Rockport Report: Bearskin Neck - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Notaro · 05-17-2003, 09:58 PM

I went to Rockport this morning. I brought some lures and baits with me. I used a 9 ft rod for chunk 'n drifting and another one is 7 ft rod that can hold a lure weight from 3/8-3 0z. i used a 3 oz kastmaster with a green plastic tube, a floating wind cheater, and a rapala floating needlefish. i finially did it! i have done my part of the debts. i tried the lures out. it wasnt that hard. i chummed squids, macks, clams, and herrings. the bird ate soem of them and became pissed with me when i refused to share them with my baits. and one of them decided to squat on my OTW surf bag out of anger.

no herrings, skates, crabs, smelts, macks, stripers, and pollocks. the water seemed cold as november. all i see was a school of tiny baby fishes, probably spawns of herrings or pollcoks. i dunno. it looks like ill have to wait for two weeks. i wasnt pissed. i got skunked. big deal. it beats staying home.

Fly Rod · 05-18-2003, 08:08 PM

At this time you have to go to the Annisquam Launch behind the high school, excellent ramp, brend new. The stripers are spotty hit or miss.

went today and not even a bait fish A friend of mine had 600 yes I said 600 lbs of MACKEREL in three days last Sunday - tuesday. Where are they now??? Who knows!!!! probably in CANADA!!!!

Saw some harbor dolphins, Big Deal

Notaro · 05-18-2003, 08:13 PM

600 lbs of mackerels?! whoa, that's a lot. alright, thanks, man. is there any bait and tackle store in anquisarium? i use a purple line to go to rockport.

Fly Rod · 05-19-2003, 11:47 AM

The Annisquam is a river inGloucester Yes there is a bait & tackle in Gloucester. Today in the Annisquam they were getting alot of schoolies.

Notaro · 05-19-2003, 09:01 PM

so i can take a purple line to gloucester and is there a bus that goes to Annisquam Launch behind the high school or the high school itself?
is it a shore fishing area or do i need a boat? i dont own a boat.

Fly Rod · 05-20-2003, 12:21 PM

Bad Idea to take a train to Gloucester and fish the Annisquam.
DON't do that. You need a car to get you where you need to really fish that river to do it right. Alot of people fish that river on the coming tide with waders.

Now I understand what you are saying about the Green Line. Your Best bet is to go to Rockport again just like you were doing and you can walk to go fishing.
Do you know where Bearskin Neck is in Rockport??? If so go to the end of Bearskin Neck.The Rockport harbor break water is a good place to fish once the fish are in shore. Fish on the in side almost to the end. Directly across you will see a big ledge . You can also fish there. If using chum chum close to the rocks and throw your line close to rocks also. Sometimes it helps to use a bobber. Also Hallibut Point is also a good place to fish. you can take a bus or a cab to get there.

Johnny C · 05-20-2003, 12:24 PM

anything behind that candy shop?

Notaro · 05-20-2003, 02:28 PM

pretty nothing much behind the candy shop, man. the water temp is cold now. so wait for another week or two.

flyrod, yes, i know what u mean. that area u spoke of has some lobster harvesting turf on the other side of the rocky shoreline. i do know where it is. i always walk to the bearskin neck. as for the annisquam, i have couple more years left before i recieve my college diploma and purchase a new truck. it will be a while, flyrod. but thanks for helping me out. i can wait for anotehr week or two to go to rockport. however, the weather is getting better now...

Fly Rod · 05-20-2003, 08:05 PM

Most of us here on Cape Ann chunk bait. The fish are use to it. Up here we use tons of chunk bait. Glad to hear that you know the area. Plugs and that stuff don't cut the mustard up here. It is to early to be fishing along the shore around Bearskin neck or Hallibut Point. Another two weeks may be right.

Johnny C · 05-21-2003, 11:47 AM

Those north shore stripers really like the taste of fresh bait!
Got some biggin's last year up that way on fresh bait.

Fly Rod · 05-21-2003, 05:51 PM

Hey johnnyC if you are talking about Nichol's on 128 YESSSS!!!! They started hitting this past week. Like I say coming tide is best. Heard of a keeper today Can't confirm. If you aren't use to the area most fishermen where waders. The bugs should be starting up next week. you may want to take along some bug spray.

RickBomba · 05-21-2003, 09:38 PM

Joe,
I'd give it a few, maybe four weeks with how things look in the Southlands right now...If you can get in with FlyRod or other locals, do that...
I do much better July to September in Rockport in the secret spot that you need to get my little boat to get to.
The little boat is dead as we speak...Me and Mikey killed it in the CT River two weeks ago...
Only surfcasting for now.
Good Luck Madman.
Rick

Sweetieface · 05-22-2003, 08:09 AM

Hey,
now you're talking!! Up in my neck of the woods.
(Halibut Point is also a restaurant in Gloucester, great food, check it out!)
When will any of you be here??? Maybe we need to do some fishing.....I'm up for it!

