Striperheads

Striped bass rules will stay the same

2011-11-23T07:19:00.000-05:00

Recreational fishermen pledge to limit striper take | CapeCodOnline.com

2011-11-21T17:40:00.000-05:00

Recreational fishermen pledge to limit striper take | CapeCodOnline.com

Mass. Saltwater Fishing License

2011-08-23T14:58:00.002-04:00

Went to renew my marine registry and found that MA and some other states have an arrangement that if have a MA saltwater license you do not need to register. I think this is the first year for the saltwater license. Cost is $10 unless you are "lucky" enough to be over 60 years. Then it was free with a small transaction fee added.

Bill

Barnstable fishing report

2011-07-23T09:52:00.003-04:00

The fishing improved this past week for anglers seeking big striped bass and chomper bluefish. A humpback whale was even spotted just offshore Sandy Neck beach.

Barnstable Fishing Forecast and Report
A humpback whale was spotted less than a half of a mile from the Sandy Neck coastline this past week. Odds are it was feeding on tinker mackerel, sandeels, or herring. Credit Ryan Collins

This 39 pound bass was one of 16 keeper stripers caught during a Cape Cod Bay trip this past week.
Getting on the water before the sun comes up is important for catching fish during this time of the year.
A humpback whale was spotted less than a half of a mile from the Sandy Neck coastline this past week. Odds are it was feeding on tinker mackerel, sandeels, or herring.

The waters around Barnstable were teeming with life this past week.

Off Sandy Neck, a large humpback whale was spotted splashing and slapping its fins less than a half of a mile offshore. Seeing a humpback whale this deep inside Cape Cod Bay is a rather rare event, as the whales usually stick around Stellwagen Bank and the waters off Provincetown.

Why was the whale so close to the Barnstable coastline? He may have wanted to say hello to some our local beach-bums. However more than likely, the whale was drawn to the area for nutritional purposes. Big humpbacks need a lot of mackerel, herring and sandeels to survive, so it is plausible to assume that there is a lot of bait holding just offshore Sandy Neck.

The bluefish we caught this past week coughed up quite a few tinker mackerel. Tinkers, along with squid and butterfish, traditionally invade the stretch of water from the Canal's east end to Billingsgate Shoal during the summer. This can produce some awesome fishing, and apparently decent whale watching.

It looks like we will be having some serious heat moving into our area this weekend, but the fish are out there for those willing to brave the sun. Anglers willing to devote some time and effort this weekend may be rewarded with a beautiful Cape Cod Bay 30 or 40 pound striper.

The fish are out there, and contrary to what I said in my last report, have been caught in shallower water close to the Sandy Neck shoreline.

What Worked this Past Week

Like usual, the key to catching decent size stripers was finding the fish in the first place. What this translated into was a ton of time spent cruising around the Bay, staring at the fish finder.

Most of the bass were balled up in tight schools, which meant it was possible for us to cruise at 20 mph, and still clearly mark fish with our sonar. Often times we covered miles of water before marking any bass.

When cruising at this speed, a school of bass will appear as a thin slit of orange and blue on most sonar systems. It is important to play around with the sensitivity on your unit, until you are able to distinguish fish marks from disturbance created by the engine.

We found reasonable numbers of bass and bluefish in depths ranging from 25 to 70 feet. It was well worth the time and effort spent finding the fish. The class of bass in the Bay right now is impressive, with 25 plus pound fish the norm rather than the exception.

Trolling tubes on leadcore line proved to be the ticket. In some instances, when the bass were holding in the upper part of the water column, a mere three colors produced. However, seven colors caught several bass around the 30-pound mark for us Thursday morning.

If you are marking bass on your sonar, pay attention to the depths at which they are holding. The bass we caught using three colors of leadcore line, were holding around 15-17 feet-rather shallow in the water column. On the other hand, the bass caught using seven colors were holding around 25-30 foot depths.

The rule of thumb when fishing leadcore is that five feet of depth is achieved with each color of line in the water. This varies, of course, with trolling speed, wind, current and whether or not you add weight to your tubes.

Looking Forward to This Weekend and Next Week

Fish are extremely unpredictable! So I am very hesitant to "predict" what will happen this coming week. With that said, if the weather cooperates, there should be plenty of nice bass and blues available for the boating, and even the surfcasting crowd.

Dragging tubes and bunker spoons will undoubtedly take a fair number of nice bass this week. I am hoping that the quality of fish remains the same. There were some seriously big bass swimming around the Bay over the last few days.

Last year we were treated to an astounding number of tinker mackerel choosing to reside in the waters from the Canal's east end, down to the Fingers off Barnstable Harbor. Will the tinkers return this summer in numbers comparable to last season? Your guess is as good as mine, yet it is promising to know that there are at least a half way decent amount of mackerel swimming around the Bay at the present moment.

The week of July 24th, 2010, featured incredible amounts of butterfish and squid around the Parking Lot and the Fingers. Again who knows if they will return, but if they do, expect the bass and bluefish to not be far behind.

If we get glass calm conditions this week, keep an eye out for bass and blues finning just under the water's surface. These fish can be very skittish, and difficult to catch. A perfectly presented needlefish plug or live eel skipped across the surface will sometimes produce impressive topwater strikes-which is a ton of fun.

Late July is an inherently difficult time of the year for the shore crowd. Fishing at night and at first light will give you the best bet for hooking up. Dunking chunk bait or pitching live eels should provide a half way decent shot at a keeper bass.

The Cape Cod Canal is still coughing up a few decent fish for those willing to jig the bottom.

Tight lines, stay safe, and good luck out there!

For more fishing reports, visit My Fishing Cape Cod.

First Striperheads Attendees have registered!

2011-06-09T18:25:00.003-04:00

Thanks Guys:

Current attendance list:

Stephen DiCerbo paid
Bill Barnard paid
Wayne Weseman paid
Mel Adams paid
Mike Demasi paid
Ron Boutin paid

keep it moving guys, make your plans...

Stephen

Stiperheads 2011 Site location and Clave reservations

2011-06-09T17:47:00.005-04:00

Hi Guys

This year Striperheads will be held on a group site, OG5 in loop 4

to find site OG5 go to loop 4 on the map... OG5 is site 42 &44 combined.

http://www.reserveamerica.com/campgroundMap.do

The site is reserved for the week of Sept 10-17 Coming to Striperheads? do not make any reservations (the loop is filled anyway)

Contact me asap with your dates of attendance, and send me $42 dollars..... As more Striperheads reserve their spots in the group site, the cost per person will drop, and you will receive refunds at the Clave.

Lets not put off doing this, and a more well rounded and prepared-for clave can evolve.

heres to a good year in the Salt...

Splinta

2011 Striperhead

2011-05-04T12:16:00.002-04:00

Splinta,
When you get a chance can you check on tides and suggest dates for Striperhead. Bill Jolley has some people interested and want to plan a trip around our Striperhead. Always fun to have new people.

Bill

Stripers and the AMO

2011-01-26T10:07:00.001-05:00

Just read an interesting article about the current decline of Striped Bass. If you recall the low point in striper numbers in the early ‘80s was caused largely by overfishing. With catch limits, the stripers rebounded. Recently, there is evidence of a decline. I can sure attest to that!!

Implicated in this decline is now a theory involving the AMO (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation) which occurs every 35 years or so. This is described as a “mashup” of winds and currents. The entire basin warms up and of course, this would change climate along the Atlantic coast.

“Here's how Wood and his team think the AMO is messing with fish food. When it's in a warm phase, springtime along the East Coast actually tends to be wet and cool — more rain, more water, more food. In the years following that phase, striper numbers tend to go up. Then the AMO flips — drier springs, less rain, less food. After a lag, it looks like striper numbers start to decline.”

“ Wood says the past 100 years of fishing records show that very trend. And currently?"It hasn't been so good in say the last five years," Wood says. "And it just so happens this is also the time when the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation seems to be switching phase."Wood suspects it's switching into a "bad for stripers" phase, and he thinks it was also a down cycle that caused the striper crash in the 1980s. When that cycle ended, stripers recovered — not just owing to the fishing limits but because the weather bcame more favorable.”

Not sure how long I have been attending the Striperhead but the catching has clearly declined over that time.

Bill

N.C. striper record lasts only 48 hours - CharlotteObserver.com

2011-01-09T08:34:00.000-05:00

N.C. striper record lasts only 48 hours - CharlotteObserver.com

This one's for you, Dave

2010-10-31T08:40:00.002-04:00

First Time Saltie Breaks the Ice

2010-10-16T10:43:00.003-04:00

Dave Williams joined us for the first time this year in Brewster. Another trout fisherman tossed into the brine. The fishing was slow during the week, and Dave had a few encounters with nippers and snappers. But along with Ron Boutin, on the way out, at the end of the week, frantic finale fishing was found in a fish feeding frenzy at the Cape Cod Canal.

Not only did Dave enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes from participating in a Striper blitz, he managed to catch at least one keeper sized Bass. Ron did as well, but unfortunately did suffer some rod breakage. The pair made the rest of us jealous, to say the least.

Kudos, Dave. ..... you'll be back....

Take Care- be Aware .. Cape Cod wade fisherman drowns yesterday

2010-09-19T11:11:00.005-04:00

For news Report and video click on:

Fisherman drowns in Sandwich

Great white shark spotted off Cape Cod

2010-09-19T11:08:00.003-04:00

For news report and video click on:

Great white shark spotted off Cape Cod ">

Striperhead 2010

2010-09-13T13:24:00.002-04:00

Before each Striperhead I put a piece of duct tape on my rod to note what a legal fish is. I can dream can't I? In MA, it is 28". When I went to the MA salt water recreational fishing page it indicated a possession limit of 2 stripers 28" or longer. Has it always been that? I thought there was a single fish limit.

I bought a 50 foot roll of Tyger knot tying stainless steel. Nylon coated braided, 30 lb test for blue fish tippets. Found it to be the best material I have found. Does not give you a curly pig tail when you stretch it. I put a Palomar loop at one end. I will have lots to share with the group.

Bill

Saltwater registry

2010-09-10T13:53:00.001-04:00

When I last checked, you could register and print off a temporary permit until the waterproof one came in the mail

I am going up to garage attic and pull down all my gear. Start cleaning lines, panting over the stripping basket, lusting after my stainless steel bluefish hook removal pliers. Two weeks.

Bill

Striperheads Saltwater License

2010-09-08T07:20:00.004-04:00

Good deal Bill,

guess being an old fart has its privileges!!!

For those of you who haven't applied for you license, go to:

https://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov/

Allow time for it to come in the mail!

Striperhead 2010

2010-09-06T12:41:00.001-04:00

Have gotten my saltwater registry permit and ready to go. Happy to see that next year I have to get a MA marine license but it is free to those of us over 60.

Bill

New Saltwater recreational fishing license information for Striperheads

2010-06-13T18:15:00.001-04:00

As most of you know on the East coast, the federal government has put the States into positions to run a license program for Saltwater recreational fishing, previously not required.

For this year, there is no State license required, BUT you must register as a marine rec. fisherman for the year 2010 with the Feds.

Beginning next year, you will need a Mass State marine license, unless you have the same from a reciprocating State. Further information about reciprocating rights is available on the appropriate State website.

Below is the Basic information you will need, and if you are a Striperheads from New York, some additional info about the NYS program, now active.

See you At Nickerson's soon !!!!!

Massachusetts, including Cape Cod:

For Calendar year 2010, federal registration only is required

Good for Jan 1 – Dec 31 Free of Charge

http://www.countmyfish.noaa.gov

Beginning Calendar year 2011, Mass State Marine License is required

Massachusetts does not have reciprocating privileges with New York

You will still need a Mass Marine Fishing License , even if you have a New York Marine Fishing license.

Massachusetts does reciprocate marine fishing privileges with States that reciprocate with Mass.

