Ended my Slump - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Van · 08-14-2002, 09:33 AM

Took my weekly Tuesday off and went fishing in the heat with my buddy Tom. We had a great day. (FINALLY)
First off I caught a fluke (yes a fluke in Boston), my first ever,, in shallow water in the outer islands while bait fishing. It was about 21" so I released it.
Then heading out to some deper water we came across blues finning on top of flat calm water, they would not take a popper, but they did take some chunk bait after a while.
Moved a bit further out and got into some big bass. Tom's was really long and probably over 20 lbs.
Mine was long and FAT and I think was about 25 lbs. I released it quickly cause' it was stressed and I didn't want it to die, so I never put the tape on it or a scale.

Anyway I am really happy that I ended my slump and I'm REALLY tired today. Good thing I'm at work were I can rest!!!

Here's the pics, but I can't seem to attach more than 1 in each post so I'll break them up.
V

Van · 08-14-2002, 09:34 AM

Tom's Bass.

Van · 08-14-2002, 09:34 AM

Big Boston Blues.....

Jack Mawaka · 08-14-2002, 09:53 AM

We caught some really nice ones outa' Chatham Tues as well. The bass shut off then the sharks started.

I'm new to this whole "Striper" thing. Most of my bass have been caught up in the CT river.

I haven't been able to figure out the tides. I mean...I can read a tide table, but when is the fishing best?

I'm reading a lot about the "tube-n-worm" rig? What's that all about?

Thanks.

Jack

Mr. Kav · 08-14-2002, 09:58 AM

good job van, they are certainly still out there.

Van · 08-14-2002, 10:12 AM

Thanks KAV, they sure are and getting better.
I should be out again this weekend,,, YOU??

Jack:
Here's a couple of things I've noticed lately. BUT, These do not always hold true. Fishing/conditions change constantly.

Tides- It seems when I bait fish, they shut off during slack (High or low) they seem to bite good when the waters moving. BUT...also when the tide is moving too fast they seem to hide in areas with less flow. (near/behind structure). So when they stut off cause the currnet is fast I head to protected areas or rockpiles.

Tube/worm is a rubber tube maybe 18-24" long rigged with a through wire,hook and spinner at the lead end. Take a seaworm and push the barb in about 1/2 " behind the head so the point comes just to their mouth. Troll real slow. Most people use lead core line with a mono leader, maybe 3-6 feet long.
I use these in shallower water 15-25 so its near the bottom.
Others may use them differently.

Jack Mawaka · 08-14-2002, 10:23 AM

Thanks Van.

It sounds like that rig works when the bass are laying deep?

What's with all the sand sharks now? (Like every cast at the Cape.)

Van · 08-14-2002, 10:30 AM

They have been bothering us in Boston too.

I think the comm season for them has ended so we may see even more.

Jack Mawaka · 08-14-2002, 10:37 AM

They were crazy yesterday in Chatham. No blues churning or bass, so I decided to play with the sharks.

I rigged the wildest combos I could, and still caught one almost every drop. Nothing else was hitting, so I fished for sandys on light tackle. A barbless hook did the trick. Lost most of um at the boat.

BigBo · 08-14-2002, 01:59 PM

NICE CATCH VAN!

Gotta love those kind of days off and that kind of catch! What'd you get them on? Trolling or chunk?

GBOUTDOORS · 08-14-2002, 03:02 PM

Congrats Van nice fish

Van · 08-14-2002, 03:07 PM

Big Bo:

That was on mackerel chunks in deeper water.
But the baits were still hanging closer to the top.

TheSpecialist · 08-14-2002, 03:24 PM

Nice fish Van. Were the blues out in deeper water? I want to catch some monster blues, but they don't seem to be making many appearances near shore.

Van · 08-14-2002, 03:31 PM

Yes deeper water, maybe 3-4 miles out.

How much line you got on your reel???

I haven't heard of any closer to shore "YET".
We used to get all the time from the beaches in our area.

TheSpecialist · 08-14-2002, 03:38 PM

I remember those days

there was a report couple of weeks ago of blitzing blues at wollostan, and the town river.

Van · 08-14-2002, 03:44 PM

If they start showing well on the beach I just might dust off my surf rods and head down there.

Were you there when wolly beach was crazy with em' near the yacht clubs?

TheSpecialist · 08-14-2002, 03:55 PM

It was the early to mid 80's, we used to fish the blacks creek end. We also fished JFK, And Umass alot in those days. The blues were pretty predictable. some mornings I would get up early and chase them from beach to beach, Quincy, to southie, back to dorchester. Those were fun days.

Van · 08-14-2002, 04:02 PM

I was probably fishing right next to you.
We also fished the old squantum airfield. (marina bay now)
I would leave early for work, put on hip waders to keep my slacks clean, take off my tie and put on old shirt over everything.

Catch a few monster blues at wolly, head for work, but check out the beach near the gas tank in DOT, fish there for a while and get to work late, smelling funny.

Ahhh the good ole' days..
I got many stories from back then.