Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    SACO,ME    The word is jefferies is loaded with king size macs and
               plenty of market cod and polluck.
    
    Hampton beach (seafarer)  good macs and cod for half day and all
                              day are into some steaker cod 
    
    Newburyport (clipper fleet) reports best cod fishing of the year
                                with some big haddock coming on board
    Gloucester (yankee fleet)  fair cod fishing on jigs only the best
                              fishing is when they drift over the ledges.
    Danvers (fish.outfitters)  reports excellent macs around the harbor
                              and big cod all over the ledges, best
                              place to lanch is at pope's landing 
    
        jimmy

    Dateline: June 4th 1988. Fishing on the vessel "Sweet Dreams II" was
    outstanding, A selection on market Cod and large Mackerl was taken
    using Jigs rigged with teasers on Tinkers Ledge and surrounding area's
    this past Saterday.  
    
    Weather was perfect with a slight breeze creating just the right
    ammount of drift as the morning progressed, Ray Dodier was the big pool
    winner of the trip; taking the cash prize with a very nice 24" COD.
    
    Mackeral are running in small pod's with the larger size fish being the
    first caught for this season, some multiple catches were made by the
    Capt. using "christmas tree" teasers in many colors above the Cod Jig.
    
    Hopefully the weather will hold and the fishing will stay with us for a
    while. More trips to come!
    
                                        Walt
    

    DATELINE JUNE 9:
    
       SACO ME.    reports that people are flocking to platts bank for
                 jumbo cod and macs are all over the shoreline
    
    NEWBURYPORT (HILTONS) improved cod fishing with the dogs moving
    out of the ledges and big macs only 15min out of the river
    
    PLUM ISLAND  lots of scoolies in the river with shad in the mouth
    lead head jigs seem to be working like gold right now
    
    FISHERMANS OUTFITTER (SALEM) reports cod fishing around salem as
    dropped off but a few keeper bass are being taken
    
    
    
        jimmy

    I have been looking thru the past files for continuation of the
    "Coast Watch" idea and it seems the subject needs a note devoted
    to this summers activity 1989. 
    So if we can generate some responce from our southern contrubiters
    as to where the Mackeral,Bluefish and of course the TUNA are and
    info on how fast they are traveling. it would be GREAT!
    
    We can include other species like BASS and weakfish, croker and
    Tautaug if anyone wants.
    
    Also lateral migratory fish such as Cod, pollack and flounder (fluke)
    information would be helpful.
    
    How about quick hints like: What type of baits, style of rigs, time
    and tide and the like.
    
    To start off I will say that the Mackeral are in Mass Bay and Ipswitch
    Bay, pollack are spotty and Cod are still hanging in there. This
    weeks issue of the fisherman magazine said the Striper schoolies
    are in the Merrimack as well as the shad. That would imply that
    the herring are in also allthough I havn't heard of any.
    
    A quick question? I love to eat Squid! I have seen them at night
    up in the Piscataqua river in Kittery but when do they run? Where
    in Mass Bay would be the place to catch them and what time/ tide?
    
                                        Walt
    

    The first Bluefish I've seen this year was caught aboard the party
    boat "Starfish" out of Hampton Beach NH last Friday. Better get
    the Macks in the freezer while you can. They won't be here much
    longer.
    
    Steve

    	Just went out on the New Englander II (Hiltons) this past Friday. 
    The dogs were in so thick it was near impossible to bait fish. I caught
    one cod the first time I put my line in on a 7" grape worm. That
    (aside from a few dogs) was the only edible fish of the day for
    me. I have got to say this has been the worst trip I've ever been
    on as far as catching fish.
    
    	While talking to the mate he said that the fishing has been
    just like this for the last couple of weeks. 
    
    	One person on the back corner of the boat did fairly well. He
    was casting a 10 oz. diamond jig, letting it sink, then jigging it back
    to the boat. Pink teasers (rubber shrimp) were taking most of the
    fish for those jigging.

    BTW - I can't speak for all the party boats but the N.E. II is gaffing 
    people for beer. At $2 a pop for a 12 oz. can of Bud, I would risk
    bringing my own next time (if there is a next time). What are they
    going to do if I get caught, make me walk back ?:-)? 300% profit is
    just a bit much.

    	RAYJ

    Hi - I fish in and around lower Naragansett Bay - my boat is moored
    on the Newport side of Jamestown. I'd like to get into fishing for
    something other than Bluefish for a change - Mackerel, Tautog,
    winter/summer Flounder, Pollock - just something else for a change!
    
    I went out a week ago and had no luck. Could someone familiar with
    that area give me some hints/pointers? I tried ath Dumplings for
    Tautog, but my anchor got hung up on a cable or something - was
    lucky to get it off - so I don't really want to venture in there
    again!
    
    Well - any suggestions on locations/tecnique would be welcome!
    
    Thanks, Bill

    Walt...
    From down here in Joisey...
    		Blues: getting fairly well established. Boats are getting
    			them mainly on bait. Mixed sizes showing in
    			the surf/bays. No blitzes yet.
    		BASS: Looks like a normal year down here. They're here
    		      if you can find them  :-)
    
    		Tautog: Action is picking up both off-shore and on the
    			jettys.
    
    		Ling/Whiting: Ling action has been super, especially
    			this late in the spring. Whiting has been spotty.
    
    		Sharks: First tourneys were a bust this weekend...just
    			a couple of fish brought to dock, and not much
    			size to them.
    
    		TUNA:	First of the year brought in a few days ago,
    			yellowfin about 250 lbs.
    
    Will keep you posted.
    
    Bagel
    								

    
      I just got back from fishing all day aboard the northern star
    out of Hampton beach yesterday and we had a great day fishing and
    weather wise. each guy averaged about 6-10 fish a person, myself
    and 4 other guy foshing the bow ended up with around 24 each. as
    for what we used it was a 17.5 oz jig with a pink rubber shrimp
    teaser 6-8 inches above the jig, its the only way to avoid dogs.
     I highly recomend this bout to everyone out there its 90 ft and
    does about 30mph and Rocky and crew will help out any way possible.
     its best to go during the week if not make reservations on week-ends
    
    
       good luck
    
         JIMMY

    Hampton beach-   macs still around in large numbers, cod have slowed
                     but the first sign of blues have showed up
    
    newburyport-     lots of schoolies and shad in the river with some
                   heavey ones staying down low at low tide. some blues
                   have been taken out on jeffries ledge.
    
        jimmy

I fished sunday and can report the following:
    
    Salem area to A and B bouys: Macks are gone. Cod are hanging in
    but don't expect any steakers (nor have I heard on many all spring
    south of cape anne). I picked up the first blue of the year by
    mistake on a cod jig. Lots of school pollock still around too.
    
    My prediction for this weekend: 
    
    With the southwest winds bringing in the heat look for blues out on
    stellewagon and not in close to shore. 
    
    Capt. Codfish 

    Here's an updated report from thursday's fisherman
    
    Maine - nice weather has brout back good catches of cod,polluck
    and cusk, pool fish are still in the teens.
    
    Hampton - slow down in mackeral, but all day have been doing well
    in the cod and haddock, pool fish are in the high twenty's
    
    Nweburyport - Hiltons reports slow fishing up until two days ago
    on the all day, but there cleaning up on half day mackeral.
    
    Plum island - arrival of BLUES in the river last sat. also some
    heavey BASS are being taken at low tide on mackeral chunks.
    
    Lynn - all day has slowed to a crawl but hal day flounder has been
    the best in recent years is the word from walsh's
    
    Buzzards bay - lots of blues and bass are being taken at the herring
    run and with a full moon the action is getting hot, the tautog have
    moved out but the fluke are in heavey.
    
    
        jimmy

    The cod seem to be tapering off. We went out three weeks ago and
    caught about 18 good-sized, last week we got skunked. We've been
    fishing off Newburyport and Ipswich.
    I've never been out with the N.E. II but I haven't heard anything
    bad about them, either. 
    I've heard that a few blues have been caught and that the river
    has plenty of schoolies. There have been reports of some keeper
    sized stripers being caught in the river on the outgoing tide
    and a 46 lb one at the south end of Plum Island. The problem is
    that the schoolies will hit quickly while the larger fish tend to
    be more finicky. 
    		     Charlie	
    

>    Has anyone caught any blues of the plum island area?? 

 What are you- some kind of wise guy?!! :-)

 Yeah, we caught blues off the jetty till our arms fell off. But you have to
walk way to the end at high tide. :-)

 the Doctah

I went once last week to P.I. and there were only a few stripers (shorts) caught
and the blues never did come in.  I fished the outgoing tide for stripers with
sand worms (on the recommendation of the bait shop at the lighthouse) and
plugs (although I new I would not catch 'em cause I couldn't see 'em) for the
blues.  I did see a few flounder caught on what looked like small shiners but
none would fall for the worms (?why?).  The weather was nice though and I'll
be back again soon. 

BTW, what/where is the the "herring run" at Buzzards Bay and how do I get there?
B.B. is within 30 minutes from my new residence while P.I. is about 1.25 hours.

Also, I recommend the Northern Star and Capt. Rocky.  Call Al Gauron's @
Hampton Beach.  The number is in this file somewhere...

Tim

    
    Tim the herring run is right in the cape cod canal. It's between
    the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, on this side of the canal. It is
    also right across the street from the herring run motel. I was down
    there last saturday and there were no herring to be found. They
    may still be in the upper ponds spawning or they may have all left
    by now. I fish that area quite a bit so if you want some more info.
    write me onm E-mail and I'll tell you most of what I know. 8*)
                                   Walt
    

    WE FISHED POPHAM BEACH JULY 2 (SUNDAY), ALSO SOUTH OF SEQUIN IS. AND
    OVER TO BOOTHBAY.  PLENTY OF MACKEREL ,  NO BLUES CONTACTED OR SEEN
    SOME KEEPER STRIPERS IN THE RIVER BY THE IRON WORKS.

    Hampton beach   All day is doing real well on the rocky ledges,
    and the half day is into some STEAKER cod about 5 miles out.
    
    Newburyport Ma  All day has slowed at hiltons but there hunting
    down the blue fish about 2-4 miles out. plenty of small stripers
    in the river along with some small blues 4-7 lbs
    
    Glouster Ma  All day trips have hit some dogs but still getting
    some good polluck and cod, night blue fishing has started last week
    
     more reports forth coming, so lets go get um

                                                        
           report for Rockport and Gloucester Mass........
    
    
         THE BLUES ARE RUNNING STRONG...GET THEM REELS REELING!!!!
    
       Hi Folks!!!
    
         Spent the fourth of July, just outside the breakwater of
    Rockport. Mass harbor.  Three of us with lines in and in under
    2 hours had caught 15 Bluefish and 1 perch.  The smallest one
    caught was about 19" long....  rumor has it that were the blues
    are running so strong....  TUNA is due in shortly. 
    
               I'll be heading back out in about a week,
     
                         more updates as things change...
    
                                     Penny
     
    

    RE:.28
    
    I went out last summer on the Super Squirrell II.  Nice, big,
    relatively new and wasn't crowded on a friday night.  Unfortunately,
    the captain didn't put us over a whole lot of fish and I only caught
    one; average catch was maybe 2-3 fish.  I have found that fishing
    off RI or Conn involves too long a ride to the fishing grounds (3+
    hours from Niantic to get out of the sound and into deep water.)
    I opt for the longer car-ride and shorter boat-ride and go Yankee
    Fleet.  I haven't Blue-fished with them but their Cod-trips have
    been first-class.
    
    -SSS-                                                
    

    
    SACO,ME  Bluefin tuna continue to appear in great numbers and the
    waters are full of giants.
    
    HAMPTON BEACH   Blues have not established themselves yet, all day
    bottom fishing is good on jigs only, dogfish are taking all bait
    
    NEWBURYPORT,MA  Spotty codfishing on all day but half day has been
    banging blue's for the last 4 days
    
    PLUM ISLAND  Big bass are feeding under the choppers on night tides
    
    GLOUCESTER   Yankee fleet reports good bottom fishing and the blufish
    are hammering the gear out on stellwagon along with lots of giants
    
    NARRAGANSETT  Tuna are showing in great numbers offshore

    PLUM ISLAND
         We went there last week 7-11 or so the day of the storm.
    The blues were almost jumping onto the sand after your lure!
    within 2-3 hours I caught 15 fish and could of caught more but
    I didn't feel like chasing the school down the beach. what a blast
    these fish are to catch!!! Earlier in the day some said the fish
    were running the swimmers out of the water...Guess i got there just
    in time. The fish would only go for BRIGHT colors like the orange
    Ranger plugs. That's what most were using I could not get them to
    take a Kastmaster or any other metallic lure for my life. Probably
    the overcast condition?? Can't wait to do it again!!!
    
