OK, it's Sunday and the long awaited trip on the Daly Double with Tom has finally arrived!
We have a long day planned with lots of fluking on the brain!
Tom sets the IHOP meet-up time at 5:45AM, and I arrive right on time to find Tom is already there! Wow, the karaoke machine must have been broken because he was actually on time today! We order some breakfast and take out time because, hey...the Raritan Bay isn't going anywhere and we are fishing late today...especially considering we have to pick Lou up at noon back in the Highlands and then head back out for the rest of the afternoon...and as it turns out evening!
OK, we swing by Julians to pick up a little bait, ice, and random other goodies...then head off to the marina where the infamous Daly Double is docked and get our gear on board. Tom's boat is a beaut...and has all the amenities anyone could want: a healthy cabin, air conditioning, sofa couch, sofa seats. coffee table, refrigerator/freezer, stovetop, bathroom, shower, DVD player, plasma TV, full stereo...the whole nine. She's an older boat, but he's taken great care of her and it shows...definitely a sweet ride!
So enough of the tour...we need to hit the water. We push off and head to the Ambrose channel to start the day. It's snotty as hell, stiff headwind and incoming tide...so when the tide shifts, we are going to be ripping in Ambrose with tide and wind going together. Anyway, we are just about at the tip of the hook, while amidst rigging...I realize, where the hell is the net at? I ask Tom, he says its down there...and we check things out...NO NET anywhere to be found. Someone must have stolen it! GRRRRR, bastards!!! We have to go all the way back into the Highlands to buy another net. Kills some time for us, but we finally pick up a net...but not after having the state police come flying in at us going 30 knots to yell at us for going a whole 3 knots in a no wake zone. Take it easy big fella! Next time we'll break out the paddles! 90% of the chop was from the weather...but I guess we got picked out because we were the biggest boat within eye shot...who knows...we weren't going that fast but whatever.
Net on board, triple check that we have everything else we need...good to go...off to Ambrose! On the way out, we get a call from Charlie and Tom (lefteye), giving us some intel on the bite in their area. They are beating on the fish and tell us to swing on over, but Tom (tdaly) has BIG fluke on his mind...so we stick with Ambrose. We arrive and the drift is surprisingly just about perfect...fishable with only 6-8oz. We set up on the edge of the elbow and drift down the red buoys...I pick up the first fish in the first 10 minutes or so, and a keeper to boot! One in the box! We drift over the area again, little more south, and I pick up another fluke, second keeper in the box! Nice! We hit the same area again, and I pick up a short or two, but no strong bite...even on the first few drifts...just picking one fish on the whole stretch. So we move over to the green side and bam, I pick up another keeper...3 in the box! Tom is struggling to hook up, and that's when I notice his rigging just may not be optimal...teaser too closer to the main trailer and the presentation looks a little off. I hook Tom up with one of my rigged rods while I re-rig his with the setup I've been using. No sooner do I hand off my rod, before I even have a chance to cut his existing rig off...do Tom hook into a fish! Sweet! I can see by the bend in the rod, it's a decent fish and Tom knows it's a pretty good fish. He gets her to the boat and I net up a nice 4# fish or so. 4 keepers in the box! I get Tom's rod rigged, and we drop it in...by now we've located on a nice pile of fish and it's around 11:35AM. We swing back up and drift over them and hook up immediately...I land another keeper, Tom lands a short (barely, by like 1/8")...then I land a second keeper on that drift...that's 2 more in the box for a total of 6.
It's now near noon time and we have to make a decision...go in for Lou or stick with the best bite of keepers we've found all morning. Well, I have to admit...everyone I've ever sailed with would have said tough luck to Lou...be there in the AM when we leave, or you are out for the day...but we all know Tom would never do that, he's an awesome guy and a man of his word. He told Lou yesterday that we'd come get him at noon...so that's what we did. I was OK with that, it's Tom's boat...I'm never going to complain or argue with anyone that is nice enough to take me out, but I also knew...once we left those fish...the chances of them being there when we got back were slim to none...but that's the risk you take...especially when you are going to grab some serious entertainment for the boat...otherwise known as Woodruff Lou! Hahaha. Seriously, hats off the Tom going all the way back for Lou, and as it turns out Lou's buddy Steve jumped on board as well.
We hit the Highlands, and cruised back out the Ambrose in about 40 minutes or so...I rigged all the rods and a spare up en route. The weather laid down nice, that snotty wind in the morning was down to a modest breeze and the chop was gone. Day was turning out to be quite nice and with half a dozen keepers on ice with some of the best fishing entertainment around *cough* Lou *cough*, we headed back to find the fish and have some laughs!
We arrive back where we were hitting them up earlier and much to my surprise...there were still some fish there. We're busting Lou's chops the whole way out about how he apparently never catches fish (my first time fishing with him). Lou, determined to show us he can catch fish almost immediately "hooks up" and proudly announces it! He's calling for the net before he even sees the fish...and finally gets the "fish" to the boat...it's a MONSTER...monster starfish that is!
There's no holding back this pic...so here it is...nice size buddy!!! You going to get that one mounted or just get a replica made up? Hahaha Lou, you know we love you man!
Then Lou's buddy Steve hooks up and lands a keeper shortly afterwards, then I believe Tom landed another one, then Steve yet another, and then I landed another...meanwhile, Tom and I are asking Steve where the hell he found Lou and why he even brought him (keep in mind, we didn't even know Steve was coming) Hahaha good times! Lou always takes the ball busting well!
Well we rolled over the spot again, and Steve was on the ball again hooking up his 3rd keeper in the first hour, and I think Tom hooked up and landed his 3rd keeper of the day while Lou and I were bailing birds and starfish like champs! Then fishing started to slow down a little, and the drift really started picking up. We moved up more in the channel and found a couple of fish, Steve landed his 4th keeper and I think I landed my 7th, and Lou lands his 2nd...things suddenly died right off with an occasional bird here and there.
