Cape Cod &

the Islands

May 9th, 2003

There's Fish for the Finding

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Sure, it's been a slow start to the season here on Cape Cod. Water temperatures are just cracking 50 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and that, as we all know, is basically the magic number for fish. We hear down at the Town Dock that the squid harvest out in Nantucket Sound has been a bit of a bust for the commercial guys, and have heard further complaints that the other two spring commercial species -- tautog and sea bass -- have been slow to deliver. A look around the harbor here in Cotuit, and there's still more winter sticks than floats on the moorings, let alone boats, although I did launch mine on Sunday, making it one of the first in this spring.

It's not this season, but great photos are great photos. Jim Lukas says of this photo "The fish was caught at the beginning of drop tide at Hedge with a fast sink line and a blonde clouser tied by the older girl from the butt-hairs of our yellow Lab, her name is Erica Lukas..His name is Alex, name of the fly is Alex's Azz."

I'm seeing lots of flyrodders around Cotuit, some at Handy's Point, most around the Narrows, but I have yet to see a fish come out of the water. Me? I've yet to wet a line -- repainting a peeling house comes first -- and the usual parade of cars with rod racks on their way to Oregon for the first charge of bluefish hasn't happened, and that usually gets me off my butt and on the water.

There are fish around, and like most early stages of the season, catching them depends on the time and tide and how much sun there's been to warm things up.

To the reports. I phoned longtime contributor and sponsor Captain Kris Jop on Thursday afternoon to tell him these reports had started. His first booking isn't until later in the month, but he had some interesting news. Kris teaches a class at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy on oil spill management and had some good news out of the bad news from the recent oil spill in Buzzard's Bay.

He says the cold water temperatures have kept the oil from emulsifying or breaking up, making clean up efforts a lot easier. The area that has been hardest hit is the southwestern shoreline from Fairhaven to Mattapoisset. The greatest ecological harm, he says, is to birds, especially scarce species like terns and plovers, and shellfish. His final assessment -- it's bad, but not as big of a disaster as it could have been.

Thanks in advance to those Reel-Timer's who took me up on my plea for contributors to the reports. I received some great mails, discovered a neighbor I didn't know I had, and even received some great pictures.

Schwag? Did someone say "Schwag?" Get off your duff and buy a Reel-Time t-shirt or sticker for your stripping basket! Visit the R-T store today!

Get out there, break the winter skunk, and send me a report and a photo for next week!

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

Tight Lines!

Dave Churbuck

Buzzards Bay

Opie Taylor reports in the New England Forum on the oil spill: "There is a lot of cleanup work going on in Mattapoisett. Some of the worst has been in the area of Brant Island and the end of Mattapoisett Neck. If you are shorebound, you will probably encounter tarballs just about everywhere. They can make a mess of your shoes or waders. There is also some oil being moved around by the waves, so dont be surprised if your line gets oiled. Dont imagine #6 oil is too good for fly lines. The Wareham area along with Bourne and Falmouth would be better choices. Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Mattapoisett were hardest hit, but there are relatively clean areas in each town.

Captain Terry Nugent of Riptide Charters has been busy:  One day last week he reported: "Well the curse is finally off. I went out to test my buddy's new 192 Mako and we took the rods with us. Three fresh bass between 14"-18" at Shell Point. Nothing at the other normal areas. Water temperature was 54.3 at the top of the incoming tide ... Rubber and lead and Yo-Zuri's were the hot ticket. Hope to see some of you guys there.

And later last week he wrote: "I went back to Shell Point this evening after getting a few mid-day on the wrong tide. I got there around 1530-1600 and picked up a few quickly. I went for about a half hour without much action. Then they turned on nicely. A color change to chartreuse didn't hurt either. Within an hour or so I landed between 30 and 40 fish {emphasis mine, DC} up to 18"ish. I lost at least that many due to short strikes and some very small fish. I was able to share my good fortune with a father and son that were fishing nearby. The father said he was hoping to get his son "Justin" his first fish. Justin looked to be about 3 or 4 years old and quite accomplished with his little spin cast outfit. I hooked a decent schoolie at the end of a looong cast and offered it to the pair. I waded out of the water and handed little Justin the rod. With the help of his dad, and a ton of determination, Justin beached the massive 15" bass in a manner that would have made even a beach veteran like Tony proud. I unhooked the fish and after a quick touch and a pat on the head sent it back where it came from. The father was pleased, but not as much as little Justin. A little while later I saw another fisherman give Justin #2 for the day. I think the little guy is off to a great start. After that I waded back out and continued to educate the schoolies on the dangers of Chartreuse Shad. Just as the tide turned "Big Cat" showed up and joined me for some casting practice. I was able to grab one more after the turn but that was plenty for today. Several kids said they had come from the Narrows where numerous people were hitting fish to 25", some on topwater. A report confirmed by several sources said that a 28.5" was landed yesterday in the narrows. I had no luck there this afternoon, but that's certainly not to say when the tides right it's not a hot spot also. Anyone else have any reports on the Buttermilk Narrows? Lures of choice today were rubber shad (chartreuse and silver/black) on 1/2oz. heads and Yo-Zuri's. Last hour or so of the outgoing was key. Water was mid 50's and the wind was light this evening. All in all a great evening, super sunset and a ton of fresh little fish"

Great report Terry! Thanks!

