Thanks to my wife, Everyone, Weekapaug, & Saltheart... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

JohnR · 10-14-2001, 05:53 PM

Thanks everyone for showing up this weekend in lovely little Rhody - I had a blast!!! It's unfortunate that the weather and fish didn't cooperate even half as much as the tailgate party that kicked things off over at Weekapaug. When I first pulled up about 20 minutes late - I didn't think I'd be able to get in as there was about 20 4x4s and a pinch of cars crowding the lot and smoke pouring out behind the shop...

Nobody starved - between the shrimp, venny burgers, snausauges, and burgers & dogs followed up by pound cake and Salthearts "Death by Strawberry" - the indications of a heart meal (GAS from nearly Everybody

) ran leate into the evening...

After chow, people started heading off into all different directions. But mainly from Watch Hill to East Beach. And the surf was HUGE all over. We hit Central Beach first and there were real 7-8 footers mixed in there - and not one bird or piece of bait to be seen - and no breaking fish....

For much of the afternoon and evening, my cell was buzzing as everyone was looking for fish. I hit about 5 spots and others that went elsewhaer generally got nada - except maybe wet. Cratt & Specialist tried the pounding on the C-Town Breachway but to no avail... Legit 8 footers running up and down the coast...

Hit the Andrea around 9pm for grins&giggles - several of us suited up and geared up for the long cast as there was some bait and birds way out just within range of a good 75-100 yard cast. But no hits (other than Fishpart). Other than a couple seagulls chasing my plug... But it is fun playing in a heavy surf

....

A handfull of small fish were caught but those anglers were in the minority this weekend... And while I haven't heard from everyone - it looks like RedCrbbr may be top dog of the 4 Leg Tourney...

Some of my mindless observations of yesterday:

Saltheart is secretly employeed by the American Dental Assoc. and that's why he adds a little strawberries to the sugar desert he made

...

Chuck Knoblauch was NOT playing last nights game... He was fishing in Rhody...

Patrick is a half a foot taller than Radar O'reilly... AND he fished

- Well, Patrick requested that his image be removed - too bad 10/30/01 -

Mindi is a nice young lady but Patrick MUST buy her a set of waders... Kids Size

...

There was something more valuable than beer in JHab's cooler - as Tattoo & Fish_Eye couldn't break away...

GS's wife does not buy his fishing hats...

The 5 day forecasts form every weather/media center suck

...

So - it was nice to meet all the new faces yesterday and good to see the old-timers too. I want to thank everyone for showing, for bringing some grub (Steve - anytime you want to deliver shrimp to my Bronco

), and for taking shots at the lousy wind and big surf. Again - it was a great time and can't wait to do it again next year!!! - (Plus there is the MDA Tourney in 2 weeks

)

Special thanks to my wife, for not only letting me out of the house but for preparing mucho stuff for yesterday. Big Thanks to Saltheart for putting as much effort into all of the legs of this Tourney - I couldn't have done it without you!!! Thanks to DonM & Charlie from Weekapaug Bait & Tackle for letting us burn the grilles and use the facilities. Thanks to JHabs for a special run of needlefish available...

And, again - thanks to everyone that came to this leg as well as the other three earlier this year. They were all a blast and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.... My son & I thank you...

Tattoo · 10-14-2001, 06:15 PM

Hey...its hard to leave expensive FREE beer!

Who's yellow Sled was that? It's sexy!

Slipknot · 10-14-2001, 06:23 PM

Sounds like another good time folks. But maybe someone forgot to invite Mrs. Striper. Sorry I coudn't make it down. There's always next year again.

John, did you go to the game today? I stayed till the end, that was great!
I'll do my best to get down in 2 weeks.

Slipknot · 10-14-2001, 06:24 PM

I think that's Jenns'

Clammer · 10-14-2001, 06:26 PM

John, its been a great year, fun wise , and thats whats its about for me at this stage of my life, yesterday was great, I wasn;t disappointed because I got what i wanted, meet nice people, excellant food , A N D laughts

P:S JEnn thats what its all about/// later/////

DaveS · 10-14-2001, 06:56 PM

Here's the keeper I caught with Charlie M. up at Great Island bridge. There were guys there catching shad and they told us that there aint no bass around there,HA!! First cast with a sassyshad and 1 1/2oz jig head got me this nice 13 and a half pound keeper. While it aint the "Deluxe Model" I came up for, it was fun and I think I'll be back later this week.

Patrick82 · 10-14-2001, 07:33 PM

I can't say enough about how great it was. I'm exhausted but I'm still buzzed from the trip.

Saw a pic of a bluefin tuna that was caught off a cod boat at the Ditch. You're only encouraging me baby.

