Well, I've moved on from Stella. She'll have to get along without me for the near future but I will own one at some point down the road. Probably will bribe the wife with something shiny first though... LOL Anyway, fishing conditions look great for Saturday so I'm headed out again for SeaBass. Season ends June 30th. Wifey will be along for this one so the weather should be great. She seems to always bring the nice weather with her. All the reports read great with lots of limits being caught. After June 30th, its Blues, Blues and Blues for the major part of the summer until the fall season begins. Perhaps some LingCod and fluke trips sprinkled in too. A lot more sweetwater trips on tap too. Looking forward to a great summer of Fishin and Smokin! Fish On!!!
I've been on a skunk roll...... last two trips in the yak, I've found the redfish, but couldnt get them to eat any artificials Wild Bait shrimp are in the grass...... and inshore water (and air) is HOT right now
Reel Update... I did upgrade but not with a Stella. I got the Van Staal VM150 spinner. Should be arriving this week via UPS.
haha, actually yeah. I paddled through a rip about 1/2 mile off the beach that was getting busted up "Oooh, this looks good!"..... Jumping Tarpon, kings, bait getting tossed etc....... then ZZZZZZZZZZZ, "Fuck yeah!" it was on that surface plug so thought it was a Tarpon. Then after I pulled in the other line and put some heat on him, he dove, so I thought "King Mackerel" (I intentionally was using plastic over live bait to avoid sharks) I was in the middle of this stirred up rip (surrounding water was pretty clear) so I couldnt see below. Then I get him up and start to see his silouette / head... "Shit... shark!" I didnt want to cut the line on a brand new lure, so I grabbed the pliers, but then he tried to chomp em, so i squealed like a little girl, and back down he went with my pliers in his mouth (then I saw them fall out).... "well shit".... I got him back to the surface and took the gaff and stuck him in the gill and bled him out as I paddled in.... I didnt want to put that toothy bastage in the yak. Tried to time the small surf, but then started riding a wave in, albeit unintentionally. "I got this"...... oh wait, there's a 30# anchor behind me. I flip, and lose a Senator 113h combo in the process. DOH!...... gathered my gear together and dragged him up on the beach and into the fishbag. He became blackenned shark nuggets that night, and next time, I'll remember to make sure all rods are locked / tied down if I go through the surf. I can store rods inside the hull of the new yak though damn son, that's a fancy pants reel! I just got another Symetre 3000
Well, I did get the "budget" VS reel. Less than half the price of the Stella, but not half the reel by any stretch.
Well, I replaced drag washers on a 15 yr old Sustain Get ready to waste some time watching these, I dare you to turn away:
Thanks for that video! Verry informative. I'm going on vacation next week and plan on doing some fluking up in the Atlantic Highlands. figure next week early bluefish, then fluke. Now if I'm really lucky, my VS will last 15 yrs! It was delivered today in great condition. Think I'm gonna go up to BPS and get some 30# Braid put on it.
well, so far 5 years in my possession. Gears are definitely not as smooth anymore, but It's got some sentimental value. It was my best friend's Dad's reel. He past about 5+ years ago so when my buddy came back from Hawai'i to help settle the estate, it also happened to be my birthday that week. He show's up and said "Happy birthday, I think my Dad would want you to have these" (that rod and reel and a shotgun, that had an interesting history. lol), and Stepmom thought you'd want these" (a bag of cohibas, a cigar cutter and a bottle of Bullit Bourbon..... I got along good with his Pop, and his wife new my reputation. LOL). Since then I've caught all my personal best inshore fish on that rod so it's got some good mojo...... anyway, paddled out for a quick one early this morn before work. Tossed a topwater where I saw a big red 2 weeks ago....1st cast BAM! Fish on! Nice fish, goes on multiple runs (8# test) tries to break me off in the oysters a few times, so I was thinking this may be my personal best redfish, and start hooting. Water was super dirty due to heavy T-storms the past 2 days, so I couldnt see shit. Finally wore his ass out, and got him up...... Jack Crevalle. dammit. Still a fun start to the day....... of course that was my only fish. back home by 10am in the process a buddy saw my truck as he launched his boat at the same ramp....... send me a pic of his 4 yr old son with an 18" flounder. I shoulda went home right then.
LOL.. Yeah, I've had more than my share of those days... I'm trying to put a plan together next week as I'm on vacation. Monday is taken and the reports so far on blues have not been spectacular so it might be Fluke. Ling are around and Sea Bass season ends on Tuesday 30 June. After that, its one fish until November soooo, depending on Momma Nature, I'll be on the water 3 out of 5 days next week. With the holiday weekend coming up, I'll be on the sweetwater and far far away from the coast.
Great Day today on the water! Personal best 21 SeaBass which is 6 over the limit. They let me keep them as I was on a roll. My new rod and reel performed flawlessly. I now have a new go-to Rig for bottom fishing. Still 4 more days this week before the holiday weekend so I will try to get back out there. For one day, I was High Hook on the boat! Fish On! Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey Personal Best !
NICE. good eats! Any big ole "greenheads" in the mix? So you use that new spinner? Last time out I used a spinner bottom fishing (baitrunner 8000D) for the 1st time. Fun on the little guys like triggers and vermillions, but I might've been cussin if I was using that on the 12# snapper
Stinky, that Van Staal performed exactly the way it was supposed to. No strain at all. Actually, my arm cramped up from all the cranking and I had to sit out 15mins just to get right. Was using it on a rod I had custom made for me 2 years ago and it was magic. I named the rod "Excalibur" and it didn't dissapoint. Tomorrow, I'm going fluking on the Prowler out of the Atlantic Highlands. Will see if my new rig really is the "one to rule them all" as I've already used the rod for Blues and that wasn't any problem. It was made from a St. Croix Muskie blank. If it is the new boss, I'm gonna be a bit busy on Ebay selling a few items out of my inventory!
HA! awesome! Good Luck. yeah, St. Croix makes good shit. I put that symetre on a 7' Triumph. Definitely the nicest inshore rod I own. I put the new one one a 7-6 Hurricane Calico Jack I purchased on saturday, as I've been spending WAY too much $ lately. Seems nice though, but may be a bit long for kayak fishing. Going to visit my cousin in Portland this week. Catchem up, full moon tomorrow. If I wasnt, I'd be fishing!
Just picked up a fishing kayak myself, got a Pelican Axiom 100x. Of course I go on the maiden voyage and get a call after 30 minutes out there and had to bail. Been at my daughter's since then, she had a tree fall on the house. The fish are calling my name but I can't get out there.
cool. this time of year fishing is tough with the heat... you gotta get out at sunrise or right before dark. catchem up
I admire you guys in the Kayaks fishing for pelagic fish. After watching Shark Week, no way could I convince myself to do that even inshore.
