14 or 18

[5th Tuition]

So yesterday I posted (in the dummy line thread) that I wasn't going out today. I was so disgusted about going out of Ches. Beach yesterday and getting skunked looking for bubba; that I vowed not to go today. I lied. I got a call from a friend who wanted to go out of SP looking for some fish for the cooler, and then later we would switch over to large baits and look for bubba. Eating size fish, I'm in.
We left SP at daybreak and ran to one of my productive spots earlier in the fall with schooling fish. We put out a small 7 rod spread with small lures and began working 30-35 ft of water. At 7:57 I spotted what looked like either a 27 judge or 25 maycraft running to points south. I thought it might be Don (Hunter) or Greg (bfaithful). I figured it was not too early to call someone, so I put in a call to Don to see if he was on the water (he's retired so I thought it might be him on a weekday). It wasn't Don, but I got some good information on bait and large fish from his trip yesterday. As I was talking to him on the phone, I noticed a flock of birds working not far away.
As we got closer; I noticed we were the only boat in the area.
Because we were already trolling, it took a while to get to the birds. They had stopped flying and were now sitting on the water. I told my friend, no problem, the fish are still here. One rod went down, then another, and another. Five in total had fish on. We threw back the smallest (19-21 in.) and kept a couple bigger ones (24-25). We swung back though them again and two rods picked up more fish. This time they were sick fish (sores or scrapes) or small (19-21). Circled back and hit them a couple more times for a total of 14 (my count) or 18 (my friends count). We had 4 nice fish in the cooler, so we headed off to put out some bigger baits looking for bubba.
We only gave bubba about two hours of opportunity to hit. He didn't cooperate, so we racked the rods and ran for home.
We had a little more wind than I expected in the morning, but it layed down nicely in the midmorning, and we actually had to peel out of some clothes. It was a great day again for late November, so I couldn't refuse another opportunity to fish.
Today was one of those days when you wish you had MORE people on the boat so you could have brought home some more filets. Because we had fish in the cooler, we had decided to release bubba, if we found him (or should I say if he found us). Again; I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I am really concerned about the lack of big migratory fish. I hope it's the warm weather keeping the stock off the coast and they are going to be late arrivals. We shall see.
p.s. some of our 25 inch fish had sea lice.
5th (Marty)

[JOC71]

Thanks for the report. Hoping to get out tomrrow afternoon if it is not blowing to hard.

Jim

[Skip]

I think if you cut the tails off a little bit - you can keep more fish

Got to love getting too many multipule hits to keep good count - congrats.

[crabby and son]

Marty, Don and I were out yesterday. We ran from Sandy Point to 85A and trolled for Bubba between there and 86. Didn't find Bubba but did manage a 24" single fish. Wasn't a very productive day but a great day to be on the water. We release over 40" also...............Gary

[CAGE RATTLER]

Thanks for the report.
I really wanted to get out before work (2-10) Monday & Tuesday but never made it and the forecast for the next few days aren't looking that great.

My brother in law keeps bailing on me and I really want to get out there and try a lil trolling but I'm a newb at it and don't think I can handle it by myself without auto pilot .

[5th Tuition]

Gary; I'm not a "release all fish over 40 inches" person. I release about 75% of our over 40's because they don't taste as good as the 25 inch fish; and I do feel like I'm helping by releasing the big ones. However; many of my friends (who don't fish often) take their over 40's home from my boat.

Actually; I don't know why anyone would release a fish over 40 now that I know that they all die anyway from the stress of being dragged through the water at 3 mph.
Dog with a bone, Dog with a bone
5th (Marty)

[drichitt]

Glad you had a great day Marty. It is a hit or miss thing from day to day. When I hear of some very reputable charters getting skunked, I don't feel so bad.

[mlag]

Congrats Marty! Persistance pays off again!......................Mark

[Slayer]

damn retired people. Hey Marty, just because you can't net fish over 40" doesn't mean it was a "release" as you put it!!

[5th Tuition]

Originally Posted by Slayer

damn retired people. Hey Marty, just because you can't net fish over 40" doesn't mean it was a "release" as you put it!!

Keith; that was a terrible sight to see me trying to net Allan's biggest fish ever and on the third try with the net, it got off and swam away (to die later I suppose from all the stress).
After that experience, I went over to Bass Pro Shop and bought something called a gaff. I don't see them being used much by other boats on the bay, but I haven't missed a big fish since. I try to stick them in the belly, that way you don't mess up as much meat on the filet.
5th (Marty)