02/18/2018
Winter. I can’t write much about this winter. I was told how good blackfishing was for the jigs early this season. I may just be a stubborn old salt anymore, but roller skating around a boat with a fluke rod and 1oz jig when it’s blowing 15-20 NW isn’t how i was introduced to blackfish.
I had pushed the envelope as far as i could go with my boat. With ice beginning to form in the lagoon, and the disappointing fishing, I pulled the boat with no regret.
I spent as much time as i could fishing with my boys on The Big Mohawk, staying at the rail up until the big freeze came, as well as frostbite on my fingers, until i decided i had enough. I was not rewarded for my efforts.
We had a trip put together down in Cape May on the Adam Bomb with myself, Captain Mike, Jeff, Rob, and Jimmy. The weather seemed perfect and anticipation was high. We seemed to be in the right direction when Mike hooked into a fish that had his Rodgeeks 734 doubled over, and locked drag with 80lb leader taking line. After a couple of cranks off the bottom we thought we’d get to see this behemoth until it had other plans. It dug deep into the wreck, hanging up the tackle, and breaking off. Heartbreaker indeed.
With blackfish out of the way, and feeling the doldrums of winter, Rob and I went up to the Captree Princess to go off shore sea bass fishing before the season ended. I have to say, that is one clean boat. Very roomy, very comfortable. There’s tables for everyone to sit at. There’s heated hand rails. And the cabin is very warm. The fishing was good but the weather was not. Freezing spray conditions and icing conditions turned the boat into something off of Deadliest Catch. The waves were building until it was time to sail home. For 4 hours we head right into it, pounding the entire way. After being home safely, it ended up being a decent day.
The final trip for me this winter was with Jeff and Rob on the Island Current. We took off work on a Friday to get a shot at the pile of cod that was found several days before. Before we left port my optimism and enthusiasm were shattered. More people than rod holders. People smoking pot. Little kids running around the boat. A dog. No room anywhere to sit. And of course, horrible fishing. To top it off, one of the unsupervised misbehaved kids was caught stealing jigs out of my box. A true testament to his father, and the clientele that fishing that boat. For me, it was a bad enough experience that i hope to never find my feet on the deck of another party boat again (not counting the Mohawk)
Anxiously waiting for spring.
