Cape Cod &

the Islands

July 30th, 2004

I am the Man From Nantucket

Featured Affiliate

Buy a Reel-Time Beer Stein and other great RT gear!

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

Tight Lines!

Dave Churbuck

Buzzards Bay

Captain Joe LeClair reports:

"

Falmouth & the Elizabeths

Captain Bob Paccia reports:

"July 24^th 2004 Shoreline Guide Service Report

Well we’ve had our first full week of hot weather and the Buzzards Bay water temperatures have jumped up accordingly. So far though, we haven’t seen any appreciable drop off in big striper action, but that could be attributed to extra high and extra low new moon tides and the accompanying strong current flows. The dense morning fog that has greeted us each day may also have a given the bigger bass a sense of security as they cruised the flats late into the mornings. The large schools of baby bunker and infant alewives that work their way back and forth between their safe waters of the estuaries and the open bays, have grown measurably larger and are becoming more bold and are venturing further out with each tide change.

 Some good news; breeding-sized Atlantic silversides have shown up in great numbers along the length of the Cape Cod Canal and well up into the bays and estuaries to take advantage of the extreme high tide associated with our recent new moon phase. These large, mature silversides, which can reach 6 ½ inches in length, are a favorite food for large stripers and bluefish. This is an excellent time to cast a 5”-7” Ray’s Fly (a great fly named after its creator, Ray Bondorew of Rhode Island), Clouser’s or Lefty’s Deceivers dressed in traditional “Ray’s Fly” colors (Peacock herl topping over olive or light brown bucktail over yellow bucktail over some flash material over white bucktail. Silversides are “slim-bodied” baitfish, so be sure to tie the materials very sparsely. The Ray’s Fly color combination when tied in a “Clouser-style” tied-on, weighted dumbbell eye is a deadly combination. Remember though, when you tie Clouser’s, the fly rides upside-down or “hook-up”.  Make sure that when the fly rides in the water, the above materials are in the correct color order (darker colored materials are on top and the white underbody bucktail is on the bottom).

 One day this week I fished with Frank Damon, an avid upper New York state freshwater fly fisherman who wanted to try his hand at some saltwater fly-fishing for stripers and bluefish. We met at the Bourne Marina at 5:30 and after a brief discussion on boat safety, using a stripping basket and casting large heavy flies on full sinking lines, we were on our way off to the flats. As we reached our first destination just east of Wing’s Neck, we saw the birds working over some large fish that were busting the surface. Frank was overly excited on his first cast and blew it, dumping his fly less than thirty feet from the boat. After some gentle ribbing from this skipper, he managed a smooth, accurate 60-foot cast that was smashed almost instantly by his first ever striper. You guessed it; his first striper was a “keeper-sized” bass of just over 32 inches. After a number of “Oh my Gods” he finally brought the fish to the boat, lipped it as you would a large mouth bass, posed for a snapshot and released it with a great deal of respect. The fish was not the only one who was hooked. Frank Damon now knew why so many folks are possessed with saltwater fly-fishing.

 I tried to tell him that catching a striper of that size was not the norm, especially on his first or second cast. I tried to explain that usually you have to go through a lot of schoolies before getting a shot at a bass or that size. I’m not sure that he even heard me as he was in the midst of another cast. I watched as his fly, a 6-inch Ray’s Fly that I had tied on for him, sank several feet. He never even got a chance to start stripping the fly. Instantly, his line went tight and as he brought the rod up I could tell that he was on to a really “good” fish. In a flash, all of the line in his stripping basket was air born, tangle and jammed into his second rod guide. You could hear his line whistle under the strain of a big fish, just before that sickening sound of the 20# tippet snapping from the leader.

In the matter of just a few minutes, Frank went from the high of catching his first striper and a “keeper” at that, to the agony of loosing a real trophy fish. All he could say was “Wow, I don’t believe these fish.

