Can't say I'm glad to be back to reality, so I won't. We will likely extend the trip to 2 weeks next September. We had unbelievably fantastic weather and had a great time.

The fishing... well, I didn't hit it very hard this year. Didn't target bass at all. We just cruised and hung out at the beaches... rods ready at all times. I also spent a good deal of time early in the week in my uncle's whaler.

I caught bluefish every day of the trip, but they were mini-blitzes consisting of 3 to 4 fish (caught) at a time. Almost the same thing each time. Either my wife or I would be casting... we'd hook up and the fish would stick around long enough for the one not throwing to catch a fish, and a second fish for the point man (woman). Then maybe a couple chasers, then nothing. No big blitzes.

My uncle and I got into a nice blitz in the boat where the blues were coming clear out of the water, but we only stuck around for 5 fish each, then headed back in. No fishing widows and orphans on this trip. Family time was at a premium.

Thursday, my uncle pulled his boat out, but the SE and S winds blew some fish into Smith Point the night before, so the surf casting had picked up. There were bass mixed in and Karen landed and released a 30" bass and I dropped one that released itself after switching over to a popper. I lost 5 out of 8 fish from the surf Wednesday/Thursday... fish were just coming unbuttoned despite sharp hooks and good sets. Very weird stretch.

Funny thing, a huge school of fish marked by a cloud of birds materialized thursday morning after my uncle pulled his boat. They were there again friday and saturday, well out of casting range in the middle of Madaket Harbor. Talked to a guy saturday morning on the way off the island who said he'd been one of two boats out there the two previous days and lots of bass were mixed in with the bluefish. Typical.

Overall, the fishing was good enough to add to an excellent trip. I got shore fish each day but Mon/Tues, so we never made it to Great Point, which I heard was kickin' with bass, blues, albies and bones by week's end ... I don't know, it just didn't seem as important this year. We chased albies a couple times and got some good shots, but they weren't around in good enough numbers on the west side of the island. I still don't have a darn albie. Not a big deal. Karen caught the biggest bluefish at around 10 lbs. and the biggest and only striper (about 30").

Oh yeah, and even my daughter got into the action with a couple tinker blues (which were everywhere). She also helped me crank in an exceptionally gritty 3 lber. from the surf which I couldn't have done without her assistance :)

Schoolie nice report sounds like an excellent relaxing trip.

Going Columbus day weekend and will be surfishing the same places you mentioned. I was there once before and caught a few fish @ Smith point. Nice rip if memory serves correct.

Though I didn't make it out there, Great Point was really supposed to be good the week I was there.

Guided boat trips were getting bass, blues, bonito, albies and spanish mackerel on the same trip! Surf guys weren't doing quite as well, but if the fish are in the rips, they'll probably be in the surf at times.

But Smith has a good rip and nice depth too. On the dropping tide, watch the left side of the point. There is a secondary point forming and a nice rip develops there. Most people fish right at the point, but I was focusing on the water from the point back a hundred yards or so. The incoming tide actually develops a much better rip at the point, but we didn't have much success during that tide. That could change minute to minute though.

Smith Point is one of my favorite places in the world. Best sunset in the northeast. The fish were starting to get busy in Madaket Harbor when I left so hopefully it will be stacked and packed when you go over.

Best of luck to you... you should have the island to yourself except for a few fishermen.

Schoolie I remember walking on all the way out to the point. Any clue how far a walk it is? I have never looked on a map.
If I get into something to talk about I will give a report when I get back.

JohnS

Geez, its a pretty healthy walk.

Depending on your access point. From the public beach access point, its gotta be 2 miles. From the oversand vehicle access, maybe a mile and a half. I'm really just guessing. I'm not guessing about the long walk on soft sand.

The good thing is that some nice points, bowls and bars are more evident and defined this year on the way out and offer pretty good beach structure.

Great Point is unwalkable. Its 4 miles after you hit the beach. Its probably 1-2 miles from where you'd have to park just to get to the beach.

Surfside and Miacomet are pretty accessible and "they" say that its good bass fishing there, but I don't spend much time out there (non this year). Alot of guys do well there, but they know where each hole and little point is... it looks like miles of open beach to me.

Brant Point is a decent spot that gives you access to the main channel in Nantucket Harbor. Again, I just didn't put any time in for bass this year, but I was told that a few nice bass up to 27 lbs. were taken there while I was on the island. I landed my best island bass there a couple years ago.

Its definitely 4X4 country. The two major rips, Smith and Great Point, Eel Point, and covering major ground on the south side beaches is much easier with a beach buggy. Just alot of sand.

Good luck and definitely let me know how you do. Hope you have as good of weather as I did and snag a few fish too.

Walk to great point? forgetaboutit! As you said, it can be done but don't. My money is you quit long before you get there. It is far I bet from the ranger station it is 4 or 5 miles at least. The sand is killer soft for most of that hike as well. They mandate something like 5-7 psi on your tires its so soft.
If you take a 4x4 after you hit great point, run up the beach towards the harbor enterance along the strip of land on the backside of Nantucket. You will find absolute pristine light tackle land (on both sides) and the chance to hit some nice fish with 5# stuff or a fly rod. IMO this is the sweetest part of the island and most guys don't make the trek out there. It is anohter 5 -7 miles of beach there. (again soft sand...watch your engine temp.)

The best spots on IMO nantucket are
1) Brant point light (so close to the town and monster fish in the hole right in the harbor!) easy fishing too
2) great point (including the long beach to the harbor entrance)
3) smith point (madaket)
4) the beach at miacomet
5) eel point

there are a few other but these are the ones I fish the most. Try brant light with med-light stuff...when it's hot you have never seen anything like it.

Schoolie, I walked in where the 4X4 access begins @ smith pt. There is no way I am walking great pt.! I will have a beach permit pass for smith point. To my understanding this permit is different then the permit for Great Point. Why I don't have a clue but that's fine by me. Schoolie and Sandman much obliged for some of that info on spots, now I just have to get out there and find some fish.

I remember Smith Pt. being all beach nothing like Cuttyhunk where you have to go some to find a beach with no rocks.
Smith Pt. looks like a good place to fish some Smiling Bills.

Maybe I will get lucky and catch some "easy" fish on topwaters.

JohnS

The sticker thing has to do with who is preserving the land and I imagine who purchased that land.

The regular town of Nantucket sticker covers all beaches except Great Point. Great point is run by the Land Preservation Trust or something... I think John R knows as they run land on MV and other points in Massachusetts (including World's End on the Boston Harbor).

Can't argue with Sandman's rankings for bass spots. Great Point and Smith offer more of a variety, but Brant is right on that channel.

Check out this month's On the Water... there's an article about fishing the surf on Nantucket. I didn't read it yet, 'cause I'm still a bit bitter about my trip being over :mad: