Matts
Angler
My 20 something daughter enjoys fishing now and then, and she does love my fish tacos. She was home over the weekend, so I offered to take her porgie fishing as a prelude to her desired lunch.
Just as we settled into position over some rocks near Prospect Point and were getting some taps from probably small fish, she jokingly suggested, "maybe we should fish over there" as some very large blues were busting 100 yards away. I couldn't help myself, so quick change of plans. We headed over and got out the one rod we had that was appropriate for diamond jigging, as all the marks were on the bottom and the surface splashed had vanished. I hooked up right away and offered her the rod, but she politely declined.
After unhooking the large blue, I moved the boat back into position and hooked up again with an even larger blue. As I again offered her the rod, I noticed she had lowered her porgie rod down and a large blue had taken the clam. A very spirited see-saw battle ensued, filled with frequent exclamations of "you a**hole" as the blue ripped line off her reel just when she thought she had things under control.
We did the you go under, now go over dance a few times and I dropped my fish. I tried to prepare her for the inevitable bite off, reminding her that we had been bitten off each time we hooked a blue that spring while chunking for bass, until we went to wire leaders.
Fortunately, the porgie hook was right in the fish's outside lip, just outside the teeth. I got out my short handle gaff and eventually sunk it into the shoulder of what would weigh in as an 11lb bluefish.
Filleted, sliced, breaded, fried and served with slaw and spicy mayo, we turned it into a delicious taco lunch.
Just as we settled into position over some rocks near Prospect Point and were getting some taps from probably small fish, she jokingly suggested, "maybe we should fish over there" as some very large blues were busting 100 yards away. I couldn't help myself, so quick change of plans. We headed over and got out the one rod we had that was appropriate for diamond jigging, as all the marks were on the bottom and the surface splashed had vanished. I hooked up right away and offered her the rod, but she politely declined.
After unhooking the large blue, I moved the boat back into position and hooked up again with an even larger blue. As I again offered her the rod, I noticed she had lowered her porgie rod down and a large blue had taken the clam. A very spirited see-saw battle ensued, filled with frequent exclamations of "you a**hole" as the blue ripped line off her reel just when she thought she had things under control.
We did the you go under, now go over dance a few times and I dropped my fish. I tried to prepare her for the inevitable bite off, reminding her that we had been bitten off each time we hooked a blue that spring while chunking for bass, until we went to wire leaders.
Fortunately, the porgie hook was right in the fish's outside lip, just outside the teeth. I got out my short handle gaff and eventually sunk it into the shoulder of what would weigh in as an 11lb bluefish.
Filleted, sliced, breaded, fried and served with slaw and spicy mayo, we turned it into a delicious taco lunch.
