NJ Saltwater Fishing Reports

As the defending winner, I take this trip very serious. There is no money in it for me, just for my charter. So my plan all came together when Jr was able to fill the bait tanks, and I have located a nice body of fish, good size too. All the other chest thumping Captains who were going feed the fish down the beach like I like to do were not going to be a threat. (there is no bite down the beach, water temp). With a gale forecasted, there were no boats at my spot when we arrived and Matt had a run-off immediately. Good marks and we fished them a few times without a fish. No problem, thats how its been, put out the hard bait and we get them to bite. Big Doug was not ok with that, and it is his trip, so off to plan “B”. This is my favorite early season spot and Matt again had his bait hit as soon as we stopped and his patience paid off as he hooked and boated a nice 15lb bass. Small, but it breaks the ice and it is still early. Mel and Doug both had bass harass the live ones, they just wouldn’t eat. Finally Mel gets the bite and sets the hook on a decent fish. This bass gave us a glimpse of his large tail and big dorsal fin when Jr, stated “I don’t like the way the bunker is riding up the line!” well  a blue heard him and went after the bait, cutting his line and putting frowns on our faces. A few more bass ended up in the boat, and many more bass bites before Doug leans back on his “TOYS R US ROD” (got it from Randy) and he was hooked up. At first it was was hard to tell exactly what he had on size wise. Then we saw the swirls and the tell tale signs of a decent fish. When we got the fish on the deck, the 20lber looked very nice, now if we could only hook a real good one. That was not to be as the guys fished hard until we exhausted both tanks of bait. The blues really hurt at times. I did not feel confident with our fish, and felt like I let these guys down today. All the planning, and now its over. Back at the dock, I did not even feel like having a beer at the cleaning station and when Jr was finished with the boat I forced 2 down at BEACON ON THE BAY, the marina’s watering hole. Then we got the call, and I could not believe it. Doug’s fish ran away with it. It only took a 20 lb bass to win!! Congratulations to Doug and his crew and for making Scales n Tales the winner in this years event. Oh, and guys………”That was DEFINITELY a bass bite”