Conference wahoo::fishing

    If you're talkin' about school tuna, ie yellowfin, albacore, or
    small bluefin, the word is that they're passing through Virginia
    Beach and into Jersey. I expect the schoolies are still about 3
    weeks away or so. The giants have been creeping up the coast a little
    faster. I have heard some charter captains talking about the longliners
    already beginning to see some giants, but they are 90+ miles out
    still. A few dubious reports of giants around stellwagen, but nothing
    verifiable. I would imagine that they will be around soon, if they
    are not already. Check the Globe on Friday.  Let's hear it from
    those of you further on down the coast. Where is the school, and
    how's the fishing (read catching)?
    
     The Doctah
    

    Nothing down here. blue & stripers are in, fluke starting and cod
    leaving.
    
    Cap't Flounder

    Not big tuna like the ones you are looking for, but we are picking up
    albies, and some bonito off the Jersey coast here and there.  No
    skippies or yellowfins yet, but they are working their way in.
    Even though I am a bit south of you'all,  I will post some reports here
    anyway, to keep things interesting.  Let me know when you are cathing
    the Big_Ones.  Good luck!
    
    Vinnie

                                                                  
    

    Does anyone have privy to a weather FAX ? It is a common technique
    to follow thermal patterns in the Gulf stream that break of and
    drift close into shore. These pockets of temperate water are havens
    for peligic fish. It would be a great help if any of you amatuer
    meteorologists would post info on thermal location and trajectory.
    
    Millions of SUSHI lovrs will thank you, and a few of us fisherman
    will too.
                                                 Walt
    

    
     I do not know about tuna but there is dog fish every where, i went
    on two all day trips this past week-end abourd the northern star
    out of Hampton beach. I picked up around 50 cod and a few haddock
    but LOTS of dog fish, the only way to avoid them is using a jig.
    
    
     good fishin
    
       jim

     Using a jig unfortunately does NOT preclude you from catching dogfish.
    I caught 2 or 3 on jigs this past weekend.
    
     The doctah

    re: 762.5 Where  did you fish for and get 50 cod? I am going out
    saterday and would like to get a few Cod before everythung becomes
    Blue's . We will fish for them also but I want to stock the frezzer
    with white meat. Maybe get a few mac's for tuna bait.
    
                                                 Walt
    

    Well folks, the bluefin, and yellowfin have finally decided they
    were going to take to hook, and line the begining of this week.
    I was out yesterday fishing inshore and spoke to a few fishing buddies
    about twenty miles further out than I was and they had some pretty
    good reports.  They were getting mostly bluefins and some yellowfins
    in the 25 pound range.  Football size, but good sport nevertheless.
    All were taken while trolling, most hitting nylons, and cedar plugs.
    I was trapped into some inshore fishing with my wife yesterday missing
    out on some of the real fine fishing these guys were having.  My
    wife has something against being more than 2 or 3 miles off the
    beach.  No matter how good the fishing is!
    
    B.T.W  We are having some real hot weather down here.  Yesterday, about
    93 deg F, and today 101 deg f.  If the heatwave continues, I am
    sure I will have a shot at them this Saturday morn'.  Water temp
    has got to be climbing at a rapid pace with this kind of weather.
    Will keep everyone up north posted  on the trip this Saturday.
    Good fishing all!
    
           
      
    Vinnie

    Steve J.
    
    The Doctah and I are heading out again tomorrow.  We're going to
    be looking for blues, macks and maybe some cod.  I've just finished
    my handlines and harpoon, so we'll have them on board in case I
    mark any.  Even tho its a little early, I might head around Cape Ann 
    and throw out a daisy chain of macks in your area for giggles and 
    grins.  I don't hold much hope this early, but last week we found a 
    few nice hills that still held cod.   Besides the 2 last week, have
    you heard anything recently?  I went to a tuna seminar with Paul O.,
    and there was talk of a lot of sightings furthur north. They were 
    also saying that there's plenty of small to mediums in the area,
    along with the giants.  I'll give a shout on 70 if we turn the corner.
    
    Joe A.

