Oct 21 2006, Season Ends

We left for Cape May at about 7:00 AM on Saturday morning with empty boat trailers in tow. We got down there by around 9:30 AM. We checked on Dave’s boat that was partially submerged, but we managed to get her back up. Just kidding Dave your boat was fine.

We had hoped to try for Stripers again, but the wind was gusting pretty well, and it sounded ugly out there. So Capt. Randy took “Just One More” for a little trip up the Inter-Coastal, and then headed over to the boat ramp. We pulled his boat, and then met up shortly with Dave and Kim. We really didn’t get to talk to them much. Then it was over get “Offshore Bites”. We pulled all the lines, and headed to the ramp. We both paid to have our hulls power washed at the marina, a good investment. We ate lunch at the Harbor View and then towed the boats back up. Getting the boat back in the driveway was still a challenge, but much easier then last time.

Now who wants to come over and help me winterize the boat?

Oct 15 2006, First attempt at Fall Stripers

We got down to Cape May by around 8:30 AM on Sunday, and stopped in at Hands Too bait shop to see if they had any fresh bunker, and if they had any idea if people were catching any stripers yet. They had fresh bunker so we picked up a dozen, and they told us to try Tussy’s Slough. We headed out of the slip by 9:15AM.

I thought the timing might work out well, the low tide was around 9:20 and I figured the start of the incoming tide would be around 10:20. By the time we got to the fishing grounds, and got the anchor set it was 10:20 AM. The water temperature in the bay was about 59.8 degrees. To make a long story short….We didn’t catch a thing. A few fish showed on the fish finder but not any large numbers. We had chunked up all of the bunker and we stopped fishing around 3:15 PM.

The goal is to try again next Saturday, weather permitting. Then pull the boat for the season on Sunday.

Sept 30 2006, Old Grounds = Big Fluke

On Saturday morning we left early for Cape May. We got the boat fueled up and out of the marina by 9:15 AM. I was listening to the weather radio on the way down and it sounded like the winds would be favorable for heading to the Old Grounds. It’s about a 20 mile run from the inlet. The ride out was smooth with a very light north wind. The water temperature was still between 68 and 70 degrees.

When we arrived we started picking up some decent sized Sea Bass, and decided to keep a few this time. Jim finally picked up a giant fluke 27 plus inches. It actually took him a while to bring it up, and then screams “Get the Net”. I was in the process of pulling a Sea Bass of my line. I missed the Fluke with the net the first time, but got it on the second scoop.

We continued to pick up some more Sea Bass for the rest of the day; we were throwing them back after a while. We called it a day around 2:00, and headed back in. The winds never really shifted to the south like they advertised, so the ride home was a little damp, but not too bad.

We got everything cleaned up, stopped in the Harbor View for a drink, and then to the Rio Station for dinner. After that we all went to the Rusty Nail for probably the last time. They are closing it down, and tearing it down. But a little piece of the Nail we’ll always be with us.