Was in the game myself this weekend. Friday began with a planned mid-afternoon recon launch which was quickly aborted while steaming out of the harbor and seeing hydraulic fluid all over the transom bracket. Blown steering hose was fixed and three hours later I'm back at the ramp. I made the SW and set a 4-rod spread seraching for some life. Some big bluefish KDs to get things started and things are picking up. I'm starting to figure my timeline for a return when things get interesting with a 48" fish eating a pink bar in tight. Made the sundown ride back to Green Harbor all that much nicer.
back at it again Sat am, on station at 04:45 and looking for life. Love these long, near solstice days! Not too much life showing at first but things began waking up at about 6:30, a bluefish or two and a big hole in the water where that pink bar used to be. I'm solo again on the boat but have the drill down, clear that side, harness is ready, gaff nearby, gloves on the seat. Time to get to work, nice pull and it behaves and comes up right where I need it to for a gaff shot. Looking down I can see it's another step larger than last night so I unbuckle to put the rod in the holder so I can leader and gaff. Which of course is just when the fish decides to screw and pull off a hundred yards...got dicey there for a moment. Second times the charm, a nice head shot with the gaff and a fat mid 50's fish is aboard.
2-fer-2 on trips this weekend, nice start for the season.
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'79 Formula, 225 OX 66 |