Red Drum in Massachusetts?

[schoolie monster]

I was mulling over a trip to Florida this spring and one of the species that I'd like to target is Redfish. So, I figured I would do a little research on them.

In three different places I saw their range listed as the Gulf of Mexico to Massachusetts.

Now I ain't been around here for long, but I've never heard of any Reds taken in Mass waters... certainly there is no fishery for them, but has anyone ever heard of Reds this far north?

Just curious?

On a side note, unrelated except for in my demented mind, I saw part of a show regarding global warming a few nights back... one of the positive things about it is the possibility of fish species expanding their range northward following the warmer water temps. Could you imagine fishing for Tarpon and Permit on the Cape? Of course, you would literally be fishing on the Cape as half of it would be underwater. Imagine the great structure that downtown Hyannis would offer...

I'm not sure why Dateline didn't touch on this aspect of the Global Warming issue... who knows. Their experts must not be as intuitive as myself.

[Got Stripers]

I'm sure the stripers range has become what it is today because of changes in water temperatures. Yeah I'd like to catch me some Tarpon locally, but that might spell bad new for John in his new waterfront home. An increase in water temps to bring tarpon/permit this far north, might mean a whole lot of glacier melting and a new high water mark.

Tight lines.

[JohnR]

Let's Go Global warming!!! The way I figure it, I can handle a 15-18 foot rise in the tides and not own submersible property although I would loose my hurricane buffer zone. So with 15 feet (i'm on a little hill) I would be waterfront instead of marginal winter waterview :'( and I would also live on an island too... Not too shabby. Now temps rising to make 15 feet probably won't give me the tarpon but I would probably get the drum ... At least that is my not-so-scientific study. Maybe Shoolie Monster can come down and survey that this year...

Everyone remember NOT to tune your cars and run diesel for fuel instead, 'cause Daddy needs a waterfront house...

[mikecc]

Last year we weighed in a Cobia which was 10 Lbs. First time I ever saw one of them. We usually see some of the southern fish arrive around August., but this cobia was first week of June.

[Roccus]

Schoolie M.,

That's no so far fetched...all kinds of stuff straggles in to Vineyard Sound...the folks in Woods Hole catch in the harbor tropical & sub-tropical fish that hitch hike the Gulfstream. And how about the schools of Spanish mackerel showing up off the Vineyard? Not to mention the tarpon, that's right...tarpon!...caught over near Harwich (official, according to WH scientists)...these days anything can happen. Makes it even more exciting when you reel in whatever's on the end of your line...red drum isn't that much of stretch.

[JohnR]

They do get the occasional drum off Jersey, right? And don't forget your August Mahi-mahi trips off Block Island and Montauk ;D ...maybe next year...

[Jenn]

depending on the severity of global warming do you you think western mass could someday become oceanfront???

Kind of on the same idea but different.....I think it was maybe a year or two ago they had found a pelican in Hampton Ponds (Westfield/Holyoke area)........strange but true! Like others have said...it is possible.

[Canalratt1]

Strange fish that have showed up in these parts. Triggerfish in Buzzards Bay, a Cuberan Snapper in the Ditch, and yes a tarpon off the Cape! Anybody else?

[JohnR]

I once saw Schoolie Monster catch a Herring/Striper Hybrid, he kept it too. It was 28.5 inches long and weighed 3&1/2 pounds. The profile view looked just like a striper but the planform (top down) looked like a herring, about as wide as my middle finger too....

[schoolie monster]

What you all don't know about John's middle finger is that it was grusomely disfigured in a freak fishing accident.

While fishing off the sagamore bridge, John hooked a 12 1/2" striper. During the 1000foot ascent from the canal to the bridge, the fish jumped the hook causing John to lose his balance and fall backwards.

He spun in mid-air and threw out his hands to break his fall. Unfortunately, his right hand was on the road as a steamroller was rolling by... his finger was flattened out (see Warner Bros. Wiley Coyote) and now has a diameter of 18 inches... though quite flat.

True story.

And some of you wanted to have a tournament on the honor system?

Sounds like Jenn has a get rich quick scheme... buy a whole bunch of property in Central - Western Mass and hope that in 10 years, it'll be waterfront. Could work... maybe I'll use my big Publisher's Clearing House winnings. Got the $1 mil winning numbers in an envelope sitting in my garbage at the house...

Yeah, we're getting deep into winter here.

[JohnR]

...and I would have landed that fish had I had a 100foot gaff or if I was using Schoolie's Ultra Telescopic Grappling Fishing rod from Cabelas (I heard it was what every self-respecting Tour Angler from PA uses)... The only problem with the middle finger since is that now when I swim, I always go in circles to the left....

I caught a nuclear North Korean Spider Crab on Nantucket...
There once was a Crab from Nantucket,
with a claw so long....

Definitely need to fish here...

[Got Stripers]

Well I keep giving you the opportunity John, lol. Saturday I'm fishing, you in?

Tight lines.

[JohnR]

GS, no can do. I was out of work sick a couple days this week and I have much to do as I need to get some servers ready for New Jersey for next week. I may be down there end of next week or beginning of the following week for a couple 20 hour days... BELIEVE ME when I say that I'd rather go fishing with you...

[golden]

i saw a nice jack crevalle caught off the east wall at pt.judith on bait, after a morning with albies and schoolies.

[Fisherwoman]

2 years ago on MV, some of the fly guys were catching baby Baraccuda, they were only about 12 inches long was pretty cool.
That same year we saw a Mauhi leap out of the water when we were on a charter on the back side of Nantucket, what a bright little specimen.

Anybody ever hook a seagul with a circle hook, right in the lip!!!! you gotta love those babies, tehe!!!!

[JohnR]

Welcome aboard Golden!!!

I wish I was catching Jack of the east wall but maybe I'll run into you for some Albies down there!!

Fisherwoman!! What do you think? A special Albie trip in Rhody this summer? Think Baitcaster would come along??
I got a couple gulls last year on the West Wall. One flew right into my bucktail on the cast and the teaser rig wrapped around the wing. The gull recovered and started flying again just before it hit the water. It was taking some drag....but released safely afterwards...

[chris L]

I dint catch anything exotic , but I like this story .
I was fishing the ditch about 5 years ago and I was rigging up had my head down hooking on a squid when all of sudden I was heavily splashed from the canal . I looked up wiping the water from my head , when the guy that was about 100 ft away yelled did you see that obviously I hadant since I was rigging up . I was splashed by a minky whale . I know they go through there but to have one fin me drenched with water was pretty cool . My wife saw the whole thing from the car . i was on the cape at the coast guard station . I know the people that fish there have seen them come through , but thats the coolest thing taht I remember .

[Fisherwoman]

Hey JohnR, would love to get an Albie trip in down in RI, maybe baitcaster will just have to take a sick day, LOL. I was down there a couple of years ago on a mystery trip, some beautiful shore line indead. It was late fall but the albies were still around, oooh I love those little speed demons!!!!!

[JohnR]

If that was your last trip a couple years ago - YOU"VE GOT to get down here. Maybe a little sunset Albie action followed up by some big bass?? It's all possible in the Ocean State ;D