I'll get Mindi some waders. I want to get her a good pair. She's still learning but she doesn't give up. We'll get the cast down soon. I'm thinking maybe she would do better with fly fishing. Just a hunch I have. We'll see. I'll show her how to throw the 5 weight and if I see her excelling, we'll get her a flyrod.

Gotta get her some korkers too. When we hit that inlet and saw all those rocks and that current, I was worried she would slip in but she did well. I guess if you have dealt with four year olds, you can do just about anything.

Next year, she's gonna be outfishing all you guys, you wait and see.

John, when is Liam getting a rod rack for his little cruiser?

Jenn · 10-14-2001, 09:01 PM

Tatoo....yup thats the hubby's....oh wait....that makes it half mine right??

John thanks for Friday night....as well as saturday. It was good to meet everyone and see those I have already met......and Thanks a bunch to Clamdigger who had me laughing all day!!!!

too bad we didnt catch fish but I had a blast anyway!!!!

Cant wait to do it again !!!!!

STEVE IN MASS · 10-15-2001, 05:19 AM

Not much better luck here. either. Went to Misquamicut and the waves were anywhere from 8 to 12 feet. And there were a few nuts out there swimming! Two girls were out in the wave line, I thought they were gonna be done. When they came back in, they asked what I was fishing for and I told them shark, just to shake them up a bit more.

Found some more sheltered water back up the street. Fished it from 5 to 10, and the fish were driving me nuts. Lots of hits and drops, thought they might be bluefish. Just could not connect, so maybe they were scup. After awhile it started to get annoying, I was wet ,cold, and tired, so I packed it in.

Great to see everyone, meet some new people, and enjoy the food. The vension burgers were outstanding!!!! Had a great time, and thanks to everyone for coming and especially to John, Saltheart and Don for all their efforts. Looking foward to doing it again.

DaveS, Jenty, and the other Jersey guys - perhaps I'll see you guys in a couple weeks and again in November when I come down to the "fishless paradise" of NJ.

(We'll just have to see about that fishless part!

)

HESH2 · 10-15-2001, 06:31 AM

GOT TO RI FRI AND FISHED HARD AM &PM AND THEN IN FIERCE SURF SAT AM-NO FISH AND DID'NT SEE ANY CAUGHT.SAT GET TOGETHER WAS GREAT,WHAT COULD I SAY-BURGERS,SHRIMP,STRAWBERRIES,CHIP COOKIES, BUT MOST OF ALL MEETING GREAT PEOPLE AND HAVING A GREAT TIME.I HEADED HOME AFTER EAT FEST BECAUSE I WAS BEAT.MY SONS TOOK OVER AND FISHED HARD BUT WITH PRETTY MUCH THE SAME RESULTS AS EVERYONE ELSE-THEY DID GET INTO BLUEFISH.GREAT TIME LOOKING FOREWARD TO ANOTHER ONE.

jenty · 10-15-2001, 06:45 AM

Had a great time meeting all you guys/gals! Thanks John for all your hard work to put this together, Me and my brother had a great time!
We had a slow night also, got one shortie at Watch Hill and later in the wee hours we landed to MONSTER blues at Weekapaug. Was a great time and I can't wait to get back!

Steve....make sure you let us know when you head down, we'll be sure to show you where the fish aren't!

Got Stripers · 10-15-2001, 07:03 AM

It was fun and I'm glad I had a chance to meet some more of the guys/gals. Too bad the surf was so big and the wind E, timing is everything in life

. I only had one of Saltheart's strawberry shortcakes and it was good, probably shouldn't have had a few of my wifes choc. chip cookies on the way down and saved more room.

DaveS · 10-15-2001, 07:15 AM

Let me know when your comin' down Steve, fish are getting active here and November is always good in NJ no matter what October was like, we did have a killer spring bite so I'm confident.

Fish_Eye · 10-15-2001, 07:21 AM

John,

You sure pulled together a nice group of anglers -- it was great to meet so many striper nuts!

Don M · 10-15-2001, 07:56 AM

Great job John R and a truly great turnout.

Look forward to seeing all of you at the MDA in 2 weeks.

STEVE IN MASS · 10-15-2001, 08:10 AM

Jenty and Dave - I'll be in Seaside Park next Thursday night thru AM Monday, October 25th thru 29th. Will be hooking up with Arby a few times. Staying at Island Beach Motor Lodge.

Will also be probably be down November 15th to 19th, though that is not firm yet.....