If you are from a state other than New York, check with your State regs to see if your State reciprocates with Massachusetts on marine Fishing Licenses.

For more info:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/recreationalfishing/rec_license.htm#license

New York’s marine license program is active now

Marine License year is calendar year – Jan 1 – Dec 31, Not concurrent with freshwater license year

$10 annual

$150 lifetime

Current holders of lifetime fishing and sportsman license will still need to purchase a Marine license.

NYS Marine license is reciprocal with States that have mutual marine water boundaries

This includes New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

New York’s marine license is NOT reciprocal with Massachusetts.

For more info:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/54950.html

2010 Striperhead

2010-04-05T14:50:00.002-04:00

I am in for the fall Striperhead. Will come in Wednesday, 22 Sept and leave for home Sunday. Wish I could go for longer. My sabbatical year spoiled me. Need to retire!

I will pass the word to Mel and Wayne. Mel might be able to take off longer this fall. He was working for the state of VT in a department dealing with dispensing the stimulus money and the paper shuffling that goes along with that. He was "offered" early retirement. Last I heard he was looking for a part time position.

Splinta, let me know when you might do a gyotako (sp?) workshop. Would love to enroll. Need to keep you wealthy so you can bring those gourmet tid bits to the claves.

Bill

June fishing?

2010-03-15T20:25:00.002-04:00

I teach during June, But, I might be talked into a long weekend. Any dates established yet?

Bill

New digs

2010-02-04T08:12:00.001-05:00

Splinta,
The studio/home is beautiful. Cannot locate the address on Google map. Send some directions in case we have absolutely nothing better to do than visit you.

Bill

new digs

2010-01-01T20:05:00.003-05:00

Photo of Stormtree Studio (the new house) before the snows came... 30 minutes from the Hungry Trout... Come fish the Adirondacks!

hi kat,

hi Bill

Hi everyone

in the new digs,yes

internet connection is via satellite now, here in the mountains

its new years' day, and I am still still moving the stuff up from 80 miles south of here,

dealing with the weather now... hope to be done in the next couple days.

the flytying table came up in the snowbear trailer today... dodged the snow on the highway, so there was not too much salt spray to wipe off when I got here.

heres the new info, posted to the lists:

after a blip in the space time continuum......

I have been off the radar screen, as the switch from the last apartment I'll every pay rent for to the House I am finishing..

for those who care to know:

new contact info is :

Stephen DiCerbo
7 Kenakwar Lane
North Hudson, New York 12855

home 518 532-0575
Cell 518 466-7004

email : mykiss@wildblue.net

gee the mountains are great

I hope everyone is have a fine holiday, i already can feel the June sun and the strike of the stripers

Stephen

Stephen

Merry Xmas Stephen, wherever you are

2009-12-21T17:14:00.001-05:00

Hope you're staying warm & comfy in the new digs(?)

Lots of hugs,
kat

Christmas greetings

2009-12-21T09:23:00.002-05:00

Want to wish the Striperheads a great Christmas season. Snow finally came to Vermont in mid December. My hunting season which involves trying to get bucktail for my flytying was uneventful. No snow cover, too warm temperatures. Bucktails stayed on the deer.

Splinta is huckered down in upstate NY in his new place. Wish he would share with the group his contact information. Lots of people on ff@ trying to contact him.

Merry Christmas.

Bill

Storm claims last cottage on Cape Cod beach

2009-10-21T19:31:00.001-04:00

Storm claims last cottage on Cape Cod beach

Countdown to clave.

2009-09-15T19:46:00.002-04:00

Made arrangements. Will be coming down on Wednesday afternoon. Have my flylines cleaned and ready. Some new flies tied. Wayne is going down on Monday. Mel is coming in on Thursday night. Bill Jolly on Friday. Have some new recipes. All we need is a few fish to cook.

Freakin' White Sharks better stay clear. They can have the seals. All I want are stripers!

Bill

2009-09-15T18:36:00.001-04:00

Cape Cod beach town vexed by shark sightings

* Story Highlights
* Shark expert confirms at least one large shark sighting Friday
* Species unconfirmed, but "most likely" was a great white, expert says
* As many as five large sharks were seen on Thursday near Monomoy Island
* Expert: On average, sharks kill about four people per year, worldwide

updated 11:11 a.m. EDT, Sat September 5, 2009

* Next Article in U.S. »

From Kristen Hamill
CNN
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

(CNN) -- The ocean water around Chatham, Massachusetts, is playing host to some unwelcome guests this holiday weekend: sharks.
Only 41 unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in the U.S. since 2008.

Only 41 unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in the U.S. since 2008.

At least one large shark sighting was confirmed Friday by Greg Skomal, shark expert for the state's Division of Marine Fisheries.

That sighting occurred off the eastern shore of Monomoy Island, a National Wildlife Refuge off the southern elbow of Cape Cod, according to Lisa Capone, Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs press secretary.

The species, though not confirmed, was "most likely" a great white shark, she said.

The sighting came a day after Skomal reported as many as five large sharks were seen near the island, about a mile or more away from Chatham's Lighthouse Beach, a public swimming area.

Capone said Skomal was searching the area of the island Friday afternoon, though weather conditions were "not ideal," with fog and wind.

Meanwhile, officials were advising residents and visitors to be cautious while visiting the beaches this weekend.

"It is the eve of the last holiday weekend of summer, and we want to make sure folks on the Cape are aware," Capone said.

Chatham's Harbor Master's office issued a public notice after the sightings Thursday, saying the waters surrounding Chatham are "now a year-round home to a few thousand seals." Seals are a main source of food for large sharks, and as recently as August 28, a large shark was seen feeding on the body of a seal near Chatham's waters, the notice said.

It advised people to avoid swimming near seals.

A statement issued Friday by Chatham town officials said "beaches will be closed immediately" if a shark is sighted.
Don't Miss

* 5,000-pound shark washes ashore on Long Island

Paul Zuest, general manager of the Chatham Bars Inn, said he and his staff also have been instructing their guests to be cautious. The hotel, about two miles away from where the sharks were spotted, has posted signs providing information on the sightings.

George H. Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and curator of the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, said that on average, sharks have killed four people annually worldwide for the past several years.

"The chances of us as individuals entering the sea and not coming back as a result of a shark attack are slim to none when you consider the millions upon millions of people that go into the sea each year," he said.

The museum's shark attack file lists 41 unprovoked shark attacks in U.S. waters in 2008, with one fatality, in California. Most of the attacks, 32, occurred in Florida.

Massachussetts has recorded only four shark attacks since 1670, two of which have been fatal. The last fatal shark attack in Massachussetts occurred in 1936.

Striperhead Conclave 09

2009-08-31T10:18:00.002-04:00

First day teaching and my schedule is bad and means a day less at the cape than usual. Will leave noon on Thursday, Oct 1. Arrive around 6. if I can swap labs with another person I might be able to come down Wednesday.

Have some flies tied. Limbered up the arm casting at Pompham Beach two weeks ago. Was in Manchester/Arlington Vermont area for the weekend at a wedding. Drooled over the Orvis Helios rods but managed to walk away. they really are lightweight. Did pick up two flies on sale as patterns. They are weedless. Often at Brewster on high tides we get alot of "grass" on outgoing tides.

Who is coming down for the clave? Mel Adams wants to, not sure if he is a definate. Jill Jolley is coming, as is Wayne.

Bill

The Big ones go North, too

2009-08-04T16:30:00.003-04:00

Port Maitland resident reels in ‘fish of a lifetime’
Port Maitland resident Richard “Buck” Owen holds up a 57-pound striped bass he caught fishing the morning of July 29. Tina Comeau photo
Port Maitland resident reels in ‘fish of a lifetime’
Richard 'Buck' Owen lands 57-pound striped bass
By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

The first day of fishing for Port Maitland resident Richard “Buck” Owen turned out to be the fishing trip of a lifetime last Wednesday.

While fishing the morning of July 29 up near Weymouth, Owen – on his first fishing trip of the season – snagged a 57-pound striped bass. He was fishing alone so he didn’t have anyone to share his excitement with. But when he came home with the proof people were impressed.

“The store was just opening in Port Maitland where I live,” he said. “I pulled in and everyone was looking at it and saying, ‘Wow, that’s a big fish.’”

Owen took the fish to Seakist Lobster Ltd. in Overton to have it weighed on a certified scale, just in case it was a record catch. The fish, which measured 49 inches long (4.03 feet, or 1.24 metres), tipped the scale at 57 pounds – just shy of a provincial record from last year. In 2008, angler Christian LeVatte landed a 57.9-pound striped bass in Cape Breton.

Asked he how felt to have missed the record by 0.9 pounds, Owen said it was okay.

“It’s still the fish of a lifetime,” he said.

Owen was standing on the shoreline when he cast his line. A few minutes earlier he had caught a 10-or-12 pounder but had lost it. Using a lure that looked like a mackerel he tried again.

“I cast the line into the current and it hit and it didn’t splash or anything. It was swimming right at me and I was reeling real fast trying to catch up with it, “ he said. He thought he had lost his catch but then the line became tight.

“I could see it because the water was crystal clear,” he said. He caught a flash of it and thought it was a 20 or 25-pound fish.

“They have to be 26.8 inches long to keep it. I said, well, that’s a 20-or-25-pounder, that’s going to be a really nice fish.”

Owen fought the fish for around 15 minutes. As he watched it move back and forth he realized his guesstimate on its weight was off…by about 25 or 30 pounds.

The bass tired before Owen did. He got it on its side, grabbed it by the gills and hauled it up. By this point he was standing waist deep in water in his hip waders.

“When I got onto the beach I was holding it up here,” he said, pointing up past his waist, “and the tail was dragging on the ground.”

Asked last Wednesday what he intended to do with his catch, he said, “Probably eat it.”

But with so much fish, he said he might invite a few friends over to share in the feast.

PONTOON REPORT

2009-07-29T09:56:00.002-04:00

First venture out in my new boat last night was interesting to say the least. I should preface this report by saying I have not really ever rowed a boat before, so the ensuing comedy of errors is all part of the learning curve. Hard to row in a straight line when you are dragging your anchor in the water, you row in circles. I think I prefer to row so I can see where I'm going rather than where I've been. The seat must be secure to the frame other wise when you get half way across pond the seat moves and you have to limp to shore to secure it thank god for leatherman tools. There are some really good features nice anchoring system, basket behind seat allows for carrying all the essentials, beer cooler for water of course and food, with a 400 lb capacity that can be allot of extras. There is even a trolling motor bracket. If anyone has experience with pontoons please call me @ 603.305.9726. As far as the fishing was concerned I did manage a nice 14" brook trout(native) no stockers in this pond. Drakes were hatching in small quantities at odark 30. I have never seen a hatch this up close and personal before, surprised that any of them are able to get off the water with all of the surface commotion they make before lift off. Huge cloud of flies in the air, I am guessing that they will be spinners that night. I was fishing close enough to shore to have a conversation with a woman hiking near the pond turns out she is the Attorney General for the state of Maine.Got off the water well after dark only to meet up with her again and her sister Dora who happens to be Secretary of Health for the state of Maine, very nice people, very laid back and unassuming. Thats all for now, more to come I'm sure

ps need to name boat ant suggestions?

Pontoon boats

2009-07-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

Well guys I have been in Millinocket, Maine since Memorial day working at the local hospital ( got laid off my regular job) . The fishing when its not raining has been pretty good, mostly Landlock salmon and Brook trout with a few smallies thrown in for good behavior. Getting back in touch with freshwater fishing, something I promised myself to do before the forced job change. Unfortunately the rain and lack of local knowledge has kept me off the water more than I care to admit. One of my fellow co workers lent me a float tube/ pontoon boat for use while I was here, loved the idea for fishing the ponds in Baxter stae park. I have since stepped up to a small pontoon boat with oars, my first venture with the new boat will be Daicy Pond in the park this afternoon. I will follow up with a fishing / boat report tomorrow should be interesting, Drakes coming off the water around o-dark 30. I will be in Millinocket for atleast 6 more weeks, so if you have a mind to travel north call me on my Cellphone 603-305-9726 I am staying in my camper and have room for 2-3 more people.

