captmike28
Well-Known Angler
First Tog charter of the season yesterday and the crew of Matt, Anthony, Nick, and the venerable Chef Nader joined me for and excellent start to our season. Of course, the trip begins with the dreaded NE breeze which made the trip across the sound a little choppy but nothing to deter these hard-core anglers.
First drop on my favorite jigging spot in this area and thankfully the ebb tide was a bit stronger than the breeze and I was able to position the boat just right for about an hour. Bites started immediately and there was plenty of action with short Tog, a few near keepers some small Sea Bass and a few Scup. About 20 minutes in, Matt puts a keeper Sea Bass in the box and shortly after Nader’s “trout rod” doubles over. Soon a nice 5# tog is headed toward the box. I was jigging on the other side and despite the constant flow of shorts I finally get a nice hit and manage to land another keeper close to 4#. Then the wind overtook the tide and the boat swung off the piece. Tried to move us back but wind/tide did not cooperate. So, it was time to move south to the local reef in a less protected area.
NE breeze was still puffing against the ebb tide but I saw a friend on anchor in the area and his bow was pointed into the wind. So, I tried to drop the hook but unfortunately, we wound up facing the opposite way and I was way off my piece. Weighed anchor and tried again, this time, bingo right on the numbers. Bite began immediately and after a few small Tog the keepers started to bite. First Anthony puts one in the box, then Nick. Action continues steadily until around the slack water mark when Nader strikes again with the best fish of the day a fat 7# beauty. He drops down again and breaks off another big one! Following a string of colorful language, he rebaits and drops again for another soldi fish in the 5# class. Meanwhile the other crew members are adding the occasional keeper to the box until we finally start to swing off the piece as the tide now shifts to flood.
The wind totally drops out, it gets nice and warm and I reposition the boat again, now with light breeze and tide working in our favor. Bite starts again and slowly we go from all shorts to the occasional keeper. The tide is starting to gain strength so the guys upped the sinker weights a bit but did a great job with everyone contributing more keepers to the box as we reached a full boat limit by 2:15. Mate Tom did his usual excellent job of cutting the fish and we cruised home on a beautiful flat Sound.
Now the wait begins again as another Northeaster has me likely tied to the dock for the rest of this week despite having a full calendar of bookings. Can’t wait to get out again. Watch this board closely if you want to join me as rescheduling becomes more common and there will be some open spots coming up on split charters. Tight lines to all and be safe!
Capt. Mike
First drop on my favorite jigging spot in this area and thankfully the ebb tide was a bit stronger than the breeze and I was able to position the boat just right for about an hour. Bites started immediately and there was plenty of action with short Tog, a few near keepers some small Sea Bass and a few Scup. About 20 minutes in, Matt puts a keeper Sea Bass in the box and shortly after Nader’s “trout rod” doubles over. Soon a nice 5# tog is headed toward the box. I was jigging on the other side and despite the constant flow of shorts I finally get a nice hit and manage to land another keeper close to 4#. Then the wind overtook the tide and the boat swung off the piece. Tried to move us back but wind/tide did not cooperate. So, it was time to move south to the local reef in a less protected area.
NE breeze was still puffing against the ebb tide but I saw a friend on anchor in the area and his bow was pointed into the wind. So, I tried to drop the hook but unfortunately, we wound up facing the opposite way and I was way off my piece. Weighed anchor and tried again, this time, bingo right on the numbers. Bite began immediately and after a few small Tog the keepers started to bite. First Anthony puts one in the box, then Nick. Action continues steadily until around the slack water mark when Nader strikes again with the best fish of the day a fat 7# beauty. He drops down again and breaks off another big one! Following a string of colorful language, he rebaits and drops again for another soldi fish in the 5# class. Meanwhile the other crew members are adding the occasional keeper to the box until we finally start to swing off the piece as the tide now shifts to flood.
The wind totally drops out, it gets nice and warm and I reposition the boat again, now with light breeze and tide working in our favor. Bite starts again and slowly we go from all shorts to the occasional keeper. The tide is starting to gain strength so the guys upped the sinker weights a bit but did a great job with everyone contributing more keepers to the box as we reached a full boat limit by 2:15. Mate Tom did his usual excellent job of cutting the fish and we cruised home on a beautiful flat Sound.
Now the wait begins again as another Northeaster has me likely tied to the dock for the rest of this week despite having a full calendar of bookings. Can’t wait to get out again. Watch this board closely if you want to join me as rescheduling becomes more common and there will be some open spots coming up on split charters. Tight lines to all and be safe!
Capt. Mike
