Tuff night on the bay

[giantfan]

I wish I could come close to matching all the great offshore reports that have been in your world the last few weeks.... but.... all I have up here at this time of the year is the inshore scene.

There have been reports of great fishing off of the beach with some really big striped bass being caught, so we decided to give it a shot yesterday afternoon. The weatherman was saying that the wind would be blowing from the SW so we figured that if we stayed tight to the beach we should be alright...

We ran around the tip of the hook only to find an angry ocean with a stiff SE wind.... we ran south for a mile or so and decided that even if we did get to the promised land that it would be next to impossible to find any bait, so we switched to plan B.... and proceeded to head back into the bay on a search for some Bunker....

We covered every inch of the Raritan bay looking to get some bait..... nothing! It's been a strange spring up here.... the bunker never really came into the bay like they have over the past couple of years.... even when we could find the bait early in the season... it was tough work getting 50-75 pieces as they never really seemed to ball up when we were out there.

After looking for bait for a couple of hours we decided to do a little bucktailing to see if we could put a couple of flatfish in the box.... not a touch. With our tail tucked between our legs we decided to call it a night and headed back to the barn.

Oh well.... I guess we will get-em next time

I am looking forward to getting offshore soon to see if the fish gods will give us some better luck out there. Come on warm water.

This was my first fishing trip since we got back from our big skunk in Cape May looking for Black Drum. I'm in a bad slump right now and need to shake this monkey from my back.... I sure hope this is the calm before the storm.... and that storm being pelagics offshore.

[clt_capt]

That's fishing - but it sure beats working. The fishing WILL pick up soon - they are moving your way... How is the cooler and launcher working out?

[giantfan]

They are both working like a champ.... better then expected.

Thanks for all the help with everything.... you made the process much easier for me with all of your input.

[Nauti Natured]

Keep your head up Bro! The tide will turn. it takes times like that to truly appreciate the big days!

[algdog]

there was a fair amount of bunker right were you turned around sunday morning when I was there. to the south also, by asbury
on saturday from pnt. pleasant to seaside was loaded with bunker but no fish for us.

I have heard that even the navesink and shrewsbury have been void of bait this year.

it has been a funny spring, I never did see a school of bunker up in the bay.

[gottaflylee]

giantfan, that happens to the best of us, I don't care who you are... Don't let it get you down, it will only get better...
You did better than most folks...you were on the water, not stuck behind a desk...

[giantfan]

Thanks guys.... it's not a problem and I am keeping my chin up.... just need to bust out of the slump.....better now then running off 100 miles and getting nothing

your right Lee.... it was a nice night for a ride on the bay, I am very lucky to be able to do that.

[Procastinator]

Thanks guys.... it's not a problem and I am keeping my chin up.... just need to bust out of the slump.....better now then running off 100 miles and getting nothing

your right Lee.... it was a nice night for a ride on the bay, I am very lucky to be able to do that.

It is time to point the Ruthless for Cape May again , only, this time pull up short about a third of the way down the coast.
The bass are thick south of Manasquan.