The Iceman 6 · 10-15-2001, 08:19 AM

Excellent gathering, good time, more importantly good people. Fished Charlestown Breachway with Cratt, Speciaist, Knobby, and brother (least I think it was Cratt & Specialist?). Had full rain gear on and was drenched, the rip was roaring there and would of fished it hard, only 1 thing kept us from doing so - WEEDS. Got weeds every cast. Around 11:30 - 1:30 @ Weekapaug Breachway - ran into a big school of gator blues, the only thing they would hit were live eel's, luckily we had 2 dozen. Dead low tide, still getting nailed by rougue monster waves. Left RI around 8:30 AM, stopped by Patrick's stomping ground (Fairfield. CT.) and we took 2 stripers - no size but stripers none the less....

Be well,

Iceman

"It ain't over until Thanksgiving weekend"

Canalratt1 · 10-15-2001, 11:10 AM

Yea that was us! Had a blast but some tough luck. Took a header in the surf at Central Beach changed clothes then had two waves go over my head at C-breachway on the first drift that was enough for me! Patrick those tuna are still out in the cod grounds!

The Iceman 6 · 10-15-2001, 01:36 PM

C-Ratt, yeah you almost took out my brother, that one wave - fear factor 10. Started getting some sick drifts but nuthin' but weed. We'll kill em' next year!

Iceman

Patrick82 · 10-15-2001, 01:47 PM

Iceman,

Where did you hit in Fairfield? The Reef? I read a report on another site saying that they heard that there are spanish mackeral and albies at the reef. The only report I've read about albies at the reef is mine. I haven't EVER seen spanish mackeral there. I'm going to try and check it out today or tomorrow and see what's up.

Got Stripers · 10-15-2001, 02:13 PM

You guys have big f**king balls to be out on any breachway under those conditions. I watched sets of waves for a while at our last stop and every so often a couple monsters came in. No amount of money or bass would have pulled me to the end of a breachway that night. There could have been 50 lbers rolling in the surf, life's too short.

TheSpecialist · 10-15-2001, 03:07 PM

GS all it took was for Cratt and I to get hit by one big wave and that was enough for us, not to mention there was alot of mung. It was scary and hairy, but I would like to fish it again under normal conditions.

Bill it's nice to hear you guys got into some fish. I saw you guys drive up to Week. We were inside the breechway. There is always next year. Nice to meet yuo guys, and tell Knobby he was'nt the only one to cast off a plug.

redcrbbr · 10-15-2001, 07:58 PM

just wanted to say thank you to john, don, and charlie for the event and the hospitality (best coffee and cheese/mustard sandwiches in weekapaug at 10:00 at night). did enough "bonding" till i coulda puked

, just a real shame on the negative fish action (think they ran for the hills when those 8 footers started slamming the beach), absolutely will be back there in 2 weeks for the MDA.

JohnR · 10-15-2001, 09:06 PM

Thanks everybody - I really enjoy doing this. I've met a whole slew of great people because of this site and the meets we have. I've learned a ton too...

Hey Crbbr - you made the front page

The Iceman 6 · 10-16-2001, 10:34 AM

Patrick, right off the reef (shark reef I believe is the name) we caught them on outgoing tide - leadheads & plastics. Couple bait fisherman on the next jeddi pulled in 2 nice gator blues also. Saw some bait, small - could not tell what it was? Will hit the reef or Meigs Point on Fri and/or Saturday night - will let u know? Got Stripers, looking back was probably not the best idea but had Korkers and full rain gear on - know Charlie fairly well so felt pretty comfortable. Plus being a hockey player/fisherman - I'm not too smart to begin with. C-Ratt & Specialists: Good fishin' with you guys, that one wave man, wheh!!!

TheSpecialist · 10-16-2001, 08:25 PM

Yikes ikes ikes ikes ikes, (tail between my legs). I would like to fish that place under ideal conditions. It was fun though.

Patrick82 · 10-17-2001, 02:06 AM

Did you guys see the red haired dude that showed up half cocked? Mindi and I were standing by the drive way of Don's shop and this dude comes up to me and he's like, "Mind if I join you guys?" I didn't know the guy but then again, I didn't know what 90% of you guys looked like so I was like allright. It's not a party without your token drunk guy. So he's like, "You think I can drink this?" and uncovers his hand to reveal a can of budweiser. I didn't see why not. He finally asks me what we were all doing. So I tell him and he puts his hand to the side of his face like he's going to whisper sweet nothings in my ear and he says in this loud voice, "I don't do computers". So he started walking around the place and everyone shunned him so he just disappeared. I thought it was really funny. I guess he thought it was something else. Made me laugh.

Canalratt1 · 10-17-2001, 10:50 AM

Yah he found me and the Boston came out of me. Last time I looked at him he was just staring with his mouth open... Imagine him not doing computers!

Bobbike · 10-17-2001, 04:11 PM

Thanks for everything John & everyone one I had ball

John I made up those teasers for ya see ya at tri state

Quote:

If your feet ain't wet U ain't fishin

Bob B.