This has been a weird spring for me. With all the talk of season “running few weeks late” that I heard anywhere I went this spring, it did not feel that way to me. My May was awesome by my standards and the beginning of the June was just a continuation of excellent bite locally. Then we went to Cuttyhunk and the whole s*!# fell apart. We fished in  brown water for four days there and we been fishing in the brown water since we got back locally too. I spoke to guys in Fire Island and Jones inlet and they report similar results. Slow is the word.

No, I am not saying the world is coming to an end, just that this is vey “un-June” like around here. It almost feel like we hit summer doldrums early. Is it the full moon, the lack of bait, less fish around to make a sustained spring run? No idea.

But don’t take my words as a sign that there is no bite anywhere. Quite contrary. I think I’ve heard of a dozen fish over 40 pounds that came off Block Island waters in a last week of so. Yes, these are mostly boat fish.

What about the surf?

What is across Block Island Sound ?

Yup, the Mecca, Montauk Point and it has coughed up a nice number of fish between thirty and fifty pounds in the last week.

Here is a picture from few days ago (courtesy of Paulie’s Bait and Tackle) of John Bruno and Mike Coppola with 41 and 46 pounds respectively.

And here is a  picture of Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine contributor Bill Jacobs (courtesy of Paulie’s Bait and Tackle)  with a 48 striper from last night. Caught on Super Strike Darter.

Consequently, Mr. Jacobs has a story titled Montauk Madness appearing in the new issue of the Surfcaster’s Journal in two weeks.

So yeah, there is a bite somewhere, you guys just have to find it. We do wish some of these cow’s were still swimming but we also  respect each individual’s right to do what their conscience tells them.

We all know many of you enjoy preparing and eating your catch. After all, for many that is one of the most satisfying part of this sport.  Not only do you catch a fish but you get to treat your family to some delicious filets for the dinner table. But do tell us, how much do you detest the actual process of cleaning the fish? C’mon, you can be honest, no one is watching….

If you are like me, you probably have second thoughts of why you just did not go to the seafood place to buy filets as you proceed to butcher the living daylights out of the poor striper. I will readily admit that if people from PETA had ever seen me cleaning the fish, I would become a poster boy for the cruelty to the species. Which is remarkable considering the only tool I use every day, five days a week for the last 25 years at work is a….Dexter filet knife!!!

Yes, but cutting fiberglass insulation is a lot easier then filleting a fish. There is no mess, no blood, no slime and no bones. So although I am quite skilled with making something out of nothing at work with a  knife  when it comes to cleaning fish I am a googan. And I have a felling many of you are in the same boat with me. To get really good at any craft you need repetition. No wonder a party boat mates and seafood store workers can cut a fish with eyes closed, they do it every day. If you are filleting a striper every day, we got serious issues with that. We believe in harvesting to enjoy the fruits of the nature, but no one needs a striper filets every day unless you are selling them or giving them away to your friends.

So if I am right, and many of you are as inept as I am in procuring a clean cut of a filet you will be left with a lot of meat that is just too darn precious to see go to waste. Even if you are an expert in filleting the fish, there is still a lot more meat that can be harvested from around the cheeks, between the bones, around the head. This meat although not suitable to be presented as a filet is a delicious meat from one of the most sought-after fish in the northeast. Do you just toss it in the water and let seagulls and crabs feast on it? I used to do that but I do not do it anymore. My wife had bought me a copy of Lidia Batsinich ” Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen ” book few years ago. Inside I found a wonderful recipe which is tailor made for use with scraps and pieces that are left after filleting the fish. Not that is anything wrong with using a filet and cutting it into cubes  of course.

I am not good of following the recipes to a tee, I am more of a “seat-of-the-pants” cook, adding or subtracting ingredients as I see  fit , depending what mood I am in. And also depending what I have on hand or on in the fridge. Having said that ,some things you can’t mess with. For example, the duration of cooking something that has a delicate flesh like a fish. Poaching or using a ” short broth” is what you want to do to get most out of this recipe. In her book, Linda recommends  using a court bouillon to cook the fish and then mixing it into the salad once the fish cools off.

You are probably asking what the hell is a court bouillon?

