Take a Kid Fishing

Now is a great time to take a kid fishing. The bite is hot, the ride
is short, and the blues are fun. Took Harry and Harry fishing this
afternoon. The action was fast and furious. We landed 16 bluefish in
short order and little Harry reeled in most of them himself. Oh, and
thanks to Harry Jr. I now have a theme song.

Underwater Pictures

Here are some cool pictures I took with my underwater camera in
Florida this past winter. The first is a close up of a hooked tarpon
and the second is a bonnet head shark we hooked on the fly.

Favorite "Client"

Took my Dad out for a quick trip this afternoon. We crushed the
bluefish. We caught as many as we wanted. As per normal the
weatherman was wrong and the day was very fishable but misty. As
usual, Dad caught the first fish, the biggest, and the most. Good
thing he's humble. I wouldn't have it any other way. In an effort to
keep his ego in check I took no pictures.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

Roofer Ray Returns

Sometimes the wind brings old friends back around. Longtime fishing
buddy Roofer Ray showed up at the tackle shop today fresh in from
points south for a visit with his new bride. We shot out to the bay
for some laughs and some nice blues.

Bluefish Bonanza!

Fished with Fred, Bob, and Bobby today in the back bay. We slayed
them. Lost count of the bluefish but it was approaching 50 or more.
Lots of triple headers as the fish moved through in waves. I wanted to
have more action shots but all I did today was unhook fish and rerig.
A great day.

Blues on Fly

Fished today with Fred B and Bob S. We had a great afternoon
flyrodding blues during the outgoing tide. Once the tide switched we
had steady action. We lost count of the fish. Fish were caught
equally on the fly and on jigs. Great day.

Flyrod Blues

Sinking lines and clouser minnows produced about 20 bluefish from 2-4 pounds. The action was fast with strikes coming every few casts. This is how good the spring fishing can be. The bluefish just appeared and now the action is fantastic. It will continue for the next several
weeks. This is a great time of year for flyrodders as many fish can be
racked up in a single trip. I have a few open dates on the weekends
but do not forget that afternoons during the week are another great
option.

Spring Blues

They're here! Caught several tailor blues in short order on flies and jigs. It didn't take long to
get bit. If you want to get in in some great springtime action don't
drag your feet. The Blues are here and the people aren't. It is going
to get good quick. The afternoon tides are great this week and I have
openings.

Bluefish

Caught the first bluefish of the year today. Water temp 56.1. Gulp
shrimp on a jighead. With a couple of nice days the floodgates should
open soon and the action will be fast and furious. The stripers are
still biting. Big fish on bait and schoolies on jigs and flies. There
is a ton of bait around as well.

First Fluke

Fished with John Martin today and caught the first fluke of the
season. The fish were released as the flounder season does not open
until Memorial Day weekend. The fish were caught on 3/8 oz jigheads
and soft plastics.

Spring Stripers

Sailed on the Regulator today with Kevin Bunn and friends. Great group
of guys. The wind was supposed to come up by mid morning and it
certainly did. Went to Delaware bay where we caught a nice 14 pound
striper and several large dogfish on clams. The wind really started to
howl so we decided to make a move in the lee of Cape May but no bites.
Ran back to Sea Isle and tried one last spot in the back bay. After a
short while we hooked a pig of a bass that was easily over 20 pounds
only to pull the hook several feet from the net as the fish thrashed
on the surface. Minutes later the same rod goes off. The fight was
different though. Went the fish came up it was a drumfish that was
close to 30 pounds! Very unusual for the back bay. Finally, the same
rod goes off a third time and we landed a nice 29 inch bass.

Spring has Arrived

Stripers are finally beginning to bite well in the backbays. Outgoing
tides seem to be best for the moment. Delware bay has been producing
sporadic good catches of stripers on clams with success varying with
the day. The bite, when it does happen, seems to occur all at once.
Bluefish will be arriving in force by the end of the month.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

First Striper

Hooked the first bass of the year after putting the boat in after
returning from Florida. The fish ate a three inch gulp shrimp on a jig
head. It's good to be back in New Jersey.

Flamingo Farewell

On my last day in Florida we decided to fish in Flamingo. We caught
dozens of ladyfish, jacks, and bluerunners on the fly and on jigs.
They weren't tarpon but it was a blast to bend the rod before
returning to New Jersey. The boat is now back home and ready to get
after the stripers and blues.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

Focus

Tarpon. That was our focus this week in Islamorada. The winter was aweful. The wind
blew. We could have caught loads of other fish that would have been
more cooperative. But we stayed focused on tarpon because that's what
we wanted to do. We covered miles of water and fished flat after flat.
We didn't see many and only had one real shot at a single cruising
tarpon, but a great cast by Dave Stewart put the fly where it needed
to be. The fish ate. The fish jumped. The fish threw the hook. That's
tarpon fishing and we had fun in spite of the lack of fish in a
beautiful place where you can almost get intoxicated on the fresh air.
We will do it again for sure.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

Tarpon

After catching several baby tarpon at the dock, we left to go tarpon
fishing "for real." We were primarily scouting spots today to see if
any tarpon were around. The third spot was the charm and we saw a few
tarpon as we stopped to pole. Dave Stewart was up first and made an
excellent cast at the first tarpon we saw. The fish promply ate,
jumped four feet out of the water, and spit the fly and fly line back
at the boat. Very cool bite. Back at it tomorrow.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

Dock Tarpon

Caught four tarpon up to about ten pounds at the dock this morning
with Luc VonCzoernig before we left to go fishing "for real."
Pictures and video to follow.

Captain Joe Hughes
IGFA Certified
Jersey Cape Guide Service
www.gibsonstackle.com
609-827-3442

Bonnethead Sharks on Fly

Snuck out for a short pole with Jay before sunset. We hooked two
bonnethead sharks on the fly in short order. A good warm up.