Ok, I thought it would be fun to start a Diary of my fishing excursions...so here goes!
5/02/09
My husband and I decided not to wait for the striped bass that usually come in around Memorial Day. So, we packed up a lunch and set out to try ground fishing for Cod, something niether of us had ever tried...with the exception of an odd day that really didn't work out (that's another story for another day).
Anyway, we headed out towards Stellwagen Bank and gave it a whirl. Using heavy metal jigs, it took me awhile to figure out how to "find the bottom". After a little practice, I really got the hang of it! Unfortunately, I neglected to grab the camera that day and didn't get a picture of our "first Codfish". On the upside; we caught ATLEAST 40 cod between the two of us. All but (one) made the trip safely back to the murky depths of the ocean floor.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm........
I'll get a photo next time!
5/10/09
OK, let's just say we are getting "ready" for the stripers. Off we go to Stellwagen for another go at groundfishing. Before we left, we swung by a local tackle store to ask about jigs...specificaly haddock jigs, since we hadn't yet hooked one.
The counter help told us that the best way to catch haddock is with bait. Clams are the best, he said. Well, we are pretty stubborn about using bait, so we bought a couple metal jigs, thanked him for his time and headed out on the boat.
Guess what my husband jigged up first...yup, a 25" haddock. Then another and another. A few cod came up next followed by two spiny dogfish (which, we are told, won't take a metal jig off the bottom.) I came up with a few sculpin, a few cod, then my very first haddock! I kissed his fish lips and tossed him back...there were already five in the cooler over 25". I felt my little 21" should grow up a bit more.
Today (5/14) the newspaper says that there are schoolie stripers in the Annisquam. Pouring rain out there now...maybe tomorrow!
"Close to first" Cod
First Haddock (same day as above Cod)
5/25/09
Here it is!! My first big striped bass of 2009!!
WOO-HOO !!!!!!
6/28/09
The month of June has really STUNK weather wise...what the hell! We've been going out anyway on the weekends for atleast a few hours and have been fortunate to have been able to enjoy some monster striper hookups along with some 30" plus bluefish. Stripers will hit lures trolled begind the boat as we try to get a blue fin tuna to come up.
We've seen tuna numerous times and even were close enough to cast right into them last weekend, but they remain "undefeated".
The fishing grounds at Stellwagen were opened to commercial fishing this month, so even the cod and haddock fishing has been hit or miss. I hope July brings a bit more excitement...although, a 40" plus striper is a real hoot!
Don't worry! Be happy!
7/26/09
The weather has improved a little this month. The monster stripers have been out on Stellwagen since the end of May making it fun while we still search for our tuna. Yesterday was a good "tuna sighting" day. Just east of the NW corner of Stellwagen we found a football field size patch of 100lb and under tuna.
Yes, the tuna are still the victors.
My hunny pulled up a 37lb cod earlier this week earning him the nickname "Codfather".
We took a buddy, John, early July for his first groundfishing trip. We used metal jigs to bounce off the bottom and had lots of fun watching him reel in some nice haddock and cod...then we found the stripers. He was hooting like a little kid.
What Fun!!
8/22/09
Tuna....ahhh....the tuna! The day started PERFECT! Calm seas, bright August sunshine...
We cruised out toward Stellwagen Bank to try for Tuna (again) and figured we'd settle for a cooler full of groundfish. My hunny, Jamie, saw some birds "working" and headed towards them. Could be something good!
The bluefin tuna BOILED the surface of the water! I was at the bow of the boat in an instant at the ready to cast at the feeding fish. In my excitment, I cast a bit too soon and the forward momentum of the boat ran my Sluggo right over. "Rookie", I called myself outloud.
The second cast flew seconds later directly into the churning water created by the tuna as they fed on baitfish. INSTANTLY I felt the line go tight as a tuna grabbed my lure. I yelled over my shoulder, "I got a hit!" As if in reply the reel in my hands began to scream as the tuna ran with my hook securely set in his mouth.
HOLY CRAP!!