Tight lines

Anthony

2009-06-18T18:12:00.001-04:00

Brewster Ma., Monday, 06/8/2009

Arrived on site at about 2 pm and checked into the Nickerson campground in Brewster. The forecast for the upcoming week was not the best for anything requiring warmth or sunlight. But today was good. It was sunny and in the seventies. The wind was less than 10 knots. It might be the best chance I had for sight fishing on the flats for the entire week.

So I set up camp in a minimal fashion and hurried to the Pleasant Bay town launch. Sorting out how best to manage a solo launch, I got the boat in the water and tied off. I situated the tackle and dressed the rods and then got the boat engine running. The sun was already lowering in the sky. The tide was outgoing, and would limit the risk I might take in pushing the boat too far up on the sand flats. Getting beached on an outgoing tide would mean a six hour wait for the incoming to release me. Not a pleasant thought, as it was almost five o’clock already.

There were wade fishermen at Minister’s Point, along with another piece of sandy real estate in the bay… More than I would have expected there to be on a Monday afternoon, so I was hopeful. I explored the flats from The Narrows and beyond, and eventually out to the open cut in the barrier bar. Last year’s storms had breached the bar to the open Atlantic, and one distraught resident saw his cottage swallowed up by the sea. But the extreme change in the configuration of the beach had created new, direct access point into upper Pleasant bay for ocean side, cruising Stripers to utilize. No birds were in sight, and the water was somewhat murky as it can be in Pleasant Bay on the outgoing. So much for sight fishing…

I had begun to wish that I made the trip down here a day earlier, so I could have been out here in the morning on the incoming tide, with the sun high. I did some blind casting, and came up with one schoolie striper and 2 followers. After a while, I brought the boat back to trailer, and returned to the campground, happy enough that I had motivated myself to get out on the water and get the equipment organized. The week lay ahead.

Tuesday 06/9/2009

The NOAA forecast was glum…. Cloudy, raining cold and windy…. I half expected to spend the whole day in the Yurt, journaling and sketching. But the morning was bright, and the wind not too awful. Again, thinking of the possible limited opportunities for getting the boat on the flats this week, I had a quick breakfast and headed out. Rain was supposed to be definite for the afternoon. This time I put in at Oyster Pond to access the Monomoy Islands area.

I rounded the bend at the end of the Oyster River, cruised the edge of Common Flats, as was my custom, then crossed the channel and began searching the shallow water out from Hardings Beach. Eventually, a small cluster of terns began the feed actively, signaling that baitfish were being driven to the surface. As you might expect, the sight of the bait busting the water’s surface, followed by the backs of bluefish, sent enough adrenaline through my system to make a mess of my tackle. The wrong fly, no wire leader, and that goddam Orvis Wonderline balled up in a knot. I Wondered who invented this horrid flyline.

The blues were not doing a good job of breaking the water’s surface, although the sand eels were, offering themselves to the hungry terns. Instinctively, I ditched the eight weight and the cursed Wonderline in favor of a nine weight rod and a sink tip line to get the fly down to the fish… hurry, hurry, the fish are feeding, moving, feeding, moving…

Still there was no wire leader, and the nine weight did not have a holder for my trolling motor’s remote control. Crap. More fumbling… with the loose controller. Eventually, I got a fly down enough in the water so that a bluefish saw it, struck the fly, and the game was on. A distinct sense of relieve came after hooking a fish. Now the main concern remained the lack of a leader… I hoped that he was hooked well, but not too deeply, so that the monofilament leader stayed away from the razor teeth. A long 8 minutes later, after adjusting the reel’s drag and discovering a grinding noise in my Lamson , the blue was in the net. Nice. Something for the grill… at least that was done.

The feeding frenzy continued, and after getting the fish in the livewell, I organized again, and followed the birds and their activity back across the channel to Common Flats. The fish proved to be more and more elusive, and the feeding birds were thinning. Then a small bunch of terns got active further up on the flats. I raised the outboard and urged the trolling motor and the boat toward the working birds. Soon the trolling motor was chewing sand. Thankfully I was on the incoming tide today, and did not worry much about stranding. But I couldn’t maneuver around the high spots to get close to the ruckus. Then the feeding frenzy moved toward me. Those were stripers! Beside the excitement of finding the preferred target of Striped Bass over bluefish, it was amazing to see Stripers busting on bait in the spring. But these fish were literally in 12 – 16 inches of water, and any activity at all brought them half out of the water. They were going nuts on the ample amounts of sand eels, as were the birds from above. It was exciting to watch. The fish were schoolies, with a few medium sized fish mixed in, no bruisers from the northward Atlantic migration. I picked up a couple and released them. The world was beginning to get right.

About that time, the predicted showers began; I donned a rainjacket, and eventually began to get wet anyway. It was just past noon, and given the fact that I felt I had stolen the morning from the weatherman, I decided to give it up when the wind started to crank and I heard distant thunder. I went back to the Campground cold and wet, but satisfied at the morning activity.

Wednesday 06/10/2009

The day started at 4:30 AM. Not my choice. The campers in the next yurt are a family who seem to believe that completely allowing three young girls cry and scream and stomp their feet is a normal form of communication, and beyond any reproach. The tactic must work well for the children’s needs, because they used it as a “go-to” tool at the rate of about once every couple hours. Never having children, it seemed odd that my thoughts would wander to considerations of parenting practices. I wonder what type of adults that this child rearing approach might produce, and pity the men that might wind up having to deal with these screaming female gems. A huge empty campground, and this is how I drew the lot… and the tantrum family is staying all week. The six year old, destined to be an opera singer, gave her greatest performance to date, at the wee hours of the morning. I would be sure to use my earplugs each and every night henceforth.

Still cloudy, the skies held their bounty, and I launched the boat again into Oyster Pond, and headed back to where I had seen action yesterday. Intermittent spats of unexpected sunshine allowed me to see short expanses of sand under the water ahead of the boat, but no fish were evident. After a couple hours of blind casting to rips out from Hardings Beach and along Common Flats, I had only enticed a couple followers and hooked up on two schoolie stripers. Yesterday’s bird activity was missing and so was the adrenaline rushes. They were replaced by the lull of a sneaking boredom and the issue of suspending disbelief.

Eventually, I found myself wondering if I shouldn’t head back in, and trying elsewhere. Before I did, though, I headed over toward the barrier dune below Chatham. With the aid of the trolling motor, I was able to maintain a decent line of drift, parallel to the line of South Beach. I began to see groups of four to five mid sized stripers (upper 20 inches) and a few bigger fish, following the edges of the shallow bars just offshore. Reaction time was short, because visibility was low, and the fish were spooking on the boat. They would appear off the bow, just after I had committed a blind cast amidships to the port side. Damned. After about an hour into the drift, I had the luck of having the fly and rod in hand, at the ready, at the same moment that I spied a single good size grey ghost slipping along a bar to my right. I let go a gentle cast three feet ahead of, and just to the right of, the fish’s line of sight. The fact that I was able to do this, in fact, was another bit of luck. Frankly, my casting skills suck.

I twitched the fly as the fish neared it, and began my retrieve, pulling the imitation in hasty, jerky spurts away from the Striper. Man, that fish jumped on that fly like a beagle on a pork chop!! A quick, reaffirming double tug inline on the Wonderline to set the hook and the reel began to emit noise at an increasing rate and heightening crescendo. I was into my backing in no time. As I stood balanced on the casting platform of the boat, rod butt plated in my hip, maintaining pressure on the fish in ever changing directions, the back pain, boredom, and disillusionment of the day disappeared. The daybreak tantrum of the campground brat and resultant loss of sleep suddenly seemed like a pleasant way to start the day. As the back and forth contest progressed, with the bass gaining ground in long powerful runs against the reel’s drag, and me reclaiming ground by cranking in line whenever I was able to lead him toward the boat, I began to think about the weak links. Was the fly tied on correctly? Maybe I should have changed the leader this morning. Was the fish hooked well?

The connection between backing and flyline passed through my rod guides three times, and eventually, the fish was brought to bay and netted. Nice fish! He measured 29 inches and broke the three year dry spell I have had of not catching any keepers. Minimum size is 28 inches, and I have been able to manage only 27 inchers over the past couple seasons. I made sure he was revived and released him back to the flats. This day had been justified.

Thursday 06/11/2009

The earplugs worked fine, and I managed to arise at a more reasonable hour, about 6 am. Showers and thunderstorms were the call for the morning, with some possible clearing for the afternoon. It was chilly. Low fifties. I headed out to one of the bays on the southern shoreline of Cape Cod Bay. I had had good luck there before, and really liked the choice of sand flats that were available for sight fishing.

It was showering lightly and was cold when I arrived at the launch, but met up with a fly fisherman pulling out. It was nearly low tide. He stated that it was a bit snotty out by the hook in the flats, as the outgoing tide was combining with the wind to make a nuisance of the chop. Footing would be difficult. Thunder was booming a bit in the distance, and my doubts about heading out this morning began. I waited in the parking lot a while, and then reasoned I should head out as long as the winds were low enough to allow it, and launched before the lowering tide would make it too difficult.

I was cold… it was wet… drizzle and light showers turned on and off. I headed toward the area I wished to greet the incoming tide from, and began to blind cast toward the edge of the flat. A couple followers and then I hooked up with a schoolie. I hoped that this would bode well for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, the next couple hours turn to misery. The showers picked up. I had minimal raingear on, and got wet. Twice the rain really opened up, completely drowning me. My clothes picked up ten pounds of water weight. The booming started again, fog was creeping around the shoreline, and although I had not seen any lightning, I reasoned that nothing here was worth it. I was freezing and began to head back in. Before I made it to the harbor area, the rain slacked off. The distant sky seemed to be lightening. Blue patches appeared. I remembered the dry bag stowed under the casting platform. Rummaging around, I found a complete change of dry clothes, and in the middle of the harbor, started my day over. With warm and dry clothes, a brightening horizon and a change in tide, I headed back to the target area. Still, the bright sunshine that was needed for sight fishing eluded me, but I began to blind cast to likely spots. No birds to help spot activity.

I managed two schoolies, one in the mid twenties and a number of followers reluctant to bite. The beastmaster flies I had been casting seemed to grab their interest, despite their obvious difference from the abundant sand eels on the flats. But the few bait fishermen in the channel were having some luck with American eels, 6-8 inches in length. Reports were that several keepers and a couple 40 inch fish had been caught by them in the past couple days. Perhaps the beastmasters were triggering the eel reaction.

The deep edge of the channel that ran along side the flats seemed to be where the bigger fish were emerging from, so I began to cast from the shallow water into the trench and retrieving after letting the fly sink. Abruptly, a dark shape charged from the depths and inhaled my fly. The ensuing battle on the edge of the channel was reminiscent of yesterday ice-breaking contest, and when it was over, a 32 inch fish was landed. Once again, the mental struggle I had with perseverance was rewarded. I kept this fish, wanting some for the grill, and the goal of making some seviche with Striped Bass. When I find an internet café to post this, I will download a recipe’ (my favorite one doesn’t seem to be in my laptop’s memory) and make some up while I am still here and the fish is fresh. One o’clock, an aching back, and a Bass to filet, I heading into the harbor, trailered up and headed back to the campsite.

Friday 06/12/2009

Regrouping day... steady rain at the rate of 70%, and winds kicked up to 20 knots or better. At least it is a warm front, and the temperatures will near seventy also. Will spend the day journaling, sketching washing and drying wet clothing, and sending off reports and emails at the local free wireless spots.

Tomorrow says only a chance of rain in the am, sun in the pm, and 5-10 knot winds… should be able to get back out and fish the weekend before wrapping up and returning on Monday.

