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Cape Cod and the Islands
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The bonito hit hard on the Vineyard this week, and we're now getting reports from the other likely suspects on the South Side, as predicted last week. It's not that I've got a special crystal ball - it happens this way every year and it's a matter of recognizing the pattern. And that's the way it typically goes for us. A good portion of the sport is getting a handle on the patterns. Learning to recognize them, learning to exploit them for our own benefit. So of late, I've been concerned by a disturbing pattern. Things on the North side of the cape are off, in terms of striped bass and bluefish. The pattern we've been accustomed to isn't there. In fact it's been utterly shattered. Think about it; since when do we see mackeral hanging out in Cape Cod Bay in August? They ought to have left months ago. As several of the guides to the North of Cape Cod noted and I've seen in reports, such as this one from the Bangor Daily News, stating plainly that "Striped bass season on Penobscot 'worst ever'", the season isn't going great for everyone. Let's take a little look at the young of the year index for the years 1954 through 2007:
Courtesy Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
I don't have the answers, but I am certainly willing to ask the questions:
Now, let's take a little look at the commercial bass season in Massachusetts:
If we apply that rate to a full quota catch, at the current catch rate, then we could see, judging on full weeks, that the first three weeks of the season saw 370,391 lbs. taken. Hence the commercial harvest would continue for another 6 weeks, terminating somewhere during the second week of September. Assuming the catch rate per week holds up, which I suspect it will not. BTW, you can follow the commercial catch status here. Granted the way the regulations are setup, it's meant to extend the commercial season, with different limits for different days:
As I've always maintained, the big culprit is the recreational angler. But honestly, I truly hate that the commercial season has become "make a few boat payments season" for many. Leave commercial fishing to the true commercials. As I noted above, I don't have the answers. Let's here your opinion in the Reel-Time Forum. Tight Lines, Mark Cahill
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Yes, it's almost two easy to quote Dickens on this one. To the South, funny fish season and all the hopes and opportunity that it entails. To the North, fruitless boat rides and actionless walks in the sand.![](http://www.reel-time.com/phpthumb/phpThumb.php?src=http://reel-time.com/fishwire/rptimages/juv_bass_graph.gif&w=500")
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Buzzards Bay
Capt. Joe LeClair from North Eastern Anglers reports: Break out your 8 weights it is August ! While the fishing for large Striped Bass has slowed down the fishing for small Stripers and Blues is red hot. This past week we landed a mess of schoolie Striped Bass and Blues on 7 & 8 weights. At the same time the fishing just offshore for Large Blues has been spectacular. The larger blues offshore are 10-15 lbs. and great fun on a 9 weight with a floating line and a popper. In addition we have seen schools of small |
bluefin tuna about 25 miles offshore. They are hard targets and fast movers but when you are in them the are fiesty.
Falmouth & the ElizabethsFunny fish...what more do you need to know? Figure the standard spots, including Woodshole, where the Ferry Captian must be overjoyed that the fish have arrived, Lackeys, and any of the spots up and down the coast you'd expect. The fish move, and you should be prepared to as well. |
The Cape Cod Canal
The only report I have is from BobG and he labels it "Casting Practice" at the ditch. The Cape Cod Times has 20" bass and small blues camped out at the East End. Doesn't quite seem worth the gas for me to go check it out. |
The South Side
Sam Riley reports: No Bones About It! Sorry for the late report but my sashimi skills have slowed some. Hit many of the usual Cape and Island spots today. No Bones were showing but I did find them on the troll. Look for Terns spazing out. If you find Blues move on. |
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Martha's Vineyard
Capt. Phil Cronin at Capawok Charters reports: Martha's Vineyard Fishing Report - August 4, 2008 Weaning Off the Bluefish... This past week has mostly been spent taking families out bluefishing. As I have said in past reports, it is hard work but most satisfying. The kids have all been great and it's nice to have so many parents willing to take on the challenges of light tackle angling. My hat goes off to all the mom's and dad's who have come along to help. The photos really tell the whole tale:
THE BONES HAVE COME IN! Yes that’s the big news around the island. The Atlantic bonito, those drag screaming speedsters have arrived and you don’t have to travel far to find them. In fact, this past Monday they were in Vineyard Haven harbor in very good numbers. No longer will it be necessary to travel out to the shoals to target these fly rodders delight. Now we can target them close to island shores. It's time to fish the 'boneyard' so grab your gear and get in on the action. Some more news to share is that I have been blessed with a grandson. Yup, Captain Phil is a grandpa and that is better than any fish I have ever caught so I will be off to Florida for a brief visit. My daughter and son-in-law live in Deland and I will be visiting them to see the baby for a couple of days. There will not be any report next Monday but I hope to be chasing down those bones next week and keeping you in tune with what’s happening around the island. Tight Lines and screaming drags, Captain Phil Cronin Capt. W. Brice Contessa at Contessa Charters and FishingTheVineyard.com reports:
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few mixed in with a lot of blues this week we’ve seen stronger bonito fishing with some spots holding far more bones than blues at certain stages of the tide. Needless to say we’d rather be fishing for them busting along the beach, but for now the blind blitz will have to do.
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Nantucket
No report from Crossrip Outfitters or Capt. Shawn Bristow at Sqauretail Outffiters this week. They never miss a report...which means they must be very busy...hmmm, didn't they report bonito last week? |
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Chatham, Monomoy and the Outer Beaches
Randy Jones sends in his last report of the season - he's off to Pulaski for the upcoming Salmon season. This is normally the most challenging time of the year to be fishing from shore. So if your having a tuff time of it, dont be to hard on yourself. Ive been doing extremely well for the time of the year and BOY, have these fish kept me on my toes this season. The entire cape is interesting this year. One day hundreds of Bass - Blues and the next only a few, then the next day they are back in big numbers again, etc... Im holding my own and feel extremely lucky to have been able to provide my guest's with fun, interesting, knowledge filled days with a few to "amazing" numbers of fish, while sight/blind wade fly/spin. Obviously mother nature has also been mean to me on a few trips where we didnt hook anything up. Fortunately, this is a rare occasion for myself and my guest's, but you never know, its fishing. :) Each day we always have a presence of fish. Randy Jones |
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North Side
On the whole, I'd go to the South side. Sorry, although the bay has shown signs of picking up, I'm looking for more than just signs. Well, you could fish for tuna. Don't even think about bluefish. |