This weekend was the first real throw down assault of the ocean run fish.. A double bill birthday bash camping (free I might add) on the islands of which New York State purchased for our enjoyment. Having fun was primary and fishing was secondary, all worked out well as both the birthday boys caught their first striped bass of the season..
I had 3 on that I lost and a few biters that just wouldn't fully take the bait.. Many folks around us were hooking up too.. A 50, yes 50 pounder was landed on a boat near us..
I landed a 29" and my buddy got a 30"..
It's the start of hopefully many more pics to come..
3 fan, I'm splashing the starcraft in next week and it probably wont come out until the ocean runs are gone, late May ? Might miss the browns on the big pond but will be up for sure to shakedown anything around out there..
Peace & Tuna

 

That would look bigger if you were born without elbows.
Rookies!
Push that fish at the camera.
 

Congrats on the first of many for the 2014 season.

Great fish HT.   Looks like the action is starting

Nice fish Tuna would love to bring a hog like that to net. What are you using for bait, big plugs or think Ive heard clams or eels?

3fan
Nice fish Tuna would love to bring a hog like that to net. What are you using for bait, big plugs or think Ive heard clams or eels?

It's kinda a fun deal to fish for them..
First you MUST catch bait.. Live whole herring (about 10-12" ) is the ticket.. You can jig for the herring with a sabiki rig, it's basically 6 tiny hooks on a string with little beads and plastic flies..
Sometimes that can be tough in the early season like now although I did jig a few..
the other method which works well is to use a 4'x4' square Scap net on a pole and a rubber (stoolie) .. cast the stoolie (no hooks) out and reel it in over the net.. It works great and when we ran out of bait we just went to shore and netted some more..
I cant wait to splash the big boat, very nervous for sure as it will be it's first shakedown ..
Hope to put some more pics of them linesiders up outta the Daisy Mae (it's current name until I know its a keeper )

Tuna Awesome!  On vaction all week.  Doing yard work then heading up to fish Pulaski Wed Thurs!   It's a relax week!   I know nothing about the Hudson, my buddy just bought a cottage on Lake Sacandaga.  How far do the Stripers run in the Hudson?  Caught them in the Delaware above the Gap.  Nothing the size like your holding!
 

Hey folks, been very busy basically building a house so my 2014 reports have been lame . I got a non fish productive last sat. The fish are here in force as a lot of my friends have been having great luck.
Finally got out this morning from 5:30 till noon from an invite of a river master friend. Unbelievable how in tune he is to these fish using live herring. We jigged bait and set out lines anchored for about 2 hrs with only one tug and a swipe at another. He picked up and moved to a drift bottom bounce method which put the first fish on the deck within 10 mins. He caught and released a healthy 35" female. Not 10 mins later I see him hooked to another , yup a nice hard fighting male.. Caught and released.
Now I'm wondering what I'm doing wrong.. Nothing he said watching me bottom bounce my live herring.
So another 20 mins goes by as we are drifting and down goes his rod again.. Man !!! Another C&R female.. Ok, ok. He gets 2 misses and me not even a bite 10' away.
So back up we drift and he nails another C&R male.
10 mins before I need to leave I make a phone call and FINALLY get a hard tug and fish on !! My buddy is stoked, I'm messing with phone and my drag is screaming .. Fish OFF ... Ah shoot !!!
GREAT DAY for sure.. Hope to get back on the water soon

You gotta leave the darn phone back in the car,when the fishing is done then you pick up the stupid phone....trust me on this I won't steer you wrong!

Just suckers here Tunes!