According to Wikipedia, court bouillon loosely translates as ‘briefly boiled liquid” or “short broth” because the cooking time is brief in comparison with a rich and complex stock, and generally is not served as part of the finished dish. Since delicate foods do not cook for very long, it is prepared before the foods are added.  Although a court bouillon may become the base for  stock or fumet, in traditional terms it is differentiated by the inclusion of  acidulating ingredients such as wine, vinegar or lime juice. In addition to contributing their own flavor, acids help to draw flavors from the vegetable aromatics during the short preparation time prior to use. Court bouillon also includes salt and lacks animal gelatin. Traditionally, court bouillon is water, salt, white wine, vegetable aromatics (mirepoix of carrot, onion, and celery), and flavored with bouquet garni and black pepper.

From Lidia Matticchio Bastianich book

Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen available on Amazon.com

Striped Bass Salad

Court bouillon (see preparation below)

1 large cucumber

1 medium red onion sliced thin (about 1 cup)

2 to 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 pound striped-bass fillets or steaks or any

other  firm-fleshed fish, like sea bass or black bass,

or head and trimmings from a

5-pound whole fish

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, or as needed

3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar, or as needed

Crushed hot red pepper

Salt

For the Court Bouillon:

2 quarts water

½ cup dry white wine vinegar

2 celery stalks, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths

2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch lengths

4 bay leaves

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Salt

Make the court bouillon: Bring the water, wine, celery, carrots, bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt to a boil in a wide casserole or skillet.  Adjust the heat to simmering, cover, and cook 10 minutes.

While the court bouillon is simmering, trim the ends from the cucumber, peel it, and cut it in half lengthwise.  Scrape out the seeds—or leave them in if you like them—and cut the cucumber pieces into half-moons.  Place the cucumber, red onion, and parsley in a mixing bowl.

Slide the bass into the boiling court bouillon and reduce the heat immediately to simmer.  Cook until the fish “opens up” – barely starts to flake—about 8 minutes.  Remove the fillets and cool them to room temperature.  Peel off the skin if necessary, and scrape or cut away the soft, darker meat from the skin side of the fillet.  Flake the fish into big pieces, removing any bones and adding the fish pieces to the mixing bowl as you do.

Drizzle the olive oil and vinegar over the salad and toss to mix.  Season generously with crushed red pepper and salt to taste.  Spoon in enough of the reserved cooking liquid to make the salad nice and juicy.  Taste the salad, adding more vinegar, salt, or crushed red pepper if you like.  Mound the salad high on a deep serving platter and spoon the juices left in the bowl over it.  If you like, drizzle olive oil onto the platter around the salad.

I love this salad – “it’s so fresh and clean-tasting.  Sometimes I make a meal of it.  Because I really want you to make this salad, I’m calling for store – bought fillets.  But if you have a whole striped bass that you’ve filleted, this salad is a great way to use odds and ends from the fish.  Poach the fish head and the belly parts you’ve trimmed from the fillets in the court bouillon.  Remove the meat from the cheeks and along the top of the head, and trim the bellies of bones and skin.

          I like the crushed red pepper to be conspicuous in this salad, so don’t be afraid to use it.  Start with about ½ teaspoon and go from there.  And don’t throw the cooking liquid out: save it to make the salad nice and juicy.  You could use crabmeat or even chicken instead.  I guess, but white fish, like the bass, is perfect prepared this way.

Do I really need to write a blog post after I let you see this picture?

Really?

YoDude, The Art Director and The Master of All Things Hip at Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine.

Speaking of the magazine, I have a suspicion that some of you are either not seeing the videos we are embedding in the each issue or you chose to ignore it (ouch, that hurts). I am just judging by the number of the views since these videos are private. And for those of you that are on the blog but not current subscribers to the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine..what are you waiting for. There is a crap load of videos and great articles waiting for you at www.surfcastersjournal.com

Here is the video we did for you over the winter, public for the first time and features Ron DiCostanzo from Lordship Lures, explaining how does he seals his lures. It is effective, inexpensive and very simple.

Enjoy

[youtube width=”600″ height=”420″]http://youtu.be/cKjZsSbD2IM[/youtube]

Recently we had a chance to chat with Nick Lassor THE DUDE in change of StormR gear that many of you have ranted and raved about. We asked him few questions and you can too, by replying to this blog post.