Fly Rod · 05-22-2003, 11:26 AM

I'm in that place once or twice a week.

Sweetieface · 05-22-2003, 11:28 AM

You catch anything there yet this year?
I went to a different Gloucester spot to try, and maybe it was too soon (2 weekends ago) but I got nothing.....except for cold hands!

Notaro · 05-22-2003, 03:45 PM

yeah, i was planning to do that. I think that July will produce a lot of big basses and some herrings. I am hopping to catch some pollocks. im curious...do stripers eat pollocks?
it's all up to flyrod and others. we'll see. as for the july trip, so we will be surfcasting, right? sorry to hear abt your boat. it has got to suck. alright, see u in july, rick.

Fly Rod · 05-22-2003, 05:28 PM

Hey Sweetieface- Do you mean did I catch anything in Hallibut Point Taveran or FISHING????

We just started to get the fish coming good in the river this past week. We have had alot of bait fish come by in the last 3 weeks. Fishing should be real good in the next two weeks for you shore fishermen.

They were doing well up on the Merrimac with stripers with a few keepers being caught.

Sweetieface · 05-23-2003, 07:39 AM

LOL, Fly, I meant on the water.
Gloucester people are a different breed.....no offense, but I've spent some time and gloucester, and if you're looking for a mate, pickins are slim, for both the guys and the gals! wow.

Next few weeks eh??? So then I've got time to read Fishing For Dummies.....

Notaro · 05-23-2003, 09:19 AM

if you are talking about rockport, then yes, u have to wait for a few weeks because the baits aren't around for stripers to eat.

Rappin Mikey · 05-23-2003, 10:48 AM

Straitsmouth island is a hot spot very soon. Need a boat though

Notaro · 05-23-2003, 01:18 PM

ayia! no boat here, man. and u and rick killed his boat, remma? i gotta wait until i become 40 and buy a fishing boat.

Rappin Mikey · 05-23-2003, 01:32 PM

Boat will be easy to fix. My dad is a mechanical engineer. Once we get it going we will bring you out there. It is much fun.

Notaro · 05-23-2003, 02:15 PM

alright, mikey, that's great hear. hey mikey, im curious...why bluefish dont show up on the shore of rockport? people told me that if i want to catch them, i have to get on a boat, is it true?

Jwebber9 · 05-23-2003, 02:33 PM

You mentioned the doc behind the highschool. What school Rockport, glouchester?? I was just wondering cauz the last couple years I put in, in ipswich..then this year I heard it was super shallow. So I have been putting it in the essex which will start charging 25

. So long story short I was looking for other doc options in the cape an area. Ones you could park for little or no $.

thanx for any help you can give

Jason
17.2 Scout CC

Fly Rod · 05-23-2003, 09:31 PM

Yes Straitmouth is a very good place to fish. But Straitmouth can be come very hostile. If you need a boat you may want to hire a charter.

I have seen stupid people trying to retrive a $10.00 plug that was caught up on the bottom and ended up losing a $30,000.00 boat.

Fly Rod · 05-23-2003, 10:17 PM

Yes you are right Gloucester people are a different breed. We are kind and curteous. Don't need no mate, very happy with the mate that I have.She could never be replaced.

No need for you to be frustrated, you are reading the wrong book. You should be reading, " How To catch the BIG ONE. "

RickBomba · 05-23-2003, 11:14 PM

Fly,
Straitsmoth is super hostile.
Thanks for giving away our honey hole Mikey.
Anyhoo, it's all about low draft and how close you can get to the rocks that make that place productive.
It's like a suicide mission every time.
I anchor the boat in the same place every time and go in for anchorage SLOW!!!!!!!!!!
It's a scary place if you don't know what you're doing!!!!!
There's much safer places to fish out there.
Especially if you're going with the Skipper!!!
Love Gilligan

Jwebber9 · 05-24-2003, 09:46 AM

FLY,
Any thought on My Doc question???

Rappin Mikey · 05-24-2003, 10:46 AM

I'll probably still go for the plug. It is probably more expensive then my boat!

Fly Rod · 05-24-2003, 12:22 PM

Jwebber9- Sorry that I overlooked your post.

Behind the Gloucester High school there is a nice 1 year old ramp, two boats at a time can launch, tye your boat at the dock while parking or getting your truck,always water at low tide, " Nice Ramp " The old ramp was Brutal

Only draw back is on week ends very busy and at times stern to stern traffic in the river. River speed 5kts or $100.00 fine if caught going fast.

COST:

boats up to 18'- $5.00 per day or $35.00 dollars for the season.

boats over 18'-$5.00 per day or $50.00 dollars for the season.

These were last years prices.