    
    

       Try it with fresh water gear (w/15-20 lb line of course), or if
    you're REALLY brave, a flyrod. What a blast!
                                             Denny

    I used a 12 foot surfcaster but I only run 12 lb test, I like to
    give them a sporting chance since if I land them they go right in
    the traps as lobster bait.. I did loose 2 lures because of this
    or my overzealousness in trying to land them but I guess that comes
    with the turf. I have been back there a couple of times since,
    nothing at all. Can anyone out there give me some hints on when
    and where WE would most likely run into a school, or are they 
    too mystical a creature to pin down this way. I know some Decies
    that would love to land a few......ANY advice would be appreciated.
                                             
                                                   Dwayne
    

    The blues tend to come into the Merrimack mouth just at the turn of the
    incoming tide (the end of low tide).  They also chase bait fish up on
    the beach at this time.  I've gone only once this year but they didn't
    come in.  It's always "You shoulda been here yesterday".  If you go
    enough, you too can make this statement.

       I've spent many an hour at Uncle Eddie's at Salisbury Beach waiting
    for the Blues to come back through on the outgoing tide after missing
    the frenzy on the incoming.
                                                  Denny

    Kennebunkport,ME  Capt.al reports good fishing but no big ones yet.
    
    Hampton beach   Al Gaurons reoprts very good cod and haddock fishing
    and the blue's are starting to thicken up with the NE wind
    
    Salisbury  Clipper fleet reports good fishing with lots of haddock.
    
    Newburyport,MA  Hiltons reported the week of the season with dogfish
    moving out and large cod and polluck coming aboard, steady bluefishing
    on the half day boats with night bluefishing starting aug 1 6-10pm
    
    Plum island  reports lots of bass with some good blues on night
    tides says surfland tackle.
    
    Gloucester,MA.  Yankee fleet had been having trouble with the dogfish
    but the blues are being caught on the night trips.
    
    Lynn,MA.  Walsh's reports EXCELLENT marathon trips with anglers
    taking home 30-40 cod and haddock each.
    
    Marshfield,MA. Big fish ll  reports that TUNA are here and hungry
    with alot of giant bluefins being taken on a daily basis.
    
    Narragansett,RI. Tuna are offshore but not biting, shark fishing
    fair at this time.

    Mix bag of Yellowfin off Montauk overweekend.  One runnoff in the
    Butterfish hole on Friday with 67 degree water.  Big score between
    Fishttails and the Dip with 71 degree water.  Stopped fishing after
    eight yellowfin and two albacore between 130 and 430 Sat night on
    chunked butters and ciera sp? mackeral.  Big surprise was White
    Marlin 87" long on lived lined mac.
    
    Others out there at Canyons did well... Price per for yellowfins
    dropped to 75 cents per pound at Montauk.  
    
    

    I went out of provincetown on a half day boat this weekend
    and we did pretty well on blues. The big surprise was 3 people
    hooked into stripers, and two were keepers. The captain said he'd
    never seen a striper come aboard before, as they jig for the blues
    which I guess isn't very effective for stripers. He also said
    the tuna fishing had been better than ever in the area. One of the
    other party boats had a tuna come up and take a blue that someone
    was reeling in. It spooled the guy right off. The same thing happened
    to a guy surf fishing. This guy managed to keep it on for awhile
    before it broke his line. I saw lots of fish taken at races point
    while at the beach too. All blues...I went back to the car and grabbed
    a rod, but they wouldn't have anything to do with the rebel I was
    casting. Seemed that all the guys that were catching them had a
    white with florescent orange headed plug. 
    
    Marty
    

I saw no fish caught off shore (and there were plenty of people fishing) for
the 3+ hours I was there (start at dead low tide).  I caught none either, but 
the beach was nice!

Tim

    Charlie and I had a very productive day Saturday off Newburyport
    trolling for blues.  We boated 14  B I G  blues, and we missed 6
    or 7 more.  It appears the tide was on its way in when we went out,
    but we caught them steadily between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
    We were trolling black and white jawbreakers and flourescent green
    ranger 3oz lures.  We also used an orange and white ranger, which
    was pretty cut up by the end of the day.  I would guess the jawbreakers
    were down about 20'.  

	I went out of Hilton's in Newburyport for a 1/2 day bluefishing
	trip on a party boat saturday afternoon...  1st 2 hours were real 
	slow, ie, 1 blue and a few dogs.  The captain didn't sound too 
	optimistic when he said, well, let's try down by the river and 
	see what happens [sigh].  Then all of a sudden he says 
	"Change of plans..." and _cranks_ the boat, flying to another area.  
	Something was up!  We got there 10 minutes later, along with 2 other
	party boats and pretty soon there were blues all over!

	I caught my 1st ever blue about 60 seconds later, 7.5 pounds.  Shortly
	after that I hooked into a 8+ pounder.  Best fighting fish I've
	ever caught, period!  My wife outdid me (again) by launching a
	10 pounder!   We were using fresh herring about 10 feet below the
	surface for bait.   Now I'm getting my own gear!

	Cajun bluefish on the grille that night.  Real good!

I got a few blues lasst year in the 15-18 lb class.  These are even more fun
then the 7-10 lb range.

    Tried to go south of Marthas Vineyard yesterday, but we found 2-4's and
    only 100ft visibility.  Talked to some other boaters, and found the
    fogs been in the past week.  There are some yellowfin to be found, but
    the bites not on.  Not very many fish being brought in. 
    
    Joe 

    Saco bay tackle ME. Red hot TUNA fishing offshore trolling squidrigs
    
    Newburyport MA.  Improved cod fishing on jeffries, BLUES all over
    
    Plum island MA.  Blues are blitzing the beach, and lots of schoolies
    
    Gloucester MA. Yankee fleet reports good cod and haddock and the
    big blues are all over the shore line (15-20 lbs)
    
    Narragansett RI. Top of the dock reports moore tuna have moved in
    the warm waters, shark fishing continues to be awesome and big stripers
    being caught at night on live eels.
    
    
       JIMMY

>    Newburyport MA.  Improved cod fishing on jeffries, BLUES all over
    

	Well, the blues weren't hitting this weekend.  Took the Hilton's
	Victory II for 1/2 day party boat blues, and not a single blue
	was caught.  I figured this was par for the course since I was using
	my new rod + reel for the first time ;-) ;-(

	Some guy hooked onto one, but it got away.
	
	The morning charter took only 4 blues!

	/Ken

    We went out yesterday morning and saw schools of blues jumping
    up off of Seabrook and Hampton, hooked up 2, boated 1. 
    This was around 9am, and lasted for about 45 minutes. It seemed
    like they were headed for the shoals so we followed. 
    Followed a whale around for about an hour, saw no other fish, came
    back down and trolled around Seabrook/Salisbury, saw fish on the
    finder but no bites. I've been out about 6-7 times since the blues
    have been in and they seem to like the black jawbreakers and the
    dayglo orange surface plugs.
    I wonder if the weather on Thursday night/Friday shook them up?
     

 tried for blues last thursday. Two runoffs- none to the boat (neither on my
rod). We fished Speckled Apron outsdide of Hampton and off of Boar's Head.
Piss me right off- there were slicks from blues eating bait everywhere but no 
fish.

 Steve- Is the Lucy J your boat? Right fine looking fishing machine. I was on
the Mani.

 The Doctah

ps- A coupla kids were catchin' stripers (shorts) at the mouth of Hampton
harbor (Seabrook side) on Saturday night at high tide on eels.

Fished the fingers saturday for sharks.  Not a sign of life.  Water temp
was running about 65, cooled pff from the nw winds.  About 20 boats in the
area, and not a thing taken.  Only good news was on the way in we saw a ball
but nobody within 2 miles.  Just then a school of giants went by.  We trolled
up a blue, but no luck on the big boys.  The boat who's ball we saw was probably
on one tho.

We were out last Thursday. Fished the Hampton Shoals, out to about 7 miles off.
Very interesting slicks over huge schools of bait; solid clouds on the X16. I
marked a few fish down around 4' below the boat. Caught two blues, both on
fluorescent shallow runners; at various times I had jawbreakers, Hopkins, 
Rapalas... lots of different hardware. All they took was the bright colors,
running shallow. We lost two at the boat, and boated two in the 10-12# range.
One had squid in its stomach, the other was completely empty.

One new experience: we could hear what sounded like whale song when I shut
the engine down. Anybody every hear them out there? We've seen them many times
from Bigelow Bight out to Jeffreys, but never heard them before.

We saw one boat chumming and fishing with chunk bait; he was doing nothing.

Art

    re: .50
    
    Yes, the Lucy J is my new rig. 
    
    re: whales
    
    	There were two right whales, a mother and a calf, 4-5 miles
    off on Hanpton/Salsbury. I'm told they are very rare, only 200
    or so world wide. They were around late last week, you might have
    heard them.
    
    Steve

    Sunday July 30, 1989 (From Middlesex News)
    Sudbury Mass man (Cleveland Manley) broke two United States records
    with his catch. 79 inches in length, 64 in width. Thats 6 foot 7
    inches loing and 5 foot 4 wide. Using 50 pound line and rod. Existing
    record was 228 lbs 4 oz and 250 for 80 lb line!!
    Manley was fishing out of Gloucester on the Nicole Renee.
    Fish dove 17 times 335 feet of water. Walter stands 5 foot 7 and
    weighs 210.
    Fish sold to 'Cherrystones in Danvers.

    Offshore Tuna between the DIP and Fishtails was noteworthy for my
    buddy and I was wishing I was there last weekend.  He boated 3
    yellowfin 80 - 100 and a bigeye tuna fo 200 dressed out at Montauk.
    
    Good news was $5.50 price offered at the dock with many buyers bidding
    when they saw the size and core sample of the fat content.  He decided
    to send the fish to Japan on consignment wtih hopes of a $8 plus
    per pound sale.  BTW the bigeye took a live lined mackeral drifted
    far into the chum slick.
    
    They had some new fellas out there and they lost more fish than
    they actually boated during lthe night bite.
    
    

      I just came back from all day trip out of hampton beach on gaurons
    and the bottom fishing was tough, the fish were not bitting on bait
    so we jigged all day and came home with only 7 fish (4-7lbs). we
    saw lots of whale out on jeffries and close to 30 boats in the area
    fishing for tuna and blues, i'm going on a night trip tonight and
    i'll let ya know how i did.
    
    
      jimmy

    	Hi all,
    
    	Just wanted to say that a friend and I went down to Point Judith RI
    	for blues on the Super Squirrel.  We went down thursday night AUG.
    	4TH.  I got 8 and my friend got 5.  The sizes varied from 8 to 18
    	lbs.  We were jigging, no teasers, on the bottom in about 100 feet
    	of water.  the boat was somewhere south of Block Island.  There
    	was another boat from Long Island out with us.  All in all, I had a
    	good time.  The total boat must have landed about 250 to 300 fish.
    	We didn't hit a big school, but the fishing was consistant all
    	night.  We got back to port, and the mates were still cleaning
    	fish.  One other thing, the boat is dry.  No coolers or selling
    	beer on the boat.  I was a little disappointed when they said no
    	beer, but what the hay.  we got some fish.  We were told that our
    	trip was the best so far this year.  I'll have to try again in a 
    	couple of weeks.  
    
    	Good fishin
    
    	Keno
     

       
       BLUEFISH on!!! that was the cry last week as I went night blue
    fishing with Hiltons fishing boats. We had about 25 people on the
    boat, we were fishing 25-35 ft below the surface using cut up herring
    out near the shoals.  Ended up with about 20 blues 15-20 lbs each.
    I ended up giving most of them to a lobster man who was paying 50
    cents a fish, if anyone has time you should give it a try.
    
      JIMMY

	Hi,

	I am plannig to go deep-sea fishing in a few weeks and I heard that
	there are lots of blues in Block Island, RI.  I was reading the
	previous replies and heard of the Super Squirrel.  Is it a good 
	party boat to be on??  How much is the fares and rentals?  Does
	anyone knows the direction and phone number? 

	Thanks in Advance,
	Kevin
    

    SACO,ME.    Tuna boats are chunking bait off platts with about a
    dozen fish being landed, cod fishing is slow, as is blue fishing.
    
    HAMPTON BEACH.  A few haddock are coming aboard with some 40lb cod
    and they say jigging is the way to catch them right now.
    
    NEWBURYPORT, MA. Hiltons reports good cod fishing but the change
    of wind direction has moved bait and blues back south, and water
    temps dropped from 70 to 63 deg.
    
    GLOUCESTER,MA. Yankee fleets reports they have hit some bif whale
    cod in the 50-60lb range, and blues are all over the area.
    
