The 3rd Annual Vets Fish Ptown was a lot of fun. All participants know the value and sacrifice suffered that our service members have given to this country. We cannot thank them enough.

Morning: The two words that sum up our trip on the morning trip, frightening and successful. We left the harbor for a light tackle jigging trip into a hard S wind that pushed swells up to 4-5 feet. Needless to say the Stiperz is a Grady White and extremely stable, but at 22 feet we pounded out to the Bath House and Race Point.

We picked up a keeper and the sky darkened. We watched the other boats and left when they did, but the squall caught us between the bath house and wood end. Without rain gear, Bob, Art, Shane, and Andrew all piled into the cramped cuddy cabin when the sky opened up. The rain and wind came down and raked your face like tiny darts. With lightning flashing all over us, I raced to the beach and kept the boat as close to the land as possible, using the dunes as a lightning rod. We kept below the top of the windscreen, and only held on with one hand. It worked! A lightning bolt exploded on the beach less than 200 feet from the StriperZ, I fully believed that was for us. Who knows how the boat would handle being struck, but I think it would be all bad. A lightning mast/ground will be installed.

After 20 minutes of hell, the squall relented and we proceeded to fish and picked up another keeper. The guys got numerous pulldowns that unfortunately popped off. Everyone did catch a fish.

Afternoon: We almost left with no one aboard, but Joy Reis found JR and Pat, who wanted to do another trip, as the morning trip had the squall. The bay had laid down, and we were treated to a great trip. We went out to a lobster pot that I will call ‘Damien’s Pride and Mike’s Shame’, and another that I call “Last Night’s Starfish”. It is always tough fishing near pots, but that’s where the bigger fish hang. We got 3 keepers, one at 35″, 14.5 lbs., and a big blue. JR caught the big striper on 20 lb test line and 50 lb leader on LT and experienced the excitement of a couple good runs. Pat caught a +30″ blue fish that kicked his butt, but he got in and we boated it. The bluefish almost got through the leader, another 30 seconds and it would have been gone. It was a great time for us and we had plenty of fish stories to tell at the party.

Pictures are on my Fletcher Fishing (http://www.fletcherfishing.org) blog

Congrats to the Vets getting fish :btu:

And thanks to all the folks that made this 3rd annual event possible :btu:

In the morning we had a 5-year old boy and a young lady so we didn't venture out the Ptown harbor. Managed to get some fish though (around 26 inches) when we could dodge the gannets that were attacking our lures. Big squall came in and everyone except me tucked under the hardtop and stayed dry since none brought rain gear. I was mostly worried about the lightening. We took a peek around Long Point but when I saw a 30 footer snap-rolling as he made the turn we kept the 24' inside.

In the afternoon things calmed a bit and we fished the bathhouse to the Race and managed a few small keeper bass. One passenger got a little green in the swells but he held on.

Not the best sea conditions but the vets and families were great and very appreciative. I understand next years event is June 4, so I've got it on my calendar.

Thanks all - it was a great day, and night with the food and drink!

June 4, 2011 - marked.