more drifts with everyone missing some big fish, including myself.

Next is when it got eventful.

We were mid drift when we look over and saw Abe collapse. The guys got him on the floor and immediately started CPR. We called USCG and headed back to port where we had police and EMT's awaiting our arrival. They did their thing and we were notified a little later that he had passed away at the hospital. this is only something you've ever heard of occasionally but never thought it would happen to you. I have to thank my son as well as the other guys for staying calm and helping out with everything. We have known Abe for several years. He became a good friend of ours. He was one of the nicest and friendliest guys you could ever meet, and one hell of a fisherman-definitely one of the best guys I've ever seen blackfish. He will be missed greatly by us and everyone else he has known.


Sunday we were on the fence about going out, for a lot of reasons, but we decided we had to go. Had a full boat for some good jersey porgy fishing. Weather WAS supposed to be nice, but that never happened. As soon as we stopped it was game on. As soon as you dropped you had a fish. The crew had to weed thru a ton of shorts, the ratio was probably 10/15-1, just crazy. But if the 8inch fish were a little bigger we would have had our boat limit by 9. Around 11 the action just stopped so we picked up and looked for more life. We found some and couldn't believe what we pulled up. It was the MOTHERLOAD OF WEAKFISH! Coming up 2 at a time and fast. And literally all of them were the same size, 11inches, and the screen was loaded. We picked up and moved, and had them again. So we took a little run and tried another spot that had some life but didn't produce. Finally back tracked some and anchored up to pick a few more for the box before we headed in. Had between 150-200 to come home with.

Next Saturday is booked but we do have openings Sunday for ling/cod/flounder.

[SaltLife1980]

I fished with Abe a few times. Great guy! So sorry to hear he passed

[CaptMarc]

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like you did everything you could.

[hartattack]

Condolences. . . .

[Gerry Zagorski]

That had to be a very difficult thing for you and the crew to go though.

My condolences to Abe, his family and friends and a tip of the cap to you and the crew.

[bulletbob]

sad story... Of course I don't know the gentleman .. However I do know fishermen.. I would bet my last dollar if asked on the way out to the fishing grounds how he would like to go, He might have answered, "Out here -fishing"...

Most of us don't go that way.. It's slower and with a lot more deterioration.
There is something to be said about passing on while still active and doing something you love doing.. Godspeed to all concerned... bob

[Rocky]

Bulletbob said it the best. My condolences.

[Fishin Dude]

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and everyone involved. May he rest in peace.

[Joey Dah Fish]

So sorry for the loss of your friend and fellow fisherman. Deepest condolences to the family

[Sharkyispy]

Ron, sorry to hear this and for the loss of this gentleman. Had heard of a call over the weekend but didn't realize this was your boat. I'm sure you and your son did all you could to assist him. Thoughts to you both as well.