Fish (& Reef) Report 12/16/20
New Open Cbass Dates..
Tog? Not Yet! Jan 1st...
Two More Reef Projects!
Fish Report 12/16/20
Clients (but not the Captain) arriving late will see the west end of an east-bound boat.
With a limited number of reserved spots, I do not refund because you
overslept or had a flat. No Refund or Reschedule for a missed trip!
Reef Report 12/16/20.....
Greetings Reef Sponsors!
My crew and I were worked on the PJ Aldridge Reef yesterday (12/15/20).. With the aid of many volunteers the day it arrived, we've about filled a giant dumpster. Trash out, much work remained. My guys were chainsawing/sawzalling the wooden deck & house off when I got a call just after lunch..
Now we have another sailboat - a forty footer made of steel - to add to our reef system.
And did I mention Doug Whittington has donated another small barge?
He did! We get that first week of January.. We'll need help with all these. Have to ballast them.
It's a rare thing when we can put new coral substrate on the bottom without getting dirty. Unlike the disastrous loss of a boat or ship where often lives are lost and no environmental considerations can be made; in our efforts to re-reef the DelMarVa coast under our Army Corps permits, we have to remove what's not allowed & clean em. It's a good thing - sensible.
We've still two more days of work on this cement sailboat - finish wood removal, scrub the bilge, and load her with tons of cement block - then we'll deploy a modest mooring atop an old tire reef and sink it.
Where PJ's is labor intensive, this new steel boat is unfinished - just a hull - and, like Doug Whittington's barge, should be easy ones. I hope finding trucks is as simple!
We still have the 200' barge at the McLean yard in Baltimore. Those fellows saved their vacation from the covid summer and are using their paid-time now. We'll soon return to that project. There's much to be done. We have to cut two dozen 1 x 3foot holes five feet above the waterline and load it with precast cement, then get it towed to the biggest mooring I'll have ever deployed. What an incredible reef it will become!
It's great to be so busy..
Along the Maryland coast the diving and fishing communities must rely on themselves to add structure.
Most readers will know there is no "Maryland State Marine Reef Program." There's just our tiny non-profit, the Ocean City Reef Foundation - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving our coastal marine reef system.
With the CG's recent changes in tug boat regulation, combined with scrap steel value being low, we're on the cusp of a grand jubilee of old tugs that can be bought cheaply yet will require intense cleaning & expensive towing. Just two weeks ago I had a mammoth towing company offer "between 10 & 12 tugs of about a 100 feet".. Numerous other opportunities have been popping up as well.
Donation dollars never pay office rent, salaries, or buy steak dinners. In as much as possible while complying with IRS & State regulation - donations build reef!
Visit the donate page at ocreefs.org to make fishing and diving better for generations to come. Buy some of our Benelli Reef Raffle tix, pre-order our hyper accurate charts and add a hat or t-shirt..
Keep an eye on FB also. We have a number of portholes, oil lamps and odd knock-knacks that will be sold as fundraisers.
I promise all who will read - what we have today is an unprecedented opportunity.
No matter what "Could Happen" though, our collective wishbone cannot become backbone without donations.
Let's build some reef!
Cheers!
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
capt.monty@ocreefs.org
Catching Sea Bass! (Had a boat limit five of my last seven trips. MD limit is 15 cbass at 12.5 inches..
Far Below: Reef Report 12/16/20
Sea Bass Trips are 7 to 3:30 at $150.00 & Sell Out at just 15 for extra covid protection. Masks required in salon!(and not at the rail.) We'll try to leave up to 1/2 hour early. And, yes, I rarely get in on time unless the fishing's just been outrageously good. Had two trips lately when we got back after six. Ouch! But got the job done with the catching.. My last trip we were in 1.5 hours early. The trip before that? Worst in months!
It's fishing!
As many are already aware, my old reservation line of 18 years is no more. Have a new system. You may recognize Anna's voice as she builds her new answering service company. It's From Eight AM to Eight PM 100% Live Answer (except when life necessitates letting the message system have the helm awhile) and she'll not pick up before or after eight! Reservation Line: 443-235-5577
If you have a reschedule on the book you're welcome to reserve any spot that's open on any day with a similarly priced trip.
IF YOU BOOK A SPOT LEAVE YOUR BEST POSSIBLE CONTACT NUMBER & LISTEN TO YOUR MESSAGES -
Weather Cancellations Happen - I Make Every Attempt To Let Clients Sleep In If The Weather's Not Going Our Way..
Weather Cancellations Happen - I Make Every Attempt To Let Clients Sleep In If The Weather's Not Going Our Way..
Going Sea Bassing! Saturday/Sunday Dec 19th & 20th - Plus Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday, thru Dec 23..
Sea Bass Trips are 7 to 3:30 at $150.00 & Sell Out at just 15
If in the passenger salon - Mask Required. If you refuse a mask, BYO life jacket! (but seriously, not only do I not want anyone taking ill -- if one Partyboat anywhere sparks an outbreak we'll ALL get shut down again. With many states at new highs, it's anyone's guess.. Regardless DelMarVa's less dramatic increase in corona, we must remain vigilant.)
Interestingly, for the first time in a long time I have need of reminding some clients: If You Won't Measure & Count Your Fish, The State Will Provide A Man With A Gun To Do It For You. We Measure & Count — ALWAYS — No Exceptions!
If accustomed to ignoring regulations - find another boat!
