Montauk Sportfishing Report 4/10/06

4/10/06

I'm back! It's been a pretty decent winter, both weatherwise, and recently
fishingwise, with the cod fishing a bit better then it has been for the past
couple of years. We'll see if it will hold up when more boats start fishing.


You would expect that the boat yards would be hopping with guys getting
their rigs ready for the upcoming season, but they're not. The marinas
themselves are launching boats, but not many owners have been around yet. I
guess that is a reflection on the kind of early season fishing that we have
been getting used to. Last season both the bass and fluke got started pretty
slowly, but I think this year will be a little different. I expect the
action to be in full swing by the first week of May.


The regulators have not been kind to us - again. It looks like we are going
to have a four fluke at eighteen inches this year. There was a bit of a push
to have Jersey share some of their quota with us, but, surprise, surprise,
they didn't agree. They're stuck with eight fish at 16-1/2 inches.
Connecticut has six at 17-1/2 inches and Rhode Island has seven at 17-1/2
inches.


It looks like the school bluefins are going to be strictly catch and
release, as opposed to catch and have a little sashimi. Right now the limit
is one per boat from 47" to 73", and that will be in effect until May 31.
After that it looks like we will be getting a bit of a bonus, when it goes
to three fish, 47" to 73". Sounds good until you recall the difficulty we've
had catching legal fish when it was 27".


A little has changed in the harbor since last year.


Capt Billy Campbell, has a new boat, a 42' Duffy named CHASER. He has been
mate and co-captain on the OH BROTHER for the past couple of years and
before that was the same on the MY MATE.


If you drive past Uihlein's, you'll see the BREAKAWAY for sale, but Rick is
staying in business. He has his eye on a boat in Florida, but he has to sell
the old boat first. The current BREAKAWAY is a 42' Bruno, and there are some
commercial permits that go with it. If you are interested, Rick's phone
number is 631 668 2751.


There was a for sale sign on the MY MATE for a while as well, but that was
just guys being guys.


Capt Art Cortes has spent the winter fishing at Beufort, North Carolina, and
will be there through April, so if you want to get in on some early season
yellowfins and wahoo, give him a call at his Montauk number 631 668 1305.


It looks like the old Monster Man is coming back again, only this time in
August. And, he won't have the CRICKET with him. That didn't work out too
well last year. Instead you book a trip with him and he goes along for the
ride with you on one of the regular charter boats.


THIS IS IMPORTANT!! Every year I start off with a new list of e-mail
addresses, so I can cull out all the old ones that don't work anymore. In
order to stay on the list, you have to reply to this. You don't have to say
anything. Just hit "reply" and "send". And, just do it once for each e-mail
address you want listed.


If you would like to receive these reports directly, just send me your
e-mail address. And, for more information about fishing in Montauk, you can
give me a call at 800 280 5565 or check out
http.//www.montauksportfishing.com.


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Capt Gene Kelly
Tropical Fishing Adventures
800 280 5565
631 668 2019
fax 631 6682040