 The rest of the morning was much more typical with schoolies from 20” to 26” and a few bluefish to about 8 pounds. All and all, a pretty good trip for freshwater fly fisherman who wanted to try his hand at some saltwater striper fishing.

 As we were shaking hands just before he departed the marina he said, “Now what were you telling me about those other fish, you know those Bonito and False Albacore?’

As I said, “He’s hooked.”

http://www.shore-line.com/

captbob@shore-line.com

The Cape Cod Canal

Reports from the Canal are few and far between this time of year, but, here goes:

JimK reported from a week ago:

"Pretty slow with big rubber from 8 to 1am. I did get 4 fish with one at 33" and another close to keepa size. The other two were about 22". I was on the east end cape side and fished a good number of spots. Fish came from different spots."

BobG says,

"I've had my eye on this west end spot now for a few nights. They didn't know it, but I've been watching these same guys taking them on eels.
I went there last night, nobody around, perfect tide, no wind, I figure I'm all set! Threw plastics for the better part of 2 hours, and was totally denied! Not even a bump.
I didn't want to crowd these guys when I first saw them since they were there first. I went on long range recon Thursday night, found them on their spot. Then I snuck up on them and watched them up real close for the better part of 45 minutes. They took a lot of fish. Many small, but some nice keeper size also. But that didn't matter, b/c I had the rip down pat (at least I thought). So, when I arrived last night to find myself all alone, I figured I'd be in hogg heaven! When, my enthusiasm was short lived.
It's been that kind of season so far... "

Ray reported from Saturday:

"I hit the canal Satuday morning from 0400 - 0730. Saw some breaking fish from 30 feet out to the middle. No takers, small bait coming out of the water. 0600 a swithch was turned and nothing else was breaking or being caught by anyone I saw or heard. I tried various rubber on 2 oz jigs, surface plugs, sub-surface plugs, and poppers too!!! By the end of the mroning it looked like my surfbag threw up."

The South Side

My son Eliot and his buddy Brian went fishing last night under the big moon and got a couple stripers for their trouble. Nothing massive, but they were drifting off the inlet to Popponesset Bay throwing white bunnies and had a great time.

Bluefish continue to be the crowd pleaser, especially in the early morning hours. They are off the beaches -- out of casting range for the shorebound -- but favoring the dropoffs and holes. The rips are choked with with, the terns are making a big fuss over sandeel swarms, and as always, the omnipresent fluke continue to please the kids.

Don't be surprised if the bonito start working the rips from Falmouth to Cotuit. I'd focus my attention on the usual haunts around Waquoit, L'Hommedieu, Hedge Fence and Succonnesset.

Inside the bays is pretty hopeless this time of year, so get a boat and work the rips.

Martha's Vineyard

Captain Leslie Smith from Backlash Charters is out west this week, but we have a report for the island from Steve Purcell, manager of Larry's Tackle Shop in Edgartown:

Reports of bonito are coming in again: They're Baaaacccck. The bonito came in hard for a week around the 15th, and then disappeared. After having moved away from the Vineyard shores (and rips) they've made a return visit. The best (and only) shore reports continue to come in from Menemsha and Lobsterville. Boats are doing well for bonito at the Hooter. While not red-hot, the fishing has been moderate. Weather has affected this fishery lately, with June-like weather (heavy fog, thunder storms, massive cold fronts, etc) stirring things up and cooling off near-shore water temperatures.

Fishing at dogfish bar has picked up again. Heavy winds and cool temps are making striper fishing good all around "up island". There are still a lot of bass in Menemsha harbor. Fly rod bass 20"-38" have been taken regularly on sliders and small sand eel patterns producing regularly. Some nights it can be aggravating with a lot of bait and even more picky bass. Make sure you have a strong hook as I've been getting reports of hook straightening from the night patrols. Besides flies, white sluggos, small Bombers and storm shad are the "go-to" lures.

