Today brought Steve back and he brought John with him. We found some small fish at first and after a timely call we found several large schools of bass that had the bait trapped. It was a little dicey but the guys did themselves well. After the tide died and the fish quit we went on a search. They managed a few more bass from the suds. We did see four bonito jump in different places or it was one bonito in four different places. In any case they didn’t want to play.
Friday morning brought Martin and Stuart down for a good day without the east winds. We opted to start with some relaxing fishing instead of fighting the masses. For two hours the guys caught bass with no other boats around. These fish were smaller but you can’t beat a relaxed environment. After a while we joined the masses and quickly found fish with a bit more size. We took a ride and found some bonito that didn’t want to stay on the hook. Added to that we found some sea robins and Black Sea Bass. Another fun day.
Gary and I beat the sunrise today and were met by an east wind and big heave. After trying about six different spots and a tide change we found a good amount of baitfish that was occasionally being harassed by the elusive bonito. We had a couple short hits and then Gary got two to stay on long enough to put them on the reel. As it often happens with these guys they unhooked themselves on the way to the boat. The tide turned and big schools of bait started to show up. We did run into to pretty good bass blitzes near the end of the trip and Gary brought a couple of nice stripers to the net. A lot of work today but a happy ending.
We had a few days off to attend the Helicopter Company’s Reunion that I flew with in Vietnam. it was a balmy 85 and well east of the storm inSouth Carolina.Now we are home and back to business. Tuesday Steve and Jim came over to experience the fall run. Unfortunately it hadn’t quite started yet. We found some large swells and an East wind to start off. After lots of casting we managed one Bonito and a couple Sea Robins. A lot of effort for a few fish.
What a difference a day makes. Today Simon and Dave returned for day two. We found some schoolie bass early and then took the long ride. There were scattered pods of different species in the area. Quickly we caught the first of a good bunch of Bonito. The tide slowed so we. Took a short break followed by lots of action. There were more Bonito and decent stripers as well as bluefish to ten pounds. At the seven and a half hour point I declared it a successful trip and we headed for the dock. A half hour later we ran into a large blitz of bass and blues. I offered it up and they decided to make it a nine hour trip. We stayed and they caught for another hour. A ten hour trip was not offered. A lot of fun today.
Today Peter and Paul were back for their second day of three. We started like yesterday but the fish had moved on. We picked a few off the beach but it was pretty quiet. We took a long ride to a couple of spots that I haven’t fished in a while. They weren’t there either. Another move found us sharing the water with a few bonito. We put two in the boat fairly soon. We must have caught them all because that was pretty much it for the day.
Monday brought Simon and Dave who also made the trip from the UK out for a day on the briney. We headed out and Simon landed a bass on his first cast That usually is the kiss of death but not today. We stayed inshore for a couple hours and had pretty steady action with bass and some good sized blues. When the sun got too high the bite tapered off. The next stop produced a lonely bonito. Followed by more bass and blues with an occasional sea bass and sea robin thrown in for good measure. We finally called it a day and headed for the dock only to run into more bass. A half dozen more and I threw in the towel. The pic is Dave with one of the early fish from today.
Sunday brought Peter and Paul across the Atlantic from the UK. We left early and headed out to where the elusive bonito have been visiting. They were there for a short while until 15 of our close friends showed up. We caught two peanut bunker pretty quickly and then it was seas for the rest of the day. Black Seas Bass and Seas Robins. Both in good numbers. On the way home we spotted our first good sized schools of bait moving in unmolested.
Friday Dr. Jeff and Frank came back for a day on the briney. We took a long ride and were rewarded with small pods of Bonito chasing bait. The guys doubled on their first casts with one fish coming on board we managed too put two more in the boat before the tide gave up. It took forever for the tide to turn and we found a few more after the change. All in all it was a fun day.
The other morning Gail and I went in search of the elusive Bonito. We found some fussy schools here and there. Gail managed two in the boat and I landed a Scup and a Sea Robin. Just to be clear the scup was huge. Almost big enough to keep. I should have known better.
Capt. Sandy Noyes has lived and fished in the Southeastern part of Connecticut for his entire life. … [More...]
