Fish Report 12/05/24
This weather remains absolutely brutal on a fishing schedule. Opening just a few days and throwing a real curveball in here..
This Sunday's Reef Raffle Prizes (for 12/8/24..)
Trips:
A WHAT?!? Yes, I'm opening a tog trip while sea bass are still open. Might not be a first, but it sure hasn't happened often. I hear guys north of us are giving clients their crew limits. Promise - they'll come to regret it. I've seen tog crash twice. Was NEVER commercial fishing - only party/charter. Now we have spotlocks.. I urge Caution!
Last I heard all For-Hire guys in OC were running a three fish limit. On my boat only one can be a female. Yes, that hurts sometimes! But? Everyone wants DD tog and lots of em. Guarantee there's only one way to get there - throw a lot of keepers back!
The world record came off the second wreck I ever threw jumbos back on.. People thought we'd lost our mind tossing back 12/15lb tog!
Owing too much pressure and popularity in the last decade, now we've had to start all over again..
Will run a 7 to 3 tog trip on Sunday 12/8/24 - hiding from west winds so not running too far off. Green Crabs Provided - Fare is $125.00 and 12 sells out.
No live tog leave my boat. (I have no commercial fish licenses and am not going to support a scab/illegal commercial fishery that is clearly bad for the rec fishery.) Bled and iced or released only. Size limit is 16 inches. On my boat you're only allowed one female. (Had I been in charge I'd have made 3 fish law - in fact, in 1992 I had three tog at 16 inches 7 years before any state/fed regs! Better still? I'd have raised the size limit a half inch every two years for ocean reefs - create a jumbo fishery off here via regulation - not by voluntary conservation.)
Did I mention a curveball?
If you thought a tog trip while sea bass are open was out of character.. Oh Boy!
My crew and I did several experimental tuna trips lately. Found my sea bass/tog/fluke skills didn't truly prepare me for 200lb fish. Lost my last two favorite lures (and now have 12 more!) - lost another rig - broke another off - had short strikes.. Then put a 134lb bluefin in the boat with just me and the boys aboard.
Learned.
Then a "soft opening" of sorts; I carried four sea bass regulars offshore tuna trolling the day after TG in a surprise calm forecast.
Still lost one but landed a 211 lb - 69in bluefin.
I've not been seeing shorts under 47inches, but some boats are. As a partyboat I'd be allowed 12 under 47 and two between 47 and 73 inches. Don't count on unders..
There have been reports of monster tuna much larger than I'd care to hook ..and have to release!
Lots of 'overs' have been boated though.
As I mentioned earlier, I have no commercial licenses. Am not selling a bluefin. All legal tuna will be split between paying fares with a very short share for crew. (if we want any! Much as I do luv tuna - have nearly had my fill of seared tuna w/seaweed salad..)
Our 200lb fish made a LOT of steaks!!
Newly tested and gear gone over in every way - I'm offering 2 BFT Trolling Trips - one Saturday and another Tuesday 12/7 & 12/10/24.. Boat will leave by 6 - (5:30 if all are aboard!)
Seven clients at $375 sells out. (My anglers keep their fish!) Not likely to get back before dark.
This is trolling - not chunking. First on the rod and following order will be pulled from our daily reef raffle tix - $20 to play because there will be no fish pool.
On my for-hire trip we had four full rounds with four anglers - they'd reel until they couldn't and then switch off to the next angler. Took four turns before we harpooned him..
These tuna fight unlike anything I've ever known..
Anna is a one person operation. She might be slammed when I hit send. (or maybe not!) If she cannot pick up, Leave her a message. She has a method to her madness..
Reservations at 443-235-5577 - She has other jobs too. The line closes at 8pm and reopens at 8am. She won't take reservations for trips that are not announced.
If you want a spot call the reservation line at 443-235-5577.. Emailing me is no good (unless after hours) her service handles reservations. I'll have no idea what spots have been sold. I do check email for questions; check FaceBook messenger too..
Be a half hour early! We always leave early
..except when someone shows up right on time.
Clients arriving late will see the west end of an east-bound boat. Seriously, with a limited number of reserved spots, I do not refund because you overslept or had a flat.. If you're reserved and are the last person we're waiting on - you'll need to answer your phone. I will not make on-time clients wait past scheduled departure because of a misfortune on your part.
Tog Limit is 16 inches. You're allowed three - of them only one can be a female.
Sea Bass Size are open also - limit 13 inches - 15 per person. (not likely to see many toggin)
Summer Flounder/Fluke Regs are 4 at 17.5 inches.
Try to always leave a half hour early (and never an hour early!) I rarely get in on time either. If you have a worrier at home, please advise them I often come home late. It's what I do.
