Four Dollars and Change

Four dollars and change - that is how much my favorite fishing lure costs. It is not the best looking, it is not the best casting, but in my mind, it is by far the best catching lure on the market.

The bucktail jig is one of the simplest, yet most effective lures you can fish. For this reason alone, it is included in all military survival kits. Bucktail jigs have caught countless bass for me from the beach, from the rocks, from the banks of the Cape Cod Canal, and from the boat.

A bucktail is a bait that looks like nothing, yet mimics everything. It will catch fish that are feeding on 14in river herring, squid, bay anchovies or rain bait, or whatever the bait du jour is in your area.

With all the flashy lures on the market, the bucktail jig doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. Very rarely will you read a report that mentions a 1 oz Andrus Jetty Caster as the culprit for great bass fishing. Rather, you hear reports of epic action on SP Minnows, Sebile Magic Swimmers, Shimano Waxwings, or the whatever the hot new $30 plug is that week.

Truthfully, I’m ok with the lack of hype that bucktails receive. I don’t need to read about them in a report to know they catch fish. However, I do urge that an angler try fishing bucktails if they never have. The versatility of this lure is unbelievable. The ability to fish them shallow over boulder fields, deep in the rips from a boat, or from any other fishing stage makes the bucktail jig a true winner.

More on fishing bucktails to come. But for now, here are a few bass taken on bucktails. (I really need a fishing partner because the crappy cell phone pics I take aren’t cutting it)

Transition to Summer Striper Patterns

It happens every year: as we transition from spring to summer we must transition our fishing style and approach. Spring is usually a glorious time for striped bass fisherman. In an attempt to fatten up after a spectacular migration, striped bass often go into a gluttonous feeding binge, which can result in amazing striped bass fishing. In the spring, stripers will often move into the river systems that host a herring run, and feast heavily on the herring that are making their way to and from their freshwater spawning grounds (another spectacular migration). Spring is also the time when you can witness epic blitzes in places like the Cape Cod Canal, where herring and mackerel often shoot up onto the bank trying to escape hungry stripers - choosing to die of suffocation rather than in the belly of a hungry striper.

I usually start to transition from the rivers to the rocky, oceanfront shores around mid to late June, when water temps here start to reach 60 degrees. This does not mean bass can’t be caught in rivers as the herring fall out, but traffic on the rivers on the North Shore of MA increases as schools get out, and access begins to get tougher, making the rocks a better choice. Also, around this time, lobsters will shed their shells, making one of the striper’s favorite meals even more desirable. Areas with lobster pots within casting range are usually good this time of year, even if fishing around the pots is trickier.

As June turns into July, it is wise to seek out deep water close to shore if you’re a surfcaster. There are a few spots that I fish that have depths of 15 feet or more one step off the rock I stand on. This makes for great bass habitat, but it also makes fishing very dangerous. I would advise wearing a wetsuit or bathing suit/surf top combo, and studded footwear is a must. As air temperatures continue to warm, a bathing suit and t-shirt may be suitable, but you risk getting eaten alive by bugs and cut by barnacles.

Scope out some rocky spots and plan to fish them as we transition into a summer pattern. If there are lobster pots close to shore you’re in the right place - this means there is plenty for stripers to eat, and it also ensures the water is deep enough for a lobster boat to access, meaning it is plenty deep for striped bass. In addition to lobster there should be a variety of bottom fish, from flounder to pollack, as well as mackerel, pogies, and herring around these rocky outcroppings. Watch the weather and the surf closely as fishing these areas can be dangerous.

A variety of methods will work, but I prefer using bucktails and swimming plugs like the Redfin. Using pencil poppers and spooks can draw some fish off the bottom around dawn and dusk. Put in your time, change up your tactics, and enjoy some great summer-style fishing as temperatures rise.

Rocky outcroppings with deep water nearby will hold stripers all summer long.

These areas can be very dangerous, so make safety your priority.

This chunky striper was taken on a 1oz bucktail from a rocky area on the N. Shore of MA.

Mystery Fish

Every now and then, when fishing, you’ll come across something strange or special (or both). This weekend, I happened upon something that was a little of both.

