3hr bay charter with return clients - good sized blowfish - released tautog!

October 6, 2026 Brett Taylor

Ran an afternoon 3hr bay charter with return client Sean Murphy, his son-in-law, and 2 grandsons. Although we couldn't secure greenies, we tried for tautog for the kid's first time and released close to a dozen. We finished the last 1.5 hours in the bay boxing 73 blowfish with some nicer size class fish. Boys did a great job boxing a few dinners up!!

We will be starting our 3hr workman special charters in the coming weeks which include 18 live spot as well as taking the next few days to prep the backwater skiff for our nighttime "artificial only" striper trips - book through the website if interested.

We also designed our October Breast Cancer awareness month logo!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

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Bay blowfish bite continues after the coastal storm - chomping at the bit to hit the sea bass

October 3, 2026 Brett Taylor

We took a pause during the week prior's coastal storm, but got back out this week though we we have been stuck in the bay due to the afternoon winds being non-conducive to ocean sea bass.

We ran a couple 3-hour bay trips for blowfish as fluke season is closed and water has been slightly dirty. First, we had return client Brian, his buddy, and sister-in-law working the bay 2 days after the storm - hit a bunch of spots ending with 42 blowfish - most medium size a few bigger ones.

Next, we had new client John and his grandson Eddy on a 3hr trip afterschool and the water was slightly warmer helping the duo box 54 blowfish - same size class.

We ended the week with return clients Uncle Raffie and Stevie on a 3hr afternoon bay charter. The boys went to work and boxed 77 blowfish with some nicer ones coming in.

Weekend looks like a blowout in terms of sea conditions for sea bass, but hopefully hit some wrecks next week on our charters if the winds and seas cooperate.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

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Thursday and Friday's trips (88 blowfish, followed by 6k fluke to 21 inches.

September 18, 2026 Brett Taylor

Busy past two days - Thursday I had return client Bruce Connor starting late afternoon due to school responsibilities on my part. We worked some areas for fluke, had shorts, but the winds were cranking. Fished the last hour and Bruce boxed 88 blowfish for the table along with some juvenile sea bass, large croakers, and spot. Love flying across the bay in the dark!

On Friday - much better conditions. I had new client Jim Hill and his son who is a member of the USAF on a 4hr bay charter. We worked a variety of spots for fluke in the bay to box 6 keepers in the 19-20 inch range. Released a few and kept a few blowfish for them to try. Solid afternoon trip considering the time limit and not bad for working the bay waters!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Blowfish bonanza - 210 in the cooler in 3 hours!!!

September 15, 2026 Brett Taylor

Blessed with so many great clients - all of them - everyone!! But today I had out return client and one of our country's heroes Terrence M. and his wife Somprasong McConlogue on a 3hr blowfish charter. We worked one spot and the duo boxed 210 blowfish for the table and released probably close to 250. T's wife made me an authentic Thai dinner from their garden which was a bonus and not expected., but delicious!! Cleaned 210 blowfish, helped our blue-crab population, and enjoyed a couple hours on the water with great people!! Back at it this with more trips!!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

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4hr afterschool bay combo - fluke and blowfish!

September 14, 2026 Brett Taylor

I ran an afterschool 4hr combo bay charter with return client Robert Boyle and his two sons. We worked a few areas to sort through 30 fluke while boxing 1 keeper. We switched over to northern puffers (blowfish) and boxed 98 for the table. The guys did a great job, though a tad windy, we managed to work the bay. Back at it again tomorrow!!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Afterschool Ocean Fluke - sloppier seas - lots of shorts and 4 keeps.

September 13, 2026 Brett Taylor

Late report - I had return clients Marty B, Elwood, and Steve on a afterschool Ocean Fluke charter towards the end of the week. Unfortunately we had a little sloppy seas at first and I couldn't go to where I wanted, so hit Plan B choices and the guys worked through a bunch of short fluke to put 4 keepers (all around 20 inches) in box. We had a brief shot at bonita, but they disappeared as fast as they showed up. Seas laid down for a nice ride in - nothing like a September sunset with the lighthouse!

