Bonito (lack thereof)

[Blackjack]

I put in at Green Pond on Friday, 8/2 around 6:30am. Went right over to Middle Grounds and trolled yo-zuris and a small mackeral rapala for about 1 1/2 hours with not one bite. Went into Tashmoo and caught a couple schoolies (no skunk allowed in this boat!) and then called an Island guide I am familiar with. He sent us to Hedge Fence, where we trolled for another 2 hours, with plenty of company, but did not raise one fish. My question is, is this normal for these fish (I am pretty new to them), and even if the "bones" are scarce, shouldn't there have been some blues around?

My plan was to catch a couple fish (either Bones or Blues) on the hardware then switch to a trolled or cast Bonito fly. Any insight or comments will be welcome!

PS - they're not kidding about how slippery the wood ramp is at Green Pond...ouch.

[David Churbuck]

I fished the Fence, L'Hommedieu, Waquoit, Menahaunt, Succonnesset and Wreck for bonito this weekend.

Result: nothing.

Saw a couple schools of "fool's bonito", 3-5 lb. bluefish boiling away off of South Cape Beach, but that was it. Also put my time in off the Tent looking for spanish macks, but nothing.

Bonito are completely unpredictable. You did the right thing, trolled the right stuff, but if they aren't around, they just aren't around.

dcc

[Blackjack]

thanks David - at least it's good to know I wasn't doing something totally wrong. Where is the "tent" you refer to...Spanish macks make good eating...

Thanks again!

[Too Fly]

We found bonito in Woods Hole Saturady morning. No landed fish though. They were definitely bonito, they cleared the water numerous times. We got lotsa good looks.

How do you like your Maritime? I've had mine since last October, she's a great boat.

Paul

[Blackjack]

Paul -

I love my Maritime - I just got it last July, and have about 140 hours so far. It's a little rough in the chop, but remarkably dry. I fish mainly in Boston Harbor, but am trying to take more bonito safaris to the Cape if/when the work/family equation allows. I'm planning on taking 5 days in September on the Vineyard (no family - just fishing 24 hrs!) and am taking the boat over on the ferry.

When you fished Woods Hole, did you trailer down there or do you have a slip somewhere nearby? I heard the ramp at WH is great but there is NO parking...

[Too Fly]

Do you have a Johnson 90 on the back of yours? If so, we may have spoken out in the harbor.

I trailer also.

If our trips coincide, maybe we can run down there and buddy up in both boats?

Woods Hole was decent, there was parking around the block. The only little problem was that someone bent one of my guide-ons and stole the cap off it.

My wife and I are planning a trip over to the Vineyard in September too. I'm debating whether or not to bring the boat if we go.

Paul

[Blackjack]

I have an Evinrude 70 4 stroke on mine - so far so good (any idea how many hours to expect out of these new motors?? Probably a topic for a different bulletin board). Do you use the Weymouth/Back River ramp when you fish Boston?

We should definitely coordinate schedules...I try to stay in touch with several of the local guides and use the cell phone to coordinate fish movements in the harbor...its a lot easier to cover the Harbor with 2 or 3 boats than all by yourself! I imagine the same logic would work in the Sound.

I would definitely plan on taking your boat in September - you'll kick yourself if you don't, since you'll see Albies busting in Edgartown Harbor and without a boat you'll be lucky to get any shots at them. I made a ferry reservation easy enough - but it's going to cost about $275 RT - ouch.

[Too Fly]

If you want, shoot me an e-mail.

Paul

[Bob Parsons]

Tried my luck in Woods Hole, birds, splashes, boaters moving around and not hooking up. Say no fish clear the water but casting to breaking fish, yield bluefish.
Nothing see at- Middleground
Tasmoo
Oak bluffs
State Beach
Hedge.

I really don't want to commute to Nantucket again.
:rolleyes:

[Too Fly]

Bob,

How long was the run to Bonito Bar?

[Blackjack]

and would you try it in an 18' Maritime Skiff?

