Good advice. Even when I had my 16 foot Starcraft semi vee with 50 HP motor, I sometines had problems with rough water and cross or opposing wind. Many times I would have to cross directly into waves to avoid capsizing withy a high wind blowing directly front to back. That is why I c9onsidered it important enough to have enough motor power to handle the boat safely in such conditions.

If you are going to not use gas power motor, 0please opt for the higher pound thrust troller. Even on a small pond, that wind can make it difficult to maneuver and get back to dock.

If you are thinking to up to a 14 footer, I recommend a 14 foot deep vee aluminum. A 55 lbs thrust trolley will do fine but If the lake or pond is more than 50 to 75 acres, make sure you have a high capacity battery.

Congratulations! Terrific fighters. I remember many larger o,nes caught many years ago on the Atlanticside of the Rockaway jetty

Fished the Delaware from Trenton south to Burlington. Lots of big lm bass, 20 to 30 pound carp, stripers near Burlington and once caught a small 10 pound muskie. It is tidal from Trenton South and has at least a 60 foot deep channel. When the wind blows strong from the N or NE or NW , it can get choppy and small motors might cause difficulty in navigating. Last time I was there, about 12 years ago, the ramp in Trenton was really good place to launch.

It just means you have to fish a bit smarter than usual. My favorite LMB cold front tactic was to use a 1/2 - 1 ounce walking sinker (depending on depth and boat speed) on a spreader . Attach a floating Rapala minnow with a 30 inch leader to the top arm of the spreader. Sometimes I would tie a white marabou feather about 12 inches back as a teaser. I would then slowly troll the edges of drop offs or channels. My largest LMB ever at 7 pounds was caught this way on a bright first day of a cold front.

When does the Winter Flounder migration to Quincy Bay and Boston Harbor start?

Some parasites leave cysts in the meat of the host. Make sure you totally freeze and then thoroughly cook those filets.

A branch of the Millstone near E. Windsor. Got it on 6 pound test and light action rod.

Been fishing for more than 75 years and have done well enough when it rained on my outing. My largest fluke (Yankee summer flounder) at 14 pounds came during a Summer downpour. Another personal best chain pickeral of 7 pounds (NJ state record at that time was 11 pounds approx) hit a rapala minnow near the bank during an April shower. As long as there is no lightening or violent winds, why not?

Being around a few more years than most of you, I have successfully used whole or half corks from wine bottles to safely keep hooks of all sizes in my tackle boxes.

First crack of dawn . But that's fishing. Catching? Anytime I can.

I often used canned corn as a chum and also an attractive above the worm bait when fishing for Northeast winter flounder.

It is common to interchange flounder and fluke but in the Northeast, they are completely different types of flatfish. The "Yankee" flounder typically comes at 1 to 3 pounds with an occasional 4 to 5 pounder. Mostly fished and caught in early spring or late fall on small hooks with sand or blood worms. Small bits of mussels or clams sometimes work.

The "Summer Flounder" or Fluke can run from 1 to 2 pounds to as much as 20 although that is a rare catch these days. My personal best was 13 pounds near Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn many years ago. All the baits and lures described work well. What worked for me way back when was a fish finder rig with 1 yo 3 ounces of lead using a Billie fish and wedge shaped fresh squid. Managing a drift along the edge of a channel was usually productive. Wish I could go back and find them again!

If cleaned and filleted (especially removing the top dark oily meat ) the resulting broiled or baked steaks approach Mako steak quality.

We used to call them "killies" in New Jersey