2019-12-09 07:54:09
Caught a boat limit of beautiful sea bass. Sure wasn’t as pretty a day as I thought I saw coming. (Did see lots of saddleback dolphin – separate post..)
With some already suffering mal-de-mer; we dropped blocks, plus a pair of reef pyramids, at Capt. Bob Gowar’s Memorial Reef and pressed on.
First stop? Uh oh..
It is December. Sea bass are pressing off all the while as waters cool. They’d clearly abandoned the reef I started on – though it had been very productive only days before. We picked up anchors and paddled just a bit further off. Second stop, however, worked in fine style. Lots & lots of double jumbos. Gerald Meadows of Salisbury was first across the line; many were limited within an hour.
Will have to schedule longer trips when the weather breaks.
Going to have time in days to come to work on NOAA’s ridiculous MRIP Recreational Catch data.
We’ve never been in worse position—a more dangerous position—because of bad catch data.
Really needs repair. Recreational catch worries are so far below the national radar: if fishers will not complain to NOAA, the problem will only worsen.
Anyway, Rick Auello of Seaford DE won today’s fish pool with a 20 inch, 4lb 12oz sea bass – one of a double on a jig. Carlos Neves from Portugal had a nice double (all camo.) Dae Kim kept a fantastic limit of cbass (orange top, gold jig.) Courtney Thompson, a Berlin local, was catching doubles on a jig. Mike Sherner of Newport News VA (orange bibs) had a many gorgeous doubles. Ray Ricci If Dundalk MD limited quick (dark coat.)
Also in the group snap are Chuck Burnham of Bel Air MD – Muhammad Emam from Portugal – Duke Park & Shy Yam from Fairfax VA – June Park from Fruitland MD – & Tyler Minner from Boothwyn PA…
Regards
Monty
**
Capt. Monty Hawkins
Partyboat Morning Star – OCMD
Mhawkins@morningstarfishing.com
