Rockfish, rockfish and more rockfish

[Miles Offshore]

Mike and myself decided to fish bankers hours and let it warm up some so we met at the boat at 0900. Slipped around the corner and started running across big schools of bait before even getting out of the bay so we figured we would c and r on our way out to the cbj. Had hook-ups almost immediatly- doubles and caught several in the 36" range and lost a nicer fish that rolled out of the net boatside . Moved on out past the line (inside line) and basically caught nice fish all day- by ourselfs until this afternoon (away from the fleet). Lost count but figure we caught 15 or so and losing several others. Kept our limit of 4 36" fish. Never got bubba. Anyways we ended up leaving em snappin and were back cleaning up by 330 or so.Listening to the radio coming in my creek there was a larger class of fish a little farthur off the beach and the boyz were puttin a hurtin on them. Probably be a good bite early tomorrow before that front pushes through. Not sure if I will go or not. Heres a pic of one of the average size fish we caught today. peace, [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Craig

[peterb]

Craig,

What are you getting them on? Up here is Northern Jersey we fish for them several different ways. We sometimes anchor up and use clams or bunker chunks. Sometimes we drift whole live bunker, worms or eels. Sometimes we troll wire --bunker spoons & shad rings-- or stretch 25's. Sometimes --in the late fall-- we chase the schools and throw shad rigs and tin at them.

The craziest technique they do up in Montauk. They let out 300 foot of wire and you you continuously pump the rod up and down with a parachute jig (tipped off). When a 30 pounder hits that jig like a freight train and the captain of the boat bust your chops by still going three knots, it is a rear bear to get that fish in. To top it off as you are dying while bringing that fish it, there is usually an obnoxious person on board who does something like pour a beer over your head.


I would be interested to know if you fish for them any differently.

[Michael Vezzosi]

Craig, Nice Fish! And looks like beautiful conditions too! Sitting here at lock down (FD) and this pops up. Great. Enjoy it my friend. Mike. Good luck in the mornin'.

[ScottM]

Nice stripers Craig! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

The craziest technique they do up in Montauk. They let out 300 foot of wire and you you continuously pump the rod up and down with a parachute jig (tipped off).

Peter,
We're just as crazy, that's a popular technique here in MA too. Never heard of the "beer over the head" trick, we just prefer them poured in our mouths. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Briguy]

When trolling for Tuna off of Cape May or Manasquan NJ, I always pour a little splash of beer on each reel when we first let the spread out. If things slow down, I reapply.

[Miles Offshore]

Hey Mike- picked up the cooler, thanx!!!! Hey Peter- depending on the time of year we fish for them several different ways- this time of year the bay is closed , only ocean fishing for"keeping any". We troll big baits on both wire and mono. MoJo's, Bunker spoons, Frenzies [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img], strtches , umbrellas etc. Soaking live eels is also very good this time of year- especially around the chesapeake bay bridge tunnel although it is only catch and release in the bay. Huge numbers of huge fish being caught , mostly released here in the last few days. what I would call "World Class" rockfishing. In the spring season we will use menhaden/bunker and chum em up. Also catch em jigging and casting , on top,fun stuff- craig

[Trayder]

Craig-

nice fish!!

Briguy-

When trolling for Tuna off of Cape May or Manasquan NJ, I always pour a little splash of beer on each reel when we first let the spread out. If things slow down, I reapply.

thats eerie, same up here, Miller Lite "a sip for myself and a sip for my homeys" I also drop a tad over the side for the fishies.

[SEAFARI]

Craig
Nice Striper, Gotta get down one of these days [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]