Posted on November 4th, 2026
It was another absolutely gorgeous day out there today with no wind, sunny skies and temps that reached into the 70s. I took advantage of it myself and fished the route 50 bridge in short sleeves where I caught and released two short striped bass while dredging.
Steve Launchi fished the Verrazano bridge behind Assateague Island this afternoon and caught a nice 29″ slot rockfish and also lost another larger fish.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star had to head east to find quality sea bass today, but it was well worth the trip
Ocean flat & calm again, we steamed out to where Capt Brandon had deployed 10 pallets of block yesterday evening from his 90 ft steel boat, the Averie Branch. He and his Uncle, Capt Stormy, are tightening-up a reef made of pipe units–stitching the big units together with super complex low-lying bottom that will make Bennie’s Reef crazy productive.
Deployed from the mooring we’d put out Monday, I could see on my sidescan Capt Brandon’s drop was spot on.
We’ll need more blocks to finish maximizing Bennie’s Reef
..and that takes money.
Need to start the OC Reef Foundation Raffle soon!
Have wonderful prizes with more to come this week and in coming weeks.
When finished with three passes of sidescan sonar, Jason & JP sent today’s 16 block unit into the center of the reef.
I’ve had boat limits of sea bass on block reefs made entirely off my stern – and, indeed, my best ever flounder bite was on blocks too.
They work.
But certainly not right away – so east we went.
Not far enough though, judging by near crickets on my first and second drops. Some good fish, but not many.
Dogonit..
Further east again
..only to find where all the shorts were hiding!
Much further east put us into good fish & Steve’s pool winner; my fuel budget in the hole, & way into overtime.
Priorities matter.
We had nice fish aboard.
Cheers,
Monty
