Boston
Metropolitan
Region

January 16th, 2004

The Economic Exclusion Zone

Featured Affiliate

Orvis Christmas Island Fly Selection 10 flies, $25.00 plus shipping.

Management of striped bass outside of the traditional 3 mile limit falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. Late last week it came to my attention that the rules not only preclude keeping striped bass from the EEZ, as I had thought, but also fishing for them. Here's a link to the regulations. The following excerpt from them should be fairly clear:

(b) Atlantic striped bass fishery. In addition to the prohibitions
set forth in Sec. 600.725 of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person
to do any of the following:
(1) Fish for Atlantic striped bass in the EEZ.
(2) Harvest any Atlantic striped bass from the EEZ.

The funny thing is, there are an awful lot of boats fishing Stellwagen. In fact the Boston Globe reports this morning that someone caught a striper this week which still had a rod and reel attached to it. They also mention that it's been wall to wall boats out there.

The problem we've got is that the rules are worthless if there is no one out there enforcing them.

Dealing with the summer doldrums...

Capt. Derek Spingler from First Light Anglers had this take on what to do when things get hot, but the fishings not...

As far as summer heat and fishing, make like a werewolf, and run for it when you see the sun!! Or else get yourself a nice big cooler full of fresh herring!! Derek

Don't forget to send me your own reports, and until next week...

Tight Lines!

Mark Cahill

Boston Harbor

Capt. Wayne Frieden of Reel Dream Charters had this:

Saturday, July 19, 2003:  Had the pleasure of taking out Erich Holmsten and Doug Carlson  this morning for their first fly rod stripers in Boston Harbor. Shortly after first light, we found a nice school of bass under working terns in Dorchester Bay. These were user friendly fish and not particularly selective in terms of size or color. Clousers and half & halfs were equally effective fished on fast sinking lines. After the action died out, we found a few more  bass in Quincy Bay but didn't mark any fish or much in the way of bait there. We decided to head north toward the bottom of the tide and found a couple more willing bass to take our flies. BTW, the area east of the Graves was loaded and I mean loaded with dogfish. We made a half-hearted attempt to catch some dogs on the fly but managed to foul hook only one on a jig (your's truly at the other end of the rod). Other folks had more success getting the dogs to take their flies so I'm sure we would have had better luck had we persisted. All in all, a great day on the water! 
 
Thursday, July 24, 2003: Took Toby Walters of New Mexico and his friend Matt Montefusco of Cohasset out for some fly and light tackle fishing. Managed to get in some decent fishing in between the wind and rain drops. Found fish on top under working birds in one of the bays just after first light. Half & half's and bucktail jigs worked well and color was not a determining factor. When these fish are hungry they will eat! Toby especially enjoyed catching his first stripers on the fly but it was Matt who fooled a nice 31"  fish on a chartreuse/white bucktail jig.

Until next time,we'll see you out there...
 

Capt. Wayne
 
 

Capt. Wayne Frieden
Reel Dream Charters
fish@reeldreamcharters.com
PO Box 274
Scituate, MA 02066-0274
617-909-7122
 

Capt. Bill Smith of Draggin' Fly reports:

Sunday's dawn minus tide forced a later start than the norm. On board was
Russ Bowden of Pembroke who invited friends Max and Bob from Pennsylvania.
The morning bite was missed but Bob managed a bass on the first drift at
Hangman's Island. The crew tried several spots before finding a small pod of bass and
blues on the Deer Island Flats. A few more bass were taken on soft body shads
along Black Rock Channels. The Draggin' Fly moved into shallow water to hunt
bass. The wind picked up making it difficult to sight cast but Bob and Russ
caught a few bass and blues on soft jerk baits. Max found difficult fishing on
the fly rod but when he switched to a Boston Harbor Bunny Maribou he soon was
on to bass.

Monday, Dan Shea of New Hampshire, a regular aboard the Draggin' Fly
entertained noted outdoor writer and avid striper fisherman, Jack Fallon. A pod of
small bluefish was encountered in Quincy Bay and the crew managed a few bass
before the school broke up. Bass and blues were located in very skinny water
but proved to be difficult to hook. Jack fished light tackle and Dan used a fly
rod. Today, the fish showed a strong preference for Jack's soft jerk baits.
The crew jumped only a few large fish. Most were small schoolies and small
bluefish.

Tuesday, fly rodders Damon Reed of Norwell and John Kieley of New
Hamnpshire decided to fish shallow water and sight cast to fish. This required a
later start in order to allow for incoming tide to flood the flats. John used a
small clouser to catch bass up to legal size. Damon tried a number of his own
flies until he found a purple and white mush fly that got the attention of the
bass. When the wind increased causing a chop on the water, the crew was forced
to retreat, since sight casting was no longer possible.

On Thursday, Gerry Feeley of Waltham fished with Captain Bill. There was
a short early morning bite in Dorchester Bay that lasted less than an hour.
Bass were taken on soft jerk baits when they were feeding on the surface. Vivif
jigs and olive/white Half 'N Halfs got their attention when they held deep.
The flies outfished the spinniung tackle on this trip. After the dawn action,
Captain Bill searched the airport flats and Lower Middle without any success.
Moving inside Quincy Bay on the incoming tide, the bass were found in deeper
water than the past few days. But Gerry caught a few more before the day was over.

Paul Snell of Danvers, an avid fly fisherman who had experienced the
"Hahbah's legendary" top water action, booked this tide several months ago so that
his two nephews, Jonathan and Patrick, could cut their striper teeth. The
fish did surface at first light in Dorchester Bay but they drove bait so fast it
was impossible to stay on them. Jonathan, who had been practicing his casting,
was the first to connect. He caught a bass on a Vivif jig and another on the
teaser fly. Patrick worked hard but luck did not shine on him. Several times
bass rushed his jerk bait but missed the hook. Patrick caught the only bluefish
of the trip that doubled over his spinning rod.

Saturday, Paul Lindsay of Newton, a Draggin' Fly regular, was joined by
teenage sons, Ben and Daniel. Captain Bill pushed off in the dark, the best bet
for getting in on the surface action. A school of bass was found crashing
bait in Dorchester Bay. Ben was the first to hook up on a soft jerk bait. Daniel
, using a Vivif jig fished with a teaser fly, hooked two large bass at once.
Paul also hooked up several bass using a maribou clouser on his fly rod. Moving
off shore, the crew managed a few more bass and some blues. Paul hooked up
what appeared to be a hefty fish that didn't react like a bass or blue. It
pulled steady but made no serious runs. When the mystery fish came to the surface
all were surprised to discover that a shark had eaten a chartreuse flat wing
fly. A fitting endiong to a great day of fishing.

South Shore

No reports on the record for the South Shore this week.  Expect to find action amongst the rocks at places like Minot.  Bluefish can be found during the day over deeper water, often holding 30-40' down.  Duxbury Bay and Plymouth have slowed up, but are still holding fish.  I am still hearing reports of good fish coming from the rocks to the south.  Also hearing reports of some bigger fish in the Canal which means they could easily head north.

North Shore

Capt. Randy Sigler of Sigler Guide Service reports:

The Merrimack River

Capt. Charles Crue of Channel Edge Charters had this news: