FLUKEWATCH ’14

August Edition

Get ready for the one of the greatest happenings in all of salt water fishing; The final day of the 2014 August Flukemaster Classic Championship. Today marks the culmination of a 31 day hunt to crown a new Flukemaster Champion. There were plenty of blood, sweat, and tears shed along the way, but come 1:30pm, it will have all been worth it for one lucky angler.

On the 1st day of August 2014, The Captain John pulled out of it’s slip and set sail for an offshore destination, The Rockaway Reef. It was the start of a new month and a blank leaderboard appeared in the cabin, but that wouldn’t last long. On the seventh drift of the day, Doug Kay, or “The Duke” as he is affectionately known in the fishing world, tipped his hook with a 6″ New Penny Gulp Grub and dropped it 42 feet to the bottom of the reef. After only 5 or 6 six bounces of the sinker, The Duke was in! Moments later the black dry erase marker that has written the names of every past Flukemaster Champion was put to use in the cabin; Leader: Doug “The Duke” Kay. Weight:  7lb 5oz appeared on the big board, and that has been the only name to appear on the big board in this month of August.

Today every angler is trying to change that. The prestige of becoming a Champion has taken over more than a few peoples demeanor. The always “happy go lucky” guy isn’t that way this morning as early grumbles were overheard all around the boat regarding who was fishing next to who, and what size sinker was going to be used. It is reminiscent of a scene from Mad Max – Beyond Thunderdome where everyone is for him or herself. Big money will do that as the pot topped out at $1,130.00.

We are approaching Ambrose Channel with conditions never seen on the final day of the month. A hard southwest wind along with the flood tide will test the anglers skills. Heavy sinkers indeed will be a game changer. Will it affect the outcome? Will some entrants be defeated after the first drift? Today is about endurance. The opening whistle is about to be sounded and in seconds the lines will drop to the bottom. Let’s get ready to roll!

Timeline

8:31am – Lines in! And we are off with 3 immediate fish. All shorts.

8:35am - One of the worst tangles in the history of fluking. Guy in the bow tangled with woman in stern, mid-ship port side tangled with starboard side, pulpit all weaved together and all lines meeting in one central place. This is Ambrose Channel! It is known for eating the back bay angler alive!!

8:40am - Mike Pietropaolo got things started with the first keeper of the day.

9:03am – A calm as set in as all anglers realize that a heavy weight is required.

9:09am – First drift complete. A few keepers and some shorts.

9:36am – Laura Berg hooked into a good fish, but fumbled it half way up. Ugh! The pain and heartache of what could have been.

9:41am – Mike Pietropaolo lands his second keeper of the morning. Spearing seems to be a preference.