We finally opted to move out of the Ambrose and over to the Tin Can grounds but nothing was doing at all for us there. Real slow drift with wind against the tide, so I switched over to my spinning tackle and bucktails. I picked up a couple shorts bucktailing, but overall it was slow and void of fluke...just a few robins to keep us busy.
So we moved again, this time working our way back towards the marina as it was approaching around 6:00PM...and fished just outside the Hook on Flynn's Knoll. First drop in 26 feet of water, I hooked up a nice keeper immediately but we drift right off the spot and into 40-60 feet of water quickly. We try to get back up on the spot again, but just can't seem to locate the fish again until Steve hooks into a nice one and lands his 5th and best fish running around 3# or so. Then nothing but birds and shorts...as we roll around to various spots and long drifts in 18-20 feet of water but no good bite and no more keepers.
Eventually we ran out of light...literally, and considering we've been going at it since 7AM...we decided to head back to the slip and get the fish filleted, boat cleans, and head on home for some much needed rest!
Here's a few pics from the trip...where the fun REALLY begins!
The man, Tom...ready for action at the Daly Double!
On our way...
Little choppy out there at Ambrose...
Nice blue skies though...
The crazy man, down from the helm and ready to fish!
This is around when Tom grabbed my rod and hooked into that nice keeper!
"This is a good one!" Oh yeah!!!
Nice fish buddy!!!
Me, doing a little organizing as we are heading in to pick up Lou and Steve
The entertainment has arrived!!!
Lou and his buddy Steve on board!
Just in case you missed Lou's monster starfish above!
If they had a Pope and Young category for starfish...Lou, you might have the state record buddy!
Steve, showing his best bud Lou how to hook the real ones! It's a good thing Lou brought you huh!
Looks like you won't be swimming home...Lou on the otherhand...still TBD!!! Haha
Tom, lovin life...livin it up...yeah man!
Yoooooooooo Louie with a fish on!!!!!!!!! Atta boy!
Chocolate chip cookies and beer...who needs Wheaties! Lunch of champions!
Steve...showing us what's up with the chocolate chip cookies!
They were gooooooooooooood!
Lou on the next drift in one of his bazillion tangles!
Then on the next move...it was really lunchtime...show em how it's done Lou!
That's what I'm talkin about!
Alright ladies, this is the Louie special. Single, white male...who says, "If you ain't 280, you ain't no lady!!!"
Bring it on!
Yep, this trip's got my approval for sure!
This was my best Doug impression...note the net is about 9.5 feet high, and I'm standing on a cooler.
I also think a bird crapped on my shoulder...that's supposed to be good luck...I did get my limit!
OK how about a little scenery...it sure was beautiful out there in the afternoon!
A little more scenery...
OK back to the fun...here's Lou with the most hilarious sunburn I've seen in some time.
Wearing a backwards hat, shades, and no sunscreen...PRICELESS!
Back to the fishing, we almost threw a tail wrap around this monster and tied him off to the stern cleat!
The boys, back to fishing as daylight is fading...
Tom, enjoying the evening now...
Lou...being Lou...PIMPTACULAR!
Tom and Steve, life is good!
Lou, double header sea robin...the man, he's fierce!!!
Sun falling behind the clouds now...
And dipping below...
Another, little darker...
The day's not over, Tom hooking up!
The other side...
Final sunset pic as it dips down into the water...
The boys, lounging at sunset...
Tom and I switched roles, and here I am in the group pic...
And she's gone...nice pink underhue
Nice sky...what it's all about...
Hah, OK...Lou is laughing because Tom was busting out some extraordinary rapping skills.
We were totally caught off guard with Tom's extensive knowledge about Lincoln Park, JayZ, and Biggie.
I tried recording some of Tom's antics...but couldn't get to it quick enough.
What were the lyrics again?
"Because you know I love it young, fresh and green with no hair in between, know what I mean?"...oh yeah Tom, we know what you mean!
OK, well it's getting silly and it's time to head in...last shot of the sky as we enter port...
Cooler full-o-fish!
Final fish pics at the dock!
At home after cleaning up the fillets...big ol' bowl of fillets! Mmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm gooooooooood!
And finally some vacuum sealed for later, going in the freezer! Nice!
WOW, what a day!
First off, HUGE thanks to Tom for taking us out...and when I say taking us out, talk about a marathon trip! Running that 7AM-9PM trip...that'll beat the hell outta ya for sure! What great fun though. The fishing, the company, the weather laying down nicely for us, the hilarious antics going on all day, and the comradery...seriously, is there any better way to spend a day?
Ultimately, we wound up with 18 keepers on the day. The bite wasn't great, but the keeper to short ratio was good for us. Bait choices were mixed between Gulp and strip bait with spearing...seemed to be a 50/50 shakedown of what the keeper fish wanted. We picked at the fish throughout the day but just couldn't seem to land on that solid patch of fish...other than of course around 11:45AM when we had to run in and grab Lou and Steve!!! Hahaha. It's a good thing Lou brought Steve along, cuz Steve was bailing keepers left and right...and really was the only reason Lou didn't have to swim home from out by the Verrazano bridge back to the Highlands.
All kidding aside, it was just an awesome time and I can't wait to get out there again. Hopefully next time we can get a longer trip in...cuz those 14 hour joyrides just aren't going to let us get into the fish! Haha yeah right! I was passed out within about 0.2 seconds of getting home...pure exhaustion!
Well that sums up a full weekend of fishing: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday...all fluking...I definitely needed a rest today, but I'm ready to go again real soon!
Alright boys and girls, until next time...
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