Thursday

A break in the weather allowed us to get out of the house. We took a ride down to see Capt. George on the Angler. All the regulars were aboard and down to Sea Bright we went. I was hoping for some ling for Christmas (or a cod, you know I tried) but all that bit were blackfish. At times it was OK and everyone had a nice bag. On the last drop I hooked into something big and was battling it off the bottom. I was thinking maybe I had a cod as it was backing up my sidewinder. About half the way up I felt it come off and when I got to the surface, there was a keeper blackfish on the hook! What ever was on the line had that tog in his mouth but it didn't have a nick on him. I am thinking it was a big monkfish or a striped bass. Oh well, as Capt. George said "It's just another mystery of the sea." Now it's off to the trout streams, we will try the ocean next week.