    
Capt Gene Kelly
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 10:39 am: | |
Subject: Montauk Sportfishing eport 6/9/03
June 9, 2003
Well, despite the fact that my oil burner still clicks on every once in a while, I guess summer is
here. The Blessing of the Fleet, which is like the official start of the fishing season was
yesterday. The Irish are here. Those students that flock here, looking for summer work, from the
Emerald Isle are all over the place. They probably feel right at home with the weather we’ve
been having.
I also guess the shark fishing has started, although it was hardly with a bang. Capt Michael Potts
of the BLUEFIN IV got the ball rolling, albeit reluctantly, this past Wednesday. The clients
insisted on going offshore, even though the weather was against them. He took them out to forty
fathoms and, after a half hour of chumming, caught a blue shark. They then decided enough was
enough and they headed home.
A couple of other boats tried on the weekend and caught sharks although one, that only went as
far as the 700 line, caught the wrong kind - a couple dozen of the spiked variety, also know as
dogfish.
Star Island is holding it’s shark tournament this week, and it is going to be interesting to see the
turnout. They usually have about two hundred and fifty entries, but I doubt it will be that high
this year, and I know there will be less charter boats in it. They changed the format from two
days of fishing to one consisting of two days fishing out of the three days of the tournament.
(The boat has the stay at the dock on it’s chosen off day) This is all the result of last years
tragedy at a shark tournament at Freeport last year when a couple of the contestants lost their
boat and perished. It was on the same weekend as Star Islands tournament, and both contests
should have been called off due to the weather conditions. (Less than a dozen boats fished that
day out of Montauk) Naturally there are all kinds of lawsuits going on, and the new format
places more responsibility on the individuals and less on the organizers.
Most of the charter boats are not participating because they would have to charge for three days
for only two days fishing. With the state of the shark fishing this year, it is doubtful that many
meaningful catches will be made, which will most likely keep many of the last minute entries
down. And, don’t forget the weather, which I am getting sick and tired of writing about.
But, if you want to show the kiddies some man-eaters stop over the Star Island after about 3:00
pm on Thursday, Friday or Saturday. There are sure to be some entries being hung, even if there
are few of the exotics.
If you would like to have these reports sent to you directly, just drop me a note at
CaptGene@MontaukSportfishing.com. 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.
Capt Gene Kelly
Montauk Sportfishing
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