Thursday, August 29, 2013

Winding Down

The weather is still very summer-like but the fluke seem to be moving out. The fishing the past few days has been very slow. When you do get a hold of a fluke, it is usually a four or five pounder, but there is plenty of time between bites. The big schools of rays are still on the fishing grounds and we occasionally hook into one. What a fight! More interesting were the bluefish that were following the rays. The rays feed on clams, rooting them out of the bottom and crushing them with their powerful jaws. The blues are taking advantage of the busted clams and we caught a basketful on our fluke rigs.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Cow Nosed Rays

We have been seeing schools of them on the fluke grounds and have had occasional hook ups but on Sunday they invaded the fishing grounds. You could see them swimming on the surface in groups all around the boat and we hooked up on our fluke rigs. They take off like a tuna on the initial run and averaged 20 to 30 pounds with some larger ones. Ken the legend battled a fifty pounder and exclaimed "Now I know how the Yankees feel, getting beat up by the Rays." A few hundred yards from the boat a large dark shadow slashed the surface and everyone asked if it was a  dolphin or whale, but appeared to me as a large predator feeding on the rays. Yikes! Oh, as far as the fluking, another nice day with some limits and healthy fillet bags. Ken won the pool with a five plus pounder.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Report

Wednesday's trip worked out well with some limit catches of four to five pounders. Evelyn had one a few ounces shy of seven pounds. Friday, Evelyn and I hosted St. Pete, Frankie, Joe, "Pop-pop" Jerry, Sean and Uncle Kenny. Fishing was a pick in breezy conditions but when wind and tide got right the fish bit pretty good.  Eleven year old Sean won the big pool money with a 5lb. 4oz. fluke.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Open Boat Wednesday 8/21

I have a few spots left for Wednesday 8/21. Fluke fishing is hot and summer is winding down. Let's get a few for the freezer, you know the saying "We will be shoveling snow before you know it!" Call and leave a message or E-mail if you would like to cash in on this rare opportunity.

Conditions

It means everything with fishing. Having the right tide and drift makes for a good catch. Too much wind, strong currents and high seas mess things up. Like I have been saying all season, it's the luck of the draw, you just have to be out on the right day when it all comes together. Friday was typical summer fluking, Jack had five nice fish and, other good anglers had none at all. Saturday Tom K. and friends and family had a fun day in the sun but the catch was dominated by shorts and sea robins. "Staten Island Tony" from Brooklyn was the star of the day catching the four pound pool winner and a twenty pound cow nosed ray. Sunday I returned to the exact same spot and we had the second best day of the season as far as the number of keepers in the box. The cooler was half full of three to five pounders. I would like to get back out there and will sail an open boat trip Wednesday. I think the conditions will be right.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Windy Wednesday

The  passage of the cold front shut down the fluke bite. We tried a variety of different areas but had  to battle the strong NW wind that gusted to over twenty-five knots. Fast drifts and heavy sinkers made for some uncomfortable fluke fishing and Ken the Legend said "IT's like the Bering Sea out here" when we were coming up the bay. The forecast is for nice weather the next few days and we will try to get on 'em  again.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Nice Sunday

The good fluke fishing continues. It's a little strange because we are not finding many shorts. When you do get a hold of a fish it is usually in the three to five pound range. They don't bite all the time and you have to wait for the tide to get right. Roger was the star of the day landing six of those big fluke. Nice fillet bags for plenty of fish dinners.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

A Lost Season

Everyone must be wondering why I have not commented about the Yankees recently. All I can say is they are still in the hunt for the wild card. Right behind Cleveland and Kansas City.

Wednesday

We were greeted with a stiff south wind on the fishing grounds and the slow bite that comes with it. A strange day, as it was a very long time between bites, but when you did get one it was a fish about four pounds! Nice fillet bags for a slow day.

Monday, August 5, 2013

Nice Weather, Nice Fishing

The last few days were very nice, and the fishing matched. Frankie had three nice keepers, Evelyn had five, Skip also had five. Ken "The Legend" won the last two pools with a fish a few ounces either side of five pounds. Now is the time to go fluking because we will be shoveling snow before you know it.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Hey it's August!

And time for Big Moe to make his annual visit. Fish are starting to show on traditional spots and everyone is catching some nice keepers. Remember "keepers" on the Pioneer are what other boats call "quality fish" or "pool winners".  Wednesdays "keepers" averaged 23 inches. Now's the time!