After confirming that a friend was going out today, I decided that I would break in my ‘03 license as well. We both headed into Portuguese but trolled in different areas to find the fish. The fish seemed to be scattered everywhere and the 30+ boats fishing bait in the cove were catching fish in the 5 to 7 lb range. Unfortunately for me, I trolled for 3 hrs without a bite and my friend only had 1 fish in his boat. The armada of boats out there was like trolling around a slalom coarse. At this point I figured that the bite that I was on, was now off, and that my first day of fishing in ’03 would result in the donut hole.

The fish were there, but they were positioned right on the bottom and unwilling to come up for the lures, so I decided to drop my downriggers right down to the bottom. The first thing I caught was tumbleweed about 1 1/2 ft dia on the downrigger ball. It was pretty funny as everytime I wound the ball up, it looked like I was plowing a field, with weeds and sticks stuck on the cable and ball. Just when I was getting frustrated pulling that stupid ball up and down to match the bottom, I get slammed. First fish of the year goes 10.1 lbs. After a quick weigh session I ease her back into the water, flush her gills, and she swims off and away. About 30 minutes later, (same routine with the downrigger) fish number 2 is in the net at 10.4 lbs. This fish also swims away to fight again. I had planned on releasing everything today, until my wife calls me and tells me that mom wouldn’t mind having another striper. Of course her call comes right after I release fish number 2. It took me 2 more hours to get 3 hits and 2 smaller fish (9-10 and 9-14, pic below) in the boat for my limit.

Like my past trips, the fish in this cove moved again, and this time they were sitting right on the bottom.

The bait fishing (minnows) is pretty good right now. If you want kill some time and give your wife or kids a chance to connect with a 10lb striper on light line, this is the time to go.

Scot - Happy New Year to all


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Attachment #1, (.jpg file)