Ok Nick, tell us a little about you and how did you end up at your current position with STormR?

I grew up in Cape May, NJ and ended up getting an internship at Morey’s Piers Amusement Park in Wildwood, NJ after my Jr. year of college. That led to a full time job there in Events and Marketing after I graduated. I spent 3 1/2 years building their digital marketing and social media strategy and running events. As my passion for online marketing grew, I started doing consulting work for various companies in South Jersey. That led to a consulting job with Henderson Sport Group. I assisted them in creating an online strategy for their 3 existing brands (Henderson, Neosport and Hyperflex) and about two months after I finished that up, they we’re launching a new brand, STORMR, and needed someone to take it over. They had a name, a logo and about 1,000 prototype jackets (the black and navy blue ones that you see a lot of guys still wearing) and told me to figure out what to do with them.

Knowing that these would be great around water and in colder climates, I immediately started product testing by having friends and family members that are commercial fishermen, surf casters and charter captains try out the jackets and tell me what they love, hate and what they would change about them. We then broadened the product testing up to the New England area and the surf fishermen immediately started contacting us about how they could purchase them. We opened up some dealers in the North East with the prototype jackets and then launched the full line nationally this past fall.

Henderson Sport Group, the parent company of STORMR, has been manufacturing
neoprene products, mainly wetsuits, for close to 50 years. Under Henderson
Sport Group there are 5 brands, Henderson (Dive), NeoSport (Dive, Paddle
Sports & Triathlon), Hyperflex (Surf), Supreme (Stand Up Paddle) and STORMR.
As you can see, Henderson has been pushing into every market where high
quality neoprene products can be used. The first prototype STORMR jacket,
which wasn’t called a STORMR jacket, was created about 5 years ago. The idea
was that after getting out of the water in a wetsuit and having an
additional layer to throw on over the suit would really cut down on the wind
and make it more bearable. As more and more prototypes were created and
tested, the more people started using them for all different applications.
The fishing community, especially surf fishermen really started picking up
on them. The added warmth, 4-way stretch materials combined with the
additional 5-7lbs of positive buoyancy is huge for the surf guys and any
fishermen.

Our newest products that launched this past fall were not built specifically
for the surf market but more for general cold weather rain gear. Yes, the
benefits are still there for surfcasting but we know that we can improve
upon what we have and create something that is specifically built for the
guys spending long days (and nights) on the beach and in the water. We are
working on a surf top that we believe will far exceed the normal perception
of neoprene surf tops and should be available this coming fall.

Where did you come up with that funky name ?

The STORMR name is based on the Old Norse definition of Storm.
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stormr#Old_Norse It has a very Viking/Nordic
like feel. Strong and brave is what we were going for. The actual shield
logo is based on the gale warning flag with the shield around it. Protection
from the wind and water. http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/xf-weat.html

Tell us about the gear surfcasters would be interested in?

It depends on the style of fishing, the Typhoon jacket is great for an additional later when wetsuiting and the STRYKR jacket is great to wear with waders or on the beach/jetty getting wet from spray or rain. Both jackets add about 5-7 pounds of positive buoyancy which is enough to float you alone, but add a wetsuit or our neoprene bibs and you will float with ease.

The Typhoon is better for wetsuiting because you don’t need the internal neoprene cuff and water can pass through the sleeves and bottom easily and not create pockets of water inside the jacket. The added layer will keep you a lot warmer longer than just wearing a wetsuit.

The STRYRKR jacket is better for guys in waders. The internal neoprene cuff will keep water from going up the sleeve. The adjustable hood design is made to create a tight seal around your face and keep water from coming down the top. Both jackets have adjustable waists but we still recommend wearing a wader belt with them.

Our Typhoon Watchcap Beanie is great for in or out of the water use. When in the water, it acts just like a wetsuit hood but much easier to wear and out of the water it is a thin waterproof layer that will keep your head warm and dry.

We have two different thicknesses in neoprene socks, 3mm waterproof and a 1.5mm for layering (not waterproof). The socks are made with a very high end neoprene and have a lot of stretch and comfort unlike traditional neoprene socks.