The battle was on. My mind raced back two years ago when I lost my first tuna after a one hour and fifty-six minute battle. This fish was different, it was bigger...I could tell by the way it streaked away from the boat. The first run was tremendous, taking nearly all of my 300 yards of 65lb braided line. This fish wasn't hooked on the "big stuff". I had it caught on my striper rod which is fine for tuna under 100 pounds. As I felt the strength of the fish I got a "sinking" feeling.
The battle raged through one hour and into the next. I would reel the fish within 75 feet of the boat and it would scream away again. My back ached from the strain and my arms were tiring. Reel in...run out...reel in...run out...
Into the THIRD hour...
Unknow to me, the chop of the waves had picked up, tossing water into the back of the boat. Jamie flicked on our bilge pump to take care of the incoming water. Unknown to either of us, the bilge had become plugged and wasn't pumping water.
That's an issue in a boat...
"Cut the line" I said to him, "let's get the water out." His reply, " NO FRIGGIN' WAY!" The new plan was to try and hand me and my tuna off to another boat. Worth a try...
The first boat we saw, we waved and yelled to get it over to us. We were happy to find out it was a buddy of ours and he was happy to help out. Time was ticking, our boat was in need of "de-watering", simply it needed to be run forward to get the water to the back and get the bilge cleaned and working.
I handed my rod to our friend, John, then hopped onboard myself. John tightened the line and looked at me with big eyes..."This is a real fish!"
Yea...I know...
Handing me back the rod, he asked when I hooked it. "8:45", I replied. John looked at his watch, "It's 12:15!" This fish had been on with me for three and a half hours. I tighened up on my fish and glanced at Jamie as he dealt with the water issue in our boat. Our boat was safe, it was leveling off as he drove it around to lose the water.
That's a good thing: the boat is safe. The bad thing: My fish was able to get another wind while we were screwing around. I started the battle again, my arms were screaming, my back was numb, let's get this sucker in.
The tuna was rested, he was strong and his will to live was tougher than my 65 pound test line. As I began the battle again, I could tell imediately that this was a fresh fish. I was exhausted...he had a chance to swim around and regain his strength. After 20 minutes of fighting him in on John's boat, the line snapped.
The battle that lasted 3 hours and 50 minutes...was over.
I collapsed to the deck of John's boat.
We never saw the fish. We can only guess at it's size...200...maybe 250... We'll never know. I gained a tremendous respect for that Tuna on that day. He fought for his life with every bit of energy that he had...
And he won...
8/30/09
So, we went out and caught 10 foot BLUE SHARK the following weekend!!
Wicked Way Cool...
9/07/09
Have to hand it to him...he got one!! We were heading back from Stellwagen and came across some birds just "sitting" in the water. Sometimes it means there is bait below, sometimes it means a big fishing boat had gone through earlier and tossed some fish crud overboard.
Suddenly the fish finder went crazy showing atleast 30 of bait below us in 400 feet of water. For the fun of it, Jamie dropped a small diamond jig over to try and snag the bait just to see what it was.
INSTANTLY, the jig was hit by what he thought was a big striper or bluefish. As he reeled it up we could see the telltale flash of a tuna! After a 15 minute fight, we dragged in a healthy 70 pound BlueFin Tuna!
Makes you wonder how big the fish we lost really was...
11/25/09
I know, it's been awhile since my last post. Since September came along, the wind has spent a fair amount of time blowing pretty good out of the North and Northeast. It kicks the waves up pretty good.
Jamie and I have made weekend excursions out to Stellwagen Bank only to find it very quiet. Good thing for the groundfish! We usually manage to bring back dinner for ourselves and a few friends...
I guess it's nearly time to pack it in for the year.
Atleast we have our yearly fishing vacation to look forward to! I've booked a week long stay at Silver King Lodge in Costa Rica in April, 2010. I've never hooked up with a tarpon before, I'm looking forward to another mighty battle.
Time to get ready for the Holidays, maybe a few more fishing days before the white crap flies.