Wasque and the Cape Pogue gut have been fishing well. The gut has a TON of 2-4# blues, making the bass fishing a little tough. Fly fishing the gut has been most productive dusk-to-dawn. The stretch of Dukes County Beach (between Katama and Wasque) is still closed due to plovers, so the ferry is your only way on- and off-Chappy. Fishermen walking the Chappy beaches report success with big green Roberts lures (2.25-3oz), 2-3oz Kastmasters and Hopkins. The (large) storm shads are also working well on Chappy. If you're out on Chappy fishing, and don't find any action in the 'spot' you're in after an hour, MOVE! There're a lot of fish, and sometimes they just slide in-and-out of the area. Other Chappy spots have been producing: Wind Mill; Chimneys; Rock Pile. There's a ton of bait out there.

The commercial boat guys are having a tough time getting their limits. The weather again slowed things down. Wire, bait, light tackle and fly rodding are doing well in the common spots. The Wasque rips have slowed down a little. Middle ground still has a good amount of fish, but its gradually becoming less productive. There's still plenty of baby squid, baby herring, peanut bunker, sandeels, chubs, cunners and butterfish around... there're still a few tinker macs around!

Bluefish up to 13 pounds have been reported on the South Shore (mostly around Wasque and Metcalf's Hole). Shore bluefish between 3 and 8 pounds are all around the island. Boats in deeper waters are getting blues in up to 15#.

The offshore reports are coming in more frequently as fishermen venture off into the warm summer waters. Before the big winds of last weekend there were bluefin at the 31 fathom hole. A client caught one 60# bluefin casting light tackle! He also reported that a colleague, traveling through the shipping lanes en route to Atlantis, saw tons of schoolie bluefin. On arrival at Atlantis, the colleague trolled up some nice yellows (to 60#) and a couple of long fin tuna. The pelagic fishing is just getting better. There have been nice temp breaks through the dump and the Star, with reports of schoolie bluefins around the Inside fingers, the claw and the fingers. I have a few friends out there now, and will give a report when they make it dockside.

Get out there!

Nantucket

Captain Lynne Heyer from Crossrip Outfitters reports:

"I have a special and different report today. I am writing to see if any one of our readers/customers/subscribers would be interested in participating in the first annual Nantucket Slam Tournament, September 12-14th. The Nantucket Slam to benefit the Cystic Fybrosis Foudation is quickly approaching. We are inviting avid angler’s with or without their own boats to join us for two days of competitive fishing. To accommodate various boat sizes and styles of fishing three categories are offered; Fly Fishing Spin/Plug and Trolling. This is a catch and release tournament consisting of two person teams. You may sign up as a single anger and we will provide you with another team member. There are no team prizes but we will be fishing in pair’s. Awards will be in each category the most releases and the biggest fish in length. Special Bonus points will be awarded after achieving your first Slam. Super Bonus points will be awarded if you get all four species of inshore fish. The tournament committee is looking for 50 anglers to join us and have a great time fishing around Nantucket Island. If you would like to join the Nantucket Slam email me back and I will get the necessary paperwork to you. Thank you, Capt.Lynne. "

The Outer Beaches, Chatham & Monomoy

Randy Jones reports:

"Hold on to your socks as these upcoming tides will be magical. Starting to see a lil more bait around in the shallow's, beach's and channels which will help. Some flats loaded with big ones while other's just the occasional big fellow. Some flats holding a lot of lil guys? This week has been mostly feast or famine. Working our butts off for a couple fish (but at least getting shots at more and bigger) while sight fishing or catching one on almost every cast. Seeing and catching large Bass on the flats and then the next day they disappear. Hmmm

1. Kinda like a box of chocolates. :)
2.  Fishing has been super HOT and cool, depending on a vast number of variables that each day hands us in it's unique way.

As the tides increase in speed, so shall the fishing for most, but not all. Tides getting better and better.
Tides have improved and you should notice a difference in number's of fish and bait present. Most already have

Things are looking good for early August. Maybe time to call in sick to work or take a few vacation days.

The North Side

Guinessx2, in his first posting ever, shared this epic report: Fly fishing it isn't, but it is an indication that Cape Cod Bay is the place to be these days.

"Headed out to a “well known” spot in south central Cape Cod Bay around 5:30 a.m.. Patchy to dense fog and FAC. I decided that when in Rome do what the Romans do, so I broke out the lead core line and a tube and worm for the first time. I let out the appropriate amount of line, trolled about 150 yards…..WHAM… lobster gear. I rescued my tube, attempted another pass and WHAM…more lobster gear, and this time I loose a brand new $9.00 tube. So at this point, I’m starting to get real frustrated and realize that there is a bit of a learning curve to leading a lead core rig through a mine field of lobster gear.

So….. as I start to tie on another tube I notice that there are some “small” fish busting about 75 yards ahead of me. Aaahh, just what the doctor ordered, a few schoolies on top water to take the edge off, and beat the “skunk”. So I take a light spinning rod (10 lb. test) and toss a rapala skitterwalk at the school. I work the plug about 10 ft. and Kabooooosh, like a good old American Standard with high water pressure, my plug disappears, and my drag starts screaming for mercy. Several tense moments and 10 minutes later I boat and release a nice 40”.

So now I’m thinking that I just totally lucked out. If the day ended there I would have been happy. I decide to go where I last saw the school (GPS is critical in the FOG). Sure enough they are still there. I decided that I needed a little beefier tackle so took out a 7ft conventional with 15 lb test and tied on a small polaris popper. I cast into the school, pop-pop-pop- WHAMMM!, another 40 incher. Next cast…. 43”. As I am reeling in these fish I can see 4 or 5 other similar size or larger fish following the one I’m fighting. WOW!!!!

After that last fish, I decided that it is taking me way to long to whip these fish and then re-find the school. So I break out the “MEAT STICK” (8ft conventional eel rod, 30lb test) and tie on a 3 oz. polaris popper. I managed to find the school again, cast the polaris and instantly am on again. This time I boat and release a 45” (30+ lb) beauty. Next cast I’m working the polaris fast watching four 20 lber’s chase my plug, when out of nowhere big mama comes up and annihilates it. Now I got a battle on my hands! The old girl makes two fairly long runs, then dives and starts sulking. I slowly work her up towards the boat after about 10 minutes and get a glimpse at her. She’s HUGE! Then she sees the boat and dives again. I feel line dragging over rocks……dink….GAME OVER!

I managed to catch a total of eight fish from about 36” to 45” all on top waters before the bite died.

Then I switched back to the tube and worm and finally got the hang of “pot dodging”. Over the next hour and half I managed another 6 fish between 32” and 42” on the tube & worm before the bite died. I finished the morning off with a dozen 6 to 8 lb. blues on poppers and light tackle. These fish were on the surface, a little farther out in the bay.

Without question this was one of my best trips ever. This is my first year with a boat, and to say the least I am having a ball. A fly rod would have been fun today, but it would have been tough with all the lobster pots and rocks.

Sorry, I’ve carried on for so long, but I figured that since it was my first time posting I better make it good."

ScottNE reports:

"Nice day on the water. Fish were on top a good part of the day. Most were blues, with a 30-40 pound school of bass on the fringes at times. Had some fun bouncing around the bay in the flat seas before settling into the area that has been productive. Fish had moved again but once we found them we got several good passes. Buddy caught the longest fish I've ever seen at some 49" but surprisingly it was only 36 pounds or so. Others were from 12 pounds to 30 pounds. Some blues up near 15 pounds and they seem to be getting bigger every day. No dogs today which was good. Not sure what I'm doing wrong the last few days but I keep losing big fish either to bad gear or hooks being tossed, I think I need to back off on the drag on the bigger fish as I'm wearing holes in their mouths on the way in...or in my leader

Friend pulled up next to us late in the day and managed 4 keepers in an hour, biggest was 30 pounds."