Our STRYKR and Typhoon gloves are great. They both have great dexterity (more so in the Typhoon glove) but over time braid will wear through the material. I put electrical or duct tape on the index finger to make sure the braid doesn’t tear through the material.

What’s in the pipeline?

2013 is a big year for STORMR. We created a buzz in 2012 and really started establishing a name for ourselves. Two of the biggest questions we received when showing our products were 1. Does this come in camo? and 2. Do you have a dry top?

Well, we are in the process of trying to deliver on both of those questions. We have a waterfowl hunting line launching in September featuring Real Tree Max 4 camo and we’re in the final stages of designing a surf top that could possibly be available at the end of 2013 but most likely the beginning of 2014. The surf top will not be a “dry” top but it will be very close to that. It will be something that is actually comfortable to wear, adds positive buoyancy, stretches and moves with you, keeps you warm and works well with waders or a wetsuit.

Beyond that, we have a ton of concepts in the works along with some products that are more for warmer weather use. I have been going back and forth deciding if we should bring in a wetsuit to the line but I get a different response from every surfcaster I talk to about what wetsuit they like the best. Maybe we’ll have to poll the Surfcaster’s Journal readers to figure out what style, thickness and features that would like to see on a surf fishing specific wetsuit. If you are going to buy a wetsuit make sure it’s a Henderson, NeoSport, Hyperflex or SUPreme until we come out with a STORMR wetsuit..:-)

[youtube]http://youtu.be/WIkOhqwgUe0[/youtube]

First of all, let me wish a Happy Father’s Day to all our blog and magazine readers. Enjoy the day with your loved ones. I know firsthand how does it feel to not have a dad around on this day and I know many of your miss your dad’s too, especially today.

I worked yesterday and came home and went to a friend’s house. After getting back around 2 am I packed my truck and headed to the beach. I managed to make it to 7/11 about three blocks away before turning around and going to bed. Some night the mind wants to but body is not willing.

After a very difficult Cuttyhunk trip last week were we literally just hanged around, waiting for water to clean up I needed something to shake my rod. Fortunately I found some fish locally during the week. But even here the water was off color. I think we all had enough rain.

This has so far been a very, very strange June. If you have been at this game for awhile you probably share my feelings that the month of June is probably your best shot at a big fish. Cape Cod, New York, New Jersey, in most places the month of June is usually the “cow month” and particularly around the period of new moon. But I don’t think it happened this year and I think Tropical Storm Andrea and the numerous stormed that followed it last week put a huge damper on “what might have happened’. Or what we expected to happen.

I am curious to see what happens going forward. I stopped by a local tackle shop yesterday and they told me that local weakfish bite has been pretty good. To be perfectly honest I completely lost the track of weakfish last month. The place I like to target need specific win conditions and its been either too windy or wrong direction or that darn pesky thing called work got in a way. Is any of our readers catching weakfish with consistency? I guess I just want to know if the bite is active or if its sporadic.

Ok, I took enough of your time this Father’s Day, go enjoy it with your families.

Happy Father’s Day to my pal “Fearless Ray”..a dude whose lure organizational skills are legendary

Happy Father’s Day to “Silver Fox”, the most dedicated surfcaster I know.

Happy Father’s Day to “Yo Dude’ ,THE creative force behind SJ Magazine, and the Director of all things Cool

And last but not least..Happy Father’s Day to Great White Hunter who is somewhere in Reno, Nevada today for a  bowling tournament. Or  at least that is what he told his wife 🙂

Today blog will be heavy on videos and light on words. SJ crew just got back from Cuttyhunk where Tropical Storm Andrea kicked out ass and seals swam around, laughing at us.

First a, a new video release from PENN REELS about 704/706Z series of reels

[youtube]http://youtu.be/RFGmNGn1jH0[/youtube]

Second, an interesting video on abrasion resistance  of Power Pro Slick

[youtube]http://youtu.be/xPcJCH7ab5M[/youtube]

And last, a video by Slap Jackson . Dude has style and Silver Fox loves him

[youtube]http://youtu.be/dKSBOBP9h94[/youtube]

The Midnight Rambler
By John Papciak

If you’ve only been following the “surfers versus surfcasters” posts on the fishing web pages, you might not realize the extent of the debates about beach rules on the east end of Long Island.

