[Surfpirate]

I committed to go to the Mass Bass house for 4 days and got my ferry reservations only to find I totally messed up on the moon cycle. But hey, it is always good to hang with friends and Chris had made me a Coleman rod that I wanted to pick up. As an added bonus I forget my Camera, rats!

I arrive Monday afternoon and was going to leave on Friday on the noon ferry.

The goal was to catch a Grand Slam – which is (for those of you unaware) a weighable Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore and Bonito from the Surf but after stopping in at #^&#^&#^&#^&s and after taking to Steve Morris and looking at the daily catches it was time to come up with a Plan B.

After I registered, I went to the Mass Bass house – (*note to editor – a reality series based on these 5 weeks here would be much better and funnier than “guide house Montauk) met the usual suspects and learned what they were doing and the results. Patrick was expected Tuesday around dinner time.

Plan B was to charter a boat and give it a shot, I offered to take any in the house but they were committed to doing it the surf way, which is cool and I decided to charter in the mornings and fish the shore later/ earlier.

Tuesday – I take a half day charter, I decided to go with a larger boat – good idea since small craft warnings were posted and I had the ocean to myself, and had a good day. 7 bluefish, 1 albie, 1 bonito. Kept Only one of the bluefish. At the weigh in only one albie was caught all day (me) and 3 bones so I get a third place daily for the bone and have 3 out of 4. I fish state beach to little bridge in the evening into a stiff breeze for small bluefish. It was a good day

Wednesday - tough day, Patrick and Jason join me for a bone and a few bluefish; spent most of the day looking for a bass… but that is why they call it fishing and not catching. Weigh in the bone and bluefish for essentially Mystery gift lottery tickets. But since all the fish caught are donated to a local food bank I didn’t consider it mindless slaughter. Opinions may vary.

Thursday – pressure is on, I bring out the big guns, Patrick, Jason and Johnny come out with me, for added luck we see Ed Jerome and take him to his boat before we head out, I bend his ear about adding a fleece top (jacket or vest to the derby merchandise since we all have way too many sweatshirts; he will think about it) the Captain works hard, burns lots of gas and we all come home with a bass, I am happy just to see one, that I was lucky enough to get a good fish is icing on the cake, 31 pounds on the boat, 28.84 officially. Good enough to hold on for a win on the daily board.

Friday – go to Derby Headquarters, get the daily striped bass pin and the grand slam pin, pack up my stuff and off to the ferry I go.

Things are looking good for the Derby, I saw bunker / pogies / menhaden in Edgartown harbor, the moon is coming this week and I am sure things are going to bust wide open in the next few days. I may have to call in sick on a Friday and or a Monday to get back.

While I am on the line at the Vineyard Haven Ferry, when one of the workers comes over (NY plate FISH24 7) and sees the fishing rods on top and inside, tells me there was a 62 pound bass taken Sunday at Cuttyhunk, on a plug, on the south west corner on the rocks.

Oh well, as long as my car is packed, I am off on another exciting adventure.