    BLOCK ISLAND  Reports are that anglerstook a bunch of albacore and
    a few yellowfin, blues are on and off depending on the wind dir.
    
    
      jimmy

    - Chatham / Pleasant Bay
    
     Schools of mid sized blues have been moving around the break and off 
     Nauset just north of the break for the past two weeks.  Smaller pods
     are near the mouth of stage harbor.   From the number of boats
     it looked like pretty good fluke fishing at stage harbor as well.
     Reports had it that  the tip of Monomoy was holding good conentrations 
     of blues and some bass. (My boat is too small to handle the rips - so
     I cant confirm)  I heard some talk about tuna off Monomoy as well.
    
     - Wellfleet Harbor
    
     Herring river is loaded with bait.  Several blues could be seen
    pushing the herring and mennheden around but couldnt be convinced to
    change their diet.
     
     

    HAMPTON BEACH,N.H.  Al Gaurons reports a good pick of market cod
    and blues are spotty at best around the island's shores.
    
    NEWBURYPORT,MA.  Hiltons reports consistent cod fishing and sporadic
    bluefishing. whales are putting on spectacular shows.
    
    PLUM ISLAND,MA.  Surfland said the river has been deserted by fish
    and fishermen with the lousey weather, fishing as been terrible.
    
    MARSHFIELD/GREEN HARBOR  The bigfish ll reported they had two giant
    tuna come aboard at 750 and 800 lbs, cod fishing is excellent now.
    
    CAPE COD BAY  Rock harbor charters reports that blues are turning
    everything upside down, fishermen are cleaning house on these fish
    from the bay to wellfleet.
    
    BLOCK ISLAND,RI.  Jackspot had another productive week offshore
    with the yellow fin tuna has they landed 7 last week.
    
    SACO,ME.  Offshore fishing is consistant with the medium size bluefins
    ans they are in great numbers off northwestern jeffries.
    
    
    JIMMY
    

    Many of us are tuna fishing. As you can tell not much to report.
                                                                    
    Steve

    Anybody been to Plum Island lately?I'd call Surfland but I
    dont trust them.("The fish are jumping onto beach!"Ya,sure.)
     Where are the BLUES????
    
                            Mike

    Ditto .-2 (steve), until the big one comes up you won't
    see any bluefish reports from me....
    
    Capt. Codfish

	Went out last friday for a day off and some deep-sea fishing.
	Not too bad, caught 6 cod, biggest only about 5 pounds, plus 
	a 10 pound wolf-fish.  The wolfy put up a pretty good fight!

	It was great catching them on my new Penn 113H and graphite rod.
	Amazing difference... ie, I could feel _everything_ down there.
	
	I plan on trying my luck tomorrow once again.  The big cod should
	hopefully start hitting soon.

	/Ken

    Ken,
    	Did you keep/eat the wolf fish? A lot of folks don't because they
    are sooo ugly but they are GREAT eating.
    Paul

    
     Where did you fish out of Ken??? (port and boat)
    
      jim

   KENNEBUNKPORT,ME.  Capt Al reports alot of nice market cod coming
    aboard with polluck 5-10 lbs coming up two at a time.
    
    HAMPTON BEACH,NH. Gaurons reports that winds have brought back the
    big blues out at the island, all day fishing for cod is slow.
    
    NEWBURYPORT,MA. Hiltons reports coming back from all day trips with
    full coolers of market cod and some big wolf fish, blue fishing
    was fair except at night where everybody caught 5-6 a piece.
    
    PLUM ISLAND,MA. Small strippers stil abundent, and blues are coming
    around again with the ne-east wind 10-15 lb fish.
    
    MARSHFIELD,MA. The big fish ll reported slow blue fishing but the
    cod and haddock are starting to heat up with big cod coming in.
    
    NATUCKET,MA. Unpredictable blue fishing last week, the best spot
    is the great points rip during low tides.
    
      If anyone fishes a particular area i would be happy to put your
    location in this report, as this magazine covers from Maine down
    to New York coast line and what all party boats are doing.
    
     jimmy

re:                  <<< Note 1152.74 by DNEAST::OKERHOLM_PAU >>>

>    	Did you keep/eat the wolf fish? A lot of folks don't because they
>    are sooo ugly but they are GREAT eating.

	Sure did!  Got 2 nice filets off it, and cooked it on the grille
	with Chef Paul Prudhommes Caj�n Fish Magic.   The fish was chewier
	than say, haddock and cod, but the flavor was excellent.  A couple
	of people said they like it better than haddock, but while it was	
	good, I'll take haddock anyday...  Bad looks don't scare me away,
	heck, I eat squid, clams, and all kinds of ugly stuff :-)

	A freind of mine fished out of Nova Scotia on a vacation a couple of
	years ago, and he says the people up there call wolf fish 
	"mother-in-law fish" because they are so ugly :-):-):-)  He's almost
	positive it was a wolf-fish they were talking about/catching.

re: .75

	I fished out of Salisbury/Newburyport, Clipper Fleet.

	Went out there saturday too, _very_ crowded boat, but a gorgeous day.
	Fishing was slow as far as size goes.  I caught about 15 cod (love
	that new rod/reel/dacron line) but largest was only about 4 pounds.
	Pool winner was a 5 pound cod!  A kid next to us caught the biggest
	fish on the boat, a 10 pound cod, but didn't put his buck in for 
	the pool.  tsk tsk.

	Bait was the way to go, jigs produced nada.  No dogfish anywhere.
	
	Highlight of the day was watching some idiot chew and swallow some
	clam bait!  Yuck.  This guy was sucking on a can of bud in the parking
	lot when we arrived at 6 a.m.!   He was in rough shape on the way
	back to say the least!

	/Ken

We got out on Narragansett Bay last weekend. The bay is dead. You'll fish four
hours for one blue (if you're lucky). We tried for scup in the Sakonnet River 
and didn't find any keepers anywhere. We heard of blues hitting down around 
Brenton Reef, but opted not to run down there due to the 160' J-boat race 
that was going on. There were a zillion spectator boats down there. White 
duck pants, blue blazers with the yacht club crest on the pocket, etc. 

The water in both the Bay and the River is BROWN. The upper Mount Hope Bay 
has areas of foam and crap (!) covering acres of water. Is it all from 
Fall River? Hard to say, since a lot of towns around the bay also use it for 
a sewer. Fall River is the worst, though. About 2/3 of the way up the 
eastern shore you can sit (who wants to?) and watch the raw sewage being 
pumped into the bay through what must be a 4' pipe under pressure. At low tide
it creates its own rip, the flow is so high. And the ledge between Rocky Point 
and Poppasquash Point (Ohio Ledge?) has an area of sewage from Providence that 
seems to rotate slowly in a circle over the ledge, moved about by the tides 
but no longer flushed away. 

The newspapers carry the politician's stories: "It's due to the abnormally 
high rainfall"; "It was a temporary breakdown of a pump"; "We have plans in 
place to..."; "We're funding a study now to...".

If they told the truth they'd say, "Developers' money got me elected so they 
could develop more land; pave more earth; install more bathrooms. You want me 
to cut my own throat and address the problem? I have a ribbon to cut this 
afternoon at the new shopping plaza."

I've been fishing that area, from Westport to Point Judith and all the way
up Mount Hope Bay, for forty years (God, it hurt to say that!). Between the 
pogey boats that come from states as far away as New Jersey, the gill nets 
catching all sizes of stripers that nobody seems willing to control, the 
free-fishing 5 mile-long nets that are set for tuna and swordfish (ten more 
New Beford draggers just converted to this style of fishing) but kill 
everything they touch, and the wanton pumping of sewage by Providence and 
Fall River, the fish haven't a chance.

I spent a week down there in July when the charter boats were trumpeting "bail
jobs" in newspapers and magazines like the New England Fisherman magazine. 
Couldn't have been farther from the truth. Absolute fabrication and 
exageration. An awful lot of the local economy depends on tourism; indeed, 
it's the third largest industry in Rhode Island. So, they can't afford to 
have the word get out that fishing is dead. Several of the NE Fisherman 
contributing editors, and some of their occasional writers,
are party boat owners and charter boat owners. Charley Soares and one other
gent whose name I can't recall run charters on small boats in the 17-19 foot
range, and sell stories to the NE Fisherman. Their livelihood comes from 
selling charters in the Newport area. You think they're going to tell you
how many hours and miles you're going to invest for each fish now?

People used to catch stripers every night from the Brightman Street Bridge, 
which is pretty far up the Bay. Now you see the pictures in
the Herald News once a week or less. And you better be fishing between 11:00 pm
and 5:00 am, or you're not going to see a linesider. I've seen boats hauling 
nets off Prudence Island that looked like they had 1/2" mesh, sifting tons
of squid from the East Passage. No pogies + no squid = no bass, no blues, no
squeteague. Oh, there might be an occasional blitz, when time, tides, and the
fickle Gulfstream combine to push some bait into the bays, but they are the
exception now. 

Why did I get on this soapbox? Because this weekend it occurred to me that the
"skunk" days now outnumber the productive days. I think it has gone rapidly
downhill over the past four or five years. It's been at least three years 
since we've been able to bring  home a couple of fish after casting or trolling
for a just a couple of hours or dunking worms for flounder or scup. 
Skunk days used to be the exception, now they're the rule.

<sigh> 

I got that off my chest; wish I could say I felt better now.

Art

    RE.79
    
      First of all the poor fishing in my opinion is due to DRAGGERS
    and GIL NETS. I have only had 2 days being skunked this year and
    I go out of Gaurons or Hiltons 3-4 times a month, lucky i guess.
    
      jimmy

    re.79 also
    
    Another one climbing on the soapbox.
    
    The mouth of the Merrimack River has been absolutely disgusting
    these past few weeks, due to raw sewrage bieng pumped in.  Couple
    weeks ago, I had to leave early on a Friday night.  Absolutely
    NO fish in the river, and the stink was making me sick to my
    gut.  The fishing is just now starting to pick up again, after
    a three week "red tide".  I wasn't going to mention it, because
    I figured what was the use, but now that we may have a common
    voice, maybe someone, somewhere will listen.  Anyone know who
    to contact to voice my displeasure?
    
    The Gaffer
    

    
      BLUEFISH!!!!
    
       I went out blue fishing last night off the ilses of shoals and
    came up with a dozen blues between 12-16 lbs (all released) After
    about 45 minutes of nothing we decided to follow the boat from Hiltons
    and glad we did because we picked up about 25 BIG blues in about
    2 hours, and the party boat was doing pretty good too. We anchored
    right in the chum slick, after talking with the captain of the Victor
    E and gaurons boat the outlook was good as the blues and cod fishing
    seem to have picked up the last two days, so lets hope for a good
    week-end and good fishing.
    
     jimmy

    
    I heard some good news that cape cod bay is filled with blues and
    some fine bass, but could not confirm this. GOOD LUCK!!!!
    
      JIMMY

    WELL I FINALLY HAVE ONE TO ADD....We went to the Isles of shoals
    saturday, trolled around for a while on the northwest side and
    ended up hooking into three good sized blues almost immediatly.
    The first one was part of a very fast moving school that went right
    under the boat. I had some mackeral out about 20' down but no hit,
    I was also jigging for cod with an ultra light so when the school
    went by it was all i had in my hand so i threw the jig into the
    school and WHAM one tried to swallow the jig!!!! While i fought
    that fish on 6lb test the school dove and we couldn't find it
    again. so we trolled around a little more now with two rangers
    (bright orange) out. within 10 minutes two more were landed.
         After that it turned into a long day...we trolbut could not
    coax another hit while boats all around us were pulling them in
    hand over fist!?!?!?! Finally i boated two more by JIGGING cut
    mackeral. Was anyone from this conference there? and if so what
    were you using (if you had any luck with it) what depth were you
    using it at and whats the name of your boat (I'll give you a call
    the next time im out to see how your doing) My boats the Pegasus
    it is a 19' Boston Whaler Revenge with a small cuddy. Very
    unconventional looking Whaler.
         any info on what was being used, depth, technique would be
    very appreciated. 
    for a while longer....nothing, so we  parked in with the other
    hundred or so boats off of the south tip of the isles and threw
    everything in the tackle box out without a hit. at one time we  had
    2 live baits and three assorted lures in the water e
    

	A friend is organizing a night trip for blues next friday out of 
	Rhode Island, but from what I've heard, there aren't many blues
	to be had in that area right now. They're plentiful around Gloucester/
	Newburyport (from what I've heard), but the newspaper didn't have
	much good to say about Rhode Island.

	Anyone know what the scoop is with RI blues ?

