fisher16
08-15-2006, 09:20 PM
Success beginning to heat up
By Tony Chamberlain, Globe Staff | August 11, 2006
No sooner had we reported on a marked falloff in striper fishing success, owing to the heat wave and lack of appetite that midsummer often brings, the activity spiked in the last week.
Reports from north to south, and from inshore and offshore, paint a picture of very decent striper fishing this week. Almost all fishing success is a direct ration of hours invested by the angler, and that's true here as well. But an hour spent at night, dusk, or dawn is likely to be a much more productive number than in bright daylight. And bluefish can cruise top water at any time, and that wonderful and succulent species, fluke -- sometimes called summer flounder -- can be roused out of their depths just about any time.
Area A -- A few giant bluefin tuna have been taken in the Gulf of Maine. Striper fishing in Boothbay and environs have picked up in the cooler weather, said Captain Giles Kendrew. Bass range in weight from the low-30s to mid-40s, he said, and some football-size tuna have been taken around Tantus Ledge off Portland, Maine. On Jeffreys Ledge, the cod and haddock fishing has been excellent. Pollock and mackerel fishing at Isle of Shoals, Plum Island is a mixed bag with a few stripers at night, and Halibut Point delivered a 47-pounder Thursday morning.
Area B -- Boston-area fishing has also improved, according to Pete Santini, who operates Fishin' FINatics in Everett. A 48-pounder came up around Graves Light in 80 feet of water, and another at Lovells. Stripers and a couple of bluefish were taken in the channel between the gas tanks and Thompson Island. Flounder fishing in the harbor, both blackback and fluke, is still under way. President Roads, Castle Island, and the waters around City Point and JFK Library producing.
Area C -- Small fish along this coast with some keeper bass east of Stellwagen. A few giant bluefin in Cape Cod Bay, and lots of whales to peep at if you need a diversion. A few medium bass have been caught, mostly deep. A Sandy Beach surfcaster took a 44-pound bass at night this week using a live eel. Fishing is fair along the Scituate cliffs, with fair activity in the North River between Bridge Street and the ocean.
Area D -- Smaller fish again in the Canal, though there are some keepers. All are feeding on juvenile herring or bunker, so most anglers are using Kastmasters or some other small tin, the Red Top fishing crew said. Light-tackle time in Buzzards Bay, where the fish come up to the top at night. Fluke at Mashnee Flats are not large, many in the sub-17 1/2-inch limit. Some bluefish around in the western harbors and a few stripers on the eastern tide in the holes through the Elizabeth Islands.
Area E -- The bass have returned to Billingsgate Shoals, reported Captain Hap Farrell from Rock Harbor. Also, good bass in the deeper water north of Billingsgate, as well as big fish around Provincetown and Herring Cove. Some bluefish are feeding in the shallows from Great Island toward the Path, and in the deeper water toward Pamet River. Hedge Fence and Middleground have small to just-legal bass and fluke, with some bonita showing up.
Area F -- Fish on the backside are feeding -- all they needed was quiet weather to reappear. The water has cleared of that pesky weed called ``mung," which gets kicked up in turbulent weather. Some medium-size stripers were found around Monomoy
By Tony Chamberlain, Globe Staff | August 11, 2006
No sooner had we reported on a marked falloff in striper fishing success, owing to the heat wave and lack of appetite that midsummer often brings, the activity spiked in the last week.
Reports from north to south, and from inshore and offshore, paint a picture of very decent striper fishing this week. Almost all fishing success is a direct ration of hours invested by the angler, and that's true here as well. But an hour spent at night, dusk, or dawn is likely to be a much more productive number than in bright daylight. And bluefish can cruise top water at any time, and that wonderful and succulent species, fluke -- sometimes called summer flounder -- can be roused out of their depths just about any time.
Area A -- A few giant bluefin tuna have been taken in the Gulf of Maine. Striper fishing in Boothbay and environs have picked up in the cooler weather, said Captain Giles Kendrew. Bass range in weight from the low-30s to mid-40s, he said, and some football-size tuna have been taken around Tantus Ledge off Portland, Maine. On Jeffreys Ledge, the cod and haddock fishing has been excellent. Pollock and mackerel fishing at Isle of Shoals, Plum Island is a mixed bag with a few stripers at night, and Halibut Point delivered a 47-pounder Thursday morning.
Area B -- Boston-area fishing has also improved, according to Pete Santini, who operates Fishin' FINatics in Everett. A 48-pounder came up around Graves Light in 80 feet of water, and another at Lovells. Stripers and a couple of bluefish were taken in the channel between the gas tanks and Thompson Island. Flounder fishing in the harbor, both blackback and fluke, is still under way. President Roads, Castle Island, and the waters around City Point and JFK Library producing.
Area C -- Small fish along this coast with some keeper bass east of Stellwagen. A few giant bluefin in Cape Cod Bay, and lots of whales to peep at if you need a diversion. A few medium bass have been caught, mostly deep. A Sandy Beach surfcaster took a 44-pound bass at night this week using a live eel. Fishing is fair along the Scituate cliffs, with fair activity in the North River between Bridge Street and the ocean.
Area D -- Smaller fish again in the Canal, though there are some keepers. All are feeding on juvenile herring or bunker, so most anglers are using Kastmasters or some other small tin, the Red Top fishing crew said. Light-tackle time in Buzzards Bay, where the fish come up to the top at night. Fluke at Mashnee Flats are not large, many in the sub-17 1/2-inch limit. Some bluefish around in the western harbors and a few stripers on the eastern tide in the holes through the Elizabeth Islands.
Area E -- The bass have returned to Billingsgate Shoals, reported Captain Hap Farrell from Rock Harbor. Also, good bass in the deeper water north of Billingsgate, as well as big fish around Provincetown and Herring Cove. Some bluefish are feeding in the shallows from Great Island toward the Path, and in the deeper water toward Pamet River. Hedge Fence and Middleground have small to just-legal bass and fluke, with some bonita showing up.
Area F -- Fish on the backside are feeding -- all they needed was quiet weather to reappear. The water has cleared of that pesky weed called ``mung," which gets kicked up in turbulent weather. Some medium-size stripers were found around Monomoy