    WHO is Steve J.? 
    I'll be going out tommorow also for a cruise around Plum Island
    area. I'm not planning on fishing for tuna but if I mark I have
    one hand line on board. Got to make a Harpoon!
    
    If you get into the Tuna give me a shout on Ch 16 . "Rainbow Chaser"
    
    Code word for tuna?? How about Watermellon ? That way every boat
    in town won't be running out to where we find them.
    
    I'll call if I get into them. Its always better when a few boats
    chum together( Pun).
    
    if you want to and your boat name to the list.
    "RAINBOW CHASER"
    "KINGFISHER"
    "SWEET DREAMS"
    "DISTANT CALL"
    "RIDGERUNNER"
    "ANZO"
    
    Who else?
     
                                                 Walt
    

    Any word from the NJ fisherman?  I want to be laying in wait off
    Block Island.

    R.E.  NJ Fisherman
    
    Over the weekend, I had a fair trip on sunday with yellowfins. 
    Only caught 5, but were nice size.  30-45 lbs.  Still small for
    you guys up north though.  The nice part about the day of fishing
    on Sunday, was that we picked up a 16# king mackeral.  Normally
    a tropical roamer, but they manage to find their way up here every
    now and then.  Will be trying some chunking over the holiday for
    tuna, and will leave another report if anyone is interested.  I
    have a new high speed Senator and a Sabre I want to break in in
    stlye, so I will be keeping the f n e s  r s e
                                     i g r  c o s d.
                                                    
    Good Luck All, and have a safe holiday!
                                           
    Vinnie
    

    This past weekend seems to have heraled the return of "BLUEFIN"
    to Newengland. I was talking with a fellow saterday who ran into
    pods of Tuna out on Old Scantum and tried unsucessfully to troll
    on daisy chains rigged with fresh squid ( One of my favorite baits)
    
    Other boats were reporting small bluefin in the 50 lb class only
    two miles off shore in the Hampton, Nh. Kittry, Me. area with one
    report of a catch on Sunday morning. Unfor Tuna ly the fog in the
    Merrimack river area was like pea soup until 13:00 yesterday and
    we were not able to leave port until late.
    
    Next weekend I'll be out there for sure on "Rainbow Chaser" trolling
    some Calamari with hot sauce for the Bluefin.
    
    Anyone interested in waking up at 03:00 to go fishing?
    

    If its the same fish caught that my uncle told me about the fish
    was over 300+ pounds. Now thats not a bad paycheck.
    
                                                          Guy

    Ok, where are the bluefin tuna? I've been waiting for the info.
    But none...
    
    So from rumor control. There here. They have been sticking around
    20 or so fish a day off the coast of Me. There have been a  few
    handline fish on the 30 fathom line off the rockpile. Seven fish 
    were taken on handline on southern jefferies. And the guys trolling 
    have picked a few about everywhere. This info is for north of 
    Cape Ann.
    
    Whats going on to the south, northwest corner, southwest corner
    and Cape Cod Bay?
    
    

    Only thing that I've heard from rumor control was 1 fish about 500#
    taken by rod and reel a couple of weeks ago.  It was taken north
    of stellwagon, tillies I believe.  Nothing doing anywhere south
    that I've heard of.  Steve, I'm on vacation next week, and planning
    2 trips to n. jeffries.  mon or tues and fri.  If your free, meet
    us out there.  
    
    joe a.
    

    	       <The latest report from Saco Bay Tackle Co.>
    
    	Tuna have been caught recently as far out as Platts Bank and
    as far in as the Saco Whistle. A 489# Mako Shark was caught in 
    the Trinidad area (TD's 13268.9 - 25907.0). This is near where I got
    my Mako last year.
        I am hearing rumors that Tuna are more abundant than in the
    recent past. The local papers should shed some light on this because
    the Bailey Island Tuna Tourney is on all this week and Boothbay
    has theirs next week. 
    	All in all it looks like a good year for offshore fishing. So
    who needs Bluefish anyway?  :^)
    
    Paul	Who's_goin_Tuna_fishin_this_weekend

    Ok Guys --------There here!
    
