Newport 5/10/01:

Launched at 5:30am, landed at 9:30am. Wasn't a summer screamer, but it was fun. 12 total, 8of which were legal. Like I said the other day, it's morning bite. I had 9 fish between 5:30 and 7:30, then 3 more in the last 2 hours. Works out to a fish every 9 min. the first 2 hours and i fish every 40 min. the second 2 hours. The tide did swing to a push around 8am, but it never really moved in either direction. I had to kick where ever I went, no slacking for me today.

Mixed between spotties and sand bass. Most where bigger models, up to a 3# sand bass. Only 2 did I even have to think about measuring. All where taken on freakbaits rigged weedless. All but one were on a C-rig. Greens and reds both worked.

Here's my question; anybody know what causes a fouled hook set? I had 6 fish today which were foul hooked. Including, one that was butt hooked like a big a$$ biat and 2 hooked in the eye. Am I doing something wrong here. I've never put much thought towards it, until today. Can't think what it could be, unless I'm too slow on the set (which I am). Felt really bad about one of the eye hooked ones. The hook went straight through the middle of the eye. It didn't swim away too quick either. But I figured it had a 100% better chance of living than if I'd taken it home.

Amish Ed

Two things that might help. 1. Fish with the hook exposed. Newport doesn't have that much to hang even if you're fishin' hectic structure.Lead heads work great.
2. Real like crazy while you swing