First Sea Bass Trip

[live bait]

Got a late start yesterday for the first sea bass trip on the season. Used the DEC boat launch in mattituck, for the first time this fishing season & was surprised to see new marker buoys in the inlet. Ran north to the numbers in light fog & found the sea bass waiting, unfortunately most just a little short of our 16 & 1/2" size limit. Called it a day at about noon when the new moon ebb tide really started to crank. Ended the day with 2 solid knot heads on ice.

 

[Chinacat]

Nice job John
I got thrown off my game plan both Monday and Tuesday with early morning fog and late starts both days
I had countless just under keepers down to not even measurable fish
Not a single keeper for me. Not one
In years past all week long after the opener we would put a 2-3 man limit on deck in an hour with fish so big they didn’t need to be measured. Tyat includes years when tye bag was 5 fish or more
I’m convinced peeps both recs and pinhookers have been fishing the local reef long before the season opened

 

[captmike28]

Got a late start yesterday for the first sea bass trip on the season. Used the DEC boat launch in mattituck, for the first time this fishing season & was surprised to see new marker buoys in the inlet. Ran north to the numbers in light fog & found the sea bass waiting, unfortunately most just a little short of our 16 & 1/2" size limit. Called it a day at about noon when the new moon ebb tide really started to crank. Ended the day with 2 solid knot heads on ice.

I made my first attempt for Sea Bass today, John, with similar results. Just 2 keepers found the box but a much slower bite with the shorts due to the new moon tide.

On the plus side, I did find 5 Stripers in the Gut this morning, the first being an over that was my largest of the season at a very healthy 38". Two more overs and a couple of slots, one of which will be tomorrow night's dinner! With all this heat I really didn't expect anything but Bluefish today.