	/Ken

re: DWATSON

 Did you try trolling magnum Rapalas? They seem to be very popular. Another
good spot is on the Southeast side of the Isles. there's a good rip there.
Try varying the depth of your lures. And pay attention to what the guys that
are catching fish are doing. :-)

 The Doctah

    RE:.88
    
    I read a story in sunday's paper that several children were attacked
    in shallow water near Rocky Neck in Connecticut saturday by a school
    of blues.  One required 20 stiches.  You might consider going out
    from Niantic.  I won't suggest what bait works best ;-).
    
    -SSS-
     

	Took the Gail Frances out of Pt. Judith last friday for a night
	bluefishing trip from 6:30 p.m. to 1 or 2 a.m., and it was the
	wildest fishing trip I've ever been on!  There were only 14 people
	on a ~75' boat, and the 5 of us had all the room we needed.

	We got to a spot within about 1 hour after setting off, and chummed
	for a bit in about 70 feet of water.  Within a 1/2 hour, the blues 
	were everywhere.   People were using jigs and bait.  I used primarily 
	whole herring, and had great results.  I'd let my line out towards 
	bottom, and before it even hit the bottom a blue would take the
	bait and start stripping line off my reel.  A click of the Penn and 
	wham! another fish on.   This continued for 3.5 hours, fishing madness.
	Fight a fish, boat it, take a breather, can repeat.  Simply unreal
	action.

	I caught about 20-25 blues in the 10-13 pound range, biggest of the
	night ran 14 lbs.  Between the 5 of us (me and 4 friends) we caught
	over 1,000 lbs. of fish!  That's a half a ton!  Not too bad for a
	night fishing.
	
	/Ken

    I went out deep sea fishing on the Northern Star this past week
    end and the conditions were the worst this year, all being caused
    by the tropical storm out off our coast.  We went out to northern
    jeffries and the current was so bad it made bait fishing impossible,
    I ended up with two cod (5lbs each) and one 13 lb haddock all caght
    on jigs with shrimp teasers. The captain was telling us up until
    last Thursday the bottom fishing was starting to pick up for the
    fall run of cod, haddock, and polluck and blues were thick of the
    isles of shoals. So after what we saw and heard take it easy for
    those with 18-20 foot boats, and lets release those blues where
    possible.
    
     jimmy

       I will be taking some guys out bluefishing this fri 9-22
    and would like to know if they are still around and where are
    hiding these days? Any help will be appreciated..I will be leaving
    out of the Merrimack so some place no too far from there.
       Isles of Shoals been doing anthing lately???????
    
                                                 D.Watson

    I would head to the Isles, the party boats out of Hampton have been
    catching them, not a big kill, but its been ok. It all depends on
    when they decide to feed and if your there with a line in the water.
    
    Steve

    What have they been primarily feeding on in that area?????
    I ask because i was there one day and could not buy a fish while
    guys all around me were pulling em in like crazy.
                                          D.Watson

    I would use whole herring. Also cut some up and throw it for chum.
    As for where, try anywhere on the south side of the Islands. You
    may have to move a few times, try to find 50-70 feet of water.
    
    Steve

    While diving last Sat. I threw in a line off of Kettle Isl. using a red
    eye and a small bit of flounder belly. A 8 lb bluefish hit it. Suprize!
    The rod was an old bamboo salmon stick with 15 lb test. It put up a
    pretty good fight for its size. I treid to repeat the catch but no luck
    must have been a stray fish. I even chummed with the first blue. minus
    the fillet of course.
    
    Lets see what the weather brings this weekend?
    
                              Walt
    

	I can't speak for the action out at the Isles, but last Sunday we
caught 4 blues (8-12 lbs) right in the mouth of the Merrimack.  The first
two were caught between the north jetty and the red bell bouy.  The last two
fish were caught closer to the MR bouy.  Also some friends fished Halibut Pt.
on Saturday with some success (6 fish) but the weather wasn't very comfortable.
Depending upon the weather forecast (Hugo and/or Iris) you may have just as
good luck staying close to home in the Mouth....(as long as it doesn't get
like it did a couple weeks ago when Gloria passed out to sea !!! - I don't ever
want to bring my boat and family through 10 - 15 footers in that mouth again).
But that's another story...

Dave "Harpoonist"

         ONE more quick question....I work in Andover, Live in Haverhill
    and keep the boat in the Merrimack in Amesbury. Where in my travels
    this afternoon can I find whole herring....I have never seen them
    in a bait shop before, maybe I just didn't notice....
                                                        
                                                    D.Watson

    Frozen herring, The Bait Guys, NE Fish Protein, Rt. 133 Rowley Ma.
    508-948-2087, $8.00 for a 40lb or box.
    Fresh herring, Tri-Coastal co-op, Newburyport Ma. near the Coast
    Guard Station, in back of the Ice House (?) $20.00 for a 100 lb
    tote. A deposit if you don't have an empty tote. 508-465-8188.
    
    good luck,
    Steve

    Last time I bought Herring I picked it up at Triple Lantern in
    Glouster. It was $10. per 100 lbs. So fresh it was almost flipping! 
    
    Tri Coastal is good also. They have a place in Glousta and Newburyport.
    
    If your headed to Kittery, I belive the shack on the Island as you
    cross the drawbridge has bait. Its on the left. The one with all the
    lobsta traps on the pier.
    
                                                 Walt
     

    Theres a place on rt 110 as your heading toward Salisbury, Newburyport
    area, its a blue store with boats in the yard and a big sign out
    front saying "bait for blues". They sell 50lbs or 100lbs boxes frozen.
       Does anyone have an updated weather forcast for sat and sun,
    i'm going on a two day trip out of Newburyport tomorrow at 5am (i
    hope)????????????
    
     GOOD FISHING
      JIMMY

    Well last friday was a great day for blues!!! The swells were a
    little tricky right at the mouth of the Merrimack(as usual) but
    once we were half a mile or so from it the water was very pleasant
    even for my little 19' Whaler. Visibilty was 2 or so miles if that
    so we had to go to the Isles on compass alone which was a first
    for me. We got there and were completely alone I mean not even seagulls
    This made me a little uneasy but after about an hour a few boats
    showed up. We trolled around for about another hour with not even
    a hit when we decided to head south toward Plum Island or Gloucester
    since I had heard that they were active in that area..As we were
    leaving we spotted a party boat on the south side of the island
    right where that massive ledge ominously protrudes. Decided it was
    worth a shot so as we got closer we saw they were pulling them in
    all over the boat. OUR turn!!!! We boated 11 and started releasing
    them after that (I use them for lobster bait).My Ranger plugs look
    like someone put them in the blender. Pulled a few traps, rebaited
    them with fresh fish the rest is history...All in All one hell of
    a time.                                
    
        
                                           Dwatson
    

	I have a chance to go Tuna fishing one day in the next 2 weeks.
The vessel is the Early Bird out of Point Judith. Its a new fiberglass fifty
footer with all the electronic goodies. The captian was giving tuna semenairs 
and my friend inquired. Its 6 of us for $ 100 each. The plan is to fish
for yellow fin, alabacore and one other( I forget ). the destination would
be "  The Canyon " south east of Montauge Point.

	Inputs..

	What do you think?

	Is it worth it?

	Will we catch Fish?

	
				Johnny Roach

	Actually the last question should read Will we catch Tuna?

 I think the  Early Bird is Dave Preble's boat. I inquired about fishing with 
him two years ago. He sounds pretty knowledgeable.

 I think you are getting a very good price for a canyon run at $600. Now is
the time to be in the canyons- as the water cools, the tuna eat.

 I think you will catch fish. The albacore fishing in the canyons has been
pretty good the last couple years. (Albacore are VERY good eating.)

 The other kind of tuna you are likely to run into are bigeyes. They like
the deep water that the canyons afford.

 Go for it. Then you'll have an entry or two to put into the HAWG note. :-)

 The Doctah

	re: .105

	Sounds like a good price.  The Gail Frances, also out of Pt Judith,
	also has a Tuna Trip for $175.00, which I inquired about after the
	wild bluefishing trip there.  If I remember correctly, they leave at 
	10:00 am, travel all day until you start fishing at around 6:00 pm.  
	You fish all night till 6:00 am, and then endure the ride back.

	Supposedly they had been doing very good, catching I guess school tuna
	averaging 40 lbs, and you keep whatever you catch.   

	What is the schedule for your trip ?  Time of departure, fishing time,
	etc.  Can you keep what you catch (unlike a lot of those 6-person-max
	charters) ? 

	Someday I want to catch a tuna!   

	Let us know what it was like...

	/Ken

    I'm thinking of running charters on my boat "Rainbow Chaser" next year,
    need to pick up my 6 pack lic. this winter.  I was wondering what some
    of the other charter boats provide and what their cost was? I've called
    a few and they are all in the $600-$750 per day range. Some provide
    tackle. All provide bait & Ice.
    
    What are you getting for your money? Do you bring your own tackle? Is
    it "Stand-Up" style or do the have a fighting chair.
    
    My format will be mostly Scuba Diving charters with bottom fishing and
    stand-up for sharks & tuna. Normally whole day trips only.
    
    Does anyone else on this notes file charter their boat?
    
    
                                         Walt
    

Hey Walt,

I'll crew for you on Saturdays iffin you want.  Maybe even a Sunday or two...

Tim

    This past summer I've had the good fortune to fish "The Canyon"
    in the FishTails two times.  Both trips were memorable and we stopped
    fishing after boating 10 plus tuna mostly albacore and some yellowfin
    on each trip. Top fish was a 250# bigeye but I was not on that trip.
    
    I still remember one vicious hit at 130 in the AM where we could
    not stop whatever hit Shimano 80 with 100 lb test.  The best luck
    we had was with live lined mackeral caught drifting 100 - 150 feet
    away with no weight.
    
    If its your first time out there my advice:
    	- get as much rest as possible before going out there
    	- do not drink alcohol until back on land
    	- rotate chunking amongst crew while others rest until the fish turn on
    	- bring large canvas/burlap bags w/ as much ice as you can store
    	- its better to start Tuna fishing during the day than at night
    	- rotate anglers on the rod if you think you have a 200& tuna
    	  and use a dart for all tuna over 100#
    
    I'm looking forward to getting out there one more time before Nov.
    I hear now is the best time for big bluefin and yellowfin.
    
    Let us know how you make out.
                 
    Good luck 
    Paul "The Edge" Edry

re .-1)

Paul,

Do you run your boat out there or crew for someone you know, or do you take
a charter?

Joe

    I crew for Jack Daugherty of "Duffy D" out of Noank Ct. Since I
    am the guy that introduced him to Tuna thru a friend at Dec he takes
    me along when we go "meatfishing" or when his regular mate can't
    make it.  Jack is a school teacher who is now into his 3rd yr at
    chartering.  This year he's done fairly well with bookings and
    meatfishing.
    
    JAck Charges about $800 to 1000 per canyon trip with 1/3 going to
    the party in fish or $proceeds from sale.  To my knowledge he's
    never had a poor Canyon trip.  In gulf stream we've caught white
    marlin (excellent smoked like pork), dolphin fish, mako, 8 - 12
    tuna per trip mostly albocore trolled and yellowfin chunked at 
    night. 
    
    Jack's boat is 32 ft tournament rigged twin deisel RAmpage.  We
    troll as many as 7 lines and have landed many double hookups and
    a triple on albacore and once a double on bigeyes.  From Noank to
    the Tails the 95 miles is about 4 hrs depending on the seas.  We
    troll till about an hour before dusk then attach ourselves to deep
    water lobster bouys and chunk all night till about daybreak.  One
    sees lotsa hammerheads, manta rays and porpoises.  
    
    I hear there's a migration of some large bluefin off Block lately
    maybe we'll stay closer inshore...
    
    Let me know about your rig and if you'd like to go off the Edge
    of the Continental Shelf.

    I've got a 24 Grady White.  We've fished out to the dump, and 40 fathom
    curve lots.  These last 2 years it wasn't as productive as '87 inside
    the canyons.  When (read if) I get my next boat I want one able to make
    a canyon trip.  I've been trying to talk a friend with a 46' hatteras
    to make the run, but he's been to busy at work.  I'ld love to go with
    you sometime, but can't afford the $$$.  If you ever need extra crew,
    I'll make time to get out there.   
    
    Joe

	Re: .106 Hey Doctah, your right the other was Bigeye and it is
	         Dave Preble's boat

	Re: .106,.107,.110 Tahnks for the prompt information guys

	I will Fax down my questions to my buddy in Clinton Ct. who is

	setting this up and make sure he gets all the details, looks like we 

	will be going on Oct 9th or Oct 21 I am voting for the 9th. I 

	haven't gotten back in touch with my buddy ( he's out Blue fishing

	today) But, his wife said there is some sort of contract you 

	that says each person is allowed x pounds of Tuna after that the 

	Captian and crew recieve the proceeds. Sounds like they know we

	will catch fish.