I’ve been fishing Boston Harbor for about 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve seen seals, sunfish (mola mola), and even tuna within the city limits, but this was a little different - and it was certainly well within the city limits.

It was probably about 5:15am when we pulled our 18ft Boston Whaler up to the ledge formed by the main shipping channel in Boston and a nearby flat. You can usually pick up some bass here in the morning before boat traffic picks up, and we usually head out there right away unless we get distracted by breaking fish on the way out. As we slowed down and focused on the recorder looking for marks, we noticed something swimming slowly along the surface close by. We inched closer to it, but it sounded before we could get a good look, then it popped up again a little further away. This time we tried to loop around it in hopes we could get ahead of it and kill the engine. Well it worked and the fish came up again within a casts’ length away.

I pulled out my trusty camera that I usually forget at home to try and get some footage of the fish, while my Dad grabbed a pole and threw a 9” Got Stryper at the mystery fish. As the soft plastic hit the water a little beyond the fish you could see it turn as if the bait had caught its interest. A second later, - WHAM - the fish took a swipe at the soft plastic, but unfortunately missed the bait. That was it, the fish didn’t come back up and we refocused on striper fishing.

Swordfish? Shark? Cobia? What could it have been? You’ll have to decide for yourself.

Pre-Spawn Smallmouth Bass Fishing

If you time your trips just right, you’ll be rewarded with trophy smallmouth bass.

Fishing on Cape Cod isn’t as easy for me since moving up to the North Shore of MA, but there are a few things that I venture down there for, and the pre-spawn smallmouth bass bite is one of them. It is difficult to pin down exactly when smallmouth bass will go into pre-spawn mode, but on the Cape it usually happens anywhere between late April and late May. During colder springs, the spawn may even be pushed well into June. This year; however, my first successful trip was April 21st.

As smallmouth move up to their beds in their pre-spawn mode they are not overly aggressive. After spawning, they will become aggressive as a mean of protecting their eggs and will virtually hit anything that poses a threat, but in the pre-spawn period they are mellow, often interested in two things only: making their bed and finding a mate. This behavior makes pre-spawn smallie fishing frustrating and exciting at the same time, and it usually requires a stealthy approach and quality polarized sunglasses.


Smallies beginning the mating process on a bed - they usually can't be caught at this stage.

I bet you’re thinking: “So if the smallies aren’t aggressive, and they aren’t overly interested in eating, how do you get them to bite?” The pre-spawn bite is unique and often takes patience in order to hook up. During this period, smallies will pick up a weighted soft plastic or jig just to move it off their bed. Most of the hookups occur just because the bass wanted to move the intruding bait off their bed, and had absolutely no interest in eating it. Accurate casts, good sunglasses, and ultra-sensitive tackle will be your friend during the pre-spawn bite. If you can’t see or feel the bass pick up the bait, you’ll miss out on some great action.

First thing to look for are the beds. Smallies will begin making their beds sometime in April on Cape Cod depending on the weather and sunlight we've received. A good place to start is the North East corner of a pond as it gets the most sunlight at that time of year. Beds will be anywhere between the size of a large dinner plate and a snow tube, and are often near some sort of structure.

Any soft plastic bait or jig dragged across their bed will likely draw a strike, but one method I like to imploy is what I call the "Drop and Drive." Locating beds is often difficult and sometimes you spot a bed too late and accidently spook the fish on it. That's ok! While you're over the bed drop your bait down onto the bed and slowly motor away with your reel in free spool or bail open, ensuring your bait is staying on the bed. Most of the time the bass will come back and pick up your bait to move it - that is when you set the hook! 

This nice smallie fell for the Drop and Drive trick.

If you haven't tried pre-spawn smallie fishing, you're missing out. It is likely too late as the smallmouth are in the spawning process or post-spawn, but make sure to mark your calendars for next year!

A 5lber that fell for a chigger craw/steel bullet weight combo.

Taken with a Pentax Optio WG-2

Taken with a Pentax Optio WG-2

More than Just Catching Fish

A recent fish-less outing reminded me there is more to fishing than catching fish.

Too often do fisherