[chinookhead]

We went on the Norma K 2 weeks ago...the fishing was ok (locals said it was slow), but we still had lots of fun and enjoyed the boat. The boat is definitely one of most comfortable fishing platforms that I?ve been on so far in this area. They cruised out there at a faster speed than any of the shb boats that I go on cruise at and the boat is extremely clean. There were 4 foot rollers on the way out, which we didn?t even feel. It would definitely be a great boat for a family and the crew is extremely professional and helpful...There was a very Jersey and not SHB feel (no crazy drunk hogging all the bait and screaming at anyone who tries to take some). I caught 8 ling and my friend caught 6 ling (3 big guys) and of course dogfish. There were lots of little nibbles (bergalls?).

My only complaint is that it took them extremely long to anchor...although this was supposedly a result of the previous day?s big blow and still heavy current. I imagine that the troubles were greater in such a big heavy boat. Initially we had to use 16oz to hold, but by the end 12oz was fine.

Oh, and ling are awesome tasting fish , so far my favorites in the area (sort of like grayling?don?t ask me how I know). They have a very delicate and moist flesh. I fried them in flour spiced mixed with onion powder, garlic powder, and Cajun spices and then I dripped tobacco sauce and lemon juice on them....yummy!!

I would definitely love to do another ling trip. The norma K is now in for repairs etc?..how much longer do the Jersey boats target ling? Are they only targeted in the winter b/c this is when they can be caught or is it just that there are more preferred species?

BTW, it really feels like it would be a perfect offshore boat with those triple screws and supposedly they will be running them this year b/c they just got an offshore license

Below is my friend with a double.

This post edited by chinookhead 11:10 PM 03/11/2008

 

[obtuseangler]

chinookhead wrote:

Oh, and ling are awesome tasting fish , so far my favorites in the area (sort of like grayling?don?t ask me how I know). They have a very delicate and moist flesh. I fried them in flour spiced mixed with onion powder, garlic powder, and Cajun spices and then I dripped tobacco sauce and lemon juice on them....yummy!!

I thought tobacco sauce was only good with smoked fish

thanks for the report.

 

[JC30967]

Sounds like you enjoyed yourself

. I'm pretty sure one of the Jamaica boats runs some Mud Hole trips right through the summer. You can catch ling year round, but you have to fish deep during the warmer months. With the April 30 tog closure now ( in NY anyway), you'll probably see many more boats targeting ling in the spring, also.

BTW- Going by the photo you posted the Norma K looks an awful lot like the Starstream, a boat I really miss. Does anyone know if they're one and the same?

 

[crabcake]

They're not one in the same, but they are quite similar. With the April 1st closure of tog in NJ you're going to see many boats targeting the ling right through the spring and into the Summer. The Paramount which runs out of Bogan's Brielle Basin has special ling trips that run 12 months out of the year, even in the dead of Summer.

 

[Totaug]

I was on a 3-9 ling trip with them about a month ago and will never go again, we steamed out 15 miles for Mackerel and fished for them for 1 hour and caught very few and then anchored on a spot and sat there for 2 hours with very few fish coming up the whole time. we then moved maybe only 2 minutes and anchored again and I didn't see any fish come up and then he went home. I ended up with 2 ling and my brother got 1 ling. then we hit the dock and a guy on the dock asked how it was, I said it was terrible and the mate standing behind me said f*ck you to me. they wont be seeing me anymore. Though the boat is gorgeous.

 

[JC30967]

Crabcake, thanks, I looked at the boats website, she sure is the Starstream's twin!

I couldn't think of the name of the boat which does the 12 hr trips through summer, thanks also. Have you ever done this trip? I've been meaning to for some time now.

 

[MARK215]

Both boats are made by Gulfcraft but are a little different. The Norma K is a little bit bigger and also sits higher off the water.