	Johnny Roach

    
    Paul,
    
         Jack sounds like the first charter I've heard of where the tuna
    don't "go with the boat" (entirely).  The only charters I've ever seen 
    in the N.H./Mass. area are charters where the tuna "go with the boat"
    and there's no reward aside from the experience (i.e., part of the fish, 
    or money) of any kind. (If I was lucky enough to hook something, and
    able enough to board it, I'd certainly want a piece of it.  I
    understand the counter-argument involving expense of license, etc., but
    my position is equally valid...and if Jack can do it, I'm sure others
    can.)
    
         If any of you out there know of arrangements similar to Jack's
    but in the N.H./Mass. area, could you please post them here ?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Ed
    

    To stray a little off the tuna I just got back yesterday from a
    deep sea fishing trip and the cod, haddock, and blues are out there
    in good numbers. We fished from 6am to 2pm for caod and haddock
    and ended up with about 10 cod (10-25lbs) each, and around a dozen
    jumbo haddock with the biggest cod being 58lbs. We hit the isles
    on the way back to Newburyport and picked up about 14 blues(12-16lbs)
    which we released all but one. It seems like the bottum fish and
    blues are filling up for the winter now that the water is cooling
    down. Anyone else doing or planning any bottum fishing??
    
      jimmy

Re: -1

Jimmy:

where'd you go out of? Your boat or charter?

Tim

   RE: .116
     
    Jimmy 
     We are going out on our annual overnighter on the Yankee Fleet next
    Thursday. We depart Gloucester at 10 pm Thursday and start fishing
    at first light. So far weve gone for the last couple of years and it 
    has been a great trip. Last was well over 50lbs of fillets. And for the 
    cost of $85.00 I think that is fairly reasonable. 
    
     Everytime weve gone we went to Caches, never made a trip to Georges
    Bank.
    
                            Mike
    

    Re:17 
    
       Tim,
         
            We go out of Newburyport, my buddy owns a 25 ft hydra sport.
    
      jimmy

    Can anyone tell me how the blue's action is around Plumb Island ?
    I am thinking of going this weekend.
                                             Thanks  
                                                          Dan

    Was out there last Sunday afternoon, and couldnt find/land a one. Word
    on shore, was that they "were still there", or you should have been
    here yesterday! There definitely on there migration phase, so I would
    say you still have got a good chance of running into them. If your
    using a boat, head out to the 100ft depth, thats were they were before
    the cooler weather came along.
    
                                                    Bob

    Any reports on the fishing off New Hampshire and So. Maine?
    
    Anything active (Blues, Haddock, Flounder)?
    
    What's good this time of year, trolling, bait, lures, bottom fishing?
             
    ----------
    Paul

    Re .115>
    	Ed,
    		I think the reason for the difference in who keeps the
    	fish is that they are going after different fish. Until very
    	recently the only tuna north of the cape were giant bluefin worth
    	thousands of dollars per fish. The value of albacore, yellowfin etc
    	are much less.
    		Now that smaller fish are migrating further north perhaps
    	the charter boats will allow the clients to keep them.
    
    	Paul

    
    r�: -1   Thanks, Paul.  I knew there had to be an explanation, and that
             certainly sounds like it.
    
    report:
    
             The boat I was on this past weekend, the Yankee Patriot (of
    the Yankee Fleet out of Gloucester), really slammed cod and pollack.
    For a group of 40, we caught well over 300 fish.  The ship's mates
    claimed they cleaned over 250 fish (some folks didn't have their's 
    cleaned; the balance of the difference was due to fish that weren't
    keepers).  Each person put $1 into a pool for largest fish, which was 
    a 28 lb. 4 oz. cod - but this wasn't known until the very end of the
    trip because there were a half dozen fish all the same size, mostly
    pollack.  The one angler who landed the pool winner brought in 45
    fish (right, no typo).  
             Some other interesting tid-bits...one person caught a "natural
    triple" of 10 lb. cod.  Another, just 2 folks away from me, clearly had
    something curling his rod when all-of-a-sudden the rod lost most of
    its tension, but remained slightly curled.  Up came
    what-was-just-recently a 15-20 lb. cod freshly sheered in half...
    Speaking of which, there were *no* (other, visible) signs of dogfish or 
    other shark; very little line entanglement, except for our own doing.
             Truly a memorable experience.
             The Yankee Fleet runs charters through Dec. 1st.
    
    Ed
    

    I took my boat out from Hampton on Sunday and did well on
    the cod. I went out about 20 miles and picked up 10 in a short
    period of time. I should have stayed in close though. On the way
    in I stopped about a mile out to clean fish, and couldn't resist
    dropping a jig one more time. Brought up 2 more both in the 10 lb
    range real quick. It was already starting to get dark as I had
    a late start, so I forced myself to quit and get back to filleting.
    One of the best parts of the day was on the first part of the trip
    back in from 20 miles. I ran into a migration of some kind of
    porpoise or dolphin (six to eight feet long, dark colored backs
    with white bellies and white a third of the way up the sides).
    The school stretched for literaly miles in both directions, and
    was around a half mile wide. I got the boat in the middle of it
    and they just kept coming for about 20 minutes, moving north to
    south. They were jumping all around me. Pretty awe inspiring in
    a nineteen ft boat !!! I started to move in there direction after
    awhile, and the ones near me swam right along the sides of the
    boat and in the wake. I didn't even realize porpoise came this far
    north, let alone schools with thousands in them.

    Marty
    

    Hey Ed
    
    Do you know where the boat was when you caught all those fish?
    
    
    Capt Codfish & I were out on Tinkers Ledge last Sunday and caught
    about a doz keepers. Must have thrown back 30-40 little guys too.
    
    We were into a school of Pogys and the Cod were lunchen on them.
    Should have rigged down for some Pogys on worms, maybe next time.
    
                                         Wal;t
    

    re: .-2 those were dolpins (white sided I think they are called).
    Not that uncommon on jeffries and stellewagon.
    
    Bruce

    
    Walt,
    
         I just spoke with the captain of the boat.  He told me we fished
    Jeffries Ledge, but chose not to give more exact details in his words
    "for obvious reasons".  He was also very quick to tell me that while
    they've been doing very well fishing of late, last Saturday was an
    "excellent day" (read: unusually fine day)...in other words, "don't
    use that as a standard for expectation".
    
    Ed
    

    Last night I was reviewing a video tape of Jeffries ledge; filmed from
    a small 4 man submarine. They were in the fingers area which is
    typical of the entire ledge at a depth of 300 ft. The bottom is
    composed of a firm mud with sparce sea anomine forrest and an ocational
    rock or two a couple of feet in dia. The film showed small Cod, Hake,
    Cusk and lobster. There were no fish of very large size and not an
    abundance of any type. Watching a couple of hour film of mud can be
    pretty boreing, I did manage to doze off for a few min's and never did
    get to the exciting part (oh Boy!) when they show the gill net ghost 
    fishing. I'll have to watch that part tonight!
    
    Which brings me to the point of why I mention it at all. 
    
    I am thinking of rigging a video camera in a lexan/PVC submersible case 
    with a 12 V trolling motor for propulsion. Have the thing tethered off
    my boat with cables and a TV monitor on board. ( Aother home project!)
    
    Has anyone of you tried this type of thing? Has it worked? Any hints or
    suggestions??
    
                                     Walt
    

	After a lean season in Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay I'm considering
one last fishing trip this weekend, seas and weather permitting.  I have
thought of a trip up through the canal to Stelwagon (sp?) or out past Nomans
to deeper water.  What I'm looking for is specific suggestions for both 
places (ie. place, depth, bait, etc.).  For Stelwagon, the closer to P'town
the better, because that appears to be about a 3 1/2 or 4 hour run for us
from Fairhaven.

	Thanks in advance for the information, Rick.

    Last spring I saw a video at the Big E where a West coast Salmon
    guide put an enclosed video camera on a downrigger ball.  The video
    was memorable.  It showed the many failed attempts of Salmon trying
    to hit the "mooched herring" finally you saw a large salmon hit...
    
    The bait was not more than 5 to 10  feet from the ball.  The light
    was OK.  I believe at 300 feet you'd need extra illumination.  I've
    thought about doing something similar out in the canyon where dolphin,
    albacore and even a bigeye would chase and hit the bait.  Illumination
    out there would be less of a problem with the water so clear.
    
    Sounds and looks very interesting please keep us updated.
    

    re:.130
    What type of fishing were you planning on doing? Tuna, Blues, 
    groundfish, etc.
    
    Steve

    re.- a couple....
    
    Ground fishing on stellewagon is slow, it is has been scrapped clean
    by draggers. Fishing for cod around the bank itself (either east
    or west of it) can be exellent if you know where to go. I found
    one spot two weeks ago sw of the nw corner that we took about 30
    fish off of. I remember years ago taking mega cod and pollock
    from the sw corner but that was years in the past. I am not sure
    where the green harbor boats are fishing but they have been reporting
    good cod and pollock, my guess is they are fishing east of the sw
    corner but that is speculation.
    
    Capt. Codfish

Thanks for the quick responce.

Re: .132 - Basically freezer fishing, Tuna would be fantastic, bottom fish
fine, blues fine.  Two weekends ago we got realy lucky, hooked 5, boated 3
blues.  Before that it had been one flounder and one skate all season.  I must
add this is our first season in Buzards Bay and we're still learning the ropes.

Re: .133 - Thanks for the input Capt.  Dragers is the the problem (or excuse)
we've had this season.  Headed for Manemsha to fish and a drager cuts across
the bow from port and starts droppong his net in front of me.  Three weeks
earlier we were fishing east of Cuttyhunk and when we went to move picked up
a 4 ft. by 10 ft. hunk of net floating under the seaweed on the surface in
the port prop.  My son-in-law and I had to go over the side to clear it.
One of the reasons I was also looking for info SE of Gay Head is because
of the dumping area (munitions) I hoped may be free of dragers.  At any rate
sounds like the key is to look for structure that the dragers can't penitrate.

	Thanks, Rick

                           STRIPER FISHING
    
    I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A SUCCESSFUL FISHING CHARTER FOR STRIPERS
    AND BLUEFISH. THE BOAT THAT WE CHARTERED IS THE "STRAY CAT" OUT
    OF HYANNIS, MA. CAPTAINED BY RON MURPHY. WE LEFT THE DOCK AT 
    HYANNIS AT 6:00AM, OUR DESTINATION BEING THE RIPS, SANDBARS,
    AND REEFS OFF OF THE EAST END OF NANTUCKET ISLAND. 
    
    THE TRANSIT TIME TO THE FISHING GROUNDS WAS ABOUT ONE HOUR. THE
    TACKLE PROVIDED BY THE CAPTAIN CONSISTED OF PENN REELS LOADED
    WITH A 10 FOOT LEADER OF 30# MONO, 50 YARDS OF 40# WIRE, AND A 
    BACKING OF 60# BRAIDED DACRON. THE RODS WERE FAIRLY STIFF 6 FOOT
    DIAWA'S. THE LURE'S WERE HOME MADE IMITATION SQUIDS TIED BY THE
    CAPTAIN. 
    
    THE BOAT IS A 1988 32 FOOT CUSTOM MADE SPORT FISHERMAN. IT IS EQUIPPED
    WITH LORAN, RADAR, FISH FINDERS, VHF, AND THREE CONSOLES. THE 
    REASON THAT RON HAD THREE CONSOLES BUILT WAS SO THAT HE COULD
    CONTROL THE BOAT FROM THE FLY BRIDGE, THE COCKPIT, AND THE STERN.
    THERE ARE TWO FIGHTING CHAIRS, AND PLENTY OF ROOM AT THE STERN.
    THERE IS ALSO A HEAD.
    
    ACCOMPANYING ME ON THIS TRIP WERE MY FISHING BUDDY STEVE, MY 
    BROTHER STEVE, AND MY DAD. THE FIRST PASS PRODUCED AN IMMEDIATE
    HOOKUP FOR MY BUDDY STEVE. THE FISH STRIPPED A CONSIDERABLE
    AMOUNT OF LINE AND FOUGHT FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE GAFF WAS
    STRUCK. THE RESULTS WERE A 42 POUND STRIPER. THE FISH WENT 48
    INCHES LONG. A GREAT START.
    
