Friday, April 27, 2018

Haddock.com

We got an invite from an old friend, Capt Dave of the Tuna.Com, to fish aboard his new boat. We headed to Gloucester MA with the Skylarker crew, and had a trip to remember. Not only was the fishing outstanding,but we got to fish aboard a "fishing yacht" and had a ball reminiscing old times and catching up on life's events. The whales put on a show as we arrived on the fishing grounds and when we set anchor in 130 feet, it was game on. Many double headers and we were throwing back keeper sized fish, retaining only the largest. There is a prohibition on cod in the Gulf of Maine, and we could only keep haddock, but it was easy to reach the limit of twelve per person. I put on a jig and fly and had non stop action on cod and bigger haddock. I wanted to keep track of the number of cod I released, and landed thirty between five and fifteen pounds! We had so many fish we were back at the dock at one o'clock. Many thanks to Dave and Sandro for an excellent fishing experience. Check out the pictures on the Tuna.com facebook page.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Maybe it is Spring

We tried casting at the beach for a few hours this morning and it was cold as.... but warmed up quickly as the sun rose into the clear sky. I had a nice fluke that looked to be about seventeen inches or so follow my bucktail but did not bite. When I took the jig out of the water, it would turn and move back to the deep. I would cast right back there and it would follow the lure to my feet. And I was standing in the water. And it did this three times! Oh well, next time. Don't forget last chance for blackfish until fall, next Sunday, 4/29.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

A Start to the Season

We made our first trip of the new season. While the temperatures are still cold, you cold feel spring trying to break through. The ocean was flat calm and it was like fishing in a tea cup. The first drop was very lively and we ended with a nice little catch of blackfish. Four keeper sized cod also were boxed. The fish bit both clams and crabs, with clams being better as usual in the spring. We are going to run another open boat next Sunday, 4/29 for the last day of blackfish season.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

A Fishing Report

Another try at flounder fishing this week was no good. We had a few bites but saw only one small fish landed. Friday was forecast to be warm, so we changed tactics and headed for the beach. The wind was up all night and we did not know what to expect on our first trip of the season to our favorite surf spot. It was still blowing pretty good when we arrived and no one was around. I rigged a couple light rods with lures and we headed out to make some casts. As the morning passed the wind died out and it was fun casting into clear waters and we were pleasantly surprised with some bites and landed a few schoolie stripers, the first fish of a new season. We were the only ones out on the point and had the whole beach to ourselves. There were birds working about a half mile out in the inlet and it looks like spring may finally be here.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Spring Fishing

Well, about 1/4 of the spring has passed, but you will never know it. It has been cold as winter with wind, rain and snow. We have been trying to catch a winter flounder after the good fishing last fall, but so far it's been a bust. The weather forecast called for a sixty degree day yesterday and we grabbed our gear and headed out for a few hours. It was pouring rain and thirty eight degrees on the way to the river and the day started cold and wet. A few regular anglers were on the pier and reported the first six fish were caught Easter Sunday. We saw osprey, laughing gulls and oyster catchers, making us think spring had arrived, but the waters remain cold and barren. Around the time of the tide change, one fisherman landed a big flounder, about eighteen inches. I also had a bite, that tap-tap of a flounder that kept hitting the bait on the lift but never taking it. After three hours we threw in the towel and will try one more time next week. I commented to another angler that the fluke will be in before the flounder start biting.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

A Fishing Trip

I guess we are all ready to go fishing. I have scheduled an open boat trip for blackfish on Saturday April 21. The weather is holding the season back, and the bite should start soon. Let me know if you want to go.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Happy Easter

Do you believe they have snow in the forecast for tomorrow? The strong spring sun wants to warm the inshore waters, but snow has a negative effect. Still very little life in the ocean, and I don't expect anything to happen until the middle of the month. Happy Easter, enjoy the day.