    A boat out of my marina saw a Blufin jump in front of another boat
    on Sat. They were high speed trolling and the adjacent boat harpooned
    the fish, and were hauing it in at around 11:00 . The location?
    Right off Isle of Sholes about 6 nm.  
    
    Thats were I'm gonna start looking for them on Friday.
    
                                 Good luck to all!
    
                                   Walt
    

    Walt-
    
    A few questions concerning Friday's trip to Jeffries Ledge to meet
    Charlie:
    
     When are you leaving? ETA for the fishing grounds? Who is going
    with you? Are you taking bait or are you going to troll artificials?    
    Do you know how big the fish that was harpooned was? Where can you
    sell a tuna in NH?
    
    Paul- these same questions apply to you as well. I'll be on Joe's
    boat. 
    
     Time to pray to the great Manituna for great weather and hungry
    fish.
    
    The Doctah

    Doctah,
    	I am currently planning on leaving Basin Pt in Harpswell Maine
    at 5:30 am and the last time I heard from Joe he said he would be 
    leaving York Harbor at 6:00 am. We should get there about the same 
    time (7:00 - 7:30). Walt is leaving at 4:00 I believe and will be 
    fishing along the way.
    	I am planning to use handlining gear so I will anchor up and 
    chunk with mackerel. I intend to bait fish tomorrow evening and
    sleep on the boat. If the fishing is good I will have extra to share
    but don't count too heavily on it. I will also bring my 50# rigs
    (not standup but they'll do) in case someone hits any schoolies.
    I am still sceptical about the abundance of school sized fish in
    this area but I will certainly join in if someone else gets into
    them or if they come into my slick.
    	I'll be going with another DECie from Augusta and a friend from
    Mass, both are unknow to this notesfile.
    	I don't think finding a buyer for the fish will be a problem.
    The VHF should be all we need. 
    	Walt and Joe are supposed to call me Thursday to make final
    arrangements although I will probably try to firm up plans with
    Joe this evening and contact Walt tomorrow through vaxmail.  
    	I hope I answered all your questions.
    Paul                               
    

    Paul,
    
      Joe and spent yesterday together...unfortunatly we got fogged
    out on yellowfin. He said it was foggy in rye, has it broke yet?
    In the fog we had down south without radar you would be risking
    your boat and lives, 100 foot visablity at best. At any rate I
    think he will be leaving from rye. After the yellowfin NOP I
    am consdiering trailering my boat up to rye and running out and
    joining the fun, any volanteers for crew?? 
    
    Hope the fog lifts and the wind stayes calm.
    
    Bruce

    CC,
    	There has been fog here off and on all week. It appears to getting 
    somewhat better but I can't make any predictions yet. I will post the 
    marine forecast here tomorrow and get some local reports from people
    commuting from the coast. 
    BTW- I just ordered a RADAR. I replied to your Yellowfin note with
    the details.              
    Paul

    C.C., Walt et al,
    
    FORECAST:
    	All stations along the coast are reporting zero visability in
    fog this morning. The marine forecast is for patchy fog today and
    haze tomorrow. I expect the visibility will be pretty limited early
    in the am but I'll find my way out anyway. 
    	The Friday outlook is for 10 - 20 mph SW wind with 2' - 4' seas 
    (Its been 1' - 3' most of the week). 
             
    PLANS:
    	I talked to Joe last night and he said will be departing by 6:30
    or so. I am planning on a 5:00 - 5:30 start but because it seems like 
    I'll be the first one there, I may spend an hour getting some live
    bait before I head out. Anyway, it appears to be a rather loose and 
    flexible plan (in typical DEC fashion), which is good. We will make
    radio contact out there (hail on 16 and talk on 68) and sort out the
    details. I'm going to anchor up right away but the others are going to 
    troll for a while.
    
    Paul
    

    Paul, Walt
    
       What are the TD's you are planing on heading towards, you never
    know I might just want to show up! I will decide later today.
    After the fog out on tuesday I am really tempted to get some
    "real" fishing done.
    
    I will see how work and weather shape up, but just fill me
    in so if I decide to do it I know where to head.
    