Next week we are completely booked out both bay and ocean, as where are the following week which will end our NJ Summer Flounder season. We will begin targeting wreck fish (sea bass, triggerfish, tautog), until the water cools enough for striper action and we have 125 bonus tags for this season.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Afterschool Ocean Fluke - 8 keepers to 23 inches

September 9, 2026 Brett Taylor

I had a return clients Bob D, grand-daughter Ashley, Joe, and Uncle Raffie on a weekday afterschool Ocean Fluke charter. We had nice sea conditions at first and got to the grounds. We picked at some decent fish, then the south winds came up fairly strong which made the bite tougher - picked some more and ended with 8 quality keepers (only one at 18 - rest 20 to 23 inches). Solid box for short trip.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

4hr bay combination trip - fluke and blowfish (northern puffers)

September 7, 2026 Brett Taylor

We did a morning charter with new clients Ken Shapiro, son Devin, and Jim on a 4-hr bay combination charter (2hr fluke & 2hr blowfish). We worked a few areas for fluke and the boys released close to 25 shorts keeping a solid 21-inch fluke. We switched to northern puffers and the guys worked through a bunch of blowfish to box 36 keepers in 2 hrs. Devin was supporting the new pufferfish tat - pretty cool!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

6 keepers to 5 pounds - solid morning!!

September 5, 2026 Brett Taylor

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I had out new clients Sam Cuda, Will (groom), Brett, Johnny, Ben, and Reed on a bachelor party 5-hr fluke charter. We picked away at some shorts, but moved to find a small piece and the boxed boxed 6 keepers to 21 inches and we dropped a real nice one. The guys also got a shot at a breeching humpback whale and a spinner shark nailing fish on the surface. Solid morning and thanks to Bobbie's Boats Bait and Tackle for our fuel and pick up location!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Late in the week - 3hr afterschool bay charter

September 4, 2026 Brett Taylor

Late in the week, we ran a quick 3 hour afterschool bay fluke charter with new clients 76yr old Jim and his two grandsons. They told be prior to booking they strictly wanted catch and release. We worked a few different areas with live bait and the trio worked through 28 short fluke, 2 keepers (19.5, 23) released, as well as juvenile sea bass, a few weakfish, and spot. We lost another nice one on the spot we live-lined.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Monday's double charters - Ocean 6 keeps and Bay good number of shorts...

August 31, 2026 Brett Taylor

Weekend update - We were headed offshore on another charter for tilefish and mahi at the canyons, but about 23 miles into our 3am departure the skipper ran into some diesel engine/turbo charger trouble. We had to turn around and limp home, but we will be back at it once the issue is rectified.

Monday - I had return client Noel A, his son Matty, son Will (Travis) and Fin on a 5hr ocean fluke trip. Some of the anglers were first timers at ocean fluke, but they learned quick as we used some Minn Kota techniques to box 6 keepers to 6.5 pounds as well as a keeper sea bass.

Our second trip of the day was a bay charter with new clients Heather, Heather, young Ryan and Sam on 3hr bay fluke charter. This was about bending rods and not so much keeper fluke, but we did come close with a few a 1/2 to 1/4 shy. The kids also caught sea robins, sea bass, short fluke, and skate. Topped off the trip with a quick drive-by of the Viking Village scallop fleet!! Great family and kids!!

School year starts tomorrow, but we will be out after the school day on a bay charter. We have 8 more Septembers until full time guiding, but whose counting?

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Friday's charter - Lots of shorts, 6 keepers to 22 inch, and sea bass.

August 29, 2026 Brett Taylor

Thursdays trips were canceled due to winds - Friday I had out Tommy Joseph and crew and we worked a few different spots. We tried for some Bonita early but could only find 2 sparse schools. We switched over to fluke and the boys worked through a ton of shorts, boxed 6 keepers to 22 in as well as their allotted sea bass. The afternoon trip was cancelled due heavy rain and storms.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Solid day - 2 quick charters - 10 keeper fluke to 6 pounds!!

August 24, 2026 Brett Taylor

Busy Monday - double charters 10keeps to 6 pounds.

Morning bite had new client Jack Gelman and his two sons on a quick ocean fluke trip. We mopped up keepers early for the new fisherman and boxed 8k to 6 pounds in 3hrs.

Another quick 3hr afternoon ocean trip with new client Tom Moore of Lavallette with his two boys. Tougher bite with an uncooperative wind but the boys boxed 2 keeps to 20 inch and a ton of short life.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Lots of stops - too many shorts - grinded through to box 6 keepers...

August 20, 2026 Brett Taylor

I had return clients MarTy B, Elwood, Mark and Bob R on an ocean fluke charter. We worked way too many spots to release easily over a hundred short fluke. But the guys grinded to a well earned 6 keepers, 1 sea bass and a chicken mahi.

The afternoon trip was cancelled due to potential for inclement weather.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Early week trips - bay lots of action - ocean better number of keepers with 7 to 5.5 pounds.

August 19, 2026 Brett Taylor

We had 4 trips the last two days with a few bay trips with one young ones from 2 1/2 years old to 4yr old and a solid ocean trip with keepers to 5.5 pounds.

Early in the week I had new client Mark Con of north Jersey with his 2 1/2 yr old little guys, cousins, father-in-law out on a 2hr quick bay trip. In the little time, the crew landed close to 25 fish while boxing a solid 19-incher. Kids did a great job on the boat for their first time.

Next, I had return client Matt W, his two kids Mason / Ellie, brother Matt, and friend Charles. We worked a variety of spots, but could only muster 50+ shorts and a lone keeper at 18.25 inches. Definitely a slower bite for this group as they usually slay.

The next day - we ran a 5hr ocean fluke charter with referred client Frank S, son and friends. We worked a variety of pieces and the boys worked through some shorts to put 7 keeper fluke in the box with 3 of them over 5 pounds along with their alotted sea bass to 18.5 inches.

The second trip of the day had new client Dennis Springer, son and two friends on a 3hr bay trip due to the predicted weather. With not so great tidal conditions, the new crew worked through over 45 shorts, but no keepers to show for the efforts in the bay.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Saturday's ocean charter cancelled due the winds - back at it on Monday!

August 15, 2026 Brett Taylor

Saturday cancelled due to weather - went fishing with my youngest 6 yr old Jake for an hour - nailed a 4.5 pound fluke and then hit the crabbing grounds for an hour - caught a bakers dozen of nice sized blue claws to over 6 inches.

Forgot to post but: Got part of the tattoo filled in this past week @ Slingin Ink in Point Pleasant - hopefully one more 3-4hr session then complete - early Sept!

Sunday day - Rest day - back at it with doubles every day next week - weather / winds dependent!!

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Lots of bay action on shorts, but better keeper action in the ocean!!

August 14, 2026 Brett Taylor

Last two days have been busy on the water with doubles each day - both bay and ocean!

Later in the week - I had return client neighbor Greg on a 4hr charter with his wife and family from Colorado. We had good tide, but poor wind direction which made some of the productive areas tough. The crew worked through 30 shorts to box 2 keepers to 20 inches.

Next, I had return client Victor Eng with his two boys on a 4hr bay trip. Same story, but better winds - lots of shorts - the boys were able to box a few bluefish and a keeper fluke in the mix.

We ended the week in the ocean with Bob Reim and crew on a 5hr Ocean fluke trip. We picked a solid keeper on the 1st drift, but the wind dropped out - making fishing a grind. The boys grinded out 9 keeper fluke to 6 pounds along with their allotted sea bass, plus a lone ling. Grindy morning bite - but the boys did great!

I had new client Chris Youngman on NY with his family on a 3.5hr ocean charter in the late afternoon. With limited time, we hit a few close pieces and the six first time flukers sorted through some 30 shorts to box 3 keepers. Great job as this was their first time in the ocean fluke fishing!!

We do have some new openings for the start of the sea bass season (9/23 to 9/25), so give us a ring; We are also booking our "new" after work special for stripers (3hr weekday afternoon trip) which includes 18 live spot.

Book at trip through www.reelreactioncharters.com

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Busy last few days - nice fish in the ocean to 6lb and good fish to 7lb in the bay!

August 12, 2026 Brett Taylor

Last two days were busy - double and triple charters.

Early in the week - I had return client Robert Boyle on a 4hr Ocean charter we had to work a bunch of different spots as pick a keeper here or there. Nothing great in terms of numbers for the limited time - but picked 5 keepers with a few nice ones to 6 pounds.

