Tuna In Rhode Island - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

micmac · 08-16-2005, 02:52 PM

I primarly boat out of Boston but with all the talk of Tuna in the RI arae I am thinking about towing the boat down to RI on Friday. Are the tuna still running thick down there? Any suggestions on where to launch and where to go would be much appreciated.

zacs · 08-16-2005, 03:31 PM

they are gone. well, some still around, but less than before. And because everyone has talked so much about it, expect a party out there, especially fri-sun. They have also become very skittish (sp?) although they can be caught. so every time they come up expect 4 boats minimum to run at them and then they will sound. kind of frustrating. if you stay away from the pack you may find them, but not where all the reports are saying. i can say no more.

Clammer · 08-16-2005, 08:31 PM

Zac =you missed it tonight // a honest to goodness 10 tonight /// the only time I,ve been there & really wished I had my camera // Cowgirl outfits //

Pete_G · 08-16-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs

they are gone. well, some still around, but less than before. And because everyone has talked so much about it, expect a party out there, especially fri-sun. They have also become very skittish (sp?) although they can be caught. so every time they come up expect 4 boats minimum to run at them and then they will sound. kind of frustrating. if you stay away from the pack you may find them, but not where all the reports are saying. i can say no more.

Well put.

There was some question as to whether mentioning where this was taking place was a "spot burn". I'd say there is no question it was as the fishing has been ruined for those who were out there burning fuel and searching all summer for these fish and fishing for them for weeks before the Internet and the ProJo announced it.

Pete_G · 08-16-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by micmac

I primarly boat out of Boston but with all the talk of Tuna in the RI arae I am thinking about towing the boat down to RI on Friday. Are the tuna still running thick down there? Any suggestions on where to launch and where to go would be much appreciated.

Since the cat's out of the bag I'll put it in perspective as to how good it's been:

It has never been anywhere remotely close as to how intense it is this year. Although it does seem to be on the wane, you should go for it, because for most people (maybe myself included and I'm only 27) it will be a once in a lifetime experience, at least inshore.

Nebe · 08-16-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_G

it will be a once in a lifetime experience, at least inshore.

really??? once in a lifetime???

MakoMike · 08-17-2005, 06:44 AM

Eben,
Could well be. I certainly can't recall another season like this one for the BFT, and I can remember a lot of fishing seasons!

Clammer · 08-17-2005, 06:51 AM

Mike ya old B astard ya shudda remembered to go to HOOTERS last night //It was Tuesday ///

Mr. Sandman · 08-17-2005, 06:51 AM

I think with the comm pressure somewhat throttled as compared with the old days when it was out of control with people from all over the world taking everything they could...I suspect if the bait holds these fish will return in future years.
I am 48 and when i was a kid (12 or so) I recall catching 60# fish within sight of shore (Montauk) every summer. And Giants would also show up close to shore at times. We trolled "Jap feathers" back then, chromed headed jewled eyed things that worked every pass.

It is good to see all these small fish this year, if we let them grow to 500# plus we may just get the fishery back to what it was someday. I make it a point to have my kids (and guests) watch as the fish is released. And remind them how big this fish will grow to and how important it is let them go and abide by the rules wether you agree with them or not. Most people can't concieve of this fish growing to 1000+ lbs after an exhausing battle with a 25#er. They just can't imagine the power that a giant will have.

I would not complain they are leaving...you had a great run that lasted nearly a month. Sometimes these things last only a couple days. I have to say though that once the newspaper articles were out, the run-and-gunners showed and it was annoying . We had several good weeks before they arrived. You have to expect this.

That said I will go looking for them again shortly as I think I know where they are.

Pete_G · 08-17-2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eben

really??? once in a lifetime???

It's never been anything like this before in all the years we've been guiding out there, lets put it that way.

We see them almost every year (inshore), but usually it's just a single football that sails thru the air never to be seen again, sometimes it's a little better then that. But nothing like this.

zacs · 08-17-2005, 07:27 AM

Pete - I hope you are wrong, and it is the start of a new trend. The first football I saw this year was 7/17 halfway between beavertail and naragansett beach, chasing blues. Today is 8/17 and they are still hear somewhat, although a little east. Your right, sandman, that is a nice run. With no comericial fishery on SBFT, well maybe a small amount of illegal take, hopefully we will enjoy this for years to come. plenty of bait in the water, thats for sure.

Clamma- Where's the invite, bro? i'm not a mind reader. i love cowgirls!!!

Pete_G · 08-17-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacs

Pete - I hope you are wrong, and it is the start of a new trend. The first football I saw this year was 7/17 halfway between beavertail and naragansett beach, chasing blues. Today is 8/17 and they are still hear somewhat, although a little east. Your right, sandman, that is a nice run. With no comericial fishery on SBFT, well maybe a small amount of illegal take, hopefully we will enjoy this for years to come. plenty of bait in the water, thats for sure.

Clamma- Where's the invite, bro? i'm not a mind reader. i love cowgirls!!!

I have heard there was an exceptional spawn last year of bluefins, and I guess it's possible these might be yearlings that we've been catching. So maybe they'll be back next year as 40's.

UserRemoved1 · 08-17-2005, 08:32 AM

Anyone have an idea of how quick they grow? I'd bet these are 3-5 year old fish....

There is one interesting observation that I've kept quiet about...I wanted to see if anyone else noticed....

There are VERY few small footballs in CC bay right now. Everyone is reporting 100 lbers and up and have been for weeks.... Very Very interesting...These fish seem to have been sidetracked from running the outer coast as they do every year... wonder why.

Bronko · 08-17-2005, 08:44 AM

Salty, we ran into a couple big schools of 20#-75# footballs off of Scituate/Duxbury last week in Cape Cod Bay. Real early in the morning. They popped up and exploded for a while. Had a few good shots at them. Later in the day the bigger fish took over and we never saw the smaller fish again.

MakoMike · 08-17-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clammer

Mike ya old B astard ya shudda remembered to go to HOOTERS last night //It was Tuesday ///

What am I supposed to be @$^^& mind reader? If you let me know that you were going I would have showed up!

MakoMike · 08-17-2005, 11:31 AM

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless something changes radically we aren't going to have a SBFT season next year. We've used up the quota that ICATT gave us and we won't get morre until 2007!

Clammer · 08-17-2005, 11:59 AM

what a shame //quality all the way [[around]]

Homerun04 · 08-17-2005, 04:15 PM

Footballs all over again today.....but no hook up's for me....they were skiddish as all hell......what are you guys using for tackle? Lures? Etc.......I only saw 1 fish boated, and they were everywhere.

P.S. I also saw about 100 dead stripers floating around PJ today......purse seiner no doubt releasing by-catch.....all were shorts, too......made me want to cry.......

Pete_G · 08-17-2005, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homerun04

Footballs all over again today.....but no hook up's for me....they were skiddish as all hell......what are you guys using for tackle? Lures? Etc.......I only saw 1 fish boated, and they were everywhere.

P.S. I also saw about 100 dead stripers floating around PJ today......purse seiner no doubt releasing by-catch.....all were shorts, too......made me want to cry.......

You're the second person to mention the stripers. The other said there were floaters around Beavertail as well. That's a lot of dead stripers.

Pm's are cleaned btw Homerun04.