Great Report for the Upcoming Week

2009-06-04T21:03:00.001-04:00

Get the Fishing Forecast sent to your Email

Andrew Kefalis weighed in this 41-pound Cape Cod Canal Cow at Red Top last Monday.

June 4 , 2009

By Rick Bach

Bass, blues and bait are thick in Cape Cod waters as we ease into the first week of June, and promising reports are coming in from the Canal to the Race.
This past week the fishing slowed down a bit on the Canal, but promises to pick up again with a good set of tides starting this weekend and into next week. The full moon should also have stripers strapping on the feedbag. Stan at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay weighed in a 34-pound striper taken out of the Canal on an eel this week.
Red and black Slug-Gos are seeing their share of action in the canal, as are RonZs. A silver RonZ was responsible for a few big fish this past week so it might be worth tying one on. The 10-inch, 3-ounce version seems to work the best in the Canal current.
Bucktails with red and pink pork rinds are taking their share of fish in the Canal as well.
Have a few extra leaders tied up and don’t forget the pliers because blues are moving into the Canal in greater numbers every day. Some of them are gators, according to Bruce at Canal Bait and Tackle in Sagamore. Gator bluefish to 34 inches are being taken, although most are in the 3- to 5-pound range. These fish will fight as hard as anything that swims so have some fun if you find them, especially the big ones.
There are still some squid and macks hanging around in the ditch, but the squid are coming in at night and the mackerel are hanging on the outside. The majority of the mackerel that were pushing through the Canal a week or two ago are making their way up to the Weymouth area, according to Mike from M & D’s Bait and Tackle in Wareham.
On the west end of the Canal, sea bass and scup are present in good numbers, and some stripers are being caught on live-lined scup. On the other end of the Canal, flounder are being caught, including a few decent fish, to 17 inches.
One feel-good story has an 80-year old fisherman taking his first saltwater fish off Scusset Beach this week. The interesting part is that it was a 6-pound ‘tog. Chalk it up to beginners luck.
Starting on Tuesday, there is a very good-looking set of morning tides that should have action picking back up in the Canal. Topwaters at first light are likely to produce some fish this week. Michael at Eastman’s Sport and Tackle inFalmouth said that he thinks an east tide in the morning might be the best time to hit the canal.
On the south side of the Cape, the bluefish are in thick. A south wind will push them up against southern beaches, crashing bait, and the fishing can be fish-every-cast good. Word in the On The Water office was that this was the case on Monday night and that bluefish were getting hammered by a throng of South Cape anglers. However, on Tuesday night the wind died down to a whisper and there wasn’t a bent rod to be seen on the beach. With fish moving around chasing bait this time of year, the wind can be a crucial factor in the location you choose to target.
Oregon Beach in Cotuit turned up a 42-inch fish recently, according to Jay at Mashpee Bait and Tackle.
On the more secretive side of things, a source says that fishermen have been very quietly pulling big fish out of Quicks Hole recently, so it might be worth wetting a line there to see if the rumors are true.
In Cape Cod Bay, is sounds like things are really getting going. Mackerel and sand eels have got bass beating up bait from Billingsgate to the Race. Though there haven’t been reports of any cows, it’s likely that at least some of the larger fish that moved through the Canal last week should be making their way into the Bay this weekend.
Barnstable Harbor is absolutely loaded with sand eels according to Jay at Mashpee Bait and tackle. Sand eel imitations on umbrella rigs are taking their share of bass, but the action has been hit-or-miss. “It’s like somebody’s playing with a light switch,” Jay said, describing how the fishing has been turning on and off suddenly over the past week.
A 42-pound striper came out of Barnstable Harbor on a RonZ this week, according to Matt at Chatham Bait and Tackle.Pogies provide a good example of the inconsistency Jay’s talking about. They will show up in certain areas, and be gone the next day. Anglers that have spotted them are saying that they’re balling up tighter than they have been, a sign that they’re getting ready to move offshore.
A few nice stripers were taken on chunked mackerel on the inside of Barnstable Harbor. Sand eels are likely your best bet for quantity of fish, but live-lining a mack might just turn up a heftier specimen.
Live-lining scup has been working for the anglers that can find the scup, but the season for this bottom fish has gotten off to a slow start.
Richard at the Hook Up in Orleans said that there have been a lot of fish in the 26- to 30-inch range in the bay, but there are fish in the 40-inch range roaming around as well. “It’s only getting better from here on out,” he said.
Bluefish are making their presence felt in the bay, with some bigger fish showing up as well. There haven’t been too many of them, but a few very big bluefish have surprised some bay anglers. Boat fishermen have been having some success of Sunken Meadow Beach in Eastham.
Up on Race Point in Provincetown, things are getting going, Rich at Nelson’s Bait and Tackle said. He described the fish as “skittish,” but said that they can be caught. Yo-Zuri mag darters and Gags Grabbers Mambow Minnows are taking some fish, from schoolies up to keeper-sized stripers. Sebile’s new line of lures, specifically the Magic Swimmer, were bringing fish up from the depths off the Race this week, according to a source inside the On The Water office. Check out this double-jointed bait’s erratic action next time you hit the beach.
RonZs offer a good sand eel imitation and have been taking their share of fish off Race Point as well, Rich said. One angler kayaking off the beach said he saw some giant stripers swimming right beneath him.
“It’s been one of the best springs we’ve seen in years!” Rich said.
On the back side of the Cape, there are some stripers being taken here and there from the surf, although nothing consistent. A few fish in the 30-inch range have hit the sand, according to Paul at Black Beard’s Bait and Tackle, but the action has been spotty at best, he said. Garret at the Goose Hummock said he’s heard of a few keepers coming off Nauset Beach, but nothing spectacular. The action in the bay has been much hotter.
Down on the Vineyard, the trick has been finding the fish, as they’re constantly on the move, Steve at Larry’s Bait and Tackle reported. Smaller fish are surrounding the island now, with schoolies being caught more consistently. Good-sized scup are being caught on Sabiki rigs. The squidding has been slow. Bluefish in the 4- to 8-pound range are showing up off the Vineyard. If you’re looking for a place to fish on the Vineyard this weekend, his Wasque Point tossing bucktails and bombers. It’s your best shot at a big striped bass and a bruiser 8-pound bluefish isn’t a bad consolation prize.
Fishermen who prefer their water a slightly deeper shade of blue will be excited to hear that it’s officially tuna time. A 71-inch fish was taken on Stellwagen Bank this week and there have been more reports of big bluefin busting on top. It will probably be another week or so before these fish show up in any significant numbers, but they’re coming.
Freshwater fishermen can break out the spinnerbaits. Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are moving off their beds, and the bite is heating up, Jay at Mashpee Bait and Tackle said. The trout bite remains hot on the Cape, and with reduced pressure on local ponds there might not be a better time to savor the sweetwater.

Best Bets For the Weekend

It would be hard to go wrong wetting a line on the Cape this weekend. A promising set of tides in the Canal should have some drags humming. Enormous schools of sand eels have got stripers feeding actively in the Bay, and big fish are cruising around Race Point. Bluefish are in on the southern beaches, and when the wind is right, they’re giving anglers all they can handle. The sea bass bite is red hot, and scup are even starting to show up. Largemouth and smallmouth bass and trout are still active, as water temperatures haven’t warmed enough to slow them down. And tuna are finally arriving on Stellwagen. So pick your species, tighten that drag, and hit the water. Judging from a 57-pound fish that fell in Montauk on Friday morning, there are bigger fish on their way to the Cape.

The Stripers Are In !! The Incoming has begun!

2009-05-30T07:28:00.006-04:00

With The "Incoming Excursion" for Striperheads only a week away , the fish have arrivved to meet us!

read the current "On The Water" report

Get the Fishing Forecast sent to your Email

Not all the big bass are coming from the Canal. John Shushereba landed this 42-inch bass on a black Creek Chub plug from a Falmouth beach.

May 28, 2009

By Rick Bach

Fishing all around the Cape has been red-hot lately, but for sheer size and numbers, if not solitude, there’s no better place to be than the Cape Cod Canal. For the past three or four days, plenty of stripers, and big ones at that, have been pulled out of the ditch. It appears as if a school of big striped bass, making its way through the canal into Cape Cod Bay, has hung around through a few tide changes to feast on mackerel and herring.
We’re talking about big fish here. We have two reports of 50-plus-pound stripers, one pulled from the land cut by a shorebound fishermen, and another taken from a boat outside the west end of the canal.
The boat-caught fish weighed 56.4 pounds, according to Mike from M & D’s Bait and Tackle in Wareham, and the 52-pound fish was taken near Bell Road, according to Bull at Red Top Sporting Goods in Buzzards Bay. There have been reports of fish exceeding 40 inches being caught throughout the Canal.
It’s not so much a matter of what you’re throwing as it is being in the right place at the right time as these fish ride the heavy current of last weekend’s new moon chasing bait. Rubber shad-body lures have accounted for a lot of success. Topwater lures are also taking fish, especially early in the morning. Gibbs Pencil Poppers and Yozuri Mag Darters are taking fish, according to Bruce at Canal Bait and Tackle in Sagamore. “Blue-and-white seems to be the magic color combination,” he said, adding that the canal was full of bait, including mackerel, sea herring, and pollock that the bass were gorging on. Soft-plastic baits like the RonZ on 3- or 4-ounce jigheads are taking their share of fish when the current picks up and the topwater bite turns off. Rich at Falmouth Bait and Tackle added that some of his regulars are catching fish around slack tide on the Sebile Magic Swimmer, and he’s been selling more since the action’s been heating up.
A tide moving from east to west seems to be producing the most fish, although the canal’s been pretty hot on almost all tides. These fish have been in the canal for the past few days, but Bruce is predicting the action will stay steady at least through the weekend. There have been bluefish in the canal, although they’re not thick, so it’s a good idea to use a fluorocarbon leader of at least 40-pound-test and keep an eye on it if you’re getting into fish. Tie a few extra leaders and have them ready to go to save yourself some time if the action is hot and heavy. The blues have mostly been medium-sized, in the 3- to 5-pound range.
On the south-facing beaches, the action has been there, but very location-specific. Jay at Mashpee Bait and Tackle said that your best bet is bouncing around as much as possible, not wasting too much time in one location if the fish aren’t there. Chris at Badfish Outfitters in North Falmouth added that earlier this week the fish and wind were pushing pogies right up onto the beach, and anglers were picking them up and live-lining them. With a stiff south wind, they couldn’t cast very far, but the fish were one top of them, and Chris said he weighed in three fish 30 pounds or bigger caught on south-facing beaches.
On the other side of the Cape, Barnstable Harbor has been hot, with big schools of mackerel and sand eels drawing in the bass. Jay said that while fishing the harbor this weekend, he rigged up an umbrella rig with DOA soft-plastic jerkbaits that did a great job imitating sand eels and had a good deal of success with stripers. Live-lining mackerel has also produced some decent stripers in Barnstable Harbor, according to Bruce at Canal Bait and Tackle.
Cape Cod Bay hasn’t seen the really big fish yet, but expect that to change as big stripers make their way through the Canal and discover a bay full of bait. Fish to 35 inches and 20 pounds are coming out of the Bay on a regular basis. Dan at the Hook Up in Orleans said that the areas around the Brewster Flats were producing fish consistently on soft-plastics such as Slug-Gos and RonZs. He said that most of the fish hitting on the surface were smaller, between 25 and 30 inches, but when they let the bait drop to the bottom, they found bigger fish. They took eight keeper-sized stripers to 38 inches.
Garret at the Goose Hummock in Orleans said the bluefish haven’t showed up in numbers in the Bay just yet, and anglers are taking mostly stripers. He said fly-fishermen were having success on the flats. From all accounts there is no shortage of sand eels in the bay so any lure or fly you can get your hands on that will mimic this bait should work wonders. Try using something with some flash and a slim-profile design. Smaller Slug-Gos and RonZs should work for spin-fishermen while deceivers are a good bet if you’re bringing the fly rod.
The backside beaches are producing some fish, but the action has been hit-or-miss, mostly due to mid-day tides. Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet has turned up a few keeper stripers but at other times has been absolutely dead. A good rule of thumb is not to stick it out too long if nothing seems to be happening. On Nauset Beach in Orleans, fish have been few and far between.
Fishermen targeting Race Point have had some success according to Leo at Nelson’s Bait and Tackle. If you make a run to the Race, try throwing Gags Grabbers Mambo Minnows in the chicken scratch pattern. The lure has apparently produced a few keeper-sized stripers there.
Down on the Vineyard the fishing has been variable but not dead, according to Steve at Larry’s Bait and Tackle. For the last week, variable winds have pushed the fish, and the fishermen, around, but there are stripers to be found. “They’re just not stacked up in any one location,” Steve said. Steve said he saw two 35-pound stripers come in this week. One was caught on a 12-inch black Slug-Go.
Steve said there have been two classes of fish making up for most of the action on the Vineyard: fish that are right around 28 inches, and fish between 18 and 25 pounds. However, late at night, larger fish that are feeding on scup farther offshore are moving into within range for surfcasters and that’s when the bigger fish are hitting the sand.
The groundfishing is heating up around the Cape as well with scup season opening this past Sunday. Some bruiser sea bass are being weighed in around the Cape and Islands. A 7.5-pound fish came out of Edgartown Harbor on the Vineyard last week and an 8-pounder was weighed in at M & D’s that came off of Cleveland Ledge.
Mike at M & D’s said the trick is to drift until you locate the fish, quickly mark your location and concentrate your efforts there. Fish are holding tight so exact location is important. Squid-tipped green Spro bucktail jigs have been producing, Mike said.
Cleveland Ledge has been the go-to spot for bottom-fishermen. Many fish have come in front of the Ledge, so don’t get discouraged if you’re not positioned right on top of it.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The short answer: The Canal. The Cape Cod Canal is your best bet at a big bass this weekend. Prepare yourself for a crowd because it’s no secret that big stripers push their way through the ditch right around this time of year but there should be plenty of fish for everyone. Pencil poppers, RonZs, rubber shads and jigs with Slug-Gos are all good bets to turn the heads of some of the bigger stripers cruising the canal. Boaters might want to check out the east end of the Canal and Barnstable Harbor as migrating bass push through to feed on sand eels and mackerel, or head out for sea bass and scup in Buzzards Bay.

