10.20.26 Felt good to finally hit a Jersey Shore beach....

     It was a day before we headed to Colorado. My parents had left for a trip to North Carolina, Theresa wanted to have a down day, so that left me to do what I wanted. And of course that would be to hit the beach. The question would be where?

     From home base in Manalapan I figured I could go one of three ways. Down 33 to Asbury. Down 537 to Long Branch. Or snake through Monmouth County to get to The Hook. Sandy Hook always is one of my favorite early fall spots, especially when it's big fish first. So after the 45 

minute drive I was pulling into Lot C. It was about mid-flood tide and the water looked good but there wasn't much for bird life in close or out far. Usually when the action builds it either starts out aways or up the beach. Today there was neither. But it's early, or just before, the fall run. 

     I decided that I was going to pick one spot and just fish it. No jumping around without wetting a line. When it's early in the fall blind casting can be productive and even though that kills me I went with it. And if you look at the photo below then you know the excitement that builds in your gut as you approach the first steps. And then as you get to the top you're either thrilled with what you see, or you're disappointed. Today I was just happy to be there. 

     When I got down to the sand there wasn't much showing. There was about 2 hours left until high with a NE wind from 10-15 mph and a pretty good swell that had the waves breaking at the bar creating nice white water. I was happy when I looked south the birds were up and they stayed up the whole time I was there. 

     The birds were working the water where the waves broke on the bar, mostly dipping and diving down into the troughs of the breaking waves. I couldn't see what bait they were on but the birds were a mix of gulls and cormorants. I did see one explosion out beyond them and that could have been a dolphin or a bluefin, or a very large bass. If you click on either photo you can see just how many birds were in the mix. 

     I walked back and forth keeping the birds in front of me blind casting as I went. There was a pretty good right to left sweep so most of casts went south in order to retrieve them back in a straight line in front of me, otherwise the wave action would have had my fly and line behind me to my left. I stayed upright for about two hours before just grabbing a seat and taking in the nice wether and smell of the ocean. Even when the tide went slack the birds, and whatever fish were underneath them, none I suppose, ever came in. So I called it a day.

     My stomach was starting to growl and I wasn't sure what I was going to put in it. McDonald's, no thanks. Bagel Talk- no late. Brennan's- not that hungry. What about The Windmill? Perfect. As I drove south on Ocean Avenue I got a glimpse of the new additions to the concrete jungle that is the new Jersey Shore.

     Development, well over development, is like AI these days, you can't fight it. But it's a shame that these are clouding the views, the smells, and the winds, that are a part of the experience of driving around the Jersey Shore. And as far as accessibility for "normal" folk? Forget it, these are for the rich and famous.

     The Windmill looked the same as it ever has which is comforting in its own right. Inside I was helped by the day staff, which isn't really different than the night staff. Let me say, well I hate to say it, the last half a dozen or so times I've been at The Windmill, regardless of the location, the staff appears to be coming off a bender, are under the influence, or on their way back from being down and out. Not all of them, but enough of them. Today was no different. A quick urine test would have confirmed my suspicions. I say that all without judgment, but the whole scene is a little slimy.

     I ordered a well done dog with mustard, kraut, and relish. Now I remember the dogs always being bigger than the bun but this seemed way out of proportion. And the way the server lined it up on the bun called for additional training. And worst yet was the price, $6.66, forget it. With us getting on a plane tomorrow I didn't want bad ju-ju following me, so I added the $3 soda. 

     I swallowed it before I got to the Red Church and pulled into a few familiar haunts. Each one of them was the same snapshot of the day, a beautiful scene along the Jersey Shore, that's it. But it was nice to stop and reminisce about good times, and fish, I had at each of them. 

     When I went on Facebook there were enough posts from the local tackle shops up and down Monmouth and Ocean County to confirm the big fish are here, and yes, even on the beach. Matt Rooney confirmed that to me the other day and Dwayne Tracy Sr. did it yesterday morning, spot unknown. 