Falmouth & the Elizabeths

No real reports from Vineyard Sound this week. Phil Cronin -- aka Makonikey -- reports the rumor of a bluefish being caught, which wouldn't be too surprising, but would be the first news I've heard of the toothy ones.

The Cape Cod Canal

The inimitable bdowning -- one of the original Reel-Timers, and a true fishing machine -- reports: "The Canal is, at best, just starting. I didn't see anything caught but there are scattered reports of low legal fish here and there by herring chuckers. I think it will come on quickly in the next few days though."

The South Side

The south side from Mashpee to Chatham seems to be the hottest spot in the region.

Cotuit, as always, is delivering fish.

Yozuri-Man writes: "The report is fish, but not a ton of them. Their in several areas including the very crowded after work spot. I have or seen others catch fish from oregon to princes. All rats, schools not very thick except the one near bluff at daybreak a few days back. Cast after cast, so nice!! No bait seen at all  Oh yeah, small clousers or bucktails or jighead w/ white curly tail grub. By next weekend there should be more and bigger bass....."

Let's hope so. Ray wrote: "I fished Oregon Beach Saturday at sunset. I managed two monster stripers in the 20 inch range. They were my first of the year so I'm not complaining."

Jim Pod was fishing with Ray but didn't know it (another reason to get a Reel-Time sticker for your bumper or your stripping basket!):  He was at Loop Beach where he "... walked out to the drop off with an older guy (Ray). No luck Sat. but two monsters of 14 & 15"on Sunday same time.  I did see some very small 1"
very-thin bait way out on the bar as well as two schools of herring being chased by something that scared them into the air. So something of size is around."

And to the east, at the appropriately named Bass River, our correspondent the BassRiverFlyGuy reports: "We had some success in the Bass River finally this weekend. Plenty of schoolies all day Sunday. Lots of bait in the water too. Can't wait for the big ones! We caught them upriver and at all tides and times. They just kept coming back in schools. Any fly will work.There are lots of sand eels in the river right now as well as the herring....

Martha's Vineyard

Charlie Stula with a MV keeper taken 5/2 - courtesy of Phil Cronin

Captain Leslie Smith at Backlash Charters emailed us this report: "Well, "Backlash" is now in the water, rigged and ready to go! All I need now is some better weather and more fish. The first keeper of the season was taken this week from Wasque, which has been the only spot producing. This is very typical, albeit a couple of weeks late, and most of the fish are in the mid to large schoolie size. Rumor has it that a bluefish was taken in the Sound. Squid is scarce, with the nighttime dock jiggers only getting a few. Blueback herring were more cooperative, with the dock boys getting all they want on the smallest of Sabiki rigs. Commercial guys targeting black sea bass are complaining as the fish either aren't potting or they're just not here yet. I expect the cold water temps have slowed everything up by a couple of weeks, which may be a good thing, as it will extend our great early season a little later."

Phil Cronin posted a picture of that keeper on the forums. He reported: "Here is a photo of MV Surfcaster's member, Charlie Stula, with the first keeper sized striper taken this year. It was caught on May 2 at around 7:00 am."

Nantucket

Not much going on around Nantucket. Bill Pew at Bill Fisher's Tackle reported things are quiet: "There's no fish yet. At least I haven’t seen a one. I keep hearing rumors, but if someone had a keeper they'd drag it all around town showing it off."

Jeff Heyer at Cross Rip Outfitters echoed Bill's un-report. "There's not a whole lot going on. Some guys went out on Monday and picked up a fish, but there was no real size to it. It did have stripes on the side and it had a tail on one end. That was from a boat, I haven't heard anything locally from the beach.". 

The Outer Beaches, Chatham & Monomoy

Jay Horton emailed me earlier in the week to say there are twinkies swimming around Pleasant Bay. Note in your calendar that the Fifth Annual Reel-Time Monomoy Conclave is happening on Saturday, June 14th. See the New England forum for details and more will be posted at the date draws near.

The North Side

And on the north side of the Cape, the last region in the area to see fish -- but the one that seems to hold them all year long in the creeks -- The Scorton Creek Kid reports: "Still no fish at the Creek, this weekend. Great tides and a beautiful day to fish on Sunday. The rip is still going to the left of the Creek mouth. Be careful when wading the left side, there are some quick drop off near the channel. Also the hole on the left side is starting to shape up."