[Learning2Tog]

Yesterday Sunday Dec.1, was a windy day if u ask me. I dont understand how the Ocean Eagle {a great bottom fishing boat} went out in all that wind {and produce a 12lb tog}! My question: How can I decide if the winds are so strong that the boats in Sheepsed Bay wont be going out? I know the Pastime goes out in almost all conditions, But i like the Eagle, Pilot and the Jet cause I always see more blackfish when I go with them. Is there something during the weather forcast I should listen for? A telltale sign that the above mentioned boats wont be going out? thanks

 

[619627]

Learning2Tog....simple, they fished on Saturday, and came in when it turned totally evil at 2 in the afternoon, and had the wind on their tail, and surfed home. Anyone out would of told you that the tide roared that day, and that 14 oz sinkers were floating on the deepwater spots....If you are around the docks you would see that we are having extremely high and low tides this moon phase which is causing some really tough and extremely strong tidal conditions, especially for those fishing the deeper channel wrecks in Ambrose Channel, or fishing east of the 26900 line which divides the shallow water off of the beach with the dropoff for New Grounds and 17 Fathoms.

So what should you do? Well theirs not much you can do except use heavier lead to at least get you down quickly, and a spectra type line like spider wire or power pro. Thats on your end. What a party boat captain is suppossed to do, is to get away from the channel areas, and the northern end of Scotland, east to New Grounds, and tuck himself into the lower Highlands and Sea Bright. By doing this they are getting out of the current, which will make it easier for you to feel the tog bite.

How can I decide if the winds are so strong that the boats in Sheepshead Bay wont be going out?

As a fishermen with a computer you should go onto one of the weather sites that gives you conditions for the day, and then get the buoy conditions, to see what is going on at that time; are the winds coming on, or are they easing up? General rule is that anything over 25 in the late fall and winter is the top end of what you want to be out in. I draw a line at 20 mph, since combined with the cool temps we have this time of the year, make for very chilly mornings. Northerly winds will be colder then southerly at this time of the year....West winds can build up some nice short choppy seas in the Bight, but at least you can tuck in off the Highlands and fish, ontill the fish are off on 17 in December and cannot be caught inshore...with a east wind, anything around 15 mph or more, you should forget about fishing for the day, and wait till the winds backs to the north to settle the swell down. Last thing you can do is watch which boats leave the dock in questionable conditions...do the smaller boats shut down and let their customers fish on a bigger boat? If you see that, it might be best to go home! You have to learn what YOU want to be out in and fish comfortably. The older you get, usually the wiser, and when i just hear the leaves rustling at my house, i know thats enough wind for me to stay home at this time of the year!

EC NEWELL MAN*

 

[623424]

Some of the roughest days I've been out in, I was togging. As odd as it seems, I've done best on days when it was blowing NW 35 and the seas were 8-10 feet breaking over the bow at times. maybe it just gets the tog moving around the wreck more. Last year I was out and the wind was blowing NE 30-40 and the seas were an easy 12-15 feet and still caught my limit of tog between 3 and 8 pounds. It was so rough that day, that even on the back of the boat, when you went up a wave, your rig would come off the bottom no matter how far down you pointed your rod and then when you went down the wave you'd have a few feet of slack in your line even if you held your rod straight up. Talk about tough togging conditions. I still can't believe they bit in that weather. maybe it was the fact I was using 20 ounces of lead in 60 feet of water

 

[Learning2Tog]

So its safe to assume that most boats will still go out in 25 mph winds? Man---I missed alot of trips.

 

[Captneilf]

Hi,

EC gave you a very thorough answer. It contain a great amount of info gained from being on the water in those areas.
Sprinkled in there was COMON SENSE.

COMON SENSE means different things to different people.

As younger guys we all did some things we would not do at an older age. All you younger folks still have to learn this. Yeah, I know I still go out on the water and regret it an hour later.

Each one of us has a different confort zone.

You can call me a wimp or whatever but I have had my share of white water etc.

Be careful, there are a few captains that always sail if fares are willing to put up the fare $$$.

Capt Neil

 

[Gamakatsu]

Exactly Capt. Neil.

Now that I don't work on boats, I try to avoid conditions that are worse than 4 - 6'. There were too many days when I used to get down to the boat and the flag was ripping. I used to cross the Gulfstream from Ft. Laud to Bimini about 75 times a year and after watching waves roll over the bow for 6 hours straight, I was beat--I am certainly not going to pay good money to go fishing in those conditions.

Gamakatsu

 

[614048]

My rule is winds at 10-15 max for trips on my own boat, and a 15-20 max for larger party boats. You can fish in stronger winds, but the reward is not worth the effort to me.

I still get a charge when I think of the time in late September when I was sitting in the enclosed outdoor seating area of a restaurant in Montauk Harbor. The wind was blowing and the canopy flaps were making so much noise that it was difficult to hold a conversation. Yet like clockwork one of the local party boats was leaving the harbor for a 7:00 pm striper trip with a full load of passengers. I can not imagine paying $62 to go out in conditions like that. I wouldn't even go out on a night like that if the boat paid me the $62.