Striper fishing.....NOT!

Yesterday I took my brother in law and 2 nephews striper fishing at Sandy Hook, New Jersey. When I was getting clams at the tackle shop I was told the first parking lot was hot the day before; so that is where we went.

I had 2 poles set up with sand spikes, both baited with clams. I had the bait runners set so I wasn't really watching the lines, just waiting to hear the reels scream as giant stripers hit. I never heard anything but noticed that one rod was bending a bit but not letting off any line. I checked it and felt something so I set the hook and felt it, dead weight. I knew right away what it was. A skate.

I re-baited and cast out and waited. About 3 hours later we had 4 more skates on the same pole. By now it was getting dark and the boys were getting restless so I decide to re-bait the other pole with a fresh clam and start cleaning everything else up.

All of a sudden the reel started screaming. I ran to it, pick it up and set the hook. I knew for sure I had a striper. Skates didn't take out line like that (at least not the ones I caught) and when reeling in I felt a fight. As I was reeling it in closer it felt a little weird. Then all of a sudden it was like an anchor on the end of the line. I knew it! Another skate! But this one was pretty big. It went about 7+ pounds (or at least felt that heavy).

When the day was over, We had 6 skates. 2 were pretty big. But no stripers. In fact, everyone I talked to caught skates, no fish. Oh well, it beats sitting at home.

Tight lines!!!

Best Cheeseburger In Monmouth/Middlesex County, NJ???

I've eaten a lot of cheeseburgers in my days and some were REALLY good. Here are my picks for tops in Monmouth/Middlesex county.

The best is at Barnacle Bill's in Rumson, NJ. Nice big fat juicy burgers cooked to order right behind the bar. I've had a few of these and was never disappointed. Always cooked to perfection and filling. They go good with a side of fries or onion rings. And of course a few beers!

A close second is Huddy's Inn in Colt's Neck, NJ. Also cooked behind the bar and to perfection. Huddy's was my father-in-laws favorite stop after golf. I've had a few with him there.

A not too distant third is Buzzy's in Piscataway, NJ. I used to work in Piscataway and only had a couple but they were good. If I'm in the area at lunch time Buzzy's is definitely worth stopping in.

A few other places worth mentioning are 25 burgers, Chili's, Aberdeen diner and Red Oak Diner.

At the other end of the spectrum there is...
5 Guys- over priced 'Wendy's'
Friendly's- burgers made from sick cows
TGIF- too greasy

Skunkville USA, population.....me!!!!

So I had a fishing filled weekend with no fish. It started Saturday night in Red Bank NJ. I fished the Navesink River from the banks from 5:00PM to about 7:40PM in a 'hot spot' I heard about. Not even a hit. But then again, I used frozen clams and fished the outgoing tide. Next time I will try the incoming tide with FRESH clams.

On Sunday it was the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell, NJ. Again from the shore. I was hoping for some large and small mouth bass. But once again, nothing. I threw jigs, spinners, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastics....not even a hit! There was a tournament going on and of all the boats I could see not one fish was boated. Never did find out how it turned out.

Well, I capped off a crappy fishing weekend with a few cold ones and watching the Giants beat Brady and the Patriots, so it wasn't a total loss of a weekend. :)

Tight lines!!