    THE SECOND PASS PUT ME ONTO A STRIPER OF 20 POUNDS THAT WAS ONLY
    32 INCHES LONG. THE LAW STATES THAT STRIPERS MUST BE 38 INCHES
    OR BETTER TO KEEP, SO BACK IT WENT. BROTHER STEVE AND DAD BOTH
    HOOKED UP ON THE NEXT PASS, AND BOTH LANDED BLUEFISH IN THE
    12 LB. CLASS. WE THEN HOOKED INTO A TRIPLE ON BLUEFISH, THINGS
    GOT CRAZY WITH PEOPLE DUCKING UNDER AND OVER LINES, BUT WE 
    MANAGED TO BOAT ALL THREE. IT WAS HARD TO BELEIVE THAT WE HAVE
    BEEN FISHING LESS THAT AN HOUR AND WE HAVE SIX FINE FISH IN THE
    BOX.
    
    THE REST OF THE DAY WAS ALL ACTION. WE LANDED 45 BLUEFISH AND 
    HOOKED AND LOST JUST AS MANY. ALL WERE RELEASED WITH THE EXCEPTION
    OF SIX FOR THE SKILLET. BROTHER STEVE DID HOOK UP AND LAND A 
    STRIPER, BUT IT WAS SHORT BY THREE INCHES. NO MATTER HOW HARD HE
    TRIED, HE COULDNT STRETCH THAT FISH. 
    
    CAPT. RON TRIED SEVERAL OTHER "SECRET HOT SPOTS" TO TRY AND FIND
    THE LARGE BASS, BUT THE BLUES WERE EVERYWHERE. WE ARRIVED BACK
    AT THE DOCK AT 3:00PM. THE CAPTAIN CLEANS THE FISH, AND WILL CUT
    THEM ANY WAY YOU WANT. YOU ALSO KEEP ALL THE FISH THAT YOU CATCH.
    
    CAPT. MURPHY CHARTERS FROM MAY THRU NOVEMBER. HIS 1989 RATE WAS
    $425.00 FOR AN 8 HOUR CHARTER. (HE USUALLY GIVES A LITTLE LONGER).
    THE TIMES THAT I LIKE TO FISH STRIPERS IS THE LATE FALL. THE FISH
    ARE USUALLY LARGER, AND THE WATERS ARE LESS CROWDED WITH BOAT
    TRAFFIC. 
    
    IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP
    ME A NOTE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HEAR FROM OTHER FISHERPERSONS 
    WHO HAVE FISHED CHARTERS ON CAPE COD.
    
                                                         "T" 
    
    
                            

After over 2 years of not having done any deep-sea fishing, I finally went 
yesterday on the "Bunny Clark" out of Ogunquit, Maine.  The boat is only 40' 
and doesn't hold a big crowd, but the skipper is a funny guy and knew just 
where to fish. (There were only 13 people yesterday...and I drew the luck 
13th spot!)

We started fishing within 15-20 minutes out of the harbor in 100' of water.  
Within an hour, at least 15-20 cod were caught.  I nailed a 17# cod on a 
jig.  Although it was early, it was the "pool" fish.

We then headed out for about 30 minutes and started fishing an old wreck in 
300' (!!) of water for hake.  The skipper told us that he's caught hake that 
were world record fish off this place and we all had high hopes.      

Within 20 minutes I nailed a 25# hake.  It took about 5-8 minutes to haul 
him up from the depths and I thought my arms were gonna fall off!  About 30 
minutes later I nailed a 37.5# hake that really blew everyone's socks 
off...including mine (btw, the world record is around 47#s according to the 
captain).  

All in all, a very productive day!  We never were more than 11-12 miles from
shore and we spent a lot more time fishing rather than running.  Besides
winning the pool, I took home about 35# of fillets.  It's a good thing too
'cause my wife would not have believed I practiced catch & release if I came
home empty-handed! 

-HSJ- 

    
    r�: -1
    
    HSJ,
    
          Help me, I'm a little confused.  How could your 17# cod be the
    "pool" fish (I assume "pool" fish means "pool winner") when you caught
    30+# hake ?  Certainly hake is a boardable fish...?
    
    Ed
    

Ed...

The 17# cod was my first fish and the largest caught up to that time which 
made it the "pool" fish.  The 37# hake was ultimately the pool winner by the 
end of the day.

joe

    RE .136
    
     Paul,
    
       I just recently went fishing out of Newburyport with Hiltons
    fishing parties, we went out to jeffries and fished in about 270'
    on a ledge. It turned out to be hot with about 60 fish coming aboard
    in two hours. The big spot of the day was the last stop where the
    20 of us brought in 31 haddock all taken on clams, I ended up with
    4 haddock and 18 cod (5-14lbs) the boats running until nov.25 if
    the weather holds out.  good luck!!!
    
    
    
         jimmy

    Hasanyone gotten out for some Codfishin lately? I hear that they are
    biteing off the jettys of the merrimack river?? With this heat wave the
    next few  days (50deg F) it may just be a good time to dip some
    minnows.  
    
    Any reports or what?
    

    Walt,
    	I haven't been down to the ocean lately but I imagine we're still
    frozen in. My boat is under a foot of snow also so I don't think I'll
    get out for a little while yet. 
    Regards,
    Paul
    
    P.S. This warm weather has me a little nervous about inadvertantly
    launching my Smelt shack before too long.
               

      Paul,
     I just took a position at the Augusta facility and would be interested
    in some information on sportfishing off the coast. I've never tried
    it but have considerable experience on Lake Ontario. I have a 22'
    Sportcraft rigged for salmon fishing. Any info would be of great
    help. 
    				thanks,
    				gary c
    			      "CRUZN II"  

Re .143>
	
	Welcome Gary, we need more salt water fishermen up here. Too many
fish ya know. 	;^) Actually I'd welcome the opportunity to show you around
either via two boat trips or taking turns crewing. If you are as crazy as I am 
you could even join me on some waaay offshore trips.
	I fish out of a 22' Aquasport probably rigged similar to yours, with
some special salt water stuff as well. We'll fill you in on all the stuff 
you'll need. Just bring plenty of money.	;^)
	The big game sport fishing up here consists primarily of Shark and 
Tuna. There is an abundant Shark fishery (a good place to start) and a 
fairly good Tuna population (this of course is relative). There is also good
Blue fishing and Mackerel as well as the usual bottom fish.
	The season is relatively short but I don't think you'll be disapointed. 
When are you arriving?
Regards,
Paul
"Joanie_B"

    We'll trying to set a release date now and hopefully I'll be up
    there in a couple of weeks. Just name a time, date, who's boat you
    want to use and I'll be ready and willing to go. I usually trailer
    my boat to the water and then spend the rest of the weekend out there.
    I can't wait to get there. What kind of tackle are we talking. I've
    got eight trolling rods set up with light line (8# and 16# test)
    I like a good fight on light tackle. Although this sounds a little
    on the light side for the salt water. I could respool up. I've got
    both Shimano 200 GT speedmasters and the new version of the speedmaster
    with the fighting drag. This is getting exciting already. what's
    the earliest you can get out.
                                          
    					     Gary C.
    					   "CRUZN II"		

Gary,
	The diehards start fishing cod in April. Its mighty cold fishing.
I usually get the fever and try to get out there early. If I make an early 
launch (didn't happen last year) I usually freeze my butt off and then I 
wait till its warmer. The Mackerel arrive by mid June followed by the Blues. 
The offshore stuff starts in July, peaks in late July/early August and trails
off into September.
	I have a 14' Aluminum boat which I drag up North for some Salmon 
fishing right after ice out (late April/early May). The bigger boat would 
be a good match for some of the bigger lakes like Sebago or Moosehead but
I just never did it.

    Start the clock, ONLY 6 weeks till SPLASHDOWN!
    
    My mechanic called me yesterday to say he would have my engine ready to
    go into the boat next weekend. Then we hook her up, witerize her for 5
    weeks then (I love this term) Summerize her  and launch!
    
    Codfish: Look out!!
    
    So who's up for a trip in april? Jiga Jiga Jig.  Paul? Bruce? Joe?
    Docta?
    
    Gotta try out those new Sweet Stiks & see if they really  catch more
    fish??
    
    Who knows a good place to get Clams for Haddock fishing. Cheap!
    
                                     Walt
    

 I'll be ready by then.

 The Doctah

Me 2.

       I'll go if ya got room!
                                            denny

    Walt, I'm relatively new to this stuff, having just purchased a boat in
    August, but am looking forward to some good spring fishing.  I like
    cod, haddock, mackerel, flounder, etc.  I am planning an early launch
    and if schedules etc could be worked out I would love to join you and
    learn some of the prime spots.  
    
    We just finished the last of last years Bluefish from the freezer so
    it's just about time to start replentishing the fish stores.
    
    My boat is a 19' Steury center console.  I live in Lunenburg, Ma so I
    have somewhat of a commute, but I'm sure it can be worked out.
    
    Maybe we'll talk,
    Rich       
    
    
    

    Hi Rich
    
    Did you buy AL's old Steury? I won't have mine in the water till April,
    but if you want to trailer down to do some Cod fishing out of yours
    I'll be glad to go with you. When I had a trailer boat I would get a
    few days in late Feb or March when the weather is nice. Like today! If
    only we could make the weather coincide with the weekends!!
    
    I just heard that my new COD Stik is done. I'd like to try it out.
    
                                 Home phone is (508) 957-5865
    
                                        Walt
    

    
    
    Hey Rich or anyone else crazy enough to go fishing this weekend?
    
    Do you have your boat ready to go?? Sunday is supposed to be 60degs!
    
    I bet we could pick up some Codfish out in Salem Sound??
    
                                       Walt
    

    I went out of Kennebunk Port Me. April 7th, Captain Al's I think?
    	We did good for this early. I got 18 cod 10 under 19" and let
    them go but I keep 8 nice ones. It was snowing out for awhile but
    a good day over all.
    
    		Bob Cassidy
    

    Anybody had any luck fishin for Cod off Halibut Point in the Cape
    Ann MA. area ?
    
    /MArk

 Went out yesterday with Tim Lucia on Capt. Codfish's boat Sweet Dream II.

 Not bad; 15-18 keepers in about 5 hours of fishing time. Spent the day around
Marblehead, the pigs, halfway rock. 40-100 feet of water. A couple of fish were
5-6 pounds, most about 3.

 All in all, a good day.

 The Doctah

    Mark,
    
       There are fish in the hills east of halibut point that lead up
    to jeffry's. Look at the chart and you wiill see what I mean. The
    is also that big 101 hill (half way?) that holds cod also about
    6 miles from the mouth of the river. I will have to get out my log
    book and get the numbers for you. Get a bathemetric chart and the
    structure will stand right out at you.
    
    Bruce

    Market cod are in solid in Mass Bay. Myself and a friend put
    over 50 cod in the boat, 20 of which were >19". Big fish went
    16lbs. All on Norwegian jigs and bucktail teasers. Fish were in
    170-200ft of water.
    
    Bruce

    What is the minimum length for Cod for us non-commericial fishin'
    types.? I seem to recall 17" or 19" minimum's for commericial
    fishermen.
    
    /MArk

    I believe this year it is 19" for everyone.
    
    Anybody want to try Plum Island or Glouster this Sat. for flounder or
    macks?  Anyone heard any reports?
    
    TIm
    

    It is 19" for everyone! They tried to push it up to 21" but it
    was voted down. There are alot of undersized fish this spring
    which is potentialy good news for the future. I think a 19" cod
    is 3-4 years old and will spawn so treat the throw backs gently
    so we have something to catch in the future.
    
    Bruce

Yesterday, Wednesday, 6/13, I had the opportunity to go cod fishing with our own
Bruce "THE Captin Codfish (bow)" Sweet.  It was undoutably the best day I've
ever had.  Bruce, myself and our ex-notesfile buddy Walt Gibson went out on
the Sweet Dream II to the middle bank of Stellwagon.  I'm guessing we fished for
about 4 hours total.  Just before heading in, we spread the fish out on the
boat for pictures.  We counted them afterwards as they returned to the fish
boxes (all three boxes were overflowing!) and there were about 140 of them. 
Most were cod, with about a dozen pollock thrown in.  We threw back another 100
or so, many of which were 19" or bigger.  After the first box and a half were
full, we started keeping them only if they were 22" or bigger.  I cleaned fish
for the hour-and-a-half ride back and barely dented them.  When we finished 
cleaning, there were almost four full 5-gallon pails (about 80 U.S. qts) of
fillets, each weighing 40-50 lbs.  Rough guess was about 160lbs of fillets.
The biggest fish were around 6-7 lbs.  Walt pulled up two of the nicest fish
on a double hookup.

The fish were so thick, we didn't even have to jig.  We were pulling them up
2 and 3 at a time for a while.  I felt kind of sorry for all the head boats in
the area--they just weren't doing anywhere near as well as us.  It was strange
to see all those fishermen glaring at us.  However, the fishing action kind of
kept our attention away from their eyes.  

Then there were the mackeral.  They've thinned out a little, but we still caught
on the order of 100.  The ones we kept are tuna/bluefish bait.