     This morning we're boarding our flight to Colorado and I'm looking forward to seeing our friends who are already out there. But truth be told, I'm tired of being on the run. We feel like we're in the Witness Protection Program and waiting for our permanent new home assignment. Hopefully after the nuclear stress test on Monday we'll be free and clear to leave at 0-dark thirty on Tuesday the 27th. 

It's time to get out and fish, reports or not. 

10.18.26 Job well done...

      Congrats to Matt Rooney, a Jersey guy who's a great tyer, fly fishermen, and all around nice guy. I don't say that just because he caught a tank of striped bass from the beach the other day, I say it because it was caught on October 17th. Yep, October 17th. So what's the big deal about that date? Because October 17th means everything. What it means is that Matt probably wanted to fish, and did. It's early in the fall run and most of the huge bass, because that's really all they are left, are being caught on the boats, mostly with baits like bunker or eels.

     Yes, there are oil slicks of bunker, mostly adult, running parallel to the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook to Island Beach State Park but they, and their smaller cousins, and the bass haven't met up in the shallow waters yet. So the fact that Matt just wanted to fish, and did, without any reports or social media videos says a lot, at least to me. He fished for the reasons most of us fish, and landing fish isn't always the most important reason. 

     And of course Matt caught it on a fly, which is always better yet. That's a good sized bass to attempt to land on the beach, especially with the wave action, which can push a large bass up onto the beach, and then pull it into the trough, where it can easily get unbuttoned. 

     Rooney has made a nice name for himself with his fly tying and has done especially well with Bob Popovic's patterns like the Beast and Hollow Fleyes. If you live in or near New Jersey you can catch Matt at Tight Lines Fly Fishing in Parsippany where he gives fly tying demos or a presentation on fly fishing for striped bass in New Jersey. Nicely done Matt!

10.17.26 Congrats to Dick Dennis...

     Congrats to my friend and New Jersey saltwater fly rodder Dick Dennis on getting an honorary lifetime membership from the Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders. Captain Dick is one of the OG's in and around New Jersey. I first met Dick at The Fly Hatch back in the 1990's and I've had some great times with him at The Fly Fishing Show and on those fabled trips up to the Vineyard.

     Above is us at the rental we had on Lobsterville Road back in 1997. I remember that year as it's the year I had truck trouble and had to leave a day early, but it was a year we actually caught some fish. You can see that, HERE.

     Dick's is an ASWF original member and started way back with Bobby in the early days when the meetings were held in the attic. Dick also served as President of the club either back in the late 1980's or 1990's. It's good to see him still making the meetings and passing on his knowledge and expertise to the younger members. Where we be without all these old guys. 

10.17.26 Looks like we'll be packing up in the rain....

     In 24 hours we hope to be on our way north for the almost final leg of the 30-day New Jersey/Colorado wedding tour. In 10 days, on October 27th, we should be on our way headed south on 95 for South Carolina. But a lot has to happen before then. I'm sitting here oncing over the travel planes to Boulder, Colorado, which includes airport parking, flights, rental car, and AirBNB accommodations. 

     Yesterday we closed down the remaining storage unit we had in Cape May so that's not only good for the wallet but for the mental health as well. It was just a bunch of odds and ends including the third raw seat for the Suburban, which will spend the winter here in New Jersey. 

     And the reason it's staying is because Theresa and I hit a yard sale in Jackson when we were dropping Luke off when we hit wedding number one a few weeks back. Of course I found a table saw and an electric lawn mower that I had to have....so that's going south on this trip. 

     In the storage unit was a pair of animated Christmas figures that have been in my family for as long as I can remember. They're older than my kid sister and she turns 40 next week. 

     When we were getting ready for the move by selling, donating, and dumpster-tossing these two were non-negotiable, they were making the trip south. Why? Are they something I couldn't pick up at Hobby Lobby down there? Do they have some kind of special action never to be replicated over the last four decades? Nope. They'll just family memories and somehow their presence is burned into my brain for every Christmas I can remember. I just wish they got picked up and headed south in the moving truck in July. 