Now that we’ve officially entered the tourist season, I am certain to see some more of this first-hand, and I am sure I’ll read plenty about it in local newspapers.

It’s actually ironic.

Real estate developers and event planners might describe a place like East Hampton (which includes the hamlet of Montauk) as “the land of NO” – but not when it comes to beach use. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find another populated coastal “resort” town where the local government has bent over so far backwards to allow things on these beaches that would be unthinkable elsewhere.

Want to dig a hole in the sand, and have a bonfire at dusk on the beach? No problem.
Want to take doggie for a walk, maybe let him enjoy some freedom by letting him off the leash? No problem.
Want to drive your 4×4 on the beach? No problem, as long as you have the permits.
Want to enjoy a glass of chardonnay, or a cold one? Generally not worthy of a ticket, as long as you don’t make it look like Animal House.
Want to have a clam bake, maybe even have it catered, maybe even set up some tables and chairs…and how about a little music? No problem, within reason.
Want to take a few newbies down to the beach, to teach them surfcasting, paddle boarding or surfing, for a fee? No problem, usually.

(Try doing some of this stuff in Avalon NJ!)

But like anything else, so much “freedom” can lead to excess, and one person’s modest intentions becomes another person’s license to do whatever they darn well please.

That small paddle boarding lesson turns into multiple shops competing for space on an otherwise quiet and peaceful beach.
The dogs leave their piles here and there, a few bark and growl at sunbathers, or worse. Meanwhile owners chat away on cell phones, making believe they didn’t see it. That intimate beach fire or clam bake gives way to a corporate event, with VIPs, trucked-in generators, with taxis and even limos idling in the parking lots.

The chain reaction is also quite predictable:

Words are exchanged.
Fights break out.
People get bitten (usually it’s the dogs doing the biting, but not always).
Trash is left behind.
Police get called.
Town Boards get an earful and then debate new rules.

…And then ordinary citizens lament of how things just aint like they used to be.

While the town has resisted serious restrictions, there has already been lengthy discussion about all of the above

The latest new rule will come into effect July 1. From that day forward, dogs must be leashed within 300 feet of the beach during the high season. The response from dog owners, need you ask? Belated promises of better self-enforcement. Statements that there only needs to be greater education, not more rules. (Never understood how “education” was expected to fix just plain “stupid” or “inconsiderate” behavior, but I digress)

The real trouble is that these new rules often result in lost freedoms for more than just the offenders.

More rules mean more complaints about rules not being followed. More rules and complaints mean more enforcement. More enforcement means more police in a ticket-writing mood. And this means more tickets for anything and everything, even if the infraction is so minor, or so insignificant that it was overlooked in the past.

There was a time when a beach bonfire hardly brought the attention of local authorities. More recently? I can’t recall a beach fire over the past couple of years where an officer did not stop to check that it was all legal.

Yes, I know what some of you are thinking…”Hooray for more enforcement!” “We all need more enforcement!”

Nothing deflates a great sunset like a visit from the Police – even when you know the rules by heart, and even though you have all the equipment, and even if you have every permit imaginable. And who wants to be constantly worried…did I forget my [fill in the blank], and is there anything he could hit me with, should he be in a ticket-writing mood?

What I don’t quite have a handle yet on how this will all play out in the years ahead, as spats over beach access and beach use escalate. Is it inevitable?

And this eventually impacts fishing.

A fishing buddy recently arrived back at his truck to find police writing him a ticket, even though the lot was practically empty and enforcement normally didn’t start until high season. There was a time when I used to launch a kayak just about anywhere (State/County/Town/Private land), but now with so many more calls for enforcement (even related to issues between surfers and fisherman), I can no longer assume that my minor transgressions (no matter how quiet and careful I am) will be overlooked. Likewise, there was a time when I used to spend a few days living out of my truck and could sleep in just about any quiet lot during a fishing binge. But I am already seeing and hearing of more sleeping fishermen being told they had to vacate a lot in the middle of the night – even though the lot was empty, and even though the fisherman was not harming anyone or anything.

