A Nice Day for a Change

Well we finally got out and the wind was not blowing a hundred. Capt. Steve had a light charter from PA yesterday and invited us along. The guys must have been better hunters then fisherman (lots of camo) and he asked if we could lend a hand. It was a beautiful day, flat calm and no wind, and that combined with a full moon, usually means poor blackfishing. We fished inshore, which let me use relatively light tackle and a light sinker on our notorious florida rig. The fish would not come under the boat in the morning and a short cast away from the boat was all it took to get a bite. Typical of todays blackfishing, fresh bait and proper presentation were the key and the lazy fisherman did not do as well. It was a pretty good bite despite the poor anchoring conditions and I culled ten nice keepers up to eight pounds and a few shorts using the shallow water tactics developed fishing in the harbor. Gannets were diving all day, and in the afternoon, I was reeling in a short and a striped bass over thirty inches followed it to the surface. The biggest blackfish of the day was over ten pounds. We fished on the beach and even though the water is getting cold, the fishing should hold up into next month as there are still porgies and bluefish out in the deeper waters. January is wide open and I will try to put together a post holiday trip as well as keeping everyone posted for short notice trips on nice weather days. Don't go into hibernation yet!