Sunday Afternoon - 42

[SEAWOLFF]

Sunday morning I went to work on a fuel problem thought I found it and decided to go fishing. We arrived at 42 about 1:30 to find about 5 boats working the area. We decided to set up in 60 ft. and work up the shelf. Before we got our 5th rod in 3 rods went down and bait was so thick I was getting the false depth readings. We caught 5 fish on the first pass on the 3 rods. We kept the biggest fish about 24" and threw 4 - 20" fish back because we knew we had found the mother load. For the next 1 1/2 hours we worked the same pod of bait only to catch 1 - 21" fish with about a dozen 12" - 14"ers. Decided to head back and before we got 1 mile from 42 the starboard engine is starving for fuel again. Long run back on 1 engine arrived in D'ville in the dark. Bobby, do you have any theories on why we are seeing these small fish this time of year. I can't remember ever seeing 12" - 14" fish in December. I know it's not my lures because I kept all big baits out. I had a 10" fish hit a 9" sassy shad.

[jwas1]

We and about 50 of our best friends worked the area of bait and small fish at 42 Saturday afternoon. Our largest was 18.01".

[MrJsPleasure]

Those fish are resident fish that will stay in the bay. My only theory is normally they are not in the prime areas around bait because the big Rocks will eat them as well as the bait. With less big fish to worry about they seem to be staying with bait we normaly catch nice fish out of. No way they are eating those jumbo menhaden must be eating the small menhanden but they don't mind picking a fight with a big bait. Hey when are you going back to Remlik? I'm Planning on moving back sometime between now and Monday unless the bite really picks up. Remember If you find you have a major problem with that engine I'm good for a slow escort or tow if you need it.

Bobby

[SEAWOLFF]

Thanks for the input. I'm trying to stay optomistic about the bay season the water temp was 44 degrees which is normally perfect. We have just passed a full moon which typically slows things down. As for my boat. I am going to pull the pick-up at the fuel tank and what I find there will decide weather I will stay to the end of the season or limp back to Remlik.

[jwas1]

Seawolff, do both engines draw from the same fuel tank? I have a friend with an older Albemarle 24 who had a similar problem where the engine would get him to the fishing grounds, but not home. Finally he learned there was sediment in his tank that would get picked up as he ran. His mechanic said the sediment was caused by long time use of fuel stabilizer. New tank, no more problems. Just a thought.

[Seebold]

Boats are shipped with a check ball in the top of the pickup tube, in most cases it located in the 90 degree bend at the top of the pickup tube. Take a punch and remove the pickup ball, or replace the 90 degree fitting with one that has no check ball in it. Usually there is junk floating around in your tank that clogs at the check ball. This should fix your problem.

[SEAWOLFF]

Thanks guys for the input on my fuel problem. I don't have any idea what I am dealing with. The boat is a 1965 Bertram 31' that has been converted from gas to diesel. The fuel tank is the original fiberglass tank and the top of the pick-up mechanism looks to be original, however I don't know what is inside. I was told by the previous owner that the tank was flushed approximately 4 years ago. Both engines pull from the same engine but I believe they have seperate pick-ups coming from one hub. I'll let you know once I get inside.