AllyKat
Angler
Checked the weather and tides and figured we had to give it a shot after work on Monday. Pre-ordered some fresh bunker from Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle that my daughter went and picked up for us. At the ramp, found some happy free swimming bunker, so out came the snag and we motored out of the inlet with 6 more bunker, 3 of which stayed alive. Anchored up in 60 ft around Eatons Neck as the outgoing began to roll, and sent out a lively on the bottom and one on the top. Added a large head to the bottom, and began to chum. Beautiful sunset with a light SW wind..could not be any more perfect. The Sun disappeared and not long after, the chunked head reel started peeling line...picked it up, gave it a few cranks and the circle hook was set, and I handed it to my younger daughter. A little fire drill with extra lines out getting crossed up, and Sam surprised by the power of the fish...over and over she prayed this wasn't another dogfish. Fish flopped around on top away from the boat and gave us a chance to clear the minor tangle we had going on. She slowly cranked the fish in until my buddy Tom netted her first ever Striped Bass. A little later, the live one on the bottom got hit hard, but the hook never found it's mark and the line came up empty. The live one on top never drew any interest. Called it a night soon after with no other hits, runs or errors.