2nd trip was with return client Mike Pikulin, his boys, and dad on a 3hr bay trip. The boys did a great job releasing over 55 short fluke with a few just shy of the 18-inch mark. They released a few croakers and lone bluefish also. Especially good on a bad tide. Good luck to Mike's oldest Stephen as he starts his freshman year at Georgia Tech's school of Engineering.

3rd charter - cancelled due to T-storm watch - with storms never materializing.

Triple charter Tuesday (all bay):

Morning trip: I had return client Tom Dillon out with his college buddy and cousin (2nd time fishing for them) on a 4hr bay charter. We worked a bunch areas and the trio released 52 short while boxing 2 keeps at 18.5 and 20 inch.

2nd trip: I had new client Tom Borowski, his wife, and son on a 3hr bay trip fishing a bad tide. We started off with some short life, and moved around along with alot of wind against tide conditions. His son John nailed a beauty at just over 7 pounds on the boga grip in fairly shallow water. They added another 19 inch while releasing close to 46 shorts along with a nice kingfish for the box.

3rd trip: I had new client Ed with his 3 boys on a 3hr bay trip. More of the same for the bay - lots of shorts but tough on keepers at we had a ripping tide and stronger than expected winds. The boys did a nice job for their first-time ever fluke fishing releasing 41 shorts.

We do have some new openings for the start of the sea bass season (9/23 to 9/25), so give us a ring. Book at trip through www.reelreactioncharters.com

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Weekly Report: 8-1 to 8-8: 4 bay charters and 2 ocean

August 8, 2026 Brett Taylor

Weekly report 8-1 to 8-8 (4 bay, 2 ocean):

The early part of the week had 2 cancellations due to the torrential rain. But the rest of the week was doubles with a few ocean trips in the mix when we could get out.

Bay wise - most 3 to 4hr charters are seeing between 45 to 75 short fluke with a pair of keepers. We were kid heavy on trips this past week - which is definitely more about bending the rod than filling the box. Although not targeted, there are some cocktail blues around as well as some spike weakfish engulfing our fluke intended lures. I did notice a good amount of blowfish bites on our bay trips this week - so 3hr bay trips are available targeting puffers- take a look at our availability.

Ocean wise - we had a pair of ocean fluke charters and have been hopping around picking keepers at each spot, but recently there has definitely been a large number of shorts to weed through. Some nice sea bass have been added to the box as well as a few ling.

Our last ocean trip had Alex G and his son Jack out for a 5hr charter and we hit a bunch of small pieces. The guys put 5 keepers in the box with the largest just below 5 pounds, sea bass, and few ling, while weeding through over 50 short fluke.

We do have some new openings for the start of the sea bass season (9/23 to 9/25), so give us a ring. Book at trip (www.reelreactioncharters.com)

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

#Spotlock #MinnKotaNation #BassProShops #Costa #Yeti #PureFishing #Makoboats #NAVICO #Pennreels #Parkerboats #OnTheWater #RackandFin #DSLBI #StCroixRods #yozurilures #CarbonMarine #abelreels #rossreels #FloridaFishingProducts

Bay trips lots of action - Ocean trips much better on keepers to close to 8 pounds!

July 31, 2026 Brett Taylor

Another busy week - spent most of the week in the bay due to bay bookings and the wind. Our afternoon ocean bookings were cancelled or turned into bay trips. Bay fishing has been loaded with action but tougher on keepers which could be due to water clarity and the full moon phase. We had return clients for all of the trips and averaged 50 to 70 fish per 4hr trip with 1 to 2 keepers.

Our ocean trip towards the end of the week was lights out with a mix of return clients - Raffie, Marty, Elwood, Bruce and Robert B on a 5hr ocean fluke trip. We made a run and picked through some shorts to box 13 keepers to 7lb 12oz. Elwood had 3k with the biggest, Raffie 2k, Marty 2k, Robert B 4k, Bruce space, and myself 2k. The boys added a few sea bass and a few dozen ling.

Ocean is definitely the way to go for keepers as long as your not prone to the Atlantic flu or can battle through it!

We are performing some routine maintenance on our vessels and family obligations over the weekend, but will be back at it after the weekend.

~Family, Faith, and Fishing~

Book at trip (www.reelreactioncharters.com)