Slow June in Boston

[ag]

I've seen a few recent posts lamenting the lack of fish in the harbor this month so I went back to my logs to see what the numbers said. I use fish per hour as the metric since it takes into account the variability in trip length.

May 2000 = 6.3
June 2000 = 2.3
June 1999 = 5.8

I average 10 trips a month and always in the morning. Same tackle, same techniques. So, what's up?

The only difference I could find was that June had many more days this year with an East wind. Wind speed was the same as last year.

The other possibilty is that Chelsea River oil spill. Could it be the reason for the lack of bait?

I sure hope that one of these is the culprit and not the health of the striper population.

Has June been significantly slow in other areas?

Al

[jeffg]

Al,
I have had a slower June than last year as well, and have been looking at last year's log as a reference as well. Do you keep track of sea temps by chance? I don't have a temp. sensor on my boat, but my suspicion is that the water is colder than last year thanks to the cold and stormy spring we had. I believe this has affected the fishing, along with less concentrated bait due to both wind and water temps. I also think the water clarity is down from all the storms and high winds, which could also slow things down.

As things warm up and the bait reconcentrates, so will the bass. Bring on July...

Jeff

[rel]

jeffg- I agree with your theory about the water because here in Narragansett Bay on the east side the silversides are just starting to amass for their spring romp in the grass and they generally start towards the end of May. just my .02 rel

[ag]

You may have nailed it. Last June the average temp was 59.9. This June is 56.5 so far. The temps are based on the NOAA buoy 10 miles East of Boston and I'll bet that the inshore temps were also lower with all the crappy weather we had. You're right. Bring on July!

Al