     And for those of you that may need a little motivation to declutter and downsize I pass this little gem onto you. For some following our journey since January has given you at least the opportunity to question what your own future may have in store. At least maybe you've opened up a bin or have started to go through the garage and see what you really need to hold onto or not. In March I dropped a post, HERE. which kind of tells it like it is. 

     So when I recently saw the book, Nobody wants Your Sh*t, written by Jessie Condo, I looked into ordering it. When you go to Amazon it's there, as well as several other's dealing with the process

of freeing yourself from the bondage of bins, boxes, and full basements and attics. Even getting rid of the storage unit yesterday was weight-lifting, until I looked into the back of the Suburban. And while I'm 58, my friend group extends from say ages 30- 80. To the younger ones I say this is still a good read and any help or advice you may get from a book like this now can help you out later, trust me. 

     So yesterday was our last fun day in Cape May. It was beautiful, and late in the afternoon almost hot, as it was the calm before the storm. As I write this it's ben pouring throughout the night. We hit the storage unit, a few yard sales, the Lucky Bones Happy Hour, and then walked the mall and sat in the rocking chairs at Congress Hall. Several times a year we go back and forth with what we should do with our place in Cape May. And then it only takes a few minutes of being there to realize this is something we should never give up. I have heard people say that their grandparents or even parents, "Used to have a place", but then it got sold for whatever reason. And once it's gone not very often it's gone forever. So we're ready to wrap it up for 2026 and will look forward to coming back in late April or early May. God willing. 

10.16.24 Lucking out with the weather and if he only fished....

     Man I'm really lucking out with the weather. I got the roof done during a nice few days and got called for Dad duty yesterday moving my son into his first apartment. It was a perfect day to do it, today would have been a disaster in the rain. And looking at the weather the next few days it doesn't look like the weekend would have been any better. I'm glad I was up here to help him out, I would have hated to have missed it.

     His new place is a winter rental in Manasquan. It's set up for what it's intended for, a place a few blocks from the beach that can sleep as many people as you could get into it. Each room has multiple beds, or bunk beds, and they had to broken down and stored so they could bring their own furniture in. 

     Again I have o tip my hat to the Suburban who just keeps delivering and helping me out. When we get back to South Carolina I'm going to give her the treatment, like a spa day, because she deserves it. We broke for lunch and hit a new place in Farmingdale called Lucky's, where Sean's girlfriend works. I'm disappointed I didn't grab a picture of them together while we were there. 

     On my way back to Manasquan I stopped and saw this guy. While I wished we could have fished together while I was up here just a quick visit would have to do. Leif's a guy I used to 

see and fish with several times a week in both the spring and then the fall. That happened less when I moved out west, and will occur even less moving down to Bluffton. We had a lot of good times in Jersey, in the Catskills, and on the Vineyard. You don't know all the things you'll miss until you miss them. 

      And as far as Manasquan? Well Sean's just a few blocks from the ocean and Dog Beach. God, if he only fished. It reminded me of when I got my winter rental on Phillips Avenue in September 2014. I was right there. I was living alone. And then two weeks in Theresa showed up. And the rest was history. 

      For Sean, he would be sitting pretty for the fall run. The Manasquan River is a gem in the fall and out front, on either side of the inlet, on the beach sides, can be great when the bait and bass migration begins. After he was all set Erin and I stopped at the inlet I made sure we got someone to take a picture of us. 

     I said with me moving away you just never know when that last picture you'll have of us will be. While it's sad it's true. We're heading back to South Carolina before the end of the month and won't be back until late April or May. Hopefully Sean's lease will still be in effect so I'll have a place to crash and catch the action in and around the Manasquan River. It looks like I won't be catching a striped bass in the fall of 2026, and I have a feeling it's going be a good one.