My ribs are bruised from the rod, my arms and back ache from reeling and lifting
fish and my hands are cut to shreads from cleaning, but I really couldn't be
much happier, at least not in the fishing sense...

Bruce, my hat's off to you!

Tim

    RE:.162
    
    Tim, sounds like you guys had a great time.  I have one question,
    Where is this boat located ?  I have been looking for someone who
    delivers reliable service for the price you pay.  I usually go out
    with the Yankee Fleet out of Gloucester, and haven't had much luck.
    
    Thanks,
     
      Kevin

    Another Stellwagon Report:
    
    Went out Saturday 6/14 on the Applejack out of Scituate. Everything was
    socked in tight with fog, but we went slowly and got out. After
    catching a few cod a few miles out of Scituate, we decided to run the
    19 miles across to Middle Bank.
    
    We got across and fished the western edge of the bank with no luck. We
    did hear lots of whales through the fog but no cod. We tried another
    spot on the eastern side of the bank.
    
    There the fog lifted and there was plenty of action. Whales all around,
    schools of sand eels breaking the surface and our old buddies, the
    bluefish were all over the place. We caught 5 really quickly before
    they moved on and we lost them. They weighed between 8 and 12 lbs.
    
    We fished another spot on the northeast side and caught about 10 good
    cod before it was time to go. The cod were in the 5-12 lb range. We had
    only one throwback and a couple of doubles.
    
    If you want a good boat, try the Applejack. It's a 24ft Wellcraft. Capt
    Pat takes a max of four passengers. It's $300 for an 8 hour day for
    four. His rates go down with fewer passengers. He runs the boat by
    himself (no mate). He's a great guy. Always fishes the way you want to
    fish. His number is 617-545-9643. Scituate is on the south shore below
    Cohasset and above Marshfield. Takes about an hour+ to get out to the
    bank, but in bluefish season you can often catch them right outside of
    the harbor.
    
    Art
    
    weighed between 8 and 12 lbs. 

    Kevin,
    
      The SWEET DREAM II is my boat (25' GW).
    
    Bruce

    
    	 A few friends and myself have decided to take a trip out of
    	Newburyport tomarrow. If anyone is interested in joining let
    	me know. I will report back here Monday with results for you
    	people that are less SPAWNtanious then us. 
    
    	 Also we are going shopping for tackle tonight and would like
    	some tips on what has been working this year, Anyone got any
    	suggestions? We will be starting up at Zalas in Merrimuck N.H.
    	and work our way home from there. (Leominster Ma.) If you have
    	any good tackle shops we are open for suggestions there too.
    
    	JK
    
    

    I might recommend going out of gloucester or points south. The cod
    fishing on Stellewagon has been far better than on Jeffries.
    
    You want 14oz stainless cod jigs and some teasers. Tubes, shrimp
    or bucktails.
    
    Bruce

	 Well we had a little set back and had to go out for a 1/2
	day trip since one person had to go into work for an hour.
	We left Plum Island at about 1:30pm on the Captian George
	and traveled about 40 minutes till we stopped. They shut
	the motors off and told us ladies and gentleman drop your 
	lines. They then started cumming all around the boat. The
	mackeral were unbeleiveable they were everywhere all you had
	to do was cast in, didn't even have to jig at first. But this 
	was not what we where here for so we put on our 14oz jigs
	and dropped to the bottom for the cod. Didn't have much luck
	with this but there where a few people on the boat pulling
	cod in from the bottom with clams. We moved to another spot
	and they did the same thing stop and float after cumming.
	All in all wasn't a bad day we did catch a few mackeral off
	the bottom with the cod jigs. We had such a good day we made
	reservations for this coming Friday for the whole day blues/cod
	trip. The crew was great and the mate did a great job on the
	fish we did get. I would highly recommend this boat to anyone
	that wants to go out for mackreal.

	JK

	P.S. There were also a few good size robins hauled in. I will
	also report on Fridays trip next week.

    re:168
    
    	Although it sounded exciting, I suspect that what you where doing
    was CHUMMING, not what you said ;-)
    
    	RAYJ

  The bluefish were all over the northwest end of Stellwagen this past
Friday. We trolled for them using rapalas and within an hour hooked up
with a dozen and a half. They are on the lean side, as a 36" one weighed
in at 12lbs.

  The sea was so calm that you could actually see half a dozen, or so,
other blues follow the hooked one in.

  The whales were all over the place, but we couldn't find a bottom fish
anywhere out there :^(

  Patrick

    Fished the south cape off of Cotuit on Saturday morning. Serious fog
    with only about 50-100 yard visibility, but we managed to get out. When
    the fog lifted, the small bluefish were all over the place. We fished 
    about 1/2 mile off the beach in 5-10 feet of water.
    
    The biggest we caught was only about 4 lbs, but they were great fun on
    lightweight fresh water gear and poppers. I have heard that there are
    bigger fish out there but we sure didn't see any.
    
    Art
    

    re: .168
    
    I'm sorry, but I have to ask, are you sure these were Mackerel and
    not Pollock. As far as I can tell its been well over a week since
    I've heard of a big slam on the macks. Most boats are only getting
    very few macks a trip. I need to get a few more in the freezer for
    tuna bait. 
    
    How about a report from Maine?
    
    Steve

    	I haven't been out yet...still trying to get my head out
    of farming and Little League and back into fishing. I took the family 
    out through Boothbay fathers day weekend. The fog was thick. I 
    reacquainted myself with my electronics and dead reconing skills.
    	While I was there I heard the Mackerel fishing has been okay...
    big ones but not a blitz. The Cod reports have been good all season.
    No Blues yet although the local paper has been predicting them on "the 
    next tide" for about a week now. 
    	The weather has kept the activity down...fog in the morning and 
    thunder storms in the pm. The reports I hear are good so I'm looking
    forward to a better year than last.
    	I am planning to go out Sunday so I may have a first hand report
    next week.
    
    Sea Ya
    Paul 
                                    

What about bluefishing from the beach?  I'd like to go somewhere on the south
shore this saturday.  Any pointers?  I'd also like to fish from shore, the $$
preclude a boat ride at this time.

Tim

     The blues are in like mad on Stellwagen Bank; the northwest corner and
    middle bank was teeming with blues (yesterday, snicker).
    
     We caught at least 40; some were pretty big (but fairly skinny).
    
     Bruce Sweet put us into the fish; we nailed 'em on poppers, and could
    have gotten even more by trolling.
    
     The Doctah

    Just to add to the Doc's note. The blues are on stellwagon as
    expected this time of year. As long as the wind stays out of the
    south and sw expect them to stay there. One good North or Northeast
    blow will push them into mass bay and the north shore beaches. Then
    boat fisherman should head towards the B-bouy to the graves to find
    them. 
    
    Sorry to say the cod have headed for colder waters away from the
    blues. There were no draggers where 10 days ago there were 10-15
    working. If you want cod you are going to have fish the sneaky spots
    inside or head way east, but don't expect them on the bank again
    till late sept.
    
    
    Bruce

    More on cod and blues. I just talked with Capt. Pat of the Applejack
    out of Scituate. He was out on Stellwagon today -- Middle Bank. The
    last two reports are no lie according to him. He usually trolls with
    a Rapala and two teasers. He had to take the teasers off because he was
    hooking up with three fish too many times. He says the fish are running
    around 10 lbs.
    
    The bad news is that the cod are pretty much gone. Both on the bank and
    from the close in spots.
    
    Unfortunately I can't get out for another week, but I'll just keep
    reading these reports and wishing the time away.
    
    Art
    
                        

    Last Friday after work there were loads of snapper blues in the cove at
    the south jetty in the mouth of the merrimack in Newburyport.  They
    were 12-18 inches.  The boat next to me was killing them with leadhead
    jigs with pork rind, Damn no pork rind with me.  I got a few with a
    hopkins.  Won't be long now.
    
    Gordon
    

    	I went out Mackerel fishing in Casco Bay. They're in there. While
    I was there I heard a Tuna report of sorts on the VHF. A boat had gotten 
    close enough to two to get a shot but didn't connect. This was on the 
    way out to Platts Bank. When it got on the bank and started chunking
    it had a couple pass through the chum slick but they didn't take the
    bait.
    	This was just a conversation I overheard...nothing "official". I
    assume from it that the Tuna are here. 
    	The bank is a long way offshore for me (35 nm) but I have gotten 
    there before. It tends to hold fish all season long. 
    	I imagine they're in closer as well. I just haven't heard any 
    reports.
    	With holiday time upon us I hope to find more time for fishing.
    I'll post any news I hear.
    
    Sea Ya,
    Paul

    
    
    
    re: .172
    
    Yes, they where Mackerel. There where a few Pollock caught but not
    too many.
    
    	Now for the update on our trip out on 6/29/90. We took the all
    	day boat out of Plum Island. The fishing wasn't great but was
    	ok. There where alot of undersize cod caught and even a few
    	keepers. We also had a problem with sharks at one spot we stopped
    	but after the second one was caught the captain moved us to
    	another spot. Not alot of fish to show for the trip but we still
    	had a great time. Thumbs up for the Captian's Lady crew!!!
    
    	JK
    
    	P.S. The bad news is that we lost one of our fishing pals this
    	past holiday. He was killed in a dirt bike accident on the 4th.
    	We laid him to rest yesterday with his favorite lure in one
    	hand and his favorite rod and reel laid over the top of his
    	casket before they put the vault top on. 
    

Well, the FyshByte got out Saturday. We launched at Hampton Harbor just
before 7 am and headed out for Stellwagen. Sea state was like a mill
pond. I ran at about 30 until I got to Thatchers, and the Johnson was
running so well -and it was so calm- that I dropped the hammer on it and
ran south from there at about 40. After fighting (and finally fixing) an
elusive engine problem for two years, this was a real treat. 

Anyway, down on Stellwagen all we saw was about a dozen whales, maybe
more. Mixed in with the whales were a dozen or more stick boats and a
couple of whale watchers; just south of this circus were a dozen or more
$port$fi$hermen of various sizes dragging Clones, squids rigs, birds,
etc. No hookups seen. No bluefish seen. Water temp was 50. We screwed
around and trolled down to about the middle of the bank, turned and
trolled up the eastern edge until we got back to the northeast corner.
Still nothing but humongous schools of bait down deep. So we headed
north.

We ran up to the southern edge of Jeffrey's and jigged up some cod and
pollock. Nothing to write home about, the keepers were in the 5-6# range.
There was a research vessel just off the 97' hill that was working with a
two-man sub. (They seem to do a lot of "research" right around that
hill.) I also noticed a couple of headboats out about four miles ESE of
where we were. They could have been into fish.  The wind came up, it got
lumpy, and we ran in a lot slower than we went out. Put 100.4 miles on
the boat, total, for the day, and got a lot of smiles out of it.

             <<< RANGER::$2$DUA31:[NOTES$LIBRARY]FISHING.NOTE;1 >>>
               -< Fishing Notes - Home of the Terminal Anglers >-
================================================================================
Note 1459.0         any recent blue or stripper from the surf            1 reply
STAFF::MCNAMARA "SKIP"                                3 lines  20-JUL-1990 11:10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I was wondering if anyone out thier has had any recent luck
    fishing for blues or strippers from the surf.
    thanks skip
================================================================================
Note 1459.1         any recent blue or stripper from the surf             1 of 1
SENIOR::PENNING                                       9 lines  20-JUL-1990 12:15
                         -< Look and you shall find. >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    Yo Skip I will let you know Monday... According to my brother the
    Blue's are all over the place down the Cape and a few keeper Stripers
    have been taken from the canal.
    
    see ya monday,
    
    Wildman

    Blues are now being caught at Halibut Point (Cape Ann MA.)
    
    I caught 2 (31" & 32") trolling using rappalas this past weekend.
    
    /MArk
    

Saturday (7/21) was the calmest day we've EVER seen out on Jeffrey's
Ledge. We launched at 8:00 and ran right out to the ledge, thinking we'd
catch some fish before the noon wind came up. Well, the wind actually
died down. We could hear whales spouting when they were a mile away.
Fantastic sound conditions; heard a diesel engine on a boat at least four
miles away.

At 2:00 it was so still ("how still was it") that just for the
hell of it I took a spinning rod and jigged a 2-ounce jig on the bottom
in 200' of water. Damn if I didn't catch a 9 pound cod!

We caught cod on westward-facing slopes of humps, mostly. Whereas in the
past we've caught just as many cod on the teasers as on the jig, that
day we caught almost all our fish on the jig itself. We were using
6-ounce stainless Vike-e's. In fact, we left two of them on a net(!) The
cod had fish in their bellies; some whiting, maybe some herring.

All in all, not a bad day... we filled my 86-quart Igloo cooler with 6 to
12 pound cod. 