    Bruce

    For you people that are planning a trip tp the fingers tomorrow
    I have a few suggestions. BTW, I was up there yesterday.
    
    The fleet is pretty much spread out. The boats run fron the 13420
    line to the 13500 line. I believe this will change today with most
    of the boats moving to the north. I would guess the by tomorrow
    they will be fishing from the 13400 to the 13440 line. The reason
    is the boats on the southern end of the fleet didn't mark any fish.
    The was more marking and at least three dropped fish around the 13420-
    13440 line.                  
    Try not to anchor too close to the other commercial guys. Give them
    aleast � a mile. Besides they are chumming real heavy, on the order
    of 500 lbs. a day. Its better to get off by yourself. The comm.
    guys are on ch. 18 VHF.  
    Bring lots of gear, the blue dogs were real bad in the morning.
    I only marked for around an hour yesterday afternoon. The fish we
    feeding aroung 60 ft. So set lines at 30, 60 and 90 ft. is you can.
    The blue dogs would grab any line above 70 feet, so I had most of
    my lines set for deeper. So fish deep if you have to, but when the
    sharks leave reset the lines for the above depths.
    I may see you guy out there depending on todays reports and the
    weather. 
    
    Good luck
    Steve

    re .24>
    
    Bruce,
    	The numbers that I gave out at the start are 13400 - 25820.
    Its the northern end of the ledge. I intend to drop the hook in
    that general vacinity. The others are planning to troll so I 
    imagine they will pass nearby at some point. we will make radio
    contact and fine tune our positioning while we are out there.
    Hope to see you out there.
    Paul

    re .-2>
    
    Steve,
    
    We gave N. Jeffries a shot Friday a.m..  Paul anchored and I trolled
    looking for anything.  Big goose egg on the video.  We trolled for
    about 4 hours without marking a thing.  Then jigged up some cod
    and pollock, hopeing to chunk with some live bait.  We didn't even
    mark any dogs.  Paul called it a day around 3, and we headed in
    about 4.  But, about 6 miles NW of I. of Shoals, we got into a school
    of porpoises. What a show they put on. Came right to the boat, free
    jumping. I thought I saw a couple of tuna fins in the school, but
    not sure.  Probably just tuna vision...  Called Walt at this time,
    and he said he got 2 blue sharks, and saw 1 of the big boys.  He
    had fished Scantum.  Looks like another case of we were there and 
    they were here.  Any luck down your way Steve?   
    By the way, anybody else have any trouble with their lorans on wed or
    thurs?  Mine dropped the 9960 gri, and got either the 9980 (iceland?) 
    or 5530 (ne canada).  It kept telling me I was about 100 miles ne of 
    where I was.  Put it on manual and finally got courses to work, but 
    distances were still shot.  Then Friday, she's back to normal.  Next
    boat,  or sooner, either northstar or raytheon.  

    Friday, I fished the rock pile (north of Cape Ann) and southern
    Jeffries. Didn't mark any tuna. The Blue Dogs were bad, hooked 2
    and stuck one in my chum line.
    On you loran, it isn't your set. The 13 bearing was up and down
    Wed. and Thurs.
    
    Steve

    Re .-1
    
    Thanks Steve.  That explains why it acted like a gem on Friday.

    Anchored off the Isle of Shoals Thursday night, waiting for Walt,
    with Steve and the "TRIO".  Managed to hang a dozen nice Bluefish
    using Herring as bait.  That was fun, but lost a lot of valuable
    sleep (fish 'turned on' at about 3:30 am to 5:00 am!).
    
    Motored out to the fingers at 5:30 am, but couldn't raise a single
    'DECcie'.  Guess you all sleep in late, huh?
    
    Marked a few big fish at 6:30 am as we were arriving, but 4 hours
    of serious chumming didn't raise a single fish (and no more marks).
    Was our radio working?  We still couldn't raise anyone from DEC
    even though we tried several times.  Where were you Walt?  Did you
    get the note we left on your boat?
    
