“Fly away buzzard fly away crow way down south where the winds don’t blow
Rub your nose and give two winks and save us from this awful jinx.”
Same crew from last year and smiling even though no fish.
5th trip to the stream in the GW cat…with 80 extra gallons of fuel…280 gallons total. Ran at 5K rpms(25knots) all the way to the South Ledge in the daylight…
I went to the South Hump, now called the “Point” I believe. Last time I was there was 1993. It’s that little circle on the Rutgers Sea Surface temperature sight. I crossed the 100 fathom curve and there was little temp change from 73-75 and it was choppy but no defined rip. Picked up and ran to the South Hump which looked like a washing machine and 10-15 knot winds from the North…80*-82* temp. Trolled around the BLUE(very BLUE) water and one skinny cow skied with a bait and spit it. That was around 10 am. Trolled back to the North angling to the temp change area…NOTHING.
Arrived at the 100 fathom curve and there was a boiling rip with whirlpools. 73* on west side and 74ish* on east side. Saw a couple of peanuts under a few clumps of weed but no takers. Trolled it till it ran out both sides…no takers.
Trolled back out to 800-900 feet and dumb lucked into a cow that gave my crew a workout. If I had a video of that fiasco…we could all have a good laugh. That fish took down the short port rod(ballyhoo) and then grabbed the cedar plug on the outrigger. She then swung back around under the motors and my son wrapped the leader and she started jumping next to the boat. My son picked up the long gaff instead of the short handled gaff and proceeded to wail on this fish. I’m talking about flailing on that poor fish. I actually felt sorry for her getting mugged like that. One hand on the leader wrap and couldn’t get leverage with the long handle. I’m laughing so hard as I type this…it was a sight. I believe he knocked her out with all the whacking at her. Finally