Sometimes more rules and more enforcement are needed, I guess. And then sometimes it might be better to just live and let live.

This much I do understand – something I realized by the age of 7 or 8 – things work out best when the kids can work it out amongst themselves. As soon as the screaming starts, and the parents have to get involved, the party is over and everyone just gets sent off to bed.

By now I am certain you have heard that PENN 706Z and 704Z are being made once again. Just like the original, the new version is made right here in USA ,Philadelphia if you want to be more specific.

We have received a sample reel and were told that they expect the reels to be in the stores in September at cost around $200. First they want to test them to make sure all is well. We gave our sample to Lou Caruso, our Rod Guru for testing. I am sure that fishing with it will bring back a lot of memories for him.

The reel is the same reincarnation of the original as you can see in the video below. You can swap the parts from new version to old version. You should be able to get parts once again to fix your old Z reels. If it’s the same, then why would they need to test you ask? I asked the same question.

The reason for it is simple. The new reels will have parts made from some new suppliers and PENN wanted to make sure that everything is working as it should. Which makes sense.

The only difference in these reels that I could see is a Drag knob and lack of decal around the spool. Here is the video where you can see it for yourself including the inside of the reel

[youtube]http://youtu.be/xXPk3v8ndTQ[/youtube]

Today we are going to have a special giveaway.

I don’t think we ever gave away a plug like this before but today is a good day to start.

Our friend Al Lemire makes some great lures under the name Lemire’s Plugworks, you should definitely check them out at http://www.lemiresplugworks.com/

He makes great needles, pencil poppers, poppers and all kind of good stuff but this plug is truly different than what most builders make today.

The 5 inch, 3 ounce Sea Fly

Designed after the old freshwater classic this plug will throw water like nobody’s business. You put this puppy into a boulder field and hold on to your rod. That is if you can get yourself to cast one. This thing is stunning in design, paint and hardware.

In order to be eligible to win, you must tell us where would you use it. No, no secret spots needed, just general location will do

Unlike in past years I am having a hard time sitting down and putting my thoughts in any type of coherent manner. In the past years, when I was so swamped with responsibilities, the fishing really was secondary. Yeah, I would get out halfheartedly but it wasn’t like it use to be

What did it used to be like?

Exactly what is it now. Checking winds velocity and direction twenty times a day. Constantly going through my Tide app checking tides at different locations. Many of them I know I probably won’t fish but just in case my plan A,B and C do not pan out. Constantly thinking about fish, from the moment I wake up till I go to bed and then dream about it too. Yeah, it’s been few years since I felt this way.

Last year if I had an hour to kill I’d probably put on a Mets game even thou they stink. This year, unless Harvey is pitching I am shooting down the highway even if it’s only for an hour.

It helps that I got a cortisone shot two weeks ago. OMG it’s like #%*! heaven in a needle. I am just hoping it works this time around. Believe it or not and have YET to cast a wood or plastic or metal lure this spring yet I caught so many fish. For my standards that is which are not that high. Since I been fishing with a 7 foot rod I been going to back of the inlets with a  handful of bucktails in the Tactical Anglers pouch. I should be making my first cast with a  plug this weekend but to be honest, I probably could fish with a a bucktail and nothing else for the rest of my life and not complain. Didn’t someone wrote a book about fishing bucktails recently?

Oh yeah, the great John Skinner 🙂

I suggest you get it if you have not read it already. Really cool stuff. And check out John’s videos on YouTube too.

The winner of new Hansom is DK-6 Stainless Steel Dive Knife

is Lscott411@gmail.com

you have 5 day to email us with your shipping address at info@surfcastersjournal.com and we will forward it to Hansom Tackle. Check out the knives online or at your favorite Hansom retailer.

Btw

This is NOT our esteemed columnist and blog contributor Roger Martin. I just used the picture to illustrate his blog post because he does not have any pictures since all his Poloroids are all in the box in the closet

the young fellow in the picture is his youngest son, Skippy Jr

ok, now I am just busting chops. But Roger, now that you are a blogger you are “cool” again. And you were worried about your street cred

and in closing

Go get them..there are some fish around regardless where you live…unless this stupid  storm this weekend puts a major hurting on a bite and our beaches . But I don’t think it will