JHbowhunter Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 (edited) Got up 3am to meet @Buck154at Shark River Hills marina by 5. Well he got called into work and was low on sleep but we got his boat launched 6am. With great weather headed 17 miles E to the SR Reef for seabass. Plan was a quick limit there then come back inside for fluke limit. Seabass fishing was as bad I have seen. Lots of boats most of the big party boats and very few catching. I put first keeper in the box but that would be the only one for me. Nothing was working. Several moves both drifting and on anchor. Finally John broke out his 4’ ultralight and over a period of several more hours he put 13 keepers in the box. It was now around 12:30 pm and we decided to hit on spot about 5 miles off inlet and in spite of brisk S winds we were BOTH able to quickly finish off the seabass limit putting 6 more in the box. I was happy to make a contribution again. Oh and I also got a really nice ling on bucktail. By about 3:30 or 4pm we were back in inlet and started picking away at fluke. John getting 3 to my 1 on his ultralight. However - every fish I caught was a quality fish with 3 overs and one slot to 21.5 “. John got 1 over size as well. So all we got to keep was a 19.5, 21.5 and a 17.25. After over an hour of cleaning fish and boat we were on our way home by 8:15 pm! Long day about to get longer. Parkway traffic added 45 minutes to my ride so I did not get home until 10:40pm. Got to bed midnight. Edited May 31, 2022 by JHbowhunter Buck154, Buckeyes11, Cousin Brown and 20 others 19 4 16 3/4” Live Fluke Release Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammer4reel Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Water was def the place to be yesterday . bunch great meals there JHbowhunter 1 Captain Dan Bias REELMUSIC SPORTFISHING 50# Striper live release club. http://reelmusicsportfishing.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHbowhunter Posted May 31, 2022 Author Share Posted May 31, 2022 We also each got a 16” fluke in 75’ about 4 miles off mixed in with the sea bass and ling. We tried one fluke drift just outside inlet but no life there. I was using 4-6” strips of cut shad in the river the bigger fish wanted meat. Also lost a 3lb bluefish. Buck154, Bucksnbows and TroutandBucks 3 16 3/4” Live Fluke Release Club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroutandBucks Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Awesome trip boys!! Thats a nice Ling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgw Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Nice trip, John said he was going to make you work for the fish to make up for time lost on your last trip, lol 😂 JHbowhunter and Buck154 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Awesome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMC Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 A trip with Johnny is always a half day, 12 hrs ! Looks like a great day. Buck154, Bucksnbows and JHbowhunter 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdep217 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 16 minutes ago, OMC said: A trip with Johnny is always a half day, 12 hrs ! Looks like a great day. Good thing we're not in Alaska with 24 hours of light we'd never get in lol JHbowhunter, OMC and Buck154 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterbob1 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 24 minutes ago, OMC said: A trip with Johnny is always a half day, 12 hrs ! Looks like a great day. Lol I can relate I was him once! But wait sometimes I never got off the boat I moored in Atlantic Highlands hooked up to a empty sailboat ball or anchored in horseshoe cove dependent on the wind. “In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.” -Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck154 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Was a grind for the seabass for sure. vdep217 and I killed them last week at the one spot but super slow catching yesterday. At least we got our limit, didn't want Jack to Make the 2 hour ride from up north to go home hungry. As it turned out I think a lot of seabass have move in finally as the water has warmed some. Water temp is behind this year it seams. As for a long day it WAS but Jack is part to blame as he said he rather fish longer than fight the Holiday traffic. Well I guess we should have fished into the dark for striper cause he hit traffic any ways....LOL. I love just to be out fishing and catching with friends. Lots of joking around and busting balls. Zipper and Swamprat 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregtpal Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 We launched out of SR Hills about 6:30AM & trolled Mojo, Umbrella rigged shads & a deep diver plug prospecting for bass without a touch or even seeing a big mark until about 11AM. Gave that up & switched to jigging for sea bass & fluke on the AC reef. Very slow there too although bait other than gulp might have made a difference. Only 1 sea bass, 1 robin & lost 2 unknown. Didn't see much catching at all by nearby boats. Packed it in around 1:30. Major skunking. No fluke or even a skate or dogfish. You guys worked for that catch. JHbowhunter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricstart Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Looks Like a great day . Nice pictures .Thanks for sharing. JHbowhunter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck154 Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 10 minutes ago, gregtpal said: We launched out of SR Hills about 6:30AM & trolled Mojo, Umbrella rigged shads & a deep diver plug prospecting for bass without a touch or even seeing a big mark until about 11AM. Gave that up & switched to jigging for sea bass & fluke on the AC reef. Very slow there too although bait other than gulp might have made a difference. Only 1 sea bass, 1 robin & lost 2 unknown. Didn't see much catching at all by nearby boats. Packed it in around 1:30. Major skunking. No fluke or even a skate or dogfish. You guys worked for that catch. Should have went North to the Rock for bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregtpal Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Heh heh...I said that after we took our lumps...First trip this year that I didn't trailer & launch in RB. I almost always head north this time of year but had read some nice bass were being taken trolling off the inlets down here so was hoping it would happen with a short boat ride...it didn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEARFISH Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Sometimes you have to wait until they want to eat nice going JHbowhunter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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