South of the Point fluke

[Bachala]

Headed to MTK in hopes of getting a PB fluke and maybe joinging the DD club. This year has proven challenging for me. managed to catch a few nice ones early in the year in the LIS on my own boat but 3rd time at MTK this year and it has not been producing for me. Making me question my technique. Some guys on the bow and stern caught limits and then some while others caught 1 or none.... It took all day for me to land my first fish... luckily a keeper. Hooked a nice one before the whistle but only got her about a foot off the bottom. Fish were biting soft. Lots of skates that were rubbing on the line and making it feel like you had a fluke only for them to swim away and line go slack. Was happening to most everyone on the boat. Perfect weather but drift was virtually non existent. Water inshore was a bit dirty but a lot cleaner 2 or so miles south of the point. Not many people on the boat... could have all fished off one side. I know it is tough for some people to make the ride out East but encourage all to do so and support your Party Boats so that they are around for years to come. Guessing a lot of people are staying closer to home to fish. Not seeing the usual regulars on the boat which is sad.

 

[longcast]

Here are a couple thoughts.................not necessarily mine, but offer them up for discussion

1. Cost of an open boat.
2. Travel time etc to and from Montauk. I used to love being out there, but just not liking the time commitment to get there and back. Most folks do not make more than one day of it
3. Not the same experience or people in Montauk or on the boat itself
4. The possibility of no return on even a meal with restrictions on what you can keep. We all know the stocks are not what they used to be.
5. Social media - folks know how the boat does in real time instead of taking a trip out to find out for themselves.

 

[Bachala]

Here are a couple thoughts.................not necessarily mine, but offer them up for discussion

1. Cost of an open boat.
2. Travel time etc to and from Montauk. I used to love being out there, but just not liking the time commitment to get there and back. Most folks do not make more than one day of it
3. Not the same experience or people in Montauk or on the boat itself
4. The possibility of no return on even a meal with restrictions on what you can keep. We all know the stocks are not what they used to be.
5. Social media - folks know how the boat does in real time instead of taking a trip out to find out for themselves.

Yeah...everything you stated is so true. I try to justify the cost as I enjoy fishing more than anything and the money spent covers a full day. One could go to a ball game, or a Broadway play and spend the same amount and only have a 3 hour experience. As for travel time...well Montauk eliminates the kids, the newbies etc... I guess in my older age I've lost patience with being around kids on a boat or someone who is causing tangles all day long. Yeah Montauk has changed and the cost for overnighting makes that a thing of the past but I still enjoy my time out there. Social media has definitely jaded one's view of what the fishing is really like as the Youtubers compile hours of fishing into a short video where they look like they are catching nonstop or boats posting pictures of those who did well yet most on the boat do not..... They are doing what they need to do to get customers.

 

[Snapprhead27]

The ride back defiantly is a rough one. I don't mind leaving my house at 3am and getting out there early, but dealing with the trade parade is brutal. Both times on a Friday it took me just over 3 hours to get home. I used to work out east and I know how the traffic is, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. After that, I said I'm better off bringing a change of clothes and a shower bag and use the facilities at the marina and then just relax and enjoy some time out there before hitting the road.