[Bob Parsons]

Too Fly

From Launching in Waquot or Cotiut to Nantuctet is about 23 miles and the bar adds a bit more. How Long time wise depends on conditions. It's always nicer when I go over and choppier when I return.

Satuit my boat is 175 Aquasport. You got a bigger boat:D

You really need to have a good idea about the day's weather and a good chart since there are many sandbars if you try to head straight for the gap between the two islands

[Blackjack]

wow - that's aggressive. Sounds like you better be ready to spend the night on Nantucket if a storm pops up...is the fishing that much better?

[Bob Parsons]

Oh and you want an incoming tide.
You may have to go thru some surf to cross the bar if there are good swells coming in.




And it helps to have a couple loose screws..

Any chance of storms.... don't go.

[saltybugger]

That which a few of you guys have for boating out there in those tubs :p

Travels to Nantucket are no place for 20' or smaller boats....but then there is Bob :D

Hey Bob I'm a bachelor starting friday again...planning a week long vineyard assault...watch out :D

[tunnie md]

I know plenty of people (myself included) who go from the vineyard to nantucket in boats smaller than 20ft. If you know the waters its no problem at all.

[Too Fly]

I got yelled at yesterday for running down to the Vineyard from Woods Hole on Saturday. :( ...and I never got to mention that we ran down to Wasque and fished for over an hour.

My mom's lawyer(father figure type), told me of a friend who had almost 60 years experience with small boats on the ocean. He went out one day and never returned.

I know in some eyes we tempted fate. I like to think I'm a cautious person. We would've stayed had the conditions been too rough, but we never felt unsafe.

The ride over was smooth, the ride back was pretty damn choppy. I was amazed at how dry of a ride the boat was. That was the first time I had it in those conditions(swells to 4').

Paul

[saltybugger]

Lucky you made it back Paul, big swells like that could easily dump that little boat....play it smart next time....don't be a statistic huh?

Small rolled edge boats aren't the right machine to take you out there safely and back, and I don't care who says they do this or that. There's been enough deaths and accidents already this year....and some alot bigger boats than that man.

All it takes is one wave.... And 4' waves with a short period and a little wind could spell disaster in less than 10 seconds.

[Blackjack]

Hey Paul - but how was Wasque?? Worth it? I've heard that is one of the last real hot spots during the doldrums, but you need wire line and all kinds of hardware to hook up...

[Too Fly]

I know Salty. I do feel fortunate that we didn't run into any problems. Knock on wood.

I hate to say it, but I'd probably do it again if the conditions were calm. Buddying up is definitely the way to go next time. ;) We looked all around and especially at waves coming within a 180 degree arc.

John,

Early July is when I've had our best luck from Wasque, but that's fishing from shore. We left when the winds started to pick up(20+). No rips had formed just yet, we trolled using rat'l traps and yo-zuri swimmers.

There are lots of big boats out there using wire and other heavy duty rigs. Most people will tell you you don't need it. We stayed about 3/4 of a mile from shore and were marking fish throughout this channel(15-20'). There were some terns here and there, but nothing like you'd see in Boston. ;) We picked up a few blues in the 4-8 lb. range...nothing to write home about.

One cool thing about Wasque is that if nothing is happening, once the rips form, the fishing is either off and on or steady. The blues and bass we've caught in the past would chase the bait in and out of the rips, which will often put the fish at your feet when fishing from shore. It gets pretty exciting chucking plugs into the surf, my wife had a blast last year doing it.

[saltybugger]

hmmm a fly with a deathwish...wait i'll be right back with the radio controlled flyswatter :D

[Bob Parsons]

According to Salty, my boat has a big CRAAAACK in it.

This must help the water drain off my back when it's choppy and I'm running wet. :D

I'll be out there Thurs. and fri depending on weather.

Have a space in the boat on thurs. Launching at Mashpee into the Great river and Waquoit about 6:30am

email me if interested.