Party Boat tips wanted

[bonanzaman]

Hi*
I'm new to party boat fishing (and salt water in general) and would like to get some pointers.

I just picked up a nice short and stout rod with a PENN reel loaded with leaded line.

Should I keep this line or go to mono?

Should I rig it with multiple drop loops for hooks and should that be mono type line.

Where is the preferred seating on party boats and why? I've watched the thread about the "regulars" and the seats they pre-reserve.

If there is other information I should know* please pass it on.

I'm living near Bridgeport CT and would also like to get suggestions for what boats I should visit. Send a private email if necessary.

Thanks

Dave
davec_75234@yahoo.com

[Clam I am]

Dave*

Try to hit the Celtic Quest or the Osprey on Long Island or you can try the Island Current - all good boats to learn from.

[Jaye43b]

Dave....before you do anything else* I think you have to decide what kind of fishing are you going to be doing. There is no such thing as one size fits all for fishing equipment. You wouldn't take your Porshe off-road nor will you race with an 18 wheeler.

If you are fishing the Long Island Sound* you can do bottom fishing for porgies* seabass* and blackfish. You can also jig for bluefish and stripers.

If you are willing to drive you can go to City Island* Long Island or New Jersey.

If I were you* I would start at the local tackle shop and talk to the guys there. Most of them are happy to meet new guys and would help you in developing knowledge about choices.

Once you get some of you basic thoughts together* there are all kinds of experts on this board willing to help.

[crabcake]

There's a party boat that sails from Bridgeport* but don't hesitate to take a short drive down to City Island to fish with the Island Current Fleet. There you will learn from an extremely helpful crew the "in's and outs" of party boat fishing.

[Surfmeister]

Welcome aboard* Dave

My best tip for you is that if you ever meet Joe G. (aka Cowkiller)* never* and I mean never ever* even think about puking in or on his boots. :crazy:

[RJ]

Soime tips...

1. get friendly wiht the rew and mates
2. Don;t be afraid to ask questions of them or ask for tips on fishing.
3. Watch and learn...ther is always a an old timer or two that outfishes everyone...watch what he is dping* how he holds the line between is thumb and finger to feel for the slightes touch...how he hooks and how often he refreshes his bait...
4. Don't be afriad to ask for a tip from him or her as well.

[suilleabhain]

Dave*

To start you will use mono* you don't need lead line.

Do some research* books at Amazon* browse the internet for animated knots and rigs.

You will need to know for starters different rigs for different fish* dropper loop & surgeons loop.

Start with sea bass* fluke and strioed bass on party boats. They are the easiest.

Do what Rich & the other guys say and look at every feature on this site.

[bonanzaman]

Thanks all for the information.

I'll be buying new line this week.
I'll also stop at my local fishing store (Not Walmart) and pick their brains.
There's one in Stratford I've been at that seems friendly.

I've been looking at the internet for knots to use and testing them with some old mono I have. Kinda fun trying new things.

I'm going to try to go out weekend after next party boat fishing* but in the mean time* I may do a little bit of surf casting around the Stratford area after work.
Not sure what would bite this time of year* but it will be fun anyways.

I love this site and read all the new posts and try to absorb all I can.

Cheers

Dave

[Jaye43b]

You did not say but I am assuming that the rod you are using for the party boat is not the same rod you are thinking about for surf casting.

There is no such thing in fishing as one rod does it all.

Generally on party boats you need a conventional six or seven footer. My preference is seven feet. Depending upon what you are fishing for will define action whether it is medium* medium heavy or heavy.

For surfcasting you need a spinning rod at least nine feet long. My preference is 10feet. Most of the taller guys go for 12 feet.

[Jaye43b]

You also asked about preferred seating. That is a dicey thing because you will get multiple answers.
When I started in the 80's at Captree* I tried a few boats but I always went during the week when there was no crowd. Generally on Wednesdays and Thursdays the old sharpies fished. I paid close attention to where they fished and tried to get as close as possible. I think I spent more time watching them than I fished. But I learnt.
I also watched where the captains fished on days when we did not have to move a lot.
I came away believing that the stern corners are super for bottom fishing like porgies* seabass* blackfish. I like the bow for fluking. It does not matter where you are for blue fishing.

[suilleabhain]

Bluefishing bait you want to be forward of midships. Party boats slide towards the stern when they drift.

