The 2015 fishing season is starting off very successfully.  The first trip of the year resulted in a first place finish in the bluefish category in the LBI Cup.  The monster bluefish weighted in at 15.7lb and was a crowd pleaser at the dock.  There were several beautiful stripers weighed in as well.

This year I decided to only run a six hour tide trip for ocean charters.  Most people picked the six hour trip anyway and it makes the most economical sense for the fisherman as well as the captain.  By the time we would reach the fishing grounds, groups were only left with a few drifts with the four hour trip before we had to return home.  It takes a lot of effort and expense for both the captain and the crew to put together these trips and the six hour trip gives the fisherman more time to catch a fish dinner to take home.

I will start taking groups out in mid July when the ocean water warms up.  Pick your date and give me a call as prime dates tend to fill up quickly.  

Tight lines-

Captain Dave 

I have moved the Compass Rose north for the fall striper run.  I am located in Belmar at the Seaport Inlet Marina.  It's just a quick 5 minute ride from my slip to the ocean.  We had a good run of fish come through around Halloween but since then it's been slow.  The run should break open any day now.  Just need the weather to cooperate.

The fishing in LBI has been some of the best action we have had in years.  Labor day weekend was a very successful end to the "summer season".  I had a great charter with Paul Garfinkel and his friend Jay.  The two experienced fishermen wanted a relaxing day on the water, so we set out to one of my favorite "hot spots" for some bottom fishing.  Unfortunately, they didn't have much time to relax.  From the moment we put the lines down we had continuous action for six hours.  Bottom fishing doesn't usually work this way.  There are periods of action followed by periods of down time, based on the tide and currents.  We ended the day catching over forty fluke and 10 keepers up to 5lbs.  On the way in, I spotted a bunker pod which appeared to have some sort of predator underneath by the way the bunker we acting.  I grabbed a spinning outfit I always keep ready for such circumstances and casted into the school of frenzied bunker.  We were immediately hooked up and the battle was on.  I have caught many sharks this way and assumed we had another shark on the line by the way the fish was fighting.  The fish began spooling the small spinning outfit so I handed the rod to Jay who took the rod up to the bow and I began chasing after the fish with the boat.  This went on for 40 minutes until we got the fish to the top of the water.  I was prepared to cut the line because I thought we had a shark.  I did not have a gaff on the boat.  To our surprise, a large cobia appeared on the top of the water.  I grabbed the net and somehow scooped the fish out of the water and into the boat.  We were thrilled to have such a trophy fish in the boat to cap off such a great day of fishing.  The cobia weighed in at 38lbs and was the first cobia I have ever heard of caught off LBI.  Cobia is a delicious tasting fish and I was happy to share fresh fillets with my friends and neighbors.

Congratulations to Emily Losier who is now the new record holder for the largest fluke ever caught on my boat in the 12 years I have been charter fishing.  Emily's fluke tipped the scales at 8.62lbs and measured 28.5"!!!  The Losier family was down from Boston and chartered my boat for the 2nd straight year in a row.  Last year's trip went very well and everyone had a great time so we were hoping for a similar experience.  No one expected one of the best fishing trips with 3 Fluke over 5.5lbs and several others in the 4lb range.  They ended the day with 8 keepers which is great for a half day trip.  Emily was again high hook on the boat for the 2nd straight year.  She claims her special jigging technique and pop music playing on the Sirius Satellite is the key to her success. Her fluke was the largest fluke weighed in at the Beach Haven Marlin & Tuna Club since the year 2000.

The next day we returned to the same spot and again caught a nice 5lb 26" fluke.  The seas were very rough and we had trouble holding bottom with 10 ounces of weight.  We also caught a nice blue headed sea bass and some Taylor size blues.