If you’re shorebound but the Canal isn’t your cup of tea, pick a few beaches on the south side of the Cape and bounce around. You might find some of the baitfish-busting action. Winds out of the south and west should pick up temperatures but might make casting difficult so tie on something with some heft if you’re heading to a beach along the southern Cape.

The Great Chase: Opening of the Pond Attracts Herring, Bass and Fishermen

2009-05-23T10:54:00.006-04:00

Vineyard Gazette Online

Friday, May 22, 2009

By SAM BUNGEY

Mr. Handy and his excavator scoop heavy loads of wet sand from the cut’s mouth.

Paul Bagnall has seen many cuts, the trenches of sand dug to connect pond and ocean, but they’re all a little different.

As shellfish constable Mr. Bagnall oversees the opening of Edgartown Great Pond between three and five times a year. The opening resalinates the pond, purges nutrients and allows shellfish to thrive. It also fills the pond with herring and striped bass, much to the delight of local fishermen.

Conditions have to be just so. As a baseline there needs to be a head of water between three and four feet in the pond. Then a low tide is preferable, a calm sea essential, and a north wind handy to help coax the water from the pond. All it takes is the whisper of a change in the tide or chop to ruin a good pond opening.

In the past, the cut was dug with oxen and scoop blade.

Mr. Bagnall has watched a cut made with the old Wampanoag tribe method of using a team of oxen and a scoop blade, seen it done by bulldozer (witnessing firsthand the pitfalls of this method when a White Brothers construction machine plunged into Oyster Pond in the early 1990s) and, back before the herniated discs, he has even dug out a cut with some shovels and a team of fishermen.

Today the cutting is the job of the aptly named Steve Handy, of Handy Trucking and Bobcat Service.

“It’s a game of inches,” advises Mr. Bagnall as he watches Mr. Handy scooping sand by the ton with an excavator into neat mounds.

Mr. Handy uses the excavator to build a platform out ten feet or so into the pond to dig out a pool there. Then leaving a break at the shoreline, he works backwards from the sea, sculpting a path between the shores. He will dig a deeper trench at the other end of the cut to halt back flow from the surf.

Mr. Bagnall flashes a worried look at the tide, which should be heading out by the time Mr. Handy completes the opening.

Given the scale of the job the tools of operation seem rudimentary. On the south shore of the Vineyard, the Atlantic Ocean averages 35 parts per thousand of salt while today, before the opening, the Edgartown Great Pond, which stretches across 800 acres, is around 10 parts per thousand.

The plan is to get it up to 22 parts per thousand. To accomplish this Mr. Bagnall aims to drop three feet, or a cubic yard, from the top of the pond.

That’s a lot of water — the five to seven million gallons which flow daily into the pond during spring from the groundwater table, equal to roughly one eighth of an inch.

An unnatural canyon carved by man and machine brings precious salt back into the pond.

“To do this job artificially, you would need to set up something three times the size of the Edgartown water plant,” says Mr. Bagnall.

He and Mr. Handy have conferred daily for the past week on whether to cut. Shortly after 5 a.m, following a dawn run down to the beach to check the tide and a survey of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Web site for swell levels, somewhere below two feet today, Mr. Bagnall made the call.

A few minutes after Mr. Bagnall arrives at the beach at around 8:30 a.m., George Halkiotis, his son James, 12, and friend Josh Johnston pull up in a van and set up their fishing poles.

The two boys are playing hooky from school up in New Hampshire to get in a long weekend of fishing. Mr. Halkiotis spotted the digger from down the other side of the beach and knew the cutting was in progress.

A pond opening is always news in the fishing community. The anadromous herring will brave the current of the cut to make it into the pond. In hot pursuit will be the striped bass, in search of a meal of herring.

Followed closely by the fishermen.

Mr. Halkiotis been fishing this stretch of beach at this time for over 30 years. He has to drive across private property to get to their spot so he takes care to keep the news of the opening as quiet as possible.

“I don’t shout, I don’t let off fireworks, otherwise Letterman’s guards will be out,” he says, referring to the late night talk show host and nearby property owner who posts guards on his private beach.

But by mid-morning father, son and friend are flanked by the SUVs of fishermen. Somehow words spreads.

Shortly before 1 p.m, Mr. Handy digs out a connecting bank of sand and water cascades through the narrow channel. The job has taken him a little over five hours.

Taking care not to stray too far from his excavator parked close to the shore — he is aware how fast the shape of the trench can change — Mr. Handy peers over the bank and observes his, if you will, handiwork.

“It’s ripping out, it looks pretty good,” says the digger.

“Don’t get too cocky,” shoots back the shellfish constable.

If the tide keeps rising, he warns, it could be enough to reverse the flow and cause a sand bank and block the opening.

Regardless, there’s little left to do now but to watch and wait — a surprisingly hypnotic exercise. Chunks of sand in the trench subside constantly in the current, creating constant mini avalanches. The bricks immediately break up and are swept out to sea. The deep pool at the mouth of the cut churns up a little surf where waves of sand lighten the water.

Fisherman Rusty Hoxie ambles up to inspect the trench. He’ll be back at around sunset to drop a line in.

“There’ll be 20 Jeeps out here tonight,” says Mr. Hoxie. “It’s like ringing a dinner bell.”

And the ocean rushes in, bringing herring chased by striped bass.

Not everyone gets excited about pond openings, specifically those who like freshwater fish. Despite a current moratorium on the fishing of herring, a hard-core faction of herring boosters persists, but with nothing like the vigor of the old days.

Mr. Bagnall has heard stories of fist fights on South Beach between herring and shellfishermen during the 1930s.

“A group would come down to open up the pond and the herring guys would be waiting,” he says.

But beyond the occasional threat of violence, fishermen were much freer to salinate the pond to their liking, says the constable. Today, for one thing, approval for the pond opening has to come from selectmen.

“Back then you didn’t need attorneys to dig a trench,” he says.

Mr. Bagnall expects that even if this opening goes well it will be closed within 10 days. The openings don’t last as long these days because the ponds are smaller, he explains. Big weather events have pushed back the shoreline — during Hurricane Bob alone the pond lost a tenth of an acre — and sea levels are rising at a rapid clip, a fact Mr. Bagnall attributes to global climate change.

“I’m the first to spot rising sea because with this the margins are so small,” he says.

As a result Mr. Bagnall measures the minutia on an almost daily basis, putting him on the front lines of climate change.

He predicts the Vineyard shoreline will rise up to half a foot over the next 50 years.

“We’ll see extreme erosion,” he says.

Next morning he barrels west over the South Beach sand in the shellfish department van toward a cluster of SUVs huddled around the opening.

Mr. Bagnall inspects the trench. It has grown more than 50 feet wide and water is now running at at least five knots. The car-sized mounds of sand deposited along the trench by Mr. Handy’s excavator have simply disappeared, consumed by the millions of gallons of pond water rushingout to sea.

“It’s stepping and fetching now,” he says.

Each one’s a little different.

Out of the mud, into a frenzy

2009-05-14T17:24:00.001-04:00

The Martha's Vineyard Times

By Jack Shea
Published: May 14, 2009

Island anglers and naturalists will watch the thermometer, the sun, and the ponds every day between now and the new moon on May 24.

Sometime between the full moon and new moon in May, cinder worms rise to the surfaces of Island coastal ponds to mate, causing feeding frenzies in striped bass and frenzied action among some Island fishermen. Photo courtesy of capawock.com

They are waiting for tiny cinder worms to rise from muddy bottoms in saltwater ponds across the Island in an annual spawning that leads to a feeding frenzy of astonishing proportion, drawing striped bass, birds, fishermen, and onlookers.

Phil Cronin of West Tisbury has observed the worm spawn for the past 20 years and its power and mystery continues to fascinate him. Retired from his position as head of USO New England, he now runs a fishing charter business.

Although he may be a professional fisherman, Mr. Cronin's voice has the excitement of an amateur when he describes the five-day event. "It's just an amazing phenomenon," he said. "You're really seeing the full cycle of life in nature, a mating ritual in the midst of foraging predators, right in front of you."

Mr. Cronin and other anglers know what happens, and mostly where and why, but never exactly when the surface of Tashmoo, Poucha, Sengekontacket, and other Vineyard ponds will roil with hundreds of thousands of two- to four-inch spinning, wriggling worms. But they do know that the worms will attract a sea of feeding striped bass and a swarm of birds. Not far behind are fishermen like themselves who are drawn to the fascinating natural scene and the possibility of hooking dozens of stripers in a single night. "The water is swirling and dimpling, fish tails slapping and birds paddling around dipping and grabbing worms as fast as they can," he said.

As Mr. Cronin described it, a combination of warming water and bottom temperatures from spring sunlight triggers the emergence of the cinder worms (phylum-Annalida, family-Nereidae).

The worm spawn is really a race to procreate amid predators. Rising to the surface, the worms engage in a spinning, circular mating dance until they find a mate, females releasing eggs, males releasing sperm, which covers the eggs as they sink back to the muddy bottom. After spawning, the remaining adult cinder worms die and their offspring burrow into the mud to wait for the next spring cycle.

"The worms actually change their shape during the spawn," explained Mr. Cronin. "Their heads turn red, their bodies flatten and elongate and they develop hard tails, which act as paddles for swimming." They do this while being chased by hungry bass that in turn are being sought by fishermen.

