As many of you know I have been building custom rods and been a member of Rodcrafters, a national association of amateur and professional rod builders, for many years. In August 1998 I had several rodcrafter members fish with me in Montauk for three days chasing striped bass and jumbo fluke. The trip was so successful that many rodcrafter members wanted to join me this year.

I planned the 1st Annual 1999 Rodcrafters Challenge trip for mid September to coincide with the doormat fluke run that took place on the southside of Montauk in 1998. Approximately 25 rodcrafter members and friends were scheduled to come from all over the US Eastcoast and two members from England. The charter boats were booked, hotel and restaurant reservations made and trophies ordered. Everything was set. However, all my planning did not provide for "Hurricane Floyd."



The trip was planned for Thursday and Friday, September 16th and 17th. Floyd was still southeast of the Florida coast on Tuesday and was projected to make landfall off northern Florida or Georgia and then track northeast up the coast. Monday and Tuesday already showed signs of Floyd on the southside of Montauk with heavy surf. The local charter boats had a red hot tuna bite fifteen miles south of Montauk from Saturday through Tuesday despite the heavy ground swell that was preceding the storm.

I had planned to meet the two rodcrafters from England, two New York rodcrafter friends and "Screamingreel" Dave on Tuesday evening in Montauk to get an extra day in on Wednesday the 15th. My English friends had never done this type of fishing, and I wanted them to really get the maximum experience and enjoyment out of this trip. I was also closely tracking the progress of Floyd and hoped to squeeze in at least the Thursday trip. I was resolved that Friday was probably going to be a washout.





Five of us met in Montauk Tuesday afternoon. The charter boats had limited out on tuna and striped bass that day. Weather conditions were still good, so I had high hopes for Wednesday. We all met at Salivar's at 5 AM for breakfast. Screamingreel Dave drove out that morning from New York. We arrived at Gone Fishing Marina and boarded the Obsession for a 6:30 AM departure. There was a strong ground swell but the water appeared to be fishable. Captain Roger said the striped bass, sea bass and porgies were really biting on Tuesday. Also, knowing that the storm was coming, I expected that the bite would even be more intense on Wednesday. I guess St. Peter heard my prayer, because the bite on Wednesday was awesome.

Captain Roger told us that the porgies and sea bass were biting on Great Eastern Rip along with the bass. He told me to initially rig up four light bottom rods for the porgies and sea bass and only two chunking rods since the tide was not right for the striped bass the first thing in the morning. Later we would rig up additional rods for stripers.

We anchored up on Great Eastern at 7:15 AM. Over went the chumpot loaded with clam chum and the other five guys started fishing the bottom while I rigged up the chunking rods. Jumbo porgies and sea bass immediately came flying over the rails. The bight was intense with porgies and sea bass to 2.5 pounds. Within twenty minutes they filled two bushel baskets with fish while I stood there dumbfounded.





Two keeper striped bass took the porgy baited hooks so Roger decided to start chunking despite the slow tide. I grab one of my light chunking rods and baited up, casted the chunk up towards the bow and watched it sink and slowly drift past the stern. I wasn't 15 feet off the stern and got a tremendous hit that smoked fifty yards off the reel at an alarming rate. I immediately handed the rod to Chris Ward from England and the fish had him dancing around the stern of the boat. First the fish went on a screaming run straight out, then ran to the left and reversed and ran to the right. I initially thought it was a big bluefish, however, when it ran straight past the bow of the boat and reversed itself again I new it was a big false albacore or bonito. After a spirited ten minute battle a fat green bonito lay flopping on the deck.

What a way to start the day. I immediately floated another chunk out and was into another fish. I passed the rod to our other English guest, Peter Collins, and he was fast into a good striped bass. Screamingreel Dave immediately put away his bottom fishing rod and grabbed a chunking rod and was immediately into a bass. I floated out another chunk, hooked up immediately and passed off the rod to another friend, Bernie Cohen. Now three fish were on at the same time. What a scene trying to keep the lines from crossing. This pace went on for about an hour when we were invaded by slammer bluefish. While we put about fifteen blues to 14 pounds into the boat, many fish chopped through the 60 pound mono leader. Now it was all bluefish, so Captain Roger stopped chumming hoping to scatter the bluefish. That was fine, since we all needed a break and time to straighten out the cockpit.

We took a half hour break. Everyone grabbed a sandwich, a drink and caught their breath. It was 11 AM now, and we resumed chumming. By now the tide picked up and I changed over some of the rods to fishfinder rigs with 12 foot leaders. Both Dave and I continued to float chunks but with rubber cored sinkers and light baitcasting rods and 15 LB test to take the chunks down in the tide.

Both methods worked. Three of us immediately hooked up but there was one small problem. These bass were much bigger running 25-30 pounds. At least two fish were always on at the same time for the next two hours and sometimes three or four fish were on at the same time.



It doesn't get any better than this. We already had our limit of bass, ten nice bluefish, porgies and sea bass and It was only 1 PM. We started to play catch and release on very light tackle to field test some new blanks and ended up releasing at least thirty bass up to thirty pounds plus. The English guys had a blast taking 25 LB plus stripers on rods used for bucktailing fluke in the bays with ten pound test Spiderwire. By 2 PM everyone had enough and we headed for the barn.

As we headed back in we listened to the weather forecast. Floyd had slammed into the North Carolina coast that morning and was proceeding up the coast. We still were not feeling any effects in Montauk from the storm. The predictions were for intermittent rain and southeast winds from 20-25 knots for Thursday morning with winds increasing to over 50 knots that night. We were hoping to try a get in the morning on Thursday. When we arrived back at the motel, the rest of the group had arrived and told them of the situation. We would make the call in the morning depending on the conditions.

The next morning we met for breakfast at the marina at 5:30 AM. The wind was blowing 25-30 knots from the East and there was intermittent rain. At 6:30, when it became light, Captain Roger and I took a ride out to the jetties and to the lighthouse to check on the sea conditions. We both looked at each other and decided to scrub the trip. The northside looked ugly and I did not want any seasick people on my hands or put them in any danger from the rough sea conditions. While everyone was disappointed, they understood the situation and agreed it was the right decision. We returned to the motel and packed up to head on home. We devided up Wednesday's catch among all the people who did not fish on Wednesday. In retrospect it was the right decision, since Floyd raced up the coast faster than expected and did major damage in the Northeast.

Everyone is looking forward to next year to again come out to Montauk. However, I think I will plan it earlier in the season to be out of any danger of a repeat problem with any hurricanes.



A Note from Dave.......

What can I say, when Al and I hook up...forget about it...St. Peter is riding along! On the Obsession, we had an incredible day with Roger. All the stripers biting their heels off right before the hurricane came in. I got to break in the new rod that Al made me. We all had a blast and to top it off, I caught a 2 1/2 pound porgy and some nice sea bass to boot. Not everyday is a smoking day...but heck, lately it hasn't been shabby. A definite write home to mom day. Thanks Roger for a "10" day.

P. S. I slept for 16 hours straight after hours of slamming fish.

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