Some time back I was looking for a ride in the MA500 when I received an invite to go along for the ride on the Olivia Grace, a brand spanking new Jersey Cape 36 for Beach Havens Tournament. I was brought in strictly to learn the boat, take notes and not interfere...
It was weird not being called upon to work my magic and lead the team. In fact it was down right uncomfortable but I agreed to just sit back and observe and learn the boat so I will be better equipped to run her into the winners circle at MA500.
Despite those who doubted her timely completion, she arrived at the yacht club in absolute perfect condition. What a machine! I have run on litterally hundreds of boats over the years and usually I can find something not right, especially fresh out of the box but this one stumped me ! Last year there was a lot of discussion about JC versus OI and people even made comment that it was odd that my normally over opinionated self didn't chime in. That was the result of not knowing the boats well enough to form a well based opinion.
At the captains meeting they had the OI sitting there and I had my olden oportunity to educate myself. After careful scrutiny of both, I have to say that the JC stands alone in class! The OI was indeed very nice but did not even remotely compare in fit, finish, functionality of layout etc... I equated it to comparing a Hatteras versus a Rybovitch...
Enough of the boat... Although I would have run completely the other direction based on water, temp, reports, bait etc; I understood the theory of boats builder, Wayne, in running up to the Toms in search of that one glory fish. The spread was not one I would run but again it was geared for that one possible big cold water white or big eye that could be lurking up there. We arrived in 72 degree water that warmed to just over 74 as we banged the wall up toward the hudson. Alas life was sparse with a lone mahi and a couple wahoo bites to be had. The drawback to running way up there on a hail mary passs is that its a commitment. Too far to go someplace else if it doesn't work.
Yesterday we slid closer to out front and hit the Wilmington. I so desperately wanted to run my spread as conditions looked very good but that wasn't my option. We deployed theirs. A dink bait came out of a clip and I saw a small what I believe to be a white shoot at the flat line but back away and not eat near the tip. The rain sucked big but still conditions seemed to promise at least some shots. We hammered the west wall, crossed the 500 tip, worked the notch all the way back down to the tip and west flat. Then finally a dandy yellowin put first blood on the boat. A second one was close to too small and was released. Soon after we had a blind bite near a rip and a medium sized white launched. Alas that was short lived and the rod went vertical. Another rat yellofin and a pee wee mahi came to play before the lines out call was made.
Although it was killing me to not help, I was able to sit back and observe the little nuances that made this pretty girl so special. I cant wait til I get my turn at taking the helm on this 33 knot rocket and putting George into the winners circle at the MA500...
After a few hours rest, it feels good to get right back at it. My big tourney rigs have been ready since January... Although I wasn't allowed to really take part at Beach Haven, I got to smell, hear, touch, taste and feel the canyons and hear them screaming for me to come back turn them upside down to shake the change right out of their pockets!
Ocean City here I come!
Phil,
When I agreed to ride along in this one with George, the Intruder was not booked or even looking to fish Beach Haven. Although I would have loved to fish it with them I'm a man of my word and had made the commitment to George. I also had plenty of offers when I arrived from other guys but again committed.
I have been booked for over a year on the boats I'm working at Ocean City so that has been set in stone. I guess you are lined up to do something there with George? You should have a ball with that pretty little gem of a boat. I see all the fish raising potential in the world with her. Even tosses a clear center lane which is very rare...
MA500 was originally booked on my usual boat there Gold Rush. A monster coin show they work conflicts with the schedule so they couldn't fish. Then the people Intruder had lined up got all wishy washy so he' isn't booked. Thats why I shotgunned out my availabilty and George picked up on it first.
After discussing the communications problems between crew and my dissatisfaction with the spread and location selection process, George and I came to the amiable understanding that it would be best if I don't run the boat for MA500. With that said I am availabe to run the show on another boat and if Kenny gets booked I hope that I will be with him again...
I had a few committed but not enough to run my boat. I just got picked up by Cavelieer to premier their #1 Hull the 2006 44', boat named "Brown Eyed Girl"
My mate Spencer will be working her hard all week down there. She got delivered today in Cape May, we are getting her ready, finishing the riggers,
and feelin her out on Wed. Night.
I will be takin her down Sat afternoon, and Spencer will join after our overnighter Sat. night.
We got bumped from Sunset on a bumb deal, but will be the next lagoon over, so it aint all that bad.
Phil,
That sounds like a sweet thing indeed. I hope you do great and tear em up down there. I'll be docked on the one boat at sunset and the other a few slips south of the scales...
In rereading my original post it was brought to my attention that it appeared as I was bashing OI. Indeed it does look that way but was not my intention. What I was trying to point out was there was a lot of artistic things the JC had that made it seem more Rybo in nature and the OI had more user friendly appeal in its features like Hatteras. So a true comparison really couldn't be made like apples and oranges... I wanted to edit but for some reason that edit button is not making itself available to me on that post...
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In fact it was down right uncomfortable but I agreed to just sit back and observe and learn the boat so I will be better equipped to run her into the winners circle at MA500.
The spread was not one I would run but again it was geared for that one possible big cold water white or big eye that could be lurking up there. We arrived in 72 degree water
that warmed to just over 74 as we banged the wall up toward the hudson. Alas life was sparse with a lone mahi and a couple wahoo bites to be had. The drawback to running way up there on a hail mary passs is that its a commitment. Too far to go someplace else if it doesn't work.
A dink bait came out of a clip and I saw a small what I believe to be a white shoot at the flat line but back away and not eat near the tip. The rain sucked big but still conditions seemed to promise at least some shots. We hammered the west wall, crossed the 500 tip, worked the notch all the way back down to the tip and west flat. Then finally a dandy yellowin put first blood on the boat. A second one was close to too small and was released. Soon after we had a blind bite near a rip and a medium sized white launched. Alas that was short lived and the rod went vertical. Another rat yellofin and a pee wee mahi came to play before the lines out call was made.
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