Took the boat out yesterday for the 1st time to do a good run and check everything out. Brought the rods just in case, and its a good thing we did. We ran across a huge school of bass slurpin the surface. Got alot of nice heavy schoolies and my 1st keeper at 29 1/2. Oh Yea!!! Had alot of doube headers on top water and shads. Baitcaster had a nice double with a 24" and 25" fish. Life is good. Alll fish were very bright and covered with sea lice!!! They are here. It will only get better as time goes by.
If this is any indication of the fishing this year, there were some very large healthy fish out there, was nice to see. Too bad we didn't have the camera with us. It was a beautiful day, nice flat water and we were surrounded by fishies.

FW- Sounds good! Without prying, can we get an idea of how far north this took you? Am considering a run to the canal after work, but with tide not working with me, am looking for a place to get some lines wet. Also have a guest from LA_LA land coming along. Any suggestions? North Shore is slowly opening up. Thanks for input from all. Nightfighter.

Nightfighter, just do some cruising in the Harbor and inner Islands you should find them. They were moving around and we weren't out there long, so definatley put in some time scouting. Can't miss that school of fish.

I was planning another shot at those Cotuit Blues tomorrow early am, now I have to rethink things...naw those blues were too fun. I'm glad to hear the bass have turned the corner and I will definately get the boat out for my own shakedown cruise of sorts.

I guess it's time to pull all the freshwater tackle out of the boat and replace it with the GOOD STUFF...lol. Can't wait to make my first early morning run up the coast, Yahoo baby.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/fisherman.gif"]
Tight lines.

GS - still up for a boat trip down south? The blues and weaks have yet to move in but are due very shortly.... Oh, did I mention that the bigger fish are coming in?

Definately John, just want a couple short trips under my belt locally to insure all my problems are in the past. I'd love to join you for a morning down south...stay in touch.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/fisherman.gif"]
Tight lines.

Fisherwoman saw someone off the end of Wollaston yesterday on a center console hefting a schoolie over the side. Boy it made me itchy to get out, too bad my plans are so tight this weekend. There were quite a few people at Blacks creek and the end of Wollaston also.

Wish I'd gone to Boston this morning, but hindsight is always 20/20. Friend Pete & I got the big skunk down on the Cape this morning and finally threw in the towel around midday. Started at Shell Point at 5...nada. Hit inside Cotuit...nada. Hit the flats for blues a couple hours later...nada. Hit Oregon...nada and back up inside Onset for one last shot...nada.

I might hit the Cape for an evening this week, but then the boats going in to test the local waters. Hope someone had some luck.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/fisherman.gif"]
Tight lines.

Hello to all.
I got my first bass of the year today !!
it was a plump 31 inch fish.
I was off wollaston.

Way to go striper1!

good news on the north shore! Took two schoolies from the beach at Castle Rock just after low tide this morning. Both in lower 20s, but they're baaaaack, and reachable from the shore!

Hey Jules,
Did you buy that underwater camera yet or are you just planning on me being with you to look under the boat?


The swimmer

Striper 1 were you off the shore, and were you near Blacks creek?? I went to the canal last night and got skunked. I had a tank of live herring. I think I will fish up here next weekend.

Specialist, bring your live herring to some South Shore inlets where there is some deep water and I think you'do very well. Like that little stream in hingham harbor just to the north of the parking lot (long walk with live buckies) or any other South Shore inlets or boulder fields... Abuddy of mine had some keepers the other day on the So Shore but made me promise not to give up the spot...

Specialist, Tha canal is slower on the east tides, try a west running tide and the slack tides. I got skunked friday night(east tide) , some bass were caught but not as many as a west tide will get. I got nothing with jigs ,mambo minnow or herring from 8:00 till 2:30 a.m. But Sat. afternoon my kids wanted to fish from the dock and I put worms on their hooks and each one gets a schoolie, they had fun and went swimming too.

I hope I'm adding to the cookie jar today, mothers day.

Hey Slipknot, sounds like maybe you should listen to the kids more often!! HA!HA! Seriously though it's great you bring them along and a great way to spend time together!

Nightfighter,
As a relative newbie to the north shore from wetstern mass, just wondering where castle rock is.
I've been driving to the cape three times a week from Waltham and I'm getting tired of the drive for only a few fish.
Had a couple of good takers in upper Bass River the other day (by the railroad trussle) but nothing to tell Mom about.

John and Slipknot I think I may need a class on the canal. How do you know when there is an east or a west tide. How do you figure out when slack is ??? John I think I will be trying Squantum , Or nut Island area this weekend. Did he get them at low or high tide??

RickBomba
Castle Rock is on Marblehead Neck. Check out www.marbleheadsurfcasters.com and look in the site map, as there will be a description of local spots. The site needs updating, but the locations don't change. Good group of folks too. The action really doesn't get into gear before June, but...... One local guide who can get you into some good areas is Randy Sigler, at www.striper.com. (Please note that is striper with no S at the end, otherwise you will get a porn site.)

Specialist, I believe you can get more info re. canal tides and slack in the moon and tides section of this site. A copy of Eldridges tide book would not be a bad investment either, especially if you have a boat. As a navigator, it is a neccessity on board race boats. Gives good flow charts with rate of current flow as well. Check out the flow at the Race and you'll see why they catch a lot of fish down there!

Would love to see more reports with time of day, tide, and gear, including what worked and didn't work.

Good fishing to all.

Nightfighter

Congrats Striper1...

Specialist, you would be better off Nut island as there is deeper water nearby and much more structure than Squantum...

I have a pamphlet that gives me the tides for the canal but I don't have this year's yet. The few times I go down there, I cheat and aske some of the Ditch regulars what and when the tides are [img=http://www.striped-bass.com/Images/evil.gif]... That Eldridge book is pretty stinkin' informative, I've seen them before and there is a wealth of info. It is far more relevant for boat fishing but also for the shorebound, you can fairly well predict exactly what the current will do at your shore spots. Directions and speed... Probably find some new spots overlaying the current charts over various structure and inlet maps.... As far as being a teacher on the canal? I'm still the young student...

You can get good tide info in the Boston Globe as well as on this web site. THE FISHERMAN publishes a comprehensive tide list also.

Keep your tip up !

Specialist, The 31 inch striper I got last sat. was from my boat. I was in 9 feet of water the fish took a herring chunk on a float !!!
Like John says I would fish the nut island side of the bay. This sat. high tide is 9:27 am good tide. Now if I can only get out of working......

Lets see I could call your work and say I am your brother and there is a family emergency and you are needed. Then I could meet you.....

Hey Swimmer, I just saw the underwater camera bit on FW's boat. Does that mean you'll be fly-fishin' on it??? :P

I found a good source of tide and current information. I use it for the Canal, it is a little confusing at first but is very useful once you figure it out. http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/tideshow.cgi?site=Cape+Cod+Canal,+Massachusetts+Cu rrent