Where is the Bonito Bar?

[David Churbuck]

All this talk about the Bonito Bar and all I can deduce is that is is off the west end of Nantucket, near Smith Point.

Can anyone be more specific? Is this a place for a solo fisherman or is a driver mandatory? How big of a rip are we talking about? Will it eat an 18 foot CC? How crowded is it? What's the etiquette for fishing it?
Questions, questions, questions.

Steve Moore: what's your phone number?

dcc

[Bob Parsons]

Pass by Smith Pt. towards the open ocean. You may see a line of breakers a couple hundred yards out. That's the bar. From what I saw. boats anchor up outside the breakers/ There were not that many boats the day I made my visit. Dave my boat is a 17.5' and once through the breakers I felt comfortable. Ideally we need a day with a quiet ocean, no off shore swells and no s-sw wind. Coming back was a bit easier, tide was higher and found a less hairy route back over the bar.

I suppose on could also get ocean side of Tuckernuck and approach the bar from that direction.

[ssully]

Dave,

You are correct in searching out Mr. Moore. He's da lazer-turbo-charged Bonito Bar man!!!

Wish I could help more than that but he'd kill me. ;-)

[ivan]

I used a guide two years ago during late august named Hal Harrick(I think), great guy and guide. My wife and I both caught stripers and bonito(6)(on the bar), and then did some sight casting up on the flats. Fishing at that bar is interesting, you are basically blind casting into the breaks, but it produces fish!!!!!!!

Good Luck,

Ivan

[Rboe]

I was looking for the bar yesterday---went out around Tuckernuck and was hoping that I would see some boats so that I could find it. No such luck--there was a pretty stron W/SW wind, so maybe that's why. Could anyone post gps coordinates--or is that asking too much :-)

thanks

[Jim Miller]

I've heard it's changed this year....but in the past if you went south thru the cut between Smith's Point on ACK and Tuckernuck.....you could not miss it...straight ahead. With a strong S or SW the rollers would be breaking on the bar.....Again I have not been out there this year. That cut changes dramatically year to year.
Also it could be interesting getting thru and over the bar with a heavy surf! Sometimes dangerous if caught off guard. E-mail me if I can help further.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
etiquette is to anchor up on the south (ocean side) and give room for you neighbor. I've found it best to anchor where I find the bait pods, in about 20 feet of water, and wait for the bones to show. Good luck!;) ;)

[JGH]

An 18 cc should be fine. I've fished it in a flats boat. I've seen people fish it in a 13' Whaler, though I wouldn't recommend it. Pick a relatively flat day.

[Luv2Fish]

Isn't that the little place on Main St. where it turns to the cobblestones? Just my luck, no wonder I never caught any Bone's there. Alll the while you guys are going out on the beach playing on some sandbar.:D

[jpuris]

The only this is...on the weekends it is wayyyyyyyyyy to crowded. better fished during the week.

[boba]

Why is it that why do I keep wanting to ask, "What drinks do they serve at that bar?":-%