Read full story HERE. (http://www.townonline.com/byfield/news/opinion/mrc_colmvfishing05222003.htm)

Merrimack River Current Newspaper:

Tide must be turning for stripers

By John Altson / Writing For The Halibut
Thursday, May 22, 2003

I spoke with Martha Moulton of Surfland on Plum Island. Martha said the striped bass fishing "really opened up," with the best action being at the sand bar at the mouth of the river at low tide. Martha reported lots of fish to 32" and said the fish were hitting various varieties of lead-headed jigs, as well as sand worms. Martha also mentioned a few bass being caught on the oceanfront, but on lures....

Plum Island is not what it used to be. Ever see the photos of the glory days at Surfland? There seem to be very few large fish taken there every year. A truly big fish there is now about 30#, not the 50 plus pounders from way back when. You can catch all the schoolies you want but that gets old pretty quick.

Steve,

Have paitence my friend. This species is in a pretty successful comeback and each year the average big fish is growing. though many of us would manage them a bit differently, none of us can deny that it is getting better each year. the days of the fifties will return.


I hope

(Plum Island is not what it used to be. Ever see the photos of the glory days at Surfland? There seem to be very few large fish taken there every year. A truly big fish there is now about 30#, not the 50 plus pounders from way back when.)

My friends, Some old time history! The fish you all seek are still in every bodies back yard. Every where you fish. Even world record size. I know quite a few of the faces posted at Surfland. However mine is not amongst them. There are “KINGS” amongst those faces. If any one has heard of that term before? If any of the people in those pictures are still fishing they are still taking fish like the ones posted. They are just not going to let any body know about it. These are great fishermen, however not much on sharing there knowledge. They are known as what I herd one 68 year old timer say, in the late sixty’s “these guys are your elite!!” You could not learn in a life time the knowledge these folks know. You have to be taken under some ones wing and shown. Even then they may not share every thing with you. Some have two or three generations of knowledge under there belt. I know of three such fishermen who had "knowledge", and like Pirates, they took there Treasure to the grave with them. Not sharing any thing. I have nothing else here to offer except some old fishing stories. Some of those faces are still fishing. The men have got a bit harder and grayer. Those men fished “every knight” “for years” to get that knowledge, and are highly unlikely to let any one know what they are doing. One of the old sayings was, (“Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies!!) Knowledge isn’t every thing. What makes this a great sport is, you can know where, when, time, wind, tide, moon, current, bait size, color, depth! If you haven’t got any “luck”, you can throw all the previous out the door. Best of luck to every one in the new season.
“THEY ““ARE””OUT” “THERE”!!!!!!!
Later
PS Hi John!

Plum Island is great but too many frigin people

Originally posted by LINESIDES
(Plum Island is not what it used to be. Ever see the photos of the glory days at Surfland? There seem to be very few large fish taken there every year. A truly big fish there is now about 30#, not the 50 plus pounders from way back when.)

My friends, Some old time history! The fish you all seek are still in every bodies back yard. Every where you fish. Even world record size. I know quite a few of the faces posted at Surfland. However mine is not amongst them. There are “KINGS” amongst those faces. If any one has heard of that term before? If any of the people in those pictures are still fishing they are still taking fish like the ones posted. They are just not going to let any body know about it. These are great fishermen, however not much on sharing there knowledge. They are known as what I herd one 68 year old timer say, in the late sixty’s “these guys are your elite!!” You could not learn in a life time the knowledge these folks know. You have to be taken under some ones wing and shown. Even then they may not share every thing with you. Some have two or three generations of knowledge under there belt. I know of three such fishermen who had "knowledge", and like Pirates, they took there Treasure to the grave with them. Not sharing any thing. I have nothing else here to offer except some old fishing stories. Some of those faces are still fishing. The men have got a bit harder and grayer. Those men fished “every knight” “for years” to get that knowledge, and are highly unlikely to let any one know what they are doing. One of the old sayings was, (“Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies!!) Knowledge isn’t every thing. What makes this a great sport is, you can know where, when, time, wind, tide, moon, current, bait size, color, depth! If you haven’t got any “luck”, you can throw all the previous out the door. Best of luck to every one in the new season.
“THEY ““ARE””OUT” “THERE”!!!!!!!
Later
PS Hi John!


I'm with you on this... I lived on island for a couple of years and had a blast fishing the area. My biggest was 40# from the beachfront. When I was living there I remember a guy out on the jetty snagging poggies and getting the surprise of his life. A 50# plus hit the pogie and the rest is history. He is on the wall of fame about ten years ago. Most big fish are had with a lot of time and patience, most don't get them on the first cast ;)

here is an oldy but goodie.... 82#

http://msba.net/photo/loose_pics/L03_06.jpg

Originally posted by Adamfishes
Plum Island is great but too many frigin people

you need to fish the island during the week and at night ;)

I know that the species is on the comeback but the current state of fishing at Plum Island does not even compare to the canal and Block Island, two places that I also fish frequently. I have put in my time in all of those places and Plum Island is the least productive for large fish. I wish that it were not so, but it is.

Those photos are from a time when PI was considered one of the premiere striper spots. Are those guys in the photos legendary fisherman? Maybe they are but if they were still alive, I doubt that they would still be catching fish like those today. Are there some 60# fish swimming out there? Yes, definitely but there are more them swimming through the canal and around the cape than around PI. When people ask where the next world record striper is going to come from is PI ever mentioned? I am not saying that it could not happen but the odds are much less there than other places. I wish that it were not true. I have a friend who grew up on the island and worked at Surfland and he agrees that the fishing is not what it was.

I really hope that it returns to its old glory but I doubt that will ever happen.