OK boys and girls, it's time for the slightly delayed Winter Flounder trip report aboard the Angela Rose II out of Point Pleasant, NJ!
I left the house around 5:30AM from Mount Laurel heading to pick up Dad in Brick around 6:30AM. Weather was a little damp, really pouring rain when I left but completely cleared out as the sun broke through the cloudy skies right around day break. Definitely looked to be the makings of a great day. Picked up dad, and we arrived at the dock shortly after 7:00AM for an 8:00AM departure. Already there were Paul, Craig, Pablo, and Will to complete the 6 pack charter.
We all met up with Captain Anthony and Mate Jay and started loading enough gear for an overnight offshore trip as Jay put it! I can't lie, we all pack like boyscouts for every fishing trip! We had a nice variety of baits: clams, mussels, sandworms, nightcrawlers, Gulp, Fishbites, Pablo's super secret winter flounder slam dunk Powerbait nymphs and a medley of chum logs and loose chum.
Ready to roll, we set sail shortly after incoming tide started and cruised to the first spot. We set the hooks, dropped the chum baskets, and set out the lines with various bait combinations to see what would work best. Fishing was slow, real slow as the tide came in with water temps in the mid 40s. We really struggled to even get a bite, but Captain Anthony and Mate Jay continued to work hard to find the fish. We hit several other spots, moving around after 45 minutes to an hour of inactivity trying to find the bite. Based on the previous day's fishing, Anthony and Jay were confident the bite would come right at the end of incoming tide, through slack, and that first hour of outgoing. They relocated us to where they had a solid bite the day before at the same time and we set up for a long set knowing the fish would be there eventually.
Well it didn't take long at all...within minutes I had the first hookup and landed a nice keeper flounder. Finally on the board! Shortly after Pablo hooked into one and landed another keeper. Things were warming up. I hooked another one minutes later and landed another keeper for the box. Alright, finally in the action! Then the coast guard comes flying up on us full bore and tell us we are anchored too close to the channel and have to move. Say what?!?! Too close? There was plenty of room for any boat to get through and it's the beginning of spring...there's hardly any boat traffic. To make a long story a little bit shorter, we moved another 20 feet over...and that made the difference in being able to catch. We went from fishing hard all morning, struggling to find the fish...to finally finding them, boxing 3 fish in like 5 minutes, and being forced to move off the fish (unnecessarily). We maneuvered around and were able to pick at the fish as the tide continued to come in..but definitely not a sick bite like we had when we first got there. Eventually as the slack tide came, Anthony and Jay decided it was time to move to the other side of the channel to prepare for the shift in tide. Turned out to be a great move as we landed on a nice pod of fish and really started bailing them for the next couple hours. Everyone in the group was catching, and I really think Pablo's super secret Powerbait nymphs did the trick for a few of the guys!
I'm pretty sure every fish caught and landed was a keeper...and our group wound up with 23 on the day. Not too shabby amidst the tough conditions. Everyone caught fish and had a great time.
The boat, Captain Anthony, and Mate Jay...I can't say enough good about these guys and their outfit. Any negative I could come up with would be petty and pale in comparison to the awesome trip and outstanding service we received. These guys are not top notch, they are the top of the notch and I will fish with them in the future, hands down! I've honestly rarely seen a captain and mate work so hard for a crew and extend themselves the way these two did. They were constantly upbeat throughout the day despite the challenging fishing and conditions, and even extended our trip to ensure they got us on the fish! Unmatched professionalism and absolutely awesome to fish with, one of the best times I've had out fishing with any charter outfit, and I've fished and worked on quite a few! Two big thumbs up to these guys, I can't wait to get out with them again. I know Craig already has a trip booked with them again for the upcoming weekend, and I foresee more trips scheduled with them from spring through fall!
I encourage you all to check out the Angela Rose Charters, I can't see how you'd have anything less than an outstanding trip with them!
OK so let's move on to some pics from the trip...
The Angela Rose II, what a beautiful boat...
The boys...all ready to roll.
From left to right: Paul, Will, Craig, myself, Pablo, my dad.
Captain Anthony and Will talking things over before we leave...
Paul, getting serious!
Sun trying to peak through shortly after leaving the dock...
This boat cruises nice!
Sure was nice of Captain Anthony and Mate Jay to provide lunch!
Little bit of chum for the day...
Before...
After...SCRUBBY FIN TUNA!!!
Pablo's ready!
Paul's all smiles...
First spot we were at and around...nada doing, but nice scenery...
Craig...enjoying a beer...hah...and Will enjoying a sandwich and catching a bit of a breeze?!?!
This is what you get when the fishing is slow and dad runs to the bathroom and leaves his rod unattended.
RAG FISH ON!!! NET NET NET!!! Oh, nevermind.
Nice size Ronny!
Alright, a little relocation and we are on some fish!
First one of the day, one of mine.
Captain Anthony and Dad with a nice flundie!
Craig, hookin into one!
And in the boat!
Pablo, with another one in the net...
Craig with another one...errrr wait...that's not quite a flounder!
Nice artificial flounder, good size Scrubby!
Will, pulling flundies off the chum pot...
And occassionally the chum pot itself haha!
Paul, putting the hook to one!
Gettin em in the net!
And in Paul's hands...
Pablo and Craig near the end of the day...
Will, liking Pablo's super secret bait in hand!
Nice group photo
FLUNDIES!!!
The boys and their catch!
Great job guys, my dad and I had a blast, was great getting out there!
Hats off to Captain Anthony and Mate Jay...you guys were awesome.
I have to get some more pics of you guys next time too!