"No, it's not like just hitting a school of fish," said Cooper "Coop" Gilkes, owner of Coop's Bait and Tackle in Edgartown. "It's different from other fishing, beyond a shadow of a doubt. The whole pond is erupting. It's pretty exciting. Mostly they are schoolies [undersized bass] but there are big fish, keepers [over 28 inches in length], in there as well."

Mr. Cronin, Mr. Gilkes, and Steve Purcell, owner of Larry's Tackle Shop in Edgartown, are well aware of the delicate nature of conditions required for the spawn and fishing the spawn. They also debate the relative importance of the full and new moons as triggers.

"Sunny weather is best for the spawn and the first few days after full moon tends to be best," Mr. Purcell said.

They know the spawn only occurs in ponds with muddy bottoms, where there is sufficient ocean current and when the sun and air conditions are right.

"We don't know when it's going to happen," Mr. Cronin said. "You have to go to the ponds every day." There's some temperature trigger in the water or on the bottom I think. I've seen the spawn begin, then the weather become cloudy or cold and it stops, then resumes when the weather changes."

From a fishing perspective, the spawn is most active an hour before sunset, when it draws the most fish. The activity can continue for hours, according to Mr. Cronin. "There may be a scent that draws the fish. Depending on whether the squid have arrived, the spawn may draw larger fish," he said. "If the squid are here, the larger fish will stay offshore in middle ground by the rip, but I've seen 40-inchers taken in the pond spawn."

Mr. Cronin is a fly fisherman who fishes from a canoe. "If you get a good fish, it'll tow you around, kind of a Vineyard mini-sleigh ride," he said, referencing the 19th-century term "Nantucket sleigh ride," used to describe a dory full of whalers being towed by a harpooned whale.

And, of course, there have to be fish. "I know we don't have a worm problem, but sometimes we have a fish problem, although Rhode Island is reporting a lot of fish moving through," Mr. Gilkes said.

There's a knack to fishing the feeding bass during the spawn. "We put on really light seven-weight fly line and use tiny worm lures," Mr. Cronin said.

"It's more like trout fishing," advised Mr. Gilkes. "You can't put much pressure on them. Strip the line slowly; let the fly sink a good 10 feet, then bring it back up. Ninety percent of the time, that works."

Mr. Cronin advises keeping your May schedule flexible. "When it starts, scratch out your calendar for the next five days. Then it's over."

Jack Shea is a frequent contributor to The Times.

Make Stripers A Gamefish

2009-05-06T19:13:00.002-04:00

For those of you who would like to see Striped Bass survive as a Recreational fisheries,
click on this link and act. Out of towners, even out of country fisherpersons are a vital part of the Cape economy and do have a say.

http://www.flyrodreel.com/node/12192

2009 Striperheads Outing Dates

2009-04-24T21:06:00.005-04:00

OK, folks, here's the official 2009 Stiperheads clave dates. Area 4 Nickerson State Park, Cape Cod.

Spring fishing - The Incoming - June 7 thru June 14th

Striperheads Clave - Sept 27 - Oct 4 Official Clave weekend.... October 2,3,& 4th 2009.

For information or inquiries contact me a mykiss@nycap.rr.com

Cool tale and engraving!!

2009-04-11T21:31:00.003-04:00

Hey I finally figured out how to post to this. Great pic and story Stephen. Hope you're well and enjoying the printmaking!

Captain Ahab Adams goes Striper Fishing

2009-04-04T14:02:00.007-04:00

Some of you know that I have a propensity for printmaking. Currently I am in a learning curve for wood engraving. This picture commemorates an occurrence that took place just off Saints Landing in the beginning years of the Striperheads experience.

Some of you may also remember the little 14 foot freshwater skiff that Aaron Adams and I would venture out in, and which we lovingly named "The Tin Cup". I have never much liked the trek from the boat launch to the Brewster Flats in rough seas, because of the distance from the launch. But one day, the seas were tame enough to let Captain Aaron "Ahab" Adams and I to venture out in the diminutive craft.

From the perspective of the wading Flats Area, off to the right and farther out into Cape Cod Bay, was the confluence of three channels draining the outgoing tide from both Saints Flat and Breakwater Beach. The area was such a turmoil of churning currents and rollicking standing waves, it resembled Odysseus's monster, Charybdis.

Suddenly, like an apparition, a large, looming 18 foot fin emerged from the tumultuous roil of water, rolled purposely from west to east. The tip of the monstrous appendage left an arching trail of water droplets, iridescent in the setting sun, before re-immersing into the black depths of the briny apocalypse.

This can't be good, I thought.

Seemingly to prove me right, Super- Biologist Aaron leaped up, balanced on the 4 square inch front corner of the bow, and pointed toward the creature's spot of re-entry, and shouted "Follow that Fin".

"Like Hell I will!" I yelled back, swinging the tiller around to start back away from a watery grave. Then disaster struck. We never knew what hit us.

We managed to swim through the whirl-pooling rubble to the exposed flats, and kissed the sand. We never saw the tin cup again. The next day, the Brewster Times confirmed the unusual sighting of a huge, light colored Sperm Whale in Cape Cod Bay.

I guess I am lucky to be alive. Today, Captain Adams chases whales in Florida, and calls them Tarpon.

stripers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-31T20:52:00.002-04:00

It was reported on 3/28/2009 on REEL BOATING that keepers are at Cape May, NJ.

Update on surgery

2009-03-24T12:06:00.002-04:00

Surgery sucks. They kept me an extra day because they could not get my pain under control, a prerequisite for leaving hospital. Weak, lost alot of blood. Gave me two units but still anemic.

But I am on the mend, doing some watercolors when I feel up to sitting for a bit. Looking forward to stories about the June fishing trip. I would like to come down for a day or two. Keep me abreast of times and place. In past June's, it seems that you stayed over toward Sandwich more.

Glad they postponed the Salt Water fishing registration for a year.

Bill

Midcurrent flyfishing news

2009-03-22T21:24:00.003-04:00

http://www.midcurrent.com/default.aspx

a great site

Spielberg Hooks Rights to Derby Book

2009-03-13T21:41:00.004-04:00

David Kinney sold film rights for The Big One.

March 23, 2009

The Vineyard may yet be the scene of another big fish film under the eye of Steven Spielberg: the Jaws director’s studio, DreamWorks, has just bought the film rights for a soon to be released book about the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

The book, The Big One: An Island, an Obsession and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish, by David Kinney, published by Atlantic Monthly, will be released on April 8.

Sure, it’s early; Hollywood routinely buys rights that never become scripts. Mr. Kinney, who lives in Haddonfield, N.J., acknowledged as much yesterday when he confirmed the agreement was concluded a week and a half ago over the phone. “[But] hopefully it will get done,” he said. Mr. Kinney would not disclose the selling price for the rights, but a Philadelphia newspaper Web site put the figure at “mid-six figures.” If the film goes into production, he could make a lot more.

Mr. Kinney said yesterday: “They have two producers, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.” The pair has been described in the New York Times as “the go-to screenwriters for mega-budget fare like Mission: Impossible III and The Island, as well as [the] film adaptation of Transformers.”

Mr. Kinney said he did not expect to be involved in writing the script.

The Big One is a 272-page narrative about the 62nd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby contest in 2007.

Throughout the September and October contest, Mr. Kinney, a Pulitzer prize-winning Philadelphia journalist, traveled on the shore and the water documenting the drama of the derby, where nearly a quarter-million dollars in prizes was awarded. The book is full of stories, many of them funny, about the fishermen, their spirit, their pursuit, their adventures and misadventures. There is Vineyard and derby history. There is also a strong environmental component, with a look at the state of fish stocks in Vineyard waters. While it was a one-month derby, the book was a two-year project.

Lev Wlodyka, of Chilmark, is one of the key figures in the nonfiction tale. The 28-year-old frequent derby winner took a second place in the contest with a 55.88-pound striped bass he caught from a boat. The fish might have been a first prize winner but for the drama that ensued when his fish was cut open at the weigh-in station, as many fishermen will recall.

It was then that derby officials discovered the fish had ingested ten weights totalling 1.68 pounds of lead before Mr. Wlodyka pulled it up.

While it was clear Mr. Wlodyka hadn’t done anything wrong, the lead weights opened up a controversial can of worms. The debates went way beyond what was the true weight of the fish at the scale — they ranged from lead in the environment and health issues, to the practice of yo-yoing, an unsportsman-like fishing technique used by commercial fishermen that involves putting lead weights into small bait, to make them more attractive to the biggest of fish.

What would Hollywood make of it all? Mr. Wlodyka of Chilmark shrugged, “My older sister, Sascha, thinks I should be played by Matthew McConaughey.

“I am not too particular [about who plays him in a movie]. Hopefully they will hire me to do consulting. I need a house. I don’t need a movie, I need a house,” he said.

This winter Mr. Wlodyka, an Island native, went commercial bay scalloping up into the holidays, then shifted to swinging a hammer as a carpenter. He’ll resume commercial fishing later in the spring.

Advance review copies of Mr. Kinney’s book floated around the Island this winter. Ed Jerome, president of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, who read the book, said: “The derby committee wishes David all the best luck. He put a lot of energy into that book, trying to describe the way the derby works and how it functions, the whole process. He happened to catch a year when there was a lot going on. He got a first-hand look. He got a good cross section of one of the derby’s years. He is a very good writer, we always helped him.

“If it gets to be a movie, obviously Martha’s Vineyard and all of its residents will want to help,” Mr. Jerome said. “I suspect the residents will be willing to help the movie any way they can.”

There are two likely reasons why Mr. Kinney’s book got the eye of DreamWorks. Steven Spielberg, who runs the studio, did two previous movies, Jaws and Jaws II, on the Vineyard. Add another fact: Holly Bario is a top executive with DreamWorks and comes from the Vineyard.

Mr. Kinney said he fished during last fall’s derby, but he is not sure what lies ahead if the book goes to film. “I would like to write another book. I am happy I finished this one and I am happy it got a little bit of attention,” he said.

The Yo-Yoing incident - Controversy Over Heavy Bass Roils Derby

2009-03-13T21:30:00.007-04:00

October 5, 2007

Photo demonstrates technique known as yo-yoing.

One of the top striped bass caught in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby this past week had a rough journey off and back onto the derby leader board.

On Sunday evening, Lev Wlodyka, 28, of Chilmark weighed in a 57.56 pound striped bass.

But the fish, it turns out, had ingested 1.68 pounds of lead prior to being caught.

This was a big surprise to Mr. Wlodyka, not to mention to derby officials. They quickly disqualified the fish. The decision upset Mr. Wlodyka, for he had caught the fish using a hooked eel.

After doing further research into that fish and learning details on a bluefish that had ingested lead and been weighed in earlier in the contest, derby committee officials reinstated Mr. Wlodyka’s striper Wednesday night.

The decision came after a lengthy three-hour meeting at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club in Edgartown.

“Lev Wlodyka did nothing wrong,” derby president Ed Jerome said yesterday.

Mr. Jerome said the controversy is not about how Mr. Wlodyka caught his fish, but rather the state of the fish prior to being caught and how derby officials will deal with such troubled fish going forward.

Lev Wlodyka with striper.

Derby officials have since come up with a new practice for evaluating all big striped bass and fish donated to the senior fillet program.

At the center of the controversy is an increasingly popular fishing technique called yo-yoing.

The technique involves using a bait fish artificially loaded with lead to make it sink as a way of catching striped bass.

Derby participants are prohibited from using this technique. Many fishermen think the practice should be outlawed in Massachusetts and along the East Coast.

More and more striped bass are being found that have ingested these lead-poisoned bait fish.

Mr. Jerome said he and the derby committee believe the striped bass that Mr. Wlodyka caught had ingested a lot of these bait fish in its life.

A striped bass of 56-plus pounds has a life span of at least 22 years. There is no telling how long those pieces of lead had been inside the fish.

Earlier in the derby, a fisherman had weighed in a bluefish that was examined to also have evidence of ingesting lead-weighted bait, but in that case the fish was not disqualified from the contest.