    The "Missouri Midge"
    

    re .-1
    
    Paul O. in 'Joannie B' and me in 'Kingfisher' were out on N jeffries
    by about 10 am.  We got a late start due to 1 passenger getting
    lost, and another one sleeping in.  We didn't mark anything either.
    Walt, sorry I missed you on the way in.  After we got out of the
    school,  I called you but there was no answer.  I'll probably be
    back there next weekend.

    Hey we didn't geet lost tat tall!
    
    Friday was a late start for the crew of "Rainbow Chaser" the Co-Op
    does not open till 07:00 and we needed bait and Ice. We had Joe
    on the radio on the way out but lost him.
    
    We ran up over 6 nm ne of Isle of Sholes right where Joe saw the
    Porpousis ( Sp?) on the way out, Caught nothing but  dogfish and
    a cusk there so we moved south 5 nm to Old Scantum where we set
    up another slick. We were ill equipt with out a harpoon . Thats
    the reason a BIG fish swam so close we could have touched it.
    We thought of shooting it but they sink, so why waste it?
    
    At that point we stated getting cutoffs on both standups. We desided
    to change over to steel leaders and I pulled in a 80 lb and Al Zogg
    pulled in a 125 lb Blue Shark.
    
    Steve: Whats the differance between a blue dog and a blue shark???
    
    They steaked up nicely. Had them for supper last night and the local
    fish market has Shark on Special.
    
    Where do you guys sell Blue Shark? I found a very limited market
    
    How much a Lb do you get?
    
    We may get out next Saterday after Diving on Cape Ann in the Morning.
    
    B.T.W. My projects been canceled so I'll be looking for a new job,
           Thats life as a Contractor. If any of you guys want to contact
           me give me a call at my Home Phone.     Last day Aug 24 th
    
           Hope I get another job at DEC- Great notes file!
    

    Blue dog, Blue shark, same pest. There is no commercial market for
    them. I just cut them off. Hopefully in a few years when we catch
    all the bluefin tuna, they will be around for the "sport of it".
    
    Steve

    Steve and all
    Who has tried eating the Blue Shark? We tried it late night and
    it wasn't bad. It has a milde flavor but its texture is a bit soft
    for my preferance, not like swordfish. My wife liked it though.
    Friends had some and they all liked it also. 
    
    I brought it to a small local fish market to sell. I'll have to
    call and see how they did with it. Maybe there is a hope for it?
    
    At the very least my dog loved the leftovers that I gave him.
    Yea ! Lets sell it under the lable of " BLUE DOG CHOW"
    
                              They are fun to catch .
    
                               Maybe the Moonies will buy them?
    
                               or Lao/ Cambodian resturants in Lowell?
                               I'll call around.

    We ate the blue shark we caught last year. I agree about the flavor
    being mild- and the flesh is a bit soft for my taste also. I hear
    mako is better. It also sells better. My cats loved the blue shark,
    though, and my dad had two helpings. Too bad your project also got
    cancelled. Good luck finding another job @ DEC.
    
    The Doctah

    What is the story with the school yellowfin south of RI? Has the
    bite come on yet? Capt Codfish and I are thinking of trailering
    his boat down, but we don't want to make the trip for nothing.
    Hey- Jersey anglers- let them yellerfins come north; stop pestering
    them. We want a shot at them too.
    
    The Doctah

    Went out sat, chummed the big hill 12 miles east of hamptom and
    saw nothing, then ran out to jeffries and met up with Joe. We
    both trolled squid bars but go tno hits. The stick boats were there
    with a spotter plane and they got about 10 fish. A hugh school of
    porposes (sp) came by jumping and swiming along the boat. Lots of
    whales some just rolling over and waving at us with there fins.
    A great show definitly worth the 25 mile ride. Also we almost ran
    over a 7-8 foot mako. Could not stop in time so we spooked him and
    he went under. Had a whale surface about 20 feet of the starboard
    bow when we where chumming...scared the daylights out of us.
    
    Well chalk up some more sea time and after we put in enough hours
    charlie will come our way.
    