Trips Also Sometimes Announced on Facebook at Morning Star Fishing
https://www.facebook.com/ocfishing/
I post after action reports (or lack thereof) (and sometimes detailed thoughts on fisheries issues) for every trip on my personal FB page and Morning Star page. Posts including OC Reef Foundation work will be included on that page as well.
Bait (currently squid/clam) and rigs are included/provided on all trips.
No Galley. Bring Your Own Food & Beverage.
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!
It's Simple To Prevent Motion Sickness, Difficult To Cure. Bonine seems our best over the counter because it's (supposed to be!) non-drowsy. It's truly cheap & effective insurance. If it makes you a bit sleepy - but not chumming? That's a great trade!
"The Patch" of Scopolamine, however, is a prescription only that beats all comers.
If the ocean still wants to get the better of you? Zofran (anti nausea) can be a day saver if you have it left over from a prescription.
Honestly - If you get to go on the ocean once a month, once a year or even less; why risk chumming all day? And then there's the ebullience of youth! Of course you can party hard and go on a moderately rough ocean!
No you can't!
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 A Few People. Do Not Bring A Very Large Cooler. We have a few loaners - you'll still need ice. Should you catch some monstrous fish, we'll be able to ice it.
No Galley! Bring Food & Beverages To Suit. A few beers in cans is fine for the ride home.
Reef Blocks - As of 12/5/24 we have 42,808 Reef Blocks & 2,340 Reef Pyramids (170lb ea) deployed at numerous ACE permitted ocean reef sites. There are also 1,336 pyramids deployed by MD CCA at Chesapeake Bay oyster sites working to restore blue ocean water. Counting those awaiting deployment we have exceeded 5,500 pyramids made since my crew and I fashioned a prototype mold in late August 2019.
Currently being targeted oceanside: Ryan & Shari's Bay Breeze Reef 416 Pyramids - Uncle Murphy's Reef 284 Reef Blocks; Rambler Reef 488 Reef Blocks & 13 Pyramids - Pete Maugan's Memorial Reef 156 Blocks & 14 Pyramids - Calder's Reef Improvement 168 Blocks & 12 Reef Pyramids - Virginia Lee Hawkins Memorial Reef 550 Reef Blocks (+98 Reef Pyramids) - Capt. Jack Kaeufer's/Lucas Alexander's Reefs 2162 Blocks (+57 Reef Pyramids) - Doug Ake's Reef 4,194 blocks (+16 Reef Pyramids) - St. Ann's 3,035 (+14 Reef Pyramids) Unnamed Spot at Jackspot Reef 260 Blocks & 12 Pyramids (many w/bamboo added) - Sue's Block Drop 1,810 (+30 Reef Pyramids) - Kathy's Cable 276 blocks (11 pyramids) - Rudys/Big Dad's Barges 140 Reef Blocks (+9 Pyramids) - Benelli Reef 1,552 (+18 Pyramids) - Capt. Bob's Bass Grounds Reef 4,918 (+ 116 reef pyramids) - Al Berger's Reef 2,018 Reef Blocks (48 Reef Pyramids) - Great Eastern South Block Drop 260 Reef Blocks (+10 Pyramids) - Cristina's Blast 140 Reef Blocks & 2 Pyramids - Capt Greg Hall's Memorial Reef 362 Blocks (+2 Pyramids) - Kinsley's Reef 964 Pyramids - Bear Concrete Reef 512 Pyramids, 44 Blocks plus 16 pipes..
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Shirts & Sweats at OCReefs.org for donors..
Reef Report 12/05/24
Gift Prizes for Weekly Drawing 12/8/24
An Update..
There Are Still Four Weekly Drawings Before Grand Prizes Are Awarded!
This week's first place Park Place Jewelers & Benelli USA Reef Raffle Sunday drawing winner (and until Grand Prizes are drawn!) will be getting a nice anchor bracelet AND a $200 Gift Certificate to Park Place Jewelers in West OC.
Second prize will be a custom tuna gaff made by and donated by Pete P; Third is a sweet St Croix tog/cbass conventional trigger stick donated by Sea Bass Bob; Fourth will be a light jigging/twitching stick donated by Big Jon and Fifth will be a crew neck OCRF sweat!
Shew!
Greetings All!
Tuna tales? Indeed! Pics on Facebook. You do not have to be a user to see my public account..
With all the wind lately? A lot-lot-lot of wind lately!?! I've been gearing properly for these big dagone tuna and getting reef projects lined up. I bet I have 20 hours just in a 55ft steel sailboat we're trying to get trucked down here..
Sometimes my volunteer spirit grows heavy, but the reward is wonderful..
In Reef? There's A Lot Going On!
Wonder Who pays for our reefs?
Ain't the State.
Nor the Feds.
We Do!
Maryland is the only state from at least NY to TX without a state marine reef program - so it's you, donors small and large, who are making our seafloor come back to life through the efforts of the Ocean City Reef Foundation.