“In these two incidents, we realized, with the research that we did, that in both cases the fish had the inorganic material in their stomach and intestines prior to being caught,” Mr. Jerome said. “As a result we’ve had to think about this crazy situation. This is very serious.”

In the case of the bluefish, caught earlier in the derby, they found a skewer, two weights and a decayed menhaden.

In the digestive tract of Mr. Wlodyka’s fish, they found 10 weights and a number of clips used to close mouths of lead-weighted menhaden.

Mr. Jerome said: “There was nothing else in the belly. It had to make that fish sick.”

“In the past we always opened every derby leader and examined it for any foreign materials,” Mr. Jerome said. The intent was to catch fishermen who were cheating.

As a result of these two fish and incidents in the past, the derby has shifted its approach.

“Now we are doing this because we know that this kind of thing is going to show up more often,” Mr. Jerome said. “When we find evidence of yo-yoing, and we can conclusively prove scientifically that this material was in the fish prior to the catching, we will deduct the weight from the weight of the fish.”

Thus Mr. Wlodyka’s fish was reinstated in the derby as a fish weighing 55.88 pounds.

And with the concern that lead in a fish also taints the meat, Mr. Jerome said from now on every single striped bass donated to the fillet program will be opened at the stomach to see if there is any lead in it.

“If we find any, we will also take a sample of that fillet and have it analyzed,” he said. “Until we get conclusive evidence that the lead being kept in the stomach is not harming the quality of the fish, we will not put those fish in the fillet program. We will discard them.”

That is no small order. In the past several derbies, close to 5,000 pounds of fresh fillets of fish a year have been donated to the Island’s senior citizens through their councils on aging.

Mr. Jerome said derby officials remain opposed to yo-yoing for environmental reasons. “You can’t put lead into anything. You can’t put it in paint. The state has a law prohibiting the use of lead in birdshot.”

“Tons of fillets are eaten compared to a few birds. They have to outlaw this practice,” Mr. Jerome said.

At least two years ago, the derby wrote a letter to the state requesting that a prohibition against the use of lead weights in yo-yoing.

“They should come up with a weight that is biodegradable, so that if they do get in the fish, it is digested and dissipates,” he said. “The fact that the state has not acted on this is unconscionable.”

Here is how striped bass anglers use lead for yo-yoing:

They take a large menhaden, usually as big as they can get.

A lead weight is inserted in the mouth and pushed inside. A barbecue skewer, of bamboo, and sometimes thick wire is also inserted into the fish to keep it straight when pulled through the water. The mouth of the menhaden is shut with a wire clip. Closing of the mouth keeps the lead weight in and helps keep the fish streamlined when it moves through the water.

A hook is then placed on the top head of the fish.

A boat fisherman will then lower the fish to the bottom, usually over rocky bottom and play the fish off the bottom. Some anglers will lower the yo-yo all the way to the bottom and then reel it in quickly, and repeat it over and over again, hence the name yo-yo. Others will simply dance the fish off the bottom, raising and lowering their rod as though jigging. The technique is said to be very productive and used commonly by commercial striped bass anglers.

In the violent action of raising and lowering the bait, it is possible for the bait to get loose and come free. And often when the striped bass grabs the fish, it gets hooked but the bait drifts away. When it drifts free, another striped bass in the same school will eat and consume the poisoned bait.

In the case of Mr. Wlodyka’s fish, it had eaten at least 10 of these fish.

Lisa Capone, a spokesman for the state Division of Marine Fisheries said: “This appears to be a fairly new technique and it has raised the attention at the division. We will try and gather information over the winter to see how widespread this is. We will take a look at it.”

For Mr. Wlodyka, this has been an awful week with ultimately a positive outcome.

He is an experienced and respected Chilmark angler. During the summer he commercially fishes for striped bass. During the fall he devotes his energies to fishing in the derby and at other times he is a general contractor. He has a wife and a six-month-old son.

He said he caught the striped bass in his boat, while fishing alone. When he caught it, he said: “I was more happy than I have ever been. I was all in cloud ten. I caught the fish at 8:50 p.m. at my favorite fishing spot. The fish swam by the boat, took 70 yards. Then it went to the bottom and came back and took 50 yards, held for five minutes and then came up,” he said.

He said that after he got to the dock, he rushed in his truck to Edgartown to weigh the fish in.

When the fish was opened, and he learned the fish was going to be disqualified, he was devastated. “It was going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows,” he said.

“There is irony. Eight to ten years ago, I went to my father. He was on the derby committee. I told him this [yo-yoing] is wrong, it kills the fish. It was in the late 1990s, He had to explain to the derby committee how it was done. Back then only 30 or 40 boats were doing it up and down the East Coast. Now it is far more common.”

In a letter earlier this week to the derby committee, hoping that they would reinstate the disqualified fish, Mr. Wlodyka wrote: “It’s the amazing spirit of the derby that we all love so much. In the end, I guess this fish and I had a lot in common. We both got something that was totally indigestible and hard to swallow. See you on the water.”

He said he appreciates the support he got from the waterfront committee in reinstating the fish.

The leading fish in the derby so far, with one full week to go are as follows: Striped bass: boat, Zeb Tilton, 56.51 pounds; shore, Zachary K. Tilton, 40.61. Bluefish: boat, Bruce L. McIntosh, 14.62; shore Dan J. Hess, 11.02. Bonito: boat, Geoff K. Codding, 9.14; shore, Neal J. Farrell, 7.38. False albacore: boat, Sandy E. Fisher, 15.33; shore, Clark M. Goff Jr., 15.86.

Striped Bass Conservation Bill Would Ban Commercial Bass Fishing

2009-03-09T21:17:00.001-04:00

Posted in: Falmouth News, Front Page Stories
By ELISE R. HUGUS
Feb 17, 2009 - 12:37:44 PM

FALMOUTH- A bill sponsored by State Representative Matthew C. Patrick (D-Falmouth) to ban the commercial harvest and sale of striped bass and place limits on the daily catch and keeper size for recreational fishermen is not getting many bites from local anglers.

The Striped Bass Conservation Bill would place striped bass in the game fish category, making it illegal to sell, and would limit recreational fishermen to one fish between 20 and 26 inches or over 40 inches per day.

Mr. Patrick said he was motivated to write the bill because of his own experience fishing for striped bass near his home in Waquoit. After catching his first striped bass in 1989, Mr. Patrick said he has seen the numbers and size of the popular fish drop.

“I want to conserve the striped bass. I’m afraid it’s going to go the way of a lot of fisheries out there, which is down the tubes,” said Mr. Patrick, who added that his personal observations were confirmed by research studies.

Conservation efforts in the early 1980s have helped the striped bass rebound, and sport fishing for that species is a $1 billion industry, according to the Division of Marine Fisheries.

The current minimum size for a keeper fish is 28 inches and recreational anglers are allowed to keep two per day.

Commercial fisherman may catch up to 30 striped bass over 34 inches per day after the season opens in mid-July. The season typically lasts four to six weeks, depending on how long it takes to reach the quota of 1.1 million pounds of fish.

The breeding size for striped bass is between 26 and 40 inches, according to the Division of Marine Fisheries.

“The number of spawning fish has declined over the past three years. While the total fishery maybe has gone up, the spawning females are almost at the point of being critical,” Mr. Patrick said.

If passed, Massachusetts would join Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New Jersey as the other East Coast states that do not allow commercial striped bass fishing.

Rhode Island allows commercial striped bass fishing on a limited basis from January to June and the fish must be over 34 inches if caught on a line.

Seasoned fisherman and charter boat captain William Nathaniel Chalkley of Woods Hole said that, if passed, the bill would kill his business.

Mr. Chalkley said he makes up to $20,000 per season from catching and selling striped bass. That amounts to half of his income.

“For rod and reel guys, that’s a real money market,” said Mr. Chalkley, who supplements his fishing income by chartering his boat, the Annie P., for sport fishing in the summer, and working as a builder in the winter.

He said that he and other people who fish commercially for striped bass work as tradesmen during the rest of the year, “but right now that industry is really hurting.”

Instead of making striped bass a game species, Mr. Chalkley said, he would support increasing the minimum size for recreational anglers and reducing the amount of fish that commercial fishermen can take.

He also suggested keeping the season open for a longer period of time, but reducing the days that fish may be taken for sale to once a week, rather than Tuesday through Thursday. That way, he said, there would be less pressure on one size class during a particular time in the season.

Mr. Chalkley grew up on the shores of the James River in Virginia, and caught his first fish “as soon as I was big enough to hold a pole,” he said.

As he got older, Mr. Chalkley migrated to the Chesapeake Bay, a major breeding ground for striped bass. He said that the state’s fisheries are regulated, just as hunting is, and so he supports the saltwater angler registry that will be in place in Massachusetts in January 2010.

“It will give the scientists a much better idea of how many fish are being caught,” said Mr. Chalkley.

The problem, he said, is with recreational anglers, who catch up to 60 percent of the region’s striped bass.

“We have more invested in making sure those stocks survive,” said Mr. Chalkley, who also suggested that the state restrict commercial fishing licenses to those who do not sell a certain amount of fish.

“They should cut out guys who don’t need this as a primary source of income. They’re just selling a few fish to make up for gas money,” he said.

Mr. Chalkley frequents the waters around Woods Hole with his friend David (Ski) Kosewski, facilities manager at the Marine Fisheries Center.

Mr. Kosewski said he went out commercial fishing a total of nine times during the 2008 season. On one two-day period, he said he caught 25 fish per day, each averaging 35 pounds.

He sells his stripers at the Falmouth or Cataumet fish markets for $2.50 to $4.50 per pound.

“It’s never been as good as it is now. There were days where I almost burned my arm off,” said Mr. Kosewski, who has been fishing since the late 1970s.

“Some people [think there is a decline] because they don’t know what they’re doing, or what the right methods are.”

The roughly $5,000 Mr. Kosewski makes as a commercial fisherman pays for his recreational fishing hobby, but he said it would be unfair for the striped bass trade to be banned completely.

“I don’t understand why there’s a handful of people who want to restrict everything we do,” said Mr. Kosewski. “We don’t kill as many fish as recreational fishermen do. They outnumber us six to one.”

Peter Goldsborough of Bar Neck Road, Woods Hole, is a recreational angler who fishes from shore almost every night from May to November.

But he only keeps a few striped bass per season, catching and releasing about three fish per outing.

“I do it for the love of it. I guess there should be limitations on these things, but I’ve never been one to follow them,” said Mr. Goldsborough.

Some groups that support game fish status for striped bass say that the move could bring 2,800 jobs and more sport fishing tourism to the region.

Brad Burns, president of the Maine-based group Stripers Forever, said that Cape Cod is known worldwide for its striped bass fishing, and that jobs in bait and tackle shops, charter boating, hotels, and the like would benefit the economy.

In a study commissioned by Stripers Forever, economist Robert Southwick concluded that the impact of banning commercial fishing would be compensated for by an increase in recreational striped bass fishing.

The group’s website has an explanation: “commercial bass fishing actually costs jobs and reduces economic activity because fewer fish lead to fewer jobs in the recreational sector. The current management system has failed to produce a healthy, well-balanced striped bass population largely because commercial fishing interests have a disproportional influence on fishery managers.”

Stripers Forever policy coordinator Craig Caldwell, has been “working directly with Mr. Patrick and other legislators,” said Mr. Burns.

Mr. Patrick said he would be willing to listen to alternative solutions from commercial fishermen, and also supports a bill sponsored by Peter V. Kocot (D-Northampton) to curtail the herring industry. Herring and menhaden are the primary source of food for striped bass.

“I have regrets about ending a commercial fishery, even a small fishery. I think we need to evaluate it, not just from a Marine Fisheries point of view but from a citizen’s point of view,” said Mr. Patrick. “I want people to think of this striped bass bill as a work in progress. There may be something we can work out.”

