Finally dinner !

[Bucktail II]

Pushed off the dock at 6:05am. The north end of the bay was loaded with adult bunker doing their thing before all the boat traffic picked up. Headed to the Hempstead reef area and found all the shorts you could want. Stayed off the real sticky stuff and found the better bite in 65-70 feet of water. Fished through the tide and when it slowed, headed to the West. Fished that reef and found the same conditions. I let one of the drifts go for a bit and found them in 40-45' of water a good 3/4 mile off the reef. Consistent pick of shorts with a few keepers mixed in. Sea Robin strip on 4-6oz bucktails seemed to be the preferred choice for the larger fish. Headed back at around 3:30pm. All in all it was a great day with good friends enjoying the new boat.

 

[george]

That's great Bucktail. Friends Fish and a new boat. Who could ask for more?

 

[Bassknuckles]

I left after you and was back before you. Same results as you I didn't see you out their. Thanks for the report

 

[Bucktail II]

I hate crowds......I was kinda off on my own in both of those areas.
There's good bottom close by if you know where to look.

 

[george]

I hate crowds......I was kinda off on my own in both of those areas.
There's good bottom close by if you know where to look.

I too hate the crowds, yet somehow they always manage to mosey over. Then there's the loon that sets anchor in the middle of the fleet. Let's not forget, what I consider, the weekend warrior blowing through the maze of boats.

It sure adds to a slow day, but it also can slow down a good day.

 

[Bucktail II]

So true.

I only had one other boat catch on to what I was doing and they stayed a reasonable distance away. Most of the flotilla gathered together on the real sticky stuff and spent the day dodging the folks anchoring in the middle of the fleet and following the head boats around. Typical weekend crowd !

 

[Fishinatik]

That’s a nice day? You found a patch off the stick always more enjoyable. It’s amazing how many of the larger pieces have been picked clean with all the pressure on the reefs Gotta think outside the box sometimes. I had the same kind of approach last week there and had an awesome day. Stay away from the crowds makes lining up repeat drifts easier makes a big difference

 

[Fishinatik]

So true.

I only had one other boat catch on to what I was doing and they stayed a reasonable distance away. Most of the flotilla gathered together on the real sticky stuff and spent the day dodging the folks anchoring in the middle of the fleet and following the head boats around. Typical weekend crowd !

It’s been a parking lot on that reef, and all the others for that matter, since the weather has settled and the bays have been idiot central with weekend yahoo’s. It’s the true fishermen who understand courtesy and know they can get their own area or drift line to work allowing space for all . These regs have forced most to work areas that we wouldn’t be working all year, looking for big fish, now as we get closer to traditional doormat time when you would be hitting these pieces they are not really productive, tho you still may find one . Every week the north central edge and the ne corner been getting pounded . Makes fishing there an obstacle course and too annoying haha that’s why you think outside the box now to have succes find some bait marks and some hard bottom off the heavy stick and work it .