Boat Now Sells Out At 15! (used to be 25 before Covid, then 18, now reduced further in winter for client and crew safety) See new spots chart at morningstarfishing.com .. Everyone liked a smaller crowd as COVID regs hit - including me. It's going to stay that way even after Covid's long gone.
NEW Reservation Line 443-235-5577 from 8am to 8pm — No More 24 hour answers.. (emailing me about reservation availability does no good. Anna will have real time info. Worse is FB messenger. I only check it once a week or so. Want Reservation info? Want to know if your favorite spot is available? Call Anna! Sometimes you'll get a very sharp Daughter, Hanna..)
Am posting somewhat detailed day by day reports on Facebook...but I Do Not have FB messenger on my phone. If you want to book a spot - call. Need info from me? Email mhawkins@morningstarfishing.com- I make a sincere effort to reply to every email inquiry.
Be a half hour early! We always leave early!
..except when someone shows up right on time.Clients (but not the Captain) arriving late will see the west end of an east-bound boat.
With a limited number of reserved spots, I do not refund because you
overslept or had a flat. No Refund or Reschedule for a missed trip!
Trips Also Announced on Facebook at Morning Star Fishing
https://www.facebook.com/ocfishing/ & my personal FB page along with after action (or lack thereof) reports..
Bait is provided on all trips—Clam & squid now. Rod rentals are $7.00 & include all rigs.
Bait is provided on all trips—Clam & squid now. Rod rentals are $7.00 & include all rigs.
It's Simple To Prevent Motion Sickness, Difficult To Cure. Bonine
seems best because it's non-drowsy. Truly cheap & effective insurance.
Honestly - If you get to go on the ocean once month, once a year, or
even less; why risk chumming all day? Similarly, if you howl at the
moon all night, chances are good you'll howl into a bucket all day.
Bring A Cooler With Ice For Your Fish – A 48 Quart Cooler Is Fine For
Two People. Do Not Bring A Very Large Coffin Cooler. We DO have a few
loaners - you'll still need ice.
No Galley! Bring Food & Beverages To Suit. A few beers in cans is fine for the ride home.
seems best because it's non-drowsy. Truly cheap & effective insurance.
Honestly - If you get to go on the ocean once month, once a year, or
even less; why risk chumming all day? Similarly, if you howl at the
moon all night, chances are good you'll howl into a bucket all day.
Bring A Cooler With Ice For Your Fish – A 48 Quart Cooler Is Fine For
Two People. Do Not Bring A Very Large Coffin Cooler. We DO have a few
loaners - you'll still need ice.
No Galley! Bring Food & Beverages To Suit. A few beers in cans is fine for the ride home.
Regards
Monty
************
Greetings Reef Sponsors!
My crew and I were worked on the PJ Aldridge Reef yesterday (12/15/20).. With the aid of many volunteers the day it arrived, we've about filled a giant dumpster. Trash out, much work remained. My guys were chainsawing/sawzalling the wooden deck & house off when I got a call just after lunch..
Now we have another sailboat - a forty footer made of steel - to add to our reef system.
And did I mention Doug Whittington has donated another small barge?
He did! We get that first week of January.. We'll need help with all these. Have to ballast them.
It's a rare thing when we can put new coral substrate on the bottom without getting dirty. Unlike the disastrous loss of a boat or ship where often lives are lost and no environmental considerations can be made; in our efforts to re-reef the DelMarVa coast under our Army Corps permits, we have to remove what's not allowed & clean em. It's a good thing - sensible.
We've still two more days of work on this cement sailboat - finish wood removal, scrub the bilge, and load her with tons of cement block - then we'll deploy a modest mooring atop an old tire reef and sink it.
Where PJ's is labor intensive, this new steel boat is unfinished - just a hull - and, like Doug Whittington's barge, should be easy ones. I hope finding trucks is as simple!
We still have the 200' barge at the McLean yard in Baltimore. Those fellows saved their vacation from the covid summer and are using their paid-time now. We'll soon return to that project. There's much to be done. We have to cut two dozen 1 x 3foot holes five feet above the waterline and load it with precast cement, then get it towed to the biggest mooring I'll have ever deployed. What an incredible reef it will become!
It's great to be so busy..
Along the Maryland coast the diving and fishing communities must rely on themselves to add structure.
Most readers will know there is no "Maryland State Marine Reef Program." There's just our tiny non-profit, the Ocean City Reef Foundation - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving our coastal marine reef system.
With the CG's recent changes in tug boat regulation, combined with scrap steel value being low, we're on the cusp of a grand jubilee of old tugs that can be bought cheaply yet will require intense cleaning & expensive towing. Just two weeks ago I had a mammoth towing company offer "between 10 & 12 tugs of about a 100 feet".. Numerous other opportunities have been popping up as well.
Donation dollars never pay office rent, salaries, or buy steak dinners. In as much as possible while complying with IRS & State regulation - donations build reef!
Visit the donate page at ocreefs.org to make fishing and diving better for generations to come. Buy some of our Benelli Reef Raffle tix, pre-order our hyper accurate charts and add a hat or t-shirt..
Keep an eye on FB also. We have a number of portholes, oil lamps and odd knock-knacks that will be sold as fundraisers.
I promise all who will read - what we have today is an unprecedented opportunity.
No matter what "Could Happen" though, our collective wishbone cannot become backbone without donations.
Let's build some reef!
Cheers!
Monty
Capt. Monty Hawkins
capt.monty@ocreefs.org
Capt Monty Hawkins
