Fishing Reports

Here is a report from one of our customers that was posted on norest.com:

Finally got a chance to get out to Montauk today and was lucky enough to get on the Celtic Quest 1AM cod trip. After a quick anchor fix at the dock, we were under way at 1:12 AM. Took a 2 hour steam and Captain Paul set the anchor at 3:14 AM. We had very calm seas for most of the trip.

As soon as our clam baits hit the bottom, we were into keeper cod. Fast and furious action from the time we got there till around 6:45 AM. I, along with 3 others in the bow had our limit before the sun reached the horizon. Lots of action with shorts as well.Most of the keepers were in the 23-25 inch range with a few going a little bigger.I also picked up 2 four foot silver eels during the morning bite on consecutive drops. I only reeled up 3 times in the pre-sunrise hours without a fish.

My biggest cod came in at 28 inches, 9 pounds, and I ended up with 11 keepers and 5 or 6 shorts, and lost a few.

After the pre-sunrise cod blitz, we tried lots of drifts with the jigs, but unfortunately, they just weren't turning on to the jigs for us today. We picked a cod here and there along with a few dogs, ocean pout, and eels.

At the end of the day I think we were like 5 fish shy of a boat limit for 16 people. Everyone went home with a nice bag of fillets today.
Another cool sight today was a huge Humpback whale that launched itself completely out of the water and then flapped its tail and it was gone.

All in all, it was a great trip to Montauk. The CQ IV is a beautiful, comfortable boat to fish, and the warm cabin was great in between drifts.I think high hook was 26 keepers!(orl)No huge ones today but the quantity made up for it.

Captain and crew worked hard for a very enjoyable trip. Hopefully this great cod bite continues and I can get back out for another trip or two this winter.

Cod fishing has been great. Check out video from opening day at http://www.CelticQuestFishing.com/
Yesterday we put together a good catch as well, not the bail job like sunday but high hooks still had their limit of cod.

Just got the hot report from Capt Des. The first trip of the Cod season was a great success! 17 Anglers easily caught their limit, with high hook in the mid 20s (ORL). The morning bite on clams was great and the afternoon bite on jigs was red hot!

We will be sailing every day weather permitting. As of now the weather for tomorrow (Monday) looks great. Warmer temps with light winds.

We were blown out Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday we had 50 keepers to 8.5 lbs. Yesterday was a beautiful day out there for our Thanksgiving Special. Flat calm and everyone in good spirits. Put around 60 keepers in the boat up to 8-9 lbs before calling it early to head home for dinner. Fun trip.!

Blown out again today and tomorrow. Hopefully we can get out there again Sunday!

Good day today! 85 keepers to 8.5 lbs. Crazy Alberto and Kai were were high hook with 9 keepers apiece. Fish bit well in the deep water up to 90 feet. Fish definitely seem to be making the move offshore so hopefully we should see some good days ahead!

Very difficult anchoring conditions today with wind against tide the entire trip! despite it all we put together a decent catch with 60 nice tog up to 8 lbs or so. Bite has definitely improved this week and we have some real light tides coming up for the rest of the month which is good.

We had the first good showing of fish in deep water today. As they move offshore and settle on the deeper pieces, hopefully the bite will be strong well into december as it was last year.Just a few booked for tomorrow. Come on down if you would like to join us.

Congrats Thomas on your first keeper blackfish!

Tough day yesterday as 18 keepers were landed on the day. Fish just weren't on the feed.
Today was certainly better as 45 keepers were landed with a lot of quality size fish in the mix. Seemed like the bite sound wide really picked up today.

Sailing tomorrow. Just a few booked so plenty of room. Just come on down!

Caught em good today! We were blown out for 4 more days this week and yesterday the bite was way off in the entire area. Today was much better though as 17 anglers were just a few shy of a full boat limit today. Some BIG tog in the mix as well with the pool weighing in over 12 lbs!! Felipe Sanchez caught this fish of a lifetime to go along with 7 keepers on the day. Way to go Felipe!

11 year old Jeff also showed us how it was done landing his limit of tog to 7 lbs! Nice job Jeff.

This was posted on Noreast .com by Pete "leprechaun":
Solid trip Today on the Celtic Quest

Today was the Noreast Mod's trip on the CQ. No need to talk up Capt. Desi, I think that by now we all know the quality of the man and his tog-hunting abilities. He told us on boarding that it was a might tough yesterday – honesty always goes a long way toward building trust.

But we also trusted his desire and skills to put us on the fish and were well rewarded for that trust. He steamed out, far to the East, to try some drops that he felt would give us our best shot at some outsided fish. Mission accomplished – we put at least 75 keepers in the boat to ~8lbs.

The weather was as good as the fishing, with maybe a 6" chop. Maybe less. This was the first time I've ever fished with Desi that I didn't need Long Johns and three sweaters to stay warm. Couple the conditions with the irrepressible Capt. Paul and Chris working the deck and it was a happy day for all. You won't finder a nicer group of guys (and gal of course!) to spend a happy day on a boat with than the moderating and executive staffs of Noreast.com.

See below for some pix of the results. John/Reelfisher beat my fish for the pool by a gnat's eyelash, followed REALLY closely by Ralphie/Rodwinders fat tog.
A great time, hosted by our leader George "The Late Inning Tog Killer," on what I honestly believe is the finest tog-hunting boat on Long Island.
Best, Lep

Slow bite this morning on the incoming tide. picked away as the tide eased off and on the first of the ebb we had a good drop to end the day. Our charter today of 26 anglers ended up with 55 keepers to 8 lbs. Ken was high hook with 8.