I am planning a trip to Chatham in the beginning of August to visit some family. Could anyone help me with the necessaries?
A good tackle shop, and how my gear should be rigged (I use mono???). Also if there is any logistical info you can give me ;) . I am used to fishing a beach no rocks, any suggestions...
I am going into this blind, my first trip :) so any and all info would be great.

Do you want to bottom fish with bait, fish live eels, plug, jig? There are plenty of people here who can help you, they are probably gonna want more info from you.

I don't know how much time I will be spending visiting, so I figured plugging would be the easiest, having everything I need after one stop at a tackle shop. I have a few :-D plugs, but I believe I will need a few needlefish :) ?
I want to stick to shore and keep moving a bit so I can see the place.
I have a conventional 10' rated to 4oz and a spinner 8' to 4oz.

OK, this will be an evolving thread...

Several main spots to fish Chatham are the Light, the Walk, the Observatory... All beach as there aren't many rocky areas around there...

The shop I've used in that area is the Goose Hummock, in Orleans but I haven't been there much in the last couple years.

Good plugs? Light swimmers like big Bombers (clear/pink/purple), Mambos - black, Beachmaster may work in there, eels, poppers for the daytime in Stage harbor (both sides, walk & Observ), eels, smaller needlefish (not the foot longs) and make sure all the plugs are fished with teasers, either feather, buck tail, or red gills (MikeCC has a great selection of red gills at his shop capecodtackle.com - you pretty much need to go by there anyway)...

There isn't much structure as far as rocks to snap your line (although the current cranks at the light) so you can run with lighter mono 17-20# and 30-40#s mono leader. Make sure you've got nice line to the teaser...

Which reels are you using on those rods and what are the rods???

Farquar,
There's Goose Hummock in Orleans 508 255 0455

and Kildee Hill B&T in Harwichport 508 430 1590

You can talk with Bill Edwards at GH or with Mark Harris at Kildee and they can help you with tides, spots and lures...
good luck,

The fishing can be really good right below Chatham Lighthouse. Park in the lot at the overlook and walk down the stairs. The place is best fished on the last 3 hours of the outgoing. You can either go to the right towards the cut or to the left towards the rip rap wall. Most people go toward the cut, but work the area to the left before making the hike. A 1-2 oz needlefish with teaser will get you all the schoolies you want, but if you want to target larger fish, use eels. Check the shallows as you wade at night for sand eels. Fishing where they are is as good a bet as any. Your 8 ft rod will handle most fish here with ease. This place is especially good with an easterly wind or during storms.

Thank you guys very much, and please keep anything coming. Roccus I'll use the #'s thanks. Damon thanks for the directions.

John R,
My 10' is a G. Loomis 1266C rated 1-4. I always use a penn 975 with this, with I believe 15lb test (I have to change the line, it is a bit marked up). But I am a gear whore, so I have other conv. reels:
Squidder
Abu blue yonder
Abu 7800c3 (same size as a 7000 level wind I believe) ???

The 8' is a small lite graphite spinner, believe 1-4. I use a small penn SS on that (forget which one). The line is probably down around 12lbs. I have no problem with changing line out, I just don't think I should shift to braid on my first trip without being experienced. ?

You might want to check out a shop called The Nauset Angler in Orleans. Check out their website at www.nausetangler.com. Harry Koons is the owner and he is very helpful and wont treat you like a second rate tourist. There is another prominent shop in the area that I wont mention, who are notorious for their arrogant and condescending attitudes toward customers. The Gibbs stubby needlefish dressed with a feathered siwash on the rear is a killer for this area and casts like a bullet.

Fishing tourist degrees:
1st: Renting house to fish area
2nd: Motel / BB to go fishing
3rd: Using excuse of visiting family for a place to crash, to go fishing ;)

Since I am a 3rd rate fishing tourist I will appreciate being treated like a 2nd rater :-D
Just kidding Damon ;)

I appreciate your advice, I plan go to the shops suggested, and of course I know I'm on another's turf. I'm optomistic that all will help! :) And if not, my wallet stays put! :-D
Thanks again.

it may be 3rd rate but thats smart fishing , places can get expensive in Chatham . John covered it well . fish the the beach in front of lighthouse ( nice hole and the current flows close to shore there and then go to the right and walk ( its long to the point ) and fish along that beach as far as you feel comfortable . there be some good fishing on that walk and you may be the only one doing it . Parking is good at night and only a 1/2 hour between 9am and 5pm . as far as lures john pegged what id use on the nose poppers in the daylight eels and bombers at night and teasers are a great choice . colors : black , eel , pink , white and black/purple . good luck

Thank you guys very much,

I emailed Chris, and hope he'll give me some insights. I plan to make it to the shops and I am sure I'll have a few additional questions as time to go nears.

Damon, can you tell me where I can get that Gibbs stubby?

Thanks again

Most better tackle shops on the Cape and in Rhody carry them - I'm pretty sure a couple of our sponsors carry them: Mike has them www.capecodtackle.com and I'm pretty sure Don does as well www.weekapaug.com ...

Two places to work at the light - to the left at the rock pile/wall (which can be sweet incoming and outgoing) and out the curve to the right on the drop. There is a point followed by a lot of bars where those sand eels Damon mentions really kick up... If you go out to that point/bars. Be sure to work the area BEFORE wading in. If there are no people there (not likely) and fish are in tight on the bars, you wouldn't want to spook them... If your moving any bait and the current is really cooking, use a 1/2 ounce rubber core sinker several feet up the line to help keep you near the bottom. Black eels at night are probably the best...

Stubbies usually come with a bucktail single hook on the rear, but a feathered hook will add much more action to the lure and add to its profile. There have been some BIG sand eels in the Chatham area this year. The intermediate size superstrike needlefish in black have worked well for me up there also.

Go see Mark Harris at Killdee Hill Bait and Tackle. He'll give you great information on where and what to use at the Chatham light area. He also does shores guides that are reasonable. We fished last night and pulled multiple keepers to 40". Not bad for a few hours of on the sand. Good luck.

Surfhunter, did you catch those fish inside Chatham or out on the beaches? Im trying to figure out whether to fish the drop out on Nauset or inside tomorrow morning. Thanks in advance for any help, but at the same time I'll understand if you're tight lipped. Thanks

Placed an order with capecodtackle and received speedy delivery. plus some pamphlets about fishing the area :) . Just settin' the dates right now... Thank you all very much

Yer Welcome.... I was originally heading to Chatham tonight but I don't think I'm going to be able to know :'( I'll just need to try a different spot I gues...

Hope not 'cause ah me? :)