We had Bill, Glenn, and the guys out for their last fishing trip of the season. We ran back to the “secret spot” early and had instant action again. Not as many birds as the morning before, and the readings were spread out a little more, but we still managed a limit catch by the time the boat traffic broke it all up. We spent a little time trolling trying to add a few fish to the release charts, but the tide and pressure seemed to create lock-jaw, only coming tight on a few shorts and a couple blues. We ran a few miles to some bottom pieces and tried Black-fishing for the rest of day.  A lot of small bites, and a very scratchy one, picking only a half dozen keepers before running back to the dock, with the memory of a picture-perfect Fall morning!   

Thinking we were escaping the crowds today, we left under the cover of darkness, with Kevin, Matt, Greg, & Matt aboard! We floated right into the most bird life we have seen this fall, which was an almost impossible bar set so high. Fish splashing everywhere, sandeels swimming in plain sight on the surface, and the sonar screen lit up. The boat traffic was light and we quickly had a limit catch. By the time the sun was fully up, and the crowds gathered, the fishing seemed to have broken up, still catching a few in the insanity known as a jersey shore- black friday- perfect weather-epic bite boat crowd! We left them to fish slack tide in a fleet of what seemed like over 300 boats and tried a blackfish drop, only to find not-so-good conditions, and a strong current. We decided to hit the dock early for lunch! This Fall season continues to prove we really do have a world class fishery!

Nick P., family and friends joined the Benchmark today and we broke the inlet just before sun-up to make the run to the ‘secret spot’. We had piled up bird life, a screen full of readings, and it didnt take long to dial in on the fish! Making a few long drifts, with a couple double and at times triple headers, it was a great time! As the fleet of boats grew, and the head boats barreled into the shallow water, the great action We had fizzled. The wind dropped out, and the talk on deck, was of the incredible action just experinced! The crew hung out for a while, drifting over lock-jawed fish, picking up one here and there for a drift. We opted to take a pleasant cruise home, with a boat limit of the Striped ones, a few Bluefish for the smoker, and a good amount of fish that We let swim to feed another day!
Still some upcoming dates open if your upset your missing out on this fantastic fishery…