Good Luck Bill

2009-02-26T18:02:00.003-05:00

good luck Bill ! I hope the operation offers you the relief you need... back problems suck for fishing...

Heading for surgery

2009-02-25T14:09:00.001-05:00

I was pleased to see that Splinta has an article about the pending saltwater registry (=liscence). Will look at it later.

I head to surgery on 13 March for a spinal fusion. My back was bad last summer and fall and has gotten progressively worse. 6 hour operation. 4-6 week recovery. BUT, there will be no holding me back next fall.

Might try to get down in June.

Be nice, guys.

Bill

Off Season Tying? Heres one of the better sources for info!

2009-02-01T08:38:00.003-05:00

If you spending part of your off season time tying for your next Striper interlude? One of the best tying guides I seen at this point is from one our own - Aaron Adams. If you haven't seen it or don't have it- pick it up now.

Affordable and well written, the patterns are part of a collection of some of the most useful salt water flies, including ones specific and should have for the Northeast coastal areas. And ifs full of Aaron's ecological approach and attention to detail. Check it out, enjoy your tying, and good luck come spring.

http://www.amazon.com/Fishermans-Guide-Saltwater-Prey-Invertebrates/dp/0811734609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233495432&sr=1-1

Hello Striperheads

2009-01-30T20:13:00.001-05:00

Hello to all glad to see that Stephen finally got this thing up and running.

How NOT to Handle a fish to be released.

2009-01-29T20:20:00.004-05:00

I am sure hoping that this Tennessee fish is heading for the frying pan or the taxidermist. For article featuring this gem, go to: http://www.tennesseesportsmanmag.com/fishing/stripers-hybrids-fishing/TN_0109_02/

Summer Striperheads Trip Dates Set !!

2009-01-23T17:45:00.003-05:00

The reservations have been placed. We wait for the ice and snow to go and the bass to come back.... the first 2009 Spring/Summer outing for Striperheads is set for June 8 through the 14th. Area 4 of Nickerson's Campground in Brewster, Mass. Make your reservations at: http://www.reserveamerica.com .

Proposed Federal (or Mass.) Salt Water Fishing License

2009-01-19T11:05:00.007-05:00

Are you all aware of this one?

OPEN SEASON: Leap year for licenses
By MARC FolCO
Open Season
January 04, 2009 6:00 AM

Saltwater anglers and spearfishers got a one-year reprieve

from the proposed Saltwater Fishing License as NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries Service ruled late in December that the Jan. 1, 2009 date to implement the National Saltwater Angler Registry is being put off a year, to Jan. 1, 2010. This gives states, including Massachusetts, another year to put their own data-collection systems in place. Anglers who live in states without their own saltwater registry/licensing system, will be obliged to register with the federal registry, which will be free until 2011, after which it's expected that a $15-25 annual fee will be imposed.
Aimed at improving collection and accuracy of recreational harvest statistics, the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act required all U.S. saltwater recreational anglers to be registered federally (or through a state) by 2009. NOAA issued a final rule, however, extending that deadline by one year.
Anglers will be required to register with NOAA if they are not licensed or registered in a state that has its own program if they: fish in federal ocean waters or if they fish in tidal waters for anadromous species (migratory fish such as striped bass and salmon that spawn in rivers and spend their adult lives in estuaries and oceans). However, those who fish recreationally for these migratory species inland of tidal waters need not register, according to the final rule.
Federal saltwater angler registrations will include the angler's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and the regions where they intend to fish. The information will be used to conduct surveys on fishing effort and numbers of fish caught. Once anglers have registered, they may fish anywhere in U.S. federal waters, or in tidal waters for anadromous species, regardless of the region or regions they specified in their registration.
The registration will be valid for one year from its date of issue. Anglers must comply with applicable state licensing requirements when fishing in state waters. Anglers will be able to register online or by calling a toll-free number that will be publicized, and will receive a registration certificate. Anglers will need to carry this certificate (or their state license from an exempt state) and produce it to an authorized enforcement officer if requested.
Those who fish only on licensed party, charter or guide boats would not be required to register with NOAA, since these vessels are surveyed separately from angler surveys. Those who hold angler permits to fish for highly migratory species, such as tunas or swordfish, and those fishing under commercial fishing licenses will also be exempt. Anglers registered or permitted to fish in a formal state or federal subsistence fishery will also be exempt, as will anglers under age 16.
MarineFisheries established a steering committee last year and is working aggressively to discuss the benefits of a state license and possibly implement a Mass. saltwater license by 2010. To be exempted from the federal registry, a state's data collection system must be acceptable by NOAA's standards.
A state license, which could be required of all saltwater anglers and have its own set of regulations, would be more beneficial to anglers and the state agency than the federal registry. Revenues generated from license fees would remain in Massachusetts to fund new recreational fisheries programs and greatly improve current ones. Fees paid into the federal registry, however, could go anywhere, not necessarily here.
According to MarineFisheries, the striped bass is the backbone of our recreational saltwater fishing industry, helping to drive nearly $1 billion annually into the economy. About 1 million anglers fish the state's marine waters every year, with over 40 percent of that number composed of visitors from other states and countries. Our state also offers 1,800 miles of coastline and as many as 70 different species of fish have been identified in our recreational catch, including record catches of giant bluefin tuna, flounder, cod, bluefish, tautog and scup.

New York State Record broken this past season

2009-01-19T10:41:00.007-05:00

in case You hadn't heard..... Gotta learn the river fishing, I guess.. this piece comes from the newspaper of Cornell University, one of my schools, with whom I had studied at the Isle of Shoals the past couple summers. Proud of the alumni, it seems. Proud of the fish, he seems.....

June 22, 2007
Recent Cornell grad catches record-breaking striped bass

By Krishna Ramanujan

Ian Kiraly with the New York state record-breaking striped bass caught May 9 in the Hudson River.

A striped bass caught by Ian Kiraly '07 in the Hudson River on May 9 was so big that by the time it was landed in the 16-foot boat, it had straightened one of the prongs of a treble hook on Kiraly's minnowlike lure. The 55-pound, 6-ounce fish set New York's state record for "stripers," measuring 49 and 3/8 inches long and 32 inches around.
"Once we got it in the boat, the lure fell right out of its mouth," said Kiraly, who majored in natural resources and is now a technician in the southwestern Adirondacks at the Little Moose Field Station, an aquatic research station run by the Department of Natural Resources in the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell.
Kiraly, who is from an area near Walton, N.Y., travels three to five times a year to the Hudson River to fish for spawning stripers. He was joined this trip by his father and a family friend and hooked the big fish near Kingston, N.Y. Kiraly said it took 30 to 45 minutes to get the striper in the boat.
While trolling with the lure about 20 feet deep, Kiraly said the fish bit and took a lot of line. He had no idea how big it was but began to wonder when he had trouble gaining back his line, he said.
"It charged the boat a couple of times and that was the only time I could gain some line at first," Kiraly said. "Then I'd lose the line again. We never even saw it until the last time I brought it to the surface." Once in the net, the three men heaved it on board together. They still had no idea it was the record fish.
Kiraly said they almost let it go, but since it was almost dead from the fight, they kept it. After weighing it, realizing it was a record fish and then showing it to a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation biologist to verify it was a striped bass, Kiraly froze the fish and is having a wall mount made. Coincidentally, the last record striped bass (which was only 6 ounces lighter) was also caught on May 9 -- four years ago.
Stripers, native to the Atlantic Ocean, spawn in the Hudson and Delaware Rivers each spring and can migrate up to Maine.

The Seal who came to Lunch..

2009-01-18T12:11:00.013-05:00

in Sandwich! About a week ago this lil gal was found in our favorite Cape Cod "Trough of Trout Hogs" Here's a shot of the lunch, now digested, which I took just this past June:

What a feeling of "nirvana to yourself" this little mammal must have felt

in print:
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090107/NEWS/901070328

on tape:

Warmer Days

2009-01-17T14:53:00.002-05:00

As I huddle inside, waiting for the passage of the slug of deep-freeze arctic air from Canada, I frequently have thoughts of warmer days. Like this picture of Anthony and Wayne in the re-configured lower Monomoy area, the summer after the big storms.

Passing of a Giant

2009-01-16T20:27:00.016-05:00

I know this doesn't have fins or scales, but I am saddened today by the news of the passing of Andrew Wyeth. Representing the second generation of the Wyeth dynasty of American art, his work helped to bring realism back into focus. Perhaps best known for his piece, Christina's World, I am particularly fond of a image of another one of his Maine models, Siri. His particular brand of realism, use of negative space, and lighting come together well in this painting.

I am sure I cannot claim him as an influence, but most certainly an inspiration.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/17/arts/design/17wyeth.html?_r=1

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,962060-1,00.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003821093_wyeth04.html

http://www.andrewwyeth.com/index.html

Welcome Wayne

2009-01-14T21:15:00.003-05:00

hey there Wayne... welcome aboard.... you were on the blog invite mailing list, but that came from the striperheads email list from last year..... there were 30 invites out, about 1/4 were double subscriptions, but I suspect there are some old emails addresses.

anyway you got the word

word up!

S

2009-01-14T11:14:00.003-05:00

Stephen,
I appreciate you forming this forum; I think that the claves would sink without a common newsource. Hope that you didn't mind Bill info-ing me. Caught a 25" pike through the ice yesterday, but it is tonight's dinner. Plenty in the freezer for pickling.
Wayne

Bill and the Bird

2009-01-13T19:07:00.005-05:00

Striperheads is not just about the fishing.... here we see our favorite ornithologist, Mr Coonswatter, studying the movements of a hawk over the flats at Paynes' Creek.

welcome first comers

2009-01-13T19:01:00.003-05:00

hi Bob H good to hear from you..

Steve , its real good to hear from you... 2008 didn't give up much for me either... only got down once, in September, and the best was a couple 27 inchers... I too look for 2009, and hope to stay in touch with you this year. suggestion: try entering a "new Post" instead of a comment on someone else's post. Posts show up automatically, comments are "hidden"

Bill .... happy winter and I see that you are back to work..... tough it out, summer will be here soon enough.

2009-01-13T08:19:00.001-05:00

Splinta,
Glad you started this. Love the photo. Good to have Bob H. with us again. Some year he might get his stripping basket finished!!

Overwhelmed with my new resposibilities here at Norwich. I will turn to the blog for refuge.

Bill

lifes a beach

2009-01-12T21:51:00.001-05:00

life's a beach, and then you die.....

Sam the striper here had better days. When Bill Barnard and I had made his acquaintance last fall, he was looking a little pale around the gills. he had been fooled by a deceiver, stripped of some nice fillets (he was proud of them shoulders -been working out at a gym for several months), and then tossed back into the drink.

He floated inland while he contemplated his new svelte self. But the tide left him stranded , his new flanks got burned in the sun, and then some black back had the audacity to peck out and eat his eyeballs, and worst yet, his cheeks.

He shudda stayed in school.

2009-01-12T19:49:00.002-05:00

Hei Stephen,
Nice to be connected again. While I'll mostly listen vicariously while you people talk about East Coast stripers, I'll try to sneak in a West Coast perspective every now and again.

A dozen years of Striperheads - From Damned Yankee Clave to Yurt Living

2009-01-05T21:55:00.000-05:00

Did you realize that the Stiperheads clave is over 10 years old? beginnng life under the dubious of of the Damned Yankee Clave 2- the Salt Clave, in Maine, its been quite a journey... this image of ours truly is from Popham Beach in Maine in July 1998.

The Work Goes On

2009-01-04T00:39:00.000-05:00

Work on the website continues. Set up the articles page, with first articles, and set up this blog to be added to the website... just have to figure out how to extend invitation to subscription to the striperheads...

Striperheads Blog .. created January 1, 2009

2009-01-03T23:48:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the new Striperheads blog.... and a new look at the sport we love..