    Bruce

    	I heard a strange report today that Tuna were right of Bailey
    Island in Casco Bay. I had heard of this last year also. Apparently
    the Blues (who finally got here) were chasing the Mackerel into
    shore on the Island and people were actually picking them up in
    nets. The Bluefin were waiting a bit offshore for the Blues. Just
    another episode in survival of the big mothers. 
    	I guess its time to switch from Macks to Blues for bait and
    go back at em. (when the seas get back under 8')
    Paul                                            

     Tuna in the 300-400 lb range are being taken on northwestern Stellwagen
    on squid bars and mackerel rigs. Some guy got an 800 lb'er and another
    got a 645 lb'er in last weeks Green Harbor Tuna Tourney. School
    tuna have finally started to bite south of the Cape. Albacore,
    yellowfins, and schoolie bluefins are all being taken. 
    
    The Doctah

    Mark,
    
    Those fish were taken last weekend and in the early part of this
    week.  Since tuesday, its been barren out there.  A few fish coming
    through every now and then, but nothing to really get excited about.
    Its still slow, but I think this weekend before the storm there
    may be a good bite.
    
    Joe

    The tuna are here! Stick boats have gotten a few at the fingers.
    Hooray! 
    
    The Doctah (who tried raw tuna friday night. deeeelicious!)

    Mark
    
    The fingers south of the cape by the dump?  Or up on jeffries?  Any
    specifics on size, etc?
    
    Joe

    Up on Jeffries. No specifics on size or numbers. I talked to a guy who
    used to mate for the Seabrook charter business (name escapes me now).
    He said his buddies have started to stick some on the fingers in
    Jeffries. Fire up the Grady! :-)
    
    The Doctah

 They're starting to catch yellowfins! I talked to a guy while washing my lures
at Plum Island on Tuesday. He'd gotten three fish from 30 to 60 lbs one day
this past weekend. He wasn't too specific about where (figures). He said it was
about 30 miles south of Block Island (which direction?) He also said that some
small and medium bluefins were also caught. Joe- when are you moving the boat?

 The Doctah

    I was talking with Susan Cataldo (Cadcraft Supply)..Her father (builds
    the JC Boats) stuck a  tuna over the July 4 holiday (3 days on the water). 
    His first for the season, 198# dressed out weight.  Didnt say where,
    but he runs out of the Merrimack.  
    
                                             Tom
    

    There have been a few fish taken on Jefferies, the broken bottom
    and ridge areas. Some on stick boats, some rod and reel trolling.
    The big kill on stick fish is supposed to be off of Monhegeon (sp?)
    Island Maine.
    I haven't heard of a handline fish yet.
    There's talk that the harpoon quota is almost filled, if so that
    must be some kind of record. I bet the Feds give them extra fish
    so they can keep fishing. 
                                     

    Has anyone had any luck with Yellow Fin in the Block Island area?
    
    We should start to see some action soon.

Steve,

Have you heard anything on Stellwagon?  I tried to get outside with the wife
on saturday, but it was too rough.  This nice weather is tempting.

Joe

    
    	Well I finally have everything together for my first Bluefin
    Trip. Looking forward to getting out to Stellwagon or Jeffries to
    try my luck at catching a monster. If the Weather allows I'll be
    heading out this weekend. I haven't heard about much action latley,
    Have any of you heard any recent news about Tuna fishing out on
    Stellwagon or Jeffries? Are any of you planning a trip out for Bluefin
    this weekend? Hope to see you out there!
    
    The Outlaw  

    	I heard that there is a lot of action on the North Fingers of
    Jeffreys. I will be going out Saturday. If conditions are right I
    may head down that way but don't count on me, its a long haul. I'll
    give you a shout on 16 if I do go. My boat's name is the Joanie - B.
    Sea Ya Later,
    Paul

Hi Paul,

I was up at the prong yesterday, just a few miles s. of the fingers.
Weather man cooperated, but the fish didn't.  We had a few marks and 
for an hr or so a blue shark attack.  Broke 2 off.  Lots of bait showing 
from the cove north to the prong.  The radio was pretty quite, except
for a few guys remarking that they were going home early since it was so
slow.  Not sure if the fingers are hot, or if the fish have gone down towards
stellwagon.  Good luck if you get out.  I was going again sunday, but lost
my crew.  Maybe next weekend.

Joe