06/07/2012, 06/08/2012 & 06/09/2012 - 2012 South Jersey Shark Tournament
Day 0 - 06/07/2012
Well, it's that time of year again to head down to Cape May and do a little shark fishing! I was fortunate enough to be invited again to fish this year's South Jersey Shark Tournament aboard Out on a Limb 4 captained by JR with Chris, Doug, Joel rounding out the rest of the crew!
As usual, I'll let the pics do most of the talking...they tell a better story anyway! ;)
We all headed down Thursday afternoon to get everything prepped and ready to roll, as well as attend the captain's meeting!
There were a few last minute upgrades being done on the boat by a mechanic, so we headed to the store to burn some time and money! haha
Chris was spot on in his shopping prowess, immediately picking out these rare but perfectly sized Ugg look alike boots for Doug!
Unfortunately...we couldn't find the other one to make a matching pair...so no sale was secured! Sorry Doug, he was pretty disappointed!
Although not for long...because Doug managed to find a hat he was REALLY excited about!
JR was in search of some shorts...so while he was doing his whole fashion show escapade trying them on, I checked out his new phone case!
I love the big CAUTION...I'm certain JR never even read any of that yellow label.
I'm also going to say that LifeProof is NOT JRProof...and it's probably already been verified by now!
Alright, shopping is done for the boys...so we head down to the marina for the captain's meeting.
Shot of the main marina...
And where the weigh-in will take place!
And the record catches over the years, as well as the leaders this year for all species...
Doug...mastering the art of talking on the phone, while sleeping...and inhaling vapor faux cigarettes!
After observing this weekend...I'm pretty sure Doug breaths more of that vapor than actual oxygen!
While JR, on the other hand, has mastered the art of healthy eating...celery? Really? Wow!
Everyone lining up to register...
Pretty breezy with some clouds rolling in had us a bit concerned...
Other side of the marina...
The crowd forming...
Once we were registered, we headed down to our marina to meet with the mechanic and get the boat prepped and loaded!
A little scenery once we got there...
JR waiting for the boat to hit the dock...
Here she comes!
Good ol' Out on a Limb 4, ready for action!
We spend the next hour or so loading everything up for the following morning!
Here's the boys coming back to fill another cart!
And a final sunset before we head to dinner!
Why not hit up the Harbor View Marina & Restaurant to try out a burger and beer! Perfect!
Then back to the hotel to tie rigs and prep the rods...and for Chris to do a little fashion show of his own! This hat was AWESOME! You'll see it often in these pics!
Doug, doing some mono leader bicep curls before we all head to bed for the night!
Day 1 - 06/08/2012
We kick off the morning of Day 1 and kick it off right! JR rockin the good luck Wawa Hoagiefest tiedye!
We head to the marina and down to the boat as the sun is rising...
The boys packing up...
And we're off!
Doug, dusting off the shades!
What's up Skipper!
Joel, Doug, and Chris ready!
We break the inlet and start cruising!
Hold on!
Ahhh the anticipation as we arrive at our spot!
Nice water!
Nice scenery, beautiful morning!
Tournament start time comes and we promptly set lines in the water!
Wawa Hoagiefest in the house!!!
El Capitan, Joel, makin sure the mako finisher is ready to rock!
JR and Chris...fishing...very close to each other! A sign of things to come later? Hmmmmm....
Chris, ballooning it up!
Ahhhh, the waiting game...
Couple shots of the reels and rods we use...
We fished the day out, but unfortunately didn't hook into any qualifying makos!
Day 1 comes to an end and we head in...Chris, don't jump over and blow the whistle yet man!!! We still have Day 2!!!
Day 2 - 06/09/2012
Day 2, we head back to the marina and I catch a couple quick pics of the sunrise before heading out...
Cruising through the bay and inlet...
Beautiful sunrise!
Joel, holdin on!
Doug...breathing vapor!
Chris, holdin on too!
JR doesn't need to hold on, even that vapor Doug is exhaling over there doesn't phase him!
Why you ask? MUSCLE MILK (that contains no milk?!?!?)!!!
We head to a new area that morning, and set the lines in the water at the official start time!
Workin the rods...
Now I told ya yesterday, Chris and JR were getting kinda close! Chris gives the whole "Hey, my sunglasses are dirty, mind if I use your shirt to clean them off?" line!
But I knew what was really up...he was moving in for the real action!!! hahaha
Listen, sometimes the fishing is slow...and you need to have a little fun, maybe eat a bag of chips...or celery if you prefer, and occassionally head to the back of the boat to...well...
All I know is Cubans can get some distance...DAMN!!!
OK, c'mon, don't try to hide it now! You're messin up the flow dude!
Look, now it's all jacked up lookin like a shower faucet!
What is that, the vertical shower spray setting?
Alright...c'mon folks...you don't think we're that crazy do you? This isn't Shark Fishermen Gone Wild! It's just a hose folks...just a hose...and one twisted Cuban guy!!! haha
After all that hard work and fun...time to refuel!
Are you seeing a pattern develop here...or is it just me? haha
And moments later...a mako comes in the slick and FISH ON!
Get em Dougie!
Bringin him in, small mako we released!
Wicked teeth!
No rest for the weary...especially with all of us pranksters! This time Joel is having some fun with the balloons haha
And again, moments later...HOOKED UP! JR on the rod, in his patented beltless, gimble in the unzipped fly fighting style!!! OK, OK...that was last year...he has a fighting belt this year!
While Joel gets ready with the GoPro!
Get em JR!
Alright, little gap in the pics here as we all had roles and I had something to shoot this time! We eyed this one up and it looked like it might be close, so we made the decision to take it!
We head back in to get it weighed and arrive at the marina...
We're hopeful...it's gonna be close to the 200# minimum
And off it goes!
Up onto the scale!
And weighing in at 180#, short of the minimum but we'll still get some delicious steaks!
And riding it back to our marina...opposing views...
And a quick dock pic...
A couple with Chris...
One with Joel, myself, and Doug...
And a final one with Joel being CRAZY!
Well, that's all for the weekend and an awesome weekend it was! Unfortunately we didn't get a fish meeting the minimum this year...that big fish just never showed up in the slick for us, but we definitely had a great time along with some phenomenal steaks to bring home for dinner! Always a great time fishing with the boys and we have fun no matter what goes down! Hopefully next year the Out on a Limb 4 crew can get back in the money!
Until next time...
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