10.15.26 Five shingles short...

     Well there you have it. Just about 98% done. In the end I'm five shingles short for the roof cap. We started the day at Lowe's getting six bundles of shingles, a 20-pound box of nails, and blades for the razor. In the end I'm glad I did it but day almost killed me. I died, time wise, around the vents on the roof. Bur compared to what it was when I first got up here I'd say I did pretty good. 

     I was hoping to get some help from the co-owner and she gave it a valiant try several times to get up on the roof. She had the first few rungs of the ladder down no problem but the thought of transitioning off of it to the roof, well that wasn't going to happen. While I could have used the extra hands up there it was okay, at least she tried. I appreciated her effort. 

     While it felt good to finish, well almost, a project like this at times it was kinda sad. This type of thing reminded me of the old firehouse days where we would get together, usually on the days off between our night tours, and help each other out with stuff like this. Projects like these would get banged out in no time. It's also the kind of Dad and son/daughter project where knowledge gets handed down, plus there's the fun of working together. But this one I had to do solo. 

     I didn't take into consideration how many shingles I would burn covering the ridge cap. So in the end I'm about five short but I found a local roofer who has a yard full of extra material. I called him and he said go pick out what you need. So that will be Friday's project, to end this project.

     Today it's off to Manasquan to help my som move into his new apartment. I can say I'm banged up from the last two days. I really can appreciate the boys, and girls, who do roofing for a living. I can tell you this, I'm starting a fund for the roof re-do down in Sun City. There's no way I'm doing that, no matter how much it costs.  

10.14.26 Great day to start the roof...

     Well I don't know if Bob Vila and Norm Abram would have done it this way but it worked for me. Around these communities there are "guys". Guys that do work and everyone loves them. As far as roofs, "the guy" comes and caulks up the roof when the Florida rooms leak, and will put on a new one when it's time. They, mostly the ladies, love their guys. They love to share when they've had a visit and had some work done. I think it's kinda like the old pool boy fantasies of yesteryear. I thought about joining the crowd and just paying the roof guy, but for $3,500 I couldn't do it. For many people the problem isn't the job, it's where do you get rid of the stuff. So they pay, or over pay.

     I've taken Luke for a walk when these roofs get replaced and it happens in short order, usually by the return trip, the four or five guys almost have it done. They have it down to a science, and a quick payday. The roof shingles run about $700, another $200 for paper and nails, and a few more bucks to get rid of the debris. So for less then $1,000 out of pocket they turn a good profit. Some days they do three or four of these. Smart dudes.

     I looked at our roof and it was time, long overdue actually. There were two roofs and the top layer of shingles were curled and like dust. So I could do two things, do it right, or do it my way. My way won. What that meant was taking off the top layer and re-roofing it. Many homes have two or three roofs so it's not out of the ordinary. The base layer was intact and almost melted to the paper and the sheathing. So I began the process.  

     Now I don't know what's wrong the above picture but it's just wrong. First I look like I'm in pain. And then my tool belt. My trusty belt that I've had for 30 + years. It's so old I can't adjust the size anymore so I guess I just wear it higher where it fits around my girth. It looks like the belt is holding all my guts in above it. I hate being built like a horse. But anyway. 

     The weather was perfect and I was working in the shade. There would be no nail gun here. It's old school with roofing nails and a hammer. I purchased a square, three bundles, of shingles to get started and ran out before I gave out. While the work wasn't hard, if I did have an old heart attack I'm sure I would have felt it.

     All the demo is done and I'll hit Lowe's in the morning for 5 more bundles of shingles and another box of nails. I was gonna but the five-pound box for $21 but cheapened out and got two one-pound boxes for $7 each. I just didn't needed pounds of extra nails laying around the house. 

