Josh and I just one year ago had our first taste of the river schoolies with Larry Johnson and we had an amazing day. Josh landing 62 , me landing 58 and Larry getting 47 while navigating us around for our first trip. It was then our best day of fishing ever and was something we would continue to try with my own boat again and again. Last year after that trip our best trip was 17 combined for the day. Was a huge disappointment but with the crowds of boats and lots of pressure and simply not knowing the river and how the schoolies tick we just kept trying with sub par results.
Well 2012 has had a better start.... Our first trip we caught 38 fish combined and then the following week went back to a 6 fish day. Leaves you scratching your head. But we went out this morning with the goal of 100 fish for the boat... After a slow start and watching fisherman such as Steve D and Alex (dont know his last name) catch them on almost every cast i really started to take notes. Find out why some spots hold more fish in regards to tide and depth as well as the way they fish there lures.. and it paid off today. Josh's first fish of the day was his new PB striper @ 29 inches. His first keeper of his life which after a few photo's was set free. By around 11 there were a ton of boats and finding your own spots was difficult but when you could it was game on.
We ended up going on a run of about 120 fish within an hour and a half. Most fish between 18-22 inches and every one of them fights like there 30 inches. These fish are strong and about half way to the boat seem to suddenly realize there hooked and start to really pull some line. We went on one last drift for the day being the only boat for about a half a mile stretch and we nailed em. Doubles after doubles after doubles. It was unreal. By the end of the day we had 228 schoolies. Sore arms and huge smiles! All on white or white chartreuse super flukes on 3/8 jig heads. Today i feel we earned our stripes and i cant wait to get back and do it again.
This trip goes out to Rich Zaleski with hopes for a fast recovery and quick return to these fish he loves more than anyone who was out there today. Your blog and fishing insight has helped both Josh and I become better anglers. So thank you.
by: Joe Jacobowitz
Thanks for the kind words. I look forward to being able to return to the river after another couple weeks of healing up. Been 3 months since I set a hook, and I really need to hammer a few.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot of what I know on the river from Steve & Dave, and I love fishing with those guys and Alex.
The fishing is just getting good rich! you will set into hundreds when you come back! No doubt about those guys knowing how to fish that river. They have bent rods all day.
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