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!!!
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