Themis
Well-known member
Ok. What a day away from the office!
Drove down from Chatham at 4:30am. Made the tackle strore by 6:15am. Bought some high quality leader, some circle hooks, swivels, a bucket, a few teaser rigs, and a bunch of these squirmy things called eels. Real swell guy showed me how to hold the eel in a towel and pierce his head with a hook, so at least I got that goin' for me.... Hit the Wawa for some coffee, drinks for the boat, and these whack egg sandwiches that had circular bacon. Must be real fat pigs. Finally at the dock we loaded in some rods, folded down the bimini (why did I order that again?), loaded up our drinks, the bucket-o-squirmythings, and shoved off.
About 5 minutes form the dock I ask my shivering son to put on the pullover I forced him to bring, and was told that he didnt realize that I wanted him to bring it ON THE BOAT too. So we headed back. Five minutes later we are moving across the bay at a good clip, and it was beautiful. Cloudy....Misty...Peaceful...Calm...Religious-like. I had the feeling we were going to hook up. Soon we were at this great place not far from my home, and were feeding eels out. We did see another boat out, I hailed him on 78 as I recognize the name from the board, and he ignored me. Can't say I blame him. But man come the tourney next weekend I'll show him... I did get to shout out to my good friend rtk as well..... (hope you hooked up!)
We got our first action after only three minutes. Blam! Ok. maybe "Slight bend" was more like it. the creature took the line out slow, and we didn't have much trouble reeling in the most awesome crab attached to my eel. I think it might have been a keeper. The karma was coming and I felt like that Boston dude on Sunday morning fishing shows. The karma was done at this spot however, as I think the crab scared away the smaller predators.
We moved to the mouth of the canal by Johnson's Boatworks, where a few blues ate up 7/8 of a few of our eels. It was quite exciting! Almost as exciting as big boat Tenacious steaming right at us, not slowing down, bouncing us good, and veering just 15 feet from my bow. I explained to my son that they knew me, were just playing, and that it was just professional courtesy among seasoned anglers. "Man those guys from Tenacious are real cards..... Those guys...he he heh" . My son look at me weird out of the corner of his eye, and he either asked for a cork or called me a dork; not sure.
Our next stop was through the canal, where my son was mortified that I was kneeling and peeing into a big empty Gatorade bottle. I think the old folks by the shore were mortified too.
After peeking out the inlet, we headed back in the Manasquan, and actually spoke to a nice gent by phone who suggested we try the small bridge section of the Rt35 bridge near Garden State Marina. That we did. My son was impressed that a few guys lazing around the side of this bridge were obviosuly pointing with amazement and educational curiosity at my ability to time and time again cast an eel into the overhang of the bridge. Sorry Mr Eeel! Should have been a video set on Letterman. Unfortunately I think the bass hiding at this location were not fooled by the highly natural action of an eel slamming vertically from a 20 foot bridge overhang into 3 feet of water. But...just as I thought that the CRAB was going to be our only action, Thwap! My rod bent like only a rod that has hooked on a waterlogged, barnacle-covered piece of construction wood can. It was exciting! "Dad, what do you think it is.... wow it looks big!" "I know son... this is what we came for.... get the olive oil ready!" The wood does look very nautical though, and if my wife lets me it will decorate one of the flower beds in back....
Finally, after calling it a day, my son and I had a great sandwich each at Subway. Nothing like getting filled up on two slices of ham and a piece of cheese sliced in triangles in two day old bread. And we drove back north pointing out hot chicks in cars.
We did laugh quite a bit and had a great day playing hookey nonetheless, seriously!
And for Scott.... you sir are a gentleman and generous; I thank you and salute you!
Regarding my title of Large Striper Report... we did see one of the school buses on the way home with some large men dressed in striped garb. One of them winked. Very cool.
Drove down from Chatham at 4:30am. Made the tackle strore by 6:15am. Bought some high quality leader, some circle hooks, swivels, a bucket, a few teaser rigs, and a bunch of these squirmy things called eels. Real swell guy showed me how to hold the eel in a towel and pierce his head with a hook, so at least I got that goin' for me.... Hit the Wawa for some coffee, drinks for the boat, and these whack egg sandwiches that had circular bacon. Must be real fat pigs. Finally at the dock we loaded in some rods, folded down the bimini (why did I order that again?), loaded up our drinks, the bucket-o-squirmythings, and shoved off.
About 5 minutes form the dock I ask my shivering son to put on the pullover I forced him to bring, and was told that he didnt realize that I wanted him to bring it ON THE BOAT too. So we headed back. Five minutes later we are moving across the bay at a good clip, and it was beautiful. Cloudy....Misty...Peaceful...Calm...Religious-like. I had the feeling we were going to hook up. Soon we were at this great place not far from my home, and were feeding eels out. We did see another boat out, I hailed him on 78 as I recognize the name from the board, and he ignored me. Can't say I blame him. But man come the tourney next weekend I'll show him... I did get to shout out to my good friend rtk as well..... (hope you hooked up!)
We got our first action after only three minutes. Blam! Ok. maybe "Slight bend" was more like it. the creature took the line out slow, and we didn't have much trouble reeling in the most awesome crab attached to my eel. I think it might have been a keeper. The karma was coming and I felt like that Boston dude on Sunday morning fishing shows. The karma was done at this spot however, as I think the crab scared away the smaller predators.
We moved to the mouth of the canal by Johnson's Boatworks, where a few blues ate up 7/8 of a few of our eels. It was quite exciting! Almost as exciting as big boat Tenacious steaming right at us, not slowing down, bouncing us good, and veering just 15 feet from my bow. I explained to my son that they knew me, were just playing, and that it was just professional courtesy among seasoned anglers. "Man those guys from Tenacious are real cards..... Those guys...he he heh" . My son look at me weird out of the corner of his eye, and he either asked for a cork or called me a dork; not sure.
Our next stop was through the canal, where my son was mortified that I was kneeling and peeing into a big empty Gatorade bottle. I think the old folks by the shore were mortified too.
After peeking out the inlet, we headed back in the Manasquan, and actually spoke to a nice gent by phone who suggested we try the small bridge section of the Rt35 bridge near Garden State Marina. That we did. My son was impressed that a few guys lazing around the side of this bridge were obviosuly pointing with amazement and educational curiosity at my ability to time and time again cast an eel into the overhang of the bridge. Sorry Mr Eeel! Should have been a video set on Letterman. Unfortunately I think the bass hiding at this location were not fooled by the highly natural action of an eel slamming vertically from a 20 foot bridge overhang into 3 feet of water. But...just as I thought that the CRAB was going to be our only action, Thwap! My rod bent like only a rod that has hooked on a waterlogged, barnacle-covered piece of construction wood can. It was exciting! "Dad, what do you think it is.... wow it looks big!" "I know son... this is what we came for.... get the olive oil ready!" The wood does look very nautical though, and if my wife lets me it will decorate one of the flower beds in back....
Finally, after calling it a day, my son and I had a great sandwich each at Subway. Nothing like getting filled up on two slices of ham and a piece of cheese sliced in triangles in two day old bread. And we drove back north pointing out hot chicks in cars.
We did laugh quite a bit and had a great day playing hookey nonetheless, seriously!
And for Scott.... you sir are a gentleman and generous; I thank you and salute you!
Regarding my title of Large Striper Report... we did see one of the school buses on the way home with some large men dressed in striped garb. One of them winked. Very cool.