Jig fishing you want to be in the bow first for casting range and arc* the stern last becasue you will lose fish that run under the boat and into the wheels or rudder posts. Also* in the bow* you have less hull under you to chafe a fish off.

[Jaye43b]

Points well taken. Thannks.

[suilleabhain]

Jay* almost forgot the most important tip for baitfishing bluefish. When you get a pick-up and lock the reel* push the line to the edge of the spool with your thumb for the first 6 turns. That marks where the fish are for the next time your bait goes in the water. Drift the bait out to where you marked the spool and hold it there a minute. You should get attacked* if not* start drifting the bait out slowly again and mark the reel on the next pick up. Bluefish will tend to hold at a certain depth and you can maul them by marking.

[Jaye43b]

Oh man!! What a tip!!!. I can't wait to try that on Stripers this year. Thanks Suilleabhain.

[gimmesalt]

suilleadhain* thanks for that tip* I never though of that one.

[suilleabhain]

You have a question* just post it. Anyone wants to know how to chum bluefish* bonita* albacore from a private boat* there's a load you need to know about that.

[Jaye43b]

No but I would sure as heck like to pick your brains about fluking and black fishing.

[suilleabhain]

Blackfishing* I would defer to Joe COWKILLER. 99% of my blackfishing was done out east at Orient and everyting is different due to the current and bottom structure.

Fluking* I tell you whatever you want to know and then again* ask Joe for his input.

Partboat fluking* let's concentrate on ocean fluke.

#1 get to the boat early and get in the bow or as close as you can.
#2 bring your own bait
#3 Bait* my choices are in order of what I like
- sea robin strip
- fluke white ribbons* only if you have the rack from a legal fluke
- whole Calif squid* like 4-inches
- mackerel strip
- Peruvian jumbo spearing
#4 Rigs* in no particular order

..Chrome bullet with a 10 inch leader to a 5/0 hook and a fluke ribbon strip* dropper loop a teaser a foot above with another strip. Keep the strips like 6-inches

.. Standard dropper loop over sinker* 40-inch leader to a tandem hook rig with a sea robin filet or makerel strip* ribbon strip combo with a Peruvian or a whole squid. Filets and strips have to be tapered* trimmed and shaped to be hydrodynamic and not spin. Splitting the tail end of a strip to give it more flutter can help.

..if the drift is fast 40 inch leader to a 1/2oz bucktail and strip with a 1/4 oz buctail on a dropper halfway down the leader and work it just like bay bucktailing. Get an open eye Siwash hook and close the loop around the bucktail hook or snell a stinger for a tandem hook bucktail. That way you can use a 10 or 12 oz sinker and still bucktail while everyone else is just frustrated.

..lastly* if action is slow I'll go to a 4 or 6 oz diamond jig with or without a tail and work the bottom and see if I can work up a fish.

If you are drifting clams for bass behind the clam dredges* jig for fluke. They come into the busted clams just like the bass.

Since we are looking for big fluke now* I go big on hooks and bait to shake the little ones off. When you do get thumped and you feel weight* freespool it so the fish gets the big bait down. Also* real big fluke even tend to like bones in the strip bait and at times react to you giving them some resistance. it's natural for a fluke to grab something live and tussle a little.

Red bucktails and grubs will attract sea robins. My bucktails are white or chartruese and I believe in flouro for my leaders. Any edge I can get helps.

Keep the questions coming

[Jaye43b]

Wow!!! I am glad I asked. I certainly respect Joe's perspective and total understanding about fishing. I am a curious man and just wanted an additional perspective. Thanks!!!

[suilleabhain]

My pleasure* times are getting hard and everyone needs an edge. Since I target big* I don't get much but what I get is 5's or better. Had a day on Cholera at the west edge with some big fish and another day on the inshore fingers at Fire Island and we were throwing back 20" fish when the limit was like 18' and limited out with 4 guys. Biggest we kept went 8#

[Jaye43b]

I'll get there one day. Thanks for the suggestions.

[suilleabhain]

The ball* teaser and strip is teh standard at Orient* they fish sandy bottom between Greenport & Shelter Is also on the north shore at Horton's and such. The tandem standard bait rig works well at Montauk* Cholera* Middle & Angler Banks where there's a lot of rock* you'll lose sinkers so make the line to the sinker lighter than the main line. The double buck works good at the fingers where its sandy. All of them work well in Ambrose Channel.