The Season Starts with a Bang....
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
The morning of the 14th of May started out cloudy and raw with a brisk WSW wind. I had the Gilbride party, Dave Smith, Pete Davenport, Vin Zackes, Jim Jagemann, and Justin Gilbride, aboard the Stunmai II sailing out of Rock Harbor. I headed up to the south edge of Billingsgate Shoals and set out swimming plugs in the outriggers and umbrella rigs on wire off the stern. It didn't take long before we had a fish on. The first fish of the day was a 29 inch striper. A good start. Then another fish which was a short, then another and another and another. Some keepers, some were shorts, but all were fish and there was plenty of action.
What I had done was start on the south edge of the shoals and worked to the southwest towards the Brewster Flat. I worked from one bunch of working birds to another. The one area, out in front of Paine's Creek in 28 to 32 feet of water was where I was headed. Where the bigger fish were, and they were there. The day ended well. We filled the fish box with our limit and the sun came out and warmed our already excited souls. This is what a good day of fishing is all about...