One guy on channel 16 said, "All the bluefish you'd ever want, 1 to 3
miles off Halibut Point." It seemed strange to ignore it, but we had all
the fish we wanted.

Art

    Fished the lower Kennebec pretty heavy...Heard there were blues in there.
    Saw some jumping...Saw pogies on the surface...Dragged everything I had
    in the boat across them but got nada. Lots of fishing activity but not
    much catching. Should've gone outside. 
    
    Anyway with the sunshine, beer and all I still had a good time.
    
    Paul
    
    P.S. Did get one short striper. 

	Went out on a party boat called the Patriot out of Falmouth
	last wed for blues and stripers.  Not a bad trip.  It was
	billed as a "Sportfishing charter" and they limit it to 12
	people on about a 40 foot boat at $45 per person (pretty steep,
	but hey, it was during my vacation ;-))

	The boat travelled for about 1 hour out to some shoals past 	
	Martha's Vinyard, and started trolling 4 rods at a time, with 
	4 people "at bat" for each round.  Within 5 mins, 4 blues were 
	on, and we fought them onto the boat.  8-10 lb range, great fights!
	
	Next 4 people at bat, 4 more fish on within 10 mins.  This continued
	till everyone on the boat had 3 rounds/3 fish each, and the action
	slowed down real fast as the tied shifted.

	All in all a fun trip, though the 1 guy on the crew had a real	
	lame attitude.  He didn't like fishing, fish, or working on a boat (!)
	so I says what are jobs hard to come by on the Cape, and he said yes!

	Are the blues hitting on the North Shore yet ? (Newburyport/Salisbury
	has party boats...)

	Ken

        Ken,
    
         I went fishing out of Falmouth this weekend. All of the bluefish
         we caught were really small. Just curious were you folks running
         wire line? This is what I'm considering for my next trip out of 
         Falmouth as I was marking very large fish on my recorder, and they
         were down real deep.
    
         Also if any of you folks have tips on running wire I'd appriciate
         to here from you.
    
    
       Thanks
       Mike
    
    

    The boats out of Hampton Beach are begining to switch over to blue
    fishing. My brother fished both trips yesterday on the White Star,
    one of Al Gaurons boats. It was a little slow, but the boat did
    get 10 or so each trip, many more were lost.
    
    Steve

re:                     <<< Note 1152.187 by CADSYS::BROPHY >>>

>         I went fishing out of Falmouth this weekend. All of the bluefish
>         we caught were really small. Just curious were you folks running
>         wire line? This is what I'm considering for my next trip out of 

I don't think we were using wire line.  The way they did it was you had
to use the boat's gear.  Each reel was spooled with color coded line till
it switched to the white-with-green-stripes dacron line.  The idea was to 
have the same length of color coded line on each reel, and to let out line
till the line switched to the white line.  That way the 4 rods we were 
trolling with had out approx the same amount of line, and all also had on
the same lures (2-4 oz leaded heads with a pork trailer), which made for
zero tangles amazingly enough.   The lures were probably down about 10 feet
tops I'd guess, given the speed of the boat.  

The color coded line *might* have been wired, but I don't think so.  

We also weren't fishing in very deep water.  There were these shoals where
you could see waves and lighter colored water, and we fished through this
area and around it.  A few times we saw lots of them right at the top,
probably 7-10 lbs.   Lots of other boats were in this area.

The boat left at 7:30, and high tide was at 8:30 or so.  After 10:00 the action
just stopped.

Ken

    You were using "lead core" line. Charter boats don't use wire
    any longer, the clientele normally doesn't know how to use it.
    
    What is a lead head... can you be more descriptive....
    
    JIm.

>    What is a lead head... can you be more descriptive....    

A big hook with a ball of lead to add weight at the top, sort of
a larger version of what you'd use for a fresh water jig:
							  
							 	    _____------^
	         _-_					           (      O
---------------o(   )______				 	    vvvvvv\   )
	         -_-       )############ 				  /   )
		          '					    (^^^^^^
							 	     ----------V
   ^              ^     ^       ^
 line           lead   hook   pork trailer	 			^
	     head ball						   bluefish ;-)
	     |-------------|
		one piece

    Thanks, creative drawing...
    
    Personally i think you could troll a Rubbermaid Trash Can 
    and they would hit it...
    
    Funny thing, i was at a beach on the South Shore couple years ago,
    lots of boats anchored there including mine. Don't know where they
    came from or how big the school was, but all of a sudden the folks
    that decided to swim near they're boats were just about walking on the
    water. The school of blues was chasing a school of Herring, Menhaden.
    
    Of course i was on the beach whithout a pole...
    
    JIm.

Actually, now that I think of it there was also a white mono-filament skirt 
draped around the entire hook too.  This is too hard to draw in ;-)  After
a few hits the skirt was gone, and they were hitting it anyway.  Must have
been home-made lures.  And yes, a rubbermade barrel with a hook probably 
would have worked too ;-)
							 	    _____------^
	         _-_    				           (      O
---------------o(   )______				 	    vvvvvv\   )
	         -_-       )############ 				  /   )
		          '					    (^^^^^^
							 	     ----------V
   ^              ^     ^       ^
 line           lead   hook   pork trailer	 			^
	     head ball						   bluefish ;-)
	     |-------------|					(big and hungry)
		one piece

    This sound like a homemade "hoochy"  Found in most salt water 
    tackle shops. Or a lead headed jig, usually with bucktail hair
    covering the hook..
    
    Thanks for the explanation..
    
    JIm.

FyshByte got out on Saturday (8/4). Very slow pickings. We hit a spot on
New Scantum I chose after studying the chart in my office for a few days.
We picked up two market-size cod before three head boats descended on the
exact same spot. I always felt guilty about heading toward the head
boats; they didn't seem to mind dropping 100 rigs within shouting
distance of me.  One of the boats had a gal (person) in a bikini that
would have fit into shot glass. Her headband had more cloth than the
bikini. She was jigging like she meant it. What can you do about steamy
binoculars? Anyway, those two cod were the first and last, because
suddenly we couldn't get past the school of pollock. We were bringing up a
pollock on every hook on the rig & jig. Most were throwbacks, but there
were a couple in the 5-6# range. 

We headed out to Jeffrey's Ledge. Lots of whales, lots of tuna boats
around the 97' and 101' hills. Even slower pickings on the humps and
slopes, so we picked up our marbles and headed for Thatcher's Island and
bluefish. Hah! Even slower pickings.

Most memorable events of the day: 

    o  Air so clear we could see Seabrook Station from Halibut Point.
       
    o  A 36' boat approached us from the west while we were cleaning fish
       off Halibut Point, asked "How far is it to Gloucester Harbor"
       while pointing his arm toward the Merrimack River. We pointed back
       where he'd come from and said, "10-12 miles." He kicked up a froth
       with twin big-bore engines, headed southeasterly to the first
       sailboat, where he stopped. We watched the guy in the sailboat
       point around Cape Ann (again). Guess the driver of the Cara Mia -
       Boston didn't believe us.
       
    o  A truly memorable bikini-wearing fisherperson.
    
Art

    Art, I was off Halibut Point from say...11am - 3pm on Sat Aug 4th.  
    Millions of bait fish seen on my depth sounder. Never saw so much action
    on my sounder before.  Everyone out there seeing the same action
    but the Blue fishing was extremely spotty.  Before I hooked up with
    the only one all day I hooked up  (..well I guest he kinda hooked me)    
    with a Sunfish.  These are those little fellas that are 4'-6' in
    diameter.  I first was puzzled at what I thought I was beginning
    to drag behind my boat when the rachet on my pole began to scream.
    I shut down my engine and the creature made its appearance...his
    fin came up out of the water about 2� ft. ,..rolled over and my
    pole bent down so far I could hardly pull it out of the rod holder.
    The friend with me yelled "Mark! It's a f!@$^&!' whale!!!" The fish
    headed to the bottom (We were in ~240 ft. water) taking � the line
    off my reel along with my $11.00 rapella before I had to cut the
    line.  These fish move very slowly but weight upwards of 200-250
    lbs. or more.  Most people mistake them for a shark as their fin
    shows up when there swimming on the surface.  Their fin is much
    bigger however and it sometimes flops over as it swims.  They resemble
    a silver dollar fish (common in fresh water aquariums).
    I only regret not getting him along side of the boat.  I could have
    never landed him but the whole experience lasted but a short time.
    What a fish story. (BTW my friend is Ernie at DTN:289:1563  but he still
    swears it was a whale.)
    
    /MArk
    

    I spent the past two weeks fishing on cape cod.   Some bright spots,
    but in general very poor results.
    
    Wellfleet harbor is loaded with small blues ( one to two pounds )
    The bad news is that they are very spooky and seem to keep _just_ out
    of casting range.  There is lots of bait (herring and menhedden in the
    bay) and reports of dophins being seen around Jeffery's point and the 
    traget ship.  Other Bay beachs were rumored to produce during high tide
    but you couldnt prove it by me.
    
    Chatham/monomy/Nauset - were almost completely fogged in for the better
    part of two weeks.  I did catch quite a few school bass at night in
    the rivers and harbors on swimming plugs and droppers.  
    (The droppers out fished the plugs by a wide margin)  
    There were reports of blues in Pleasant bay, but again, I didnt see 
    any signs.
    
    On two seperate days, I did run into two schools of small blue fish
    holding off the flats off inner Monomy Island.   Strange, strange fish.
    They were jumping all around but wouldnt hit poppers, tin or jigs. 
    They were clearly feeding on something but didnt consider plastic or
    metal as part of a balanced diet.  Very exasperating.
    
    I thought later they mignt have been feeding on sand flies.

Mark, that sounds like a sunfish. We used to see them off Atlantic City.
These are not to be confused with fresh water sunnies, kivvers,
punkinseeds, etc. Ocean sunfish get up unto the hundreds of pounds, and
lazily cruise the surface, particularly on sunny days (as Saturday
was).

I concur on the baitfish. I kept punching buttons on my X16, trying to
see what what was below the bait. The only decent sized fish I marked
were down 80' or so, off Thatcher's Island. My downrigger was home in my
cellar, naturally. If I get out next weekend I might try the downrigger.

The blues will bite when they're damn good and ready to bite. When we
came in from Jeffrey's Ledge I really had my hopes up, because we were
sure we could smell watermellon between Thatcher's and Halibut Pt. Nada.

I was off Halibut Pt. during the time you were there. Next time, look for
a 24' white HydraSports cuddy with a red stripe the length of the boat,
and a silver lightning bolt inside the red stripe;  call the FyshByte on
16.

(I tried to buy a HydraSports direct from the factory, and asked them to
delete the lightning bolt; they refused, and said "That's our boat,
sir.")

    	Took the day off and went down the Salisbury reservation and fished 
    the river side of the jetty with sandworms yesterday. Managed to get 3 
    stripers around 18" and lost one about 2 pole lengths away that was about 
    2' long (snapped my line). I also lost another one that didn't feel to big 
    but also snapped my line (#$%^#&% *%^#&#& cheap line). My father hooked and 
    lost one also (snapped line too). I guess we just got carried away trying 
    to horse them in with that heavy 15 lb. test ;-) All in all though, it was 
    fun and not a bad catch for about 2 hours of fishing.
    
    	The river was very calm and the water was very warm and murky,
    probably from all the rain. In fact, it was so calm a guy in a 17' canoe 
    went all the way to mouth. The tide was low and incoming while we were
    there. There were crabs or something that were stealing the bait off the
    hook so you have to check your bait about every 15 minutes or so. I
    didn't see anyone else catch anything other than a 5" flounder. Guess
    we were in just the right spot.
    
    	If you haven't fished down there, be prepared to lose LOTS of 
    bottom rigs. If you plan to make a day of it I'd bring no less than a 
    dozen weights and hooks. About every other cast you'd get a snag unless
    you caught a fish. My father and I went through about 6 rigs. We seemed to 
    be holding bottom OK with as little as 1 oz. of weight with 15 lb. test.
    
    	Had reports of good flounders down by the toothpick but I didn't
    get down there to try it.
    
    	RAYJ

    Ray,  Where is the location you refer to as the toothpick?
    
    Is it the daymarker just inside the Parker River at the tip of Plum
    Island twds Cranes?
    /MArk

    	It is the orange triangle shaped marker on shore on the Salisbury
    side. It would be the Merrimack river, not the Parker. If your standing 
    at the base of the jetty at the Salisbury reservation and look up river 
    you can see it. If you fish the Plum Island side in back of the coast 
    guard station, it's almost directly across the river from that.
    
    	RAYJ

    Ahhhh yes...So that huge orange daymarker is the 'toothpick'.
    
    Heard people say they fished there...never knew quite where it was.