I am a newbie to saltwater fishing. Most of my experience is bridge fishing and party boats for cod and bottom fish. I recently bought a 20 ft Grady and want to start fishing for blues and stripers off the north shore of Boston. I need help with rod/reel recomendations and bait. I am dedicated to learn and teach my kids, Thanks in advance.:confused:

Welcome to S-B...

Do you want to troll, chunk, plug, or all of the above?

How old are your kids? That will often determine if you're chasing a lot of smaller fish for more consistent action (to kepp the kids occupied), or are you focusing on bigger game???

My kids are young 3 and 4, just getting them out on the water. I will also be fishing with friends etc. What is chunk and plug?

Maybe you should take a charter in the harbor in the spring. There is much to learn, that can be learned this way. Chunking is using chunks of bait on a hook. Trolling is that the boat is in motion moving your bait or lure behind the boat.

I fish boston Harbor and like specialist i would recommend starting off with a charter and then get into chunking. It would be a good way to get to know the area if it is unfamiliar. There are allot of rocks and ledges around the harbor islands that could easily be a navigational hazard if you were trolling lures around out there and didn't know they were there. Even at high tide those rocks out there can be treacherous . For chunking just anchor up over a rocking area or near a ledge and put a cut peice ( chunk) of pogie or mackeral on a hook. Cast it out away from the boat with no weight or just enough to reach the bottom and don't be surprised to hear your reel scream. ( don't forget to set the drag )

I'd get a subscription to a good fishing publication, On The Water, The Fisherman, or if you have time, hit your local library and start reading the back issues.

Next I'd get into a local (post town and someone can steer you to someone) quality saltwater tackle shop. Most owners this time of year will have time to spend with you, to bring you up to speed on tackle and the various methods used to catch stripers. If your at the entry level in both knowledge and experience, don't let anyone talk you into the best of the best on rods/reels. Unless of course your independantly wealthy, then call me and for a modest fee, I'll get out and shop with you :). Search this board and other message boards for "chunking", "trolling" "plugging" and other key words and read some of the old threads.

The charter is also an excellant idea and many of those can be had well ahead of the summer peak season. There will be stripers to be had in our waters by mid-late May for sure.

Welcome aboard.

I see the boys have already offered you some great advice. I would also have you consider early spring flounder fishing. Quincy harbor is coming back strong for flounder fishing and there is no easier fish for a young child to catch and reel in. You want to make sure that each of their first "adventures" are productive and they can get to see some action. You and your whole family are in store for some very special "quality time" with memories that will last forever.

Hitting the books is a great idea and there are some interesting videos also available -- not just mine. You might think about going to the Worcester Show this weekend. If you go up on Sunday, I'll be doing two shows and there will be a number of other SB posters going as well. My show is titled, Understanding Fish...And How to Catch Them.

Mike Laptew

Thanks for the great advice. Its funny, I used to fish quincy harbor maybe 25 years ago with my grandfather who brought his 7.5 hp evenrude in his trunk and we used to rent a clunker wooden boat from some guy in Quincy and procede to catch enough flounder to fill a trash can. Those are the memories that I want to pass on to my kids and grandkids. I will start the reading and hook up with a charter captain in Marblehead. Boy, you guys are up late at night or morning as it may be!