OK, well I lied...we all decided to head out for one more fluke trip before the season closes on the 10th...and hunting season begins on the 8th! What the hell, with the talk of closing the NJ fluke season entirely next year (another topic, another day)...we might as well get as much time in now as we can!
Back to the Angela Rose II in Point we head with Captain Anthony at the helm, Captain Wayne joining up for some fishing fun once again, and mate Kevin holding down the deck! Our fishing crew featured an allstar cast of characters...some old, some new...
- Captain Magnet aka Captain Flies with a Pink Cape, Craig
- Captain Herman Munster aka Captain Changes Rigs Every Other Minute, Tom
- Captain Chewbacca, Lou
- Captain 20# diameter/3# test, Beau
- Captain Catches Fish, Sleeps, Wakes Up, Catches Fish...Rinse, Repeat...An aka Tony
- Captain Impatient, yours truly.
We all arrive early at the dock, board up and hang out...waiting for the last arrival...good ol' Lou. Apparently Lou never got the memo regarding our 5:30AM departure...he blames Craig, Craig said something about drinking too many Grasshoppers and rocking Tom Daly's boat in the Highlands the night before with some cabana boy named Hector...I'm guessing the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
While we're waiting, I get a few pics of the crew...
Here we have Beau, chillin...
And Two Handed Hello Craig...
Yes, in fact...Craig does have two hands!
Mate Kevin, standard thumbs up!
Ant and Wayne ready to rock!
My work buddy An aka Tony...anxious and ready!
Without Captain Looks Like He's Wearing Socks on board, we have Kevin stepping up to the plate to show off his socks!
Apparently Craig is a messy breakfast eater...so he brought an extra large bib!
Meanwhile, Beau is fishing for starfish...
Tom arrives second to last...but hey...at least he wasn't late *cough* Lou *cough*!!! Haha
Then Craig informed me of this powerhouse fluking arsenal of Beau's...I don't think we found one fluke fishing worthy item in this 80# tackle box. Fortunately for Beau...Craig had plenty of Spros available. Unfortunately for Craig...Beau hooked every piece of real estate known to man and lost half of Craig's supply! Comedy Gold!
Ant couldn't resist getting a bite of that Buzzer Bait Frog with the double hook trailer!
We're still waiting for good ol' Lou, so I take the opportunity to show An how to use the rod and reel I brought for him, with a little bucktailing technique tutorial off the bow. I know An loves to fish, but in all the years we've worked together this is our first time out! Well it turns out, An is quite the natural...although he didn't believe me when I said Gulp really worked for fluke. Of course, it took him about 3 casts to hook into a little shortie and get the "feel"...here he is with his first fluke on the day!
Then I grab my other rod and join in on the fun...only to catch this MONSTER from the Blue Lagoon...apparently someone was cutting shrubs around the dock and tossed this beauty in...nice size Matt, nice size!
We had a little visitor come around the dock to say hello too...masked bandit, trying to steal our bait!
Then, Lou finally arrives! What's up Twinkle Toes!
Meanwhile, Tom steps up on the bow to try out a new setup...and also hooks into a shortie!
Lou comes up to investigate...and escape the crew's torture for being late...
Don't mess with the U.S....or Captain Chewbacca!!!
Heading out, it's very, very dark outside!!!
No worries...we have Captain Betty at the ready! Haha
Riding out...
High hopes, but a little breeze has us concerned...
Beau and Craig...hangin out
Future Darwin of the Day Award Winner...Lou!
Little chop as it gets light...
An's ready for action!
Here comes the sun...
And moments later...first fluke of the day...An lands this awesome 6lb 5oz fluke...his personal best!
What?!?! ANOTHER personal best for the Angela Rose II? Nice!
Then someone decides to let loose of a little chocolate surprise...reactions...
Yeah Kevin things that will help...Ant laughing...sicko!
Wayne with a nice inshore knucklehead...another personal best...think it was 2lb 11oz?
Magnet...trying hard!
Beau...in standard form...retying! That 20# diameter, 3# test line isn't holding up too well for him! Poor Beau...err really, poor Craig! Haha
Chewy...loungin!
Captain Wayne, living it up...with Captain Changes Rigs Every Other Minute (Tom) in the back...well...changing rigs!
Ant...chillin
The first of MANY shots of Kevin eating...note the variety and amount of food this kid goes through in a day!
Craig with a little shortie...
Captain Wayne with a nice flattie
What...Tom's not re-rigging??!?!?
Ant...hangin loose!
An, in his resting mode...not feeling too well. He's not worried, he has the pool locked up!
Kevin...back into some grub!
Shortly afterwards...eating again...
Craig, battling...with snotty conditions
Fluke!!!
Beau...chillin on the cooler...
Friggin eating machine!
Oh they must be thick...Ant's into one!!!
Another fluke!
Then An wakes up from his slumber...just in time to hook into a real fighter ripping drag out!
Nice little bonita...fighting like a monster! Lots of fun!
And Kevin...after all that netting work...has to refuel!
Craig's hooked up again!
Then Beau hooks into this keeper...takes a step back, falls over the cooler...but still manages to hold on and bring it into the net! Nice job!
Same time, Ant hooks into and lands this shortie...
Wayne's fighting a MONSTER up front...
Meanwhile Chewy lands this nice keeper!
Ant's reaching with the net to help out Dad! But alas...it's just a foul hooked shortie!
An's down for the count! Seems like he fished when we were on fish, and slept during the downtime...amazing how he timed that all perfectly!
No surprise...Kevin's back to eating...
And of course, doing his best to keep our ocean clean...nice catch there buddy!
Then the conditions grew real snotty...stiff South wind...lots of chop and a Mach 10 drift.
We moved inshore to get to a little shallower water, but that only lasted a few short drifts before the wind cranked up even more and sent us packing
Heading back to the farm!
Final fish picture...10 keeper fluke up to 6lb 5oz, 5 keeper seabass, and 4 bonita!
An, back at the dock...all smiles...with two of his from the day.
And our group picture from above!
Overall, it was another great trip aboard the Angela Rose II. As always, Captain Anthony, Captain Wayne and Mate Kevin did a great job and we had an awesome time. The fishing was tough as the conditions just weren't the best...battled a lot of wind, chop, and fast drifts that the drift sock couldn't even slow down. But we were fortunate to find a few fish today and break another couple personal bests and personal firsts! Great day on the water, and with fluking season coming to a close...I am headed out for the bow opener for whitetails here in NJ on Saturday. Venison steaks anyone?
Tight lines, and shoot straight!
Until next time...
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