     I should have it wrapped up by tomorrow afternoon and in the end it will have cost me $450. Even if it lasts me 10 years I'll be ahead of the game. I have to watch the money as the used car lot is holding my Silverado down in South Carolina. They said they would make all the repairs found during the inspection and that I could even take it back over for another once over. If you forgot what she looks like that's her below, what a beauty. 

10.13.26 Let the fall run, and the posts, begin!....

 

     It's the most wonderful time of year again. And since I'm here in New Jersey I thought I'd write about what coming. And that's fish and fish pictures on social media. Believe it or not the fish above was released because it was shot, or below the 28" minimum harvest size. I don't know if that's hand blender at the guys feet but it can't be good when used to remove hooks. 

     People say I pick on the spin, bait, and plug guys because I'm a fly fishing snob. well, maybe, but really I just love these fish and hate to see them mishandled, and killed, when they are not harvested. When fishing you never know what's going to bite, and under, a slot, or an over, so you really have to play it safe.

     These days it seems it's all about eels for the boat guys. They are usually slow trolled in current and when one of those big cow bass bite they're far from the boat. So in the end they get flogged through the water before being "gently" lifted onto the boat, photographed, and released. And with the skewering that occurs on social media guys can basically handle a half-dead or will-die bass with kid gloves so they don't get killed on-line. But some haven't got the memo and they continue to use poor practices when fishing for and then releasing striped bass. 

     And then there's those plug guys. A lot of them are my friends, and I urge them to play better. I have been there when waterside surgery occurs and there's usually silence as the blood pours out from the fish. Release mortality is a thing, for all anglers, so the better we doing the better the fish do. And then there's those trebles. I hate them. They're big, they're sharp, well maybe, and there's too many of them. 

     Imagine there used to be three on a lure, well now there's pretty much just a pair. But those tailing ones are the ones that get me. As we know striped bass like to eat head first, so many times the tail hook finds a place to get impaled into the fish, far away from it's mouth. Did you ever catch a one-eyed striped bass? That one probably lost its eye to a plug in its youth. 

     If it's not the shear size, and number, of those treble hooks, it's the barb, well barbs. If you ever have seen the gentle foot pressure applied to a bass on the sand and then the rattle out of the plug's hooks from the gullet, lips, back, or eyes, you know it's not pretty. And these days with most of the fish over slot size you know what you're fishing for before you go tight. In the end these fish will have to be released so why not help them out a bit?

     I've hear the hooks help balance the plug and changing to just one will hamper thew action in the water. Okay, but it's good for the fish you are playing catch and release with. some will take off the tailing hook and add a flag, like a teaser, off the back. That's a great step. And then some others will pinch or grind down the treble hooks, why do you need six-barbed hooks when you're fishing? These aren't calamari you're fishing for.

     Now I've inadvertently killed my share of striped bass in my years. Even the ones "that swam away strong" at times find their way belly-up down on their bottom of the drink. But fly fishermen do it good, most of the time. Single hooks, pinched barbs, short casts, and quick releases. Now yes, sometimes those tiny flies, even Beast Fleyes, find their way down the gullets of larger bass. But with some care and a pair of long hemostats flies can be removed, as long as they haven't ripped through the gill rakers, or the lungs of the fish. 

     So get ready for the migration, and the endless photos of bad practices, and half dead fish. For me, it kind of takes away from the fun of the run, but that's just the way it is these days. 

10.12.26 If you can't beat em', you have to join em'...

     As predicted New Jersey got soaked yesterday and Cape May wasn't spared from the deluge. Thankfully I installed the gutter guards and tarped the roof just the day before. Sunday saw several fall harvesty type events cancelled so there wan't much to do except ride out the rain, sit on the couch, and eat. It's Week 5 in the NFL and it was a great rainy day to watch the games, that's if you can. 

      Years ago watching TV was easy, that was before cable came around. Then your options were the basic channels, and then cable came, which had basic, or more than basic options. It was, and still is, pay to play. You the more you pay, the more options you had. Then it all changed, at least going the legal and non-pirating route. Even back then people found ways to steal TV access, and it's still around. Playing by the rules can be frustrating and expensive, and leave you without access if you don't pony up the cash for all the options to watch that one thing you're looking for. 