Consider donating by playing our fall reef raffle as a way of making a difference while having a shot at some cool prizes.
Bill Swords at Lewes Harbor Marina, in fact, has us picking something up tomorrow for the raffle. (For this year's reef dinner Bill donated two awesome avet reels!!)
Jerry's custom spinner and another of Pete's custom tuna gaffs made nice new additions. So too a collection of 24 (36 I think when all's said and done!) jigs for reef fishing - and a pair of Hook sunglasses in their 'Reef Builder' frame (& not because of the name! In my tests Hook shades were better than 3 of the biggest brands!)
This week begins the $200.00 Gift Certificates to Park Place Jewelers!
Lots of building going on too!
As I was writing the boys were trying to load a steel sailboat in Deale - the boat mover, my new best friend, Matt Parker, knows of another steel boat for us!
Dagone wind!!! Couldn't use a crane!
Then, down in Solomons, theee's ANOTHER steel boat is in play!
Jayminy - Rains it pours!
Gift Prizes for Weekly Drawing 12/8/24 - There Are Still Four Weekly Drawings Before Grand Prizes Are Awarded!
This week's first place Park Place Jewelers & Benelli USA Reef Raffle Sunday drawing winner (and until Grand Prizes are drawn!) will be getting a nice anchor bracelet AND a $200 Gift Certificate to Park Place Jewelers in West OC.
Second prize will be a custom tuna gaff made by and donated by Pete P; Third is a sweet St Croix tog/cbass conventional trigger stick donated by Sea Bass Bob; Fourth will be a light jigging/twitching stick donated by Big Jon and Fifth will be a crew neck OCRF sweat!
Shew!
Grand prizes include a Benelli Montefeltro Silver automatic in 20ga donated (for the umpteenth time!) by Benelli USA; Park Place Jewelers donated a gorgeous diamond 'Wave' necklace for a grand prize, plus four $200.00 gift certificates & eight(!) bracelets as awesome weekly prizes. There's also a full day charter on my boat, the Morning Star good anytime of year save Saturdays. All those (and likely more) will be drawn New Year's Day. The Diawa Saltiga 15 reel is now a Grand Prize also! (A seriously sweet conventional reel..)
(Will gladly add to the Grand Prizes if you've got a great one to donate!)
For more weekly prizes Bill Swords at Lewes Harbor Marina has us picking something up tomorrow. (For this year's reef dinner Bill donated two awesome avet reels!!) Hook Sunglasses have donated a pair of their 'Reef Builder' frames. These will be inscribed OCRF 6 (maybe 7!) Trust this! They're fantastic shades! Atlantic Tackle donated three nice reef-fishing rods, two Penn Battle III spinners & a Shimano tackle bag. From AllTackle there's a super sweet Diawa Saltiga 15 (hmmm perhaps a grand prize!) and two more awesome sticks. Big Jon donated three light sea bass/fluke sticks, two Pacificsun mini-level wind reels and $500(!) in gift certificates from local tackle shops for weekly prizes too - Wow!
Jerry donated a sweet custom spinning rod - he's good at building em! Pete's made a pair of custom gaffs (nice!) - Ed from Everstar has donated a high end Christmas yard ornament we'll raffle in early November.
Crabs To Go ponied up a Gift Certificate for a great crab feast - 1/2 bushel of crabs, 3 lbs lg steamed shrimp, 3 orders of hush puppies and a 30 pack of natural light!
Bigeye Coffee donated 4 gift baskets too..
Lots and lots of fantastic weekly prizes!!
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Reef Raffle Particulars!
OCRF's 2024 Park Place Jewlers/Benelli Annual Reef Raffle. One ticket for $10 - six for $50 - fourteen for $100 - plus an additional ticket for every additional hundred.
A buyer of $200.00 worth, for instance, would be getting 15 tix per hundred; at $300 it would be 16 tix per one hundred so 48 tickets.. $500.00 would be 90 Tix & $1,000.00 would be 240 tickets. It keeps going up!
Raceway Citgo by Crabs to Go has tix behind the counter for cash donations..
Weekly prizes will be drawn every Sunday starting Nov 3rd. Winners & the following week's prizes will be announced Sunday or Monday.
Grand Prizes will be drawn Jan 1, 2025 with Weekly Drawings every Sunday.
Grand Prizes are currently a Montefeltro auto in 20ga from Benelli USA and a diamond encrusted wave necklace from Park Place Jewelers..
Buy tickets online at ocreefs.org at the 'donation' tab. Marisa or I will fill the name and phone number in on all your tickets, then send a pic via email. If you don't have a pic within 48 hours? (First Check Your Spam Box!!) ..then Email us!
Good Luck!
Monty
mhawkins@ocreefs.org
Capt. Monty Hawkins
mhawkins@morningstarfishing.com
mhawkins@ocreefs.org
