This is a tale of two trips. One along the shore of the Delaware Bay, the other on the ocean side. We hit the Bay side last night based on some killer reports of large stripers being caught on bait and plugs. So, Idgie, Bubbalouie and I met up with John and Trevor. We set up a rod each with chunks of bunker and cast them out with high hopes. You couldn't have asked for a better night. It was comfortable with a slight westerly breeze. The sky was clear with loads of stars, a few meteors blaIng past, and even two satellites cruising past. Despite the gorgeous conditions, our baits went untouched for most of the night. About the time we thought we'd run out of sandy real-estate, the encroaching flood tide turned. We hoped the fishing lull would change with the tide. Instead The trash fish turned on. I landed a big doggie and then a skate. That was it for the night. Woke up at 6am this morning with hopes for better fishing. Gathered the gear back up and raced over to my spot along the shore and met up with Chris. Chris beat me there by thirty minutes. He was smarter than me and stayed in last night. He already had two rods set up and had just released a doggie. I set up three rods to try out a variety of baits; bunker, fresh clam, and salted clam. It was a really nice morning with a light breeze and small surf. I set the rods out and we waited. I noticed the guy fishing two hundred yards or so south of us landed a decent striper. About that time my bunker rod got assaulted by a doggie and the rig broke off. Shortly after the rod with the salted clam bent over screaming! I snatched it up and battled the beast as it took off down the beach. I managed to get it under my one rod, but it somehow wrapped up both of Chris's lines. I finally wrangled it into shallow water and leadered it onto the beach. We unhooked her and did a quick photo shoot and then walked her out into the wash to get her revived and released. She was about 44 inches. We spent the next ten minutes untangling the mess the bass made of Chris's lines and then got reset. Chris had to leave shortly after for some work related duties. Lisa popped down to hang out with the dogs and I. The bite pretty much stopped after the morning excitement. I managed a doggie and a skate afterward. I stayed until noon hoping the bite would pick up on the dropping tide. Didn't happen. The ospreys put on a spectacular show at least, pinwheeling and diving and carrying off the occasional bunker. The terns joined in picking off unsuspecting baitfish in the surf. So, two very different outcomes, but a great time overall. Time spent fishing is never wasted... Tight Lines!