     I got sick and tired paying for internet and cable through Verizon last year and opted to go the Internet-Roku route. I thought that would give me what I wanted but in the end was left with no local programming and re-runs for every television show I watched in my youth. To watch anything recent we had to pay for Netflix and Amazon Prime, which from time to time would include some of the NFL games for the week. I signed up for some of the NFL packages last fall but wasn't able to see the games I wanted, when I wanted. I guess I just wasn't paying enough.

     So recently, with our move, I went with Starlink as our internet provider. I signed up for the home service and ROAM as well. The home service covers Sun City and ROAM I take on the road for Cape May and The Fly Barn. Both of those services costs me $100 per month. The other day we bought a new TV for Cape May. It's a 45-inch Smart TV which somehow has lots of channels built in including access to the several streaming services that are out there. I'm amazed it cost us $128 from WalMart. I remember when TV's that size ran well over $1,000. But, in the end, there's still no live local programming. 

     With the rain coming down in buckets and a full day of NFL games being broadcast it was a perfect day to watch, if you had access. It started with the Eagles-Jaquars game at 9am and finished with the Falcons-Ravens game on Sunday night. Yesterday morning I turned on the new TV and tried to figure out how to watch the game being broadcast from London. I quickly got frustrated as no matter where I turned it led me to one of the streaming apps. So we were left to either go somewhere or listen to it on Sirius radio, another service which I pay for. Since we are in Eagles territory down here several bars opened early but we weren't into that so we headed to the diner where we watched it for a bit before heading back home. Then came the big decision, "Should I pay or should I go", think of the song by the Clash from the 1982 song. 

     I remember settling into the couch in our friends house in Long Island. The Man-Cave is nestled in their basement and sports a huge screen TV, which when it's on, has access to just about everything you could ever want to see. That's when I learned about You Tube TV, which, I think, is the one-stop shopping place for access to everything and anything, including the NFL. So yesterday I went and checked it out. That subscription runs $89.95 a month, well maybe. 

     Now I have been frustrated during more weeks then I can count when I sit down to watch only to see that Netflix has this game, Amazon the other, and Hulu and Paramount the rest. Yes, some of the local games are on but I didn't have access. As I looked around You Tube TV they had a trial subscription before the full rate kicks in, but then there was all the add-on access. Things like NFL Sunday Ticket and NFL Red Zone which I don't know what they cover, and for how much. In the end Sunday Ticket costs $75 a month, but does it just cover Sunday's games? What about Monday and Thursday Night Football? 

     So I signed up for the free trial and took the Sunday Ticket option. Is that the right move? Am I double spending for the same access? Will I have have all-access? And, how much will I be spending a month? 

      Basically they got you by the balls. Out are the days of TV's and antennas and the only way is to pay, handsomely. Let's say your internet/cable/streaming services run you $200 a month, that's $2,400 a year, to watch TV, well to be on the computer as well. There's a ton of people out there, like me, that sign up for things, like trial memberships, only to forget and wind up being charged each month for years, without even knowing. 

     There were some really good games on yesterday, some with exciting and bizarre endings, and I got to watch them all, and I did. 14 hours of NFL, sitting there like a fat loser eating everything and anything I could get my hands on. Tonight it's the Bills and Rams and I hope I get it somewhere I'm, paying for. And of course since my searches are being tracked now I'm getting deluged with other options to watch the NFL, below is just one of them.

    They're already selling access to the Super Bowl and have added Pat McAfee to the weekly access. Who's Pat McAfee and why would I want to watch him? I wish we could just go back to the good old days, or nights. I remember turning on the TV and watching John Madden and Pat Sumerall, and then

 Al Michaels, above, announce the games, on free TV. Imagine that kids of today.