Underway well before dawn for this long-tog trip. Jupiter & Saturn prominent in …

2021-04-14 22:17:59
Monty Hawkins

Underway well before dawn for this long-tog trip. Jupiter & Saturn prominent in the eastern sky; two dim patches of light reveal ships just over the horizon; a bit of heave from a distant wind rolls us a bit – pretty morning.
Just after sunup we dropped 44 blocks in two large reef units. Won’t be long, sea bass will be on em soon. Even our most recent efforts will have become spawning habitat by early June I expect.
But today? Tautog – a ‘swing for the fence’ trip. James Milano of Babylon NY has been on a tear with me. Today he landed a 14lb tog and tagged it. The female fish swam back down strong and still won the pool.
Not all our releases went well. Most ..but ended up with 5 in the boat my anglers would rather have seen swim away. Netted em back up, removed their tags; took a handful more for dinner too.
Not a great day of fishing. Not horrible either. Anytime dedicated tog anglers walk off my boat with a new ‘personal best’ – plus we see two species of whale (minke & fin — & sorry! too distant for pics!)- both color phases of northern fulmar, and several good-sized pods of saddleback dolphin riding the bow and all in calm water? I’d call it a good day indeed.
Regards,
Monty

Capt Monty Hawkins
Mhawkins@morningstarfishing.com
Info@ocreefs.org

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