New Rockfish Season

[Captain Gary]

The Striped Bass (Rockfish in MD) season opened this past Saturday. 80% of the Atlantic Rockfish come up the Chesapeake Bay to spawn, so of course it is up to us here in MD to save the entire fucking species by limiting us to one per person per day, AND, NEW FOR THIS YEAR, a slot limit.

The way the slot limit works is anything <28", or between 35" and 41", must be returned to the water. Doesn't leave a lot of fish to catch, considering last year, 75% of our catch was in the slot. (BASTARDS!)

So, we spend 12 hours Saturday and 12 hours on Sunday trolling for these Rockfish. Nothing on Saturday and one keeper (34.98 inches ) on Sunday. Compared to the past 2 years, this sucks!!

I'll get a picture posted later.

Our daughter really impressed me. She went both days (getting up at 4am) and never once got bitchy while on the boat!

I'll have more tales as the season goes along.

One final rant! So that we can protect these fish so that all the rest of the fucking east coast can slaughter them, they started the season a week later than normal. I hope you are happy up there in NJ and CT!!

Gary (maybe I should have posted this in Mordor?) ;D

[justheidi]

ouch!

[Captain Gary]

Now, we've cut back on people so much at work, we can't even get time off to fish!!

Next chance is this Friday. Unfortunatly the weather doesn't look like it will cooperate that day. Come on Saturday!

The good news, 93 octane was $2.50 last week (they didn't raise it from the end of last season) and now it's $3.00. That's still cheaper than the gas stations ($3.09).

Gary

[Captain Gary]

Third trip...

Started early (0515), first line in water by 0550. Had a nice strike at 0720, our son Jeff brought it in (his birthday). 34.5 inches, woo hoo!

Troll for 8 more hours, not a damn thing. Just before calling it quits, get another knock down. Took about 15 minutes to get it in. 39 inch beauty! Threw it back (recall slot limit discussed in first message)

Got back in just as the wind picked up to 15-20, gusting to 25. Day started out with no breeze, visibility around 1.5 miles and 55 degrees. When the wind picked up it was clearing up, and 70 degrees.

One of the most exciting things today was hearing a ships fog horn this morning. 3 long blasts. Sounds real fucking close! Start heading for shallow water until we can get an eye on it. Seeing this four or five hundred foot container ship come out of the fog at maybe 22 kts was scary (and impressive). I had just got done reading a story about a sailboat that got knocked down by a container ship offshore Brazil (thanks Renee) and that was fresh on my mind.

Until Monday, that is all.

Gary

[Chicago Jake]

How's the boat doing, Cap'n? Last time the Princess and I had the privilege of sailing with you, your engines were in need of maintenance. Got them back to 100%, I hope?

[Captain Gary]

Jake, boat is running well. Have not completely fixed the problem with the port engine, but have a work around that's doing pretty well!

Just walked in from trip 4. Bad day. Winds were 20-25, gusting to 35. Big 4', occasional 5' waves. Low 80's and lots of sun.

Left work early and spent about 3 hours trolling around with our 5 poles. Not hits, just a lot of wind and water from the waves breaking on us.

Called it a day when my fishing partner got a call from his daughter. She had totalled her new car. She is fine, he's just mighty pissed off that she did this after just a couple of months. She is 17, and shit happens, but it still sucks.

Next trip after the Roof Top.

Gary