New Year, New PB
Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2026 7:02 am
Headed out to Shelter Island around 630 for what turned into a gorgeous morning on the water. The tide was super high and not even at it's projected highest at 9ish, you can see from the point by the Bali Hai. I wasn't having much luck at my usual spots, some hits but no pins. I decided to try somewhere I've never tried, the Shelter Island launch ramp. It wasn't busy so I walked out on the right side of the launch and started tossing a dropshot Gulp Minnow, and basically just letting the current move it along, thinking I might finally pick up that elusive keeper halibut. I noticed my line moving faster than normal so I set it and it was on! It felt so heavy I thought I might have actually gotten that hali, so I started walking it back towards the beach just in case, I was actually shaking with anticipation. When it got shallow I saw it was actually a toad of a Spotty! Perfect hookset in the upper lip. He wouldn't hold still for a measure pic, but he was 15". My PB for the new year! I ended up getting a mackerel after that, that I tried to turn into something bigger, but that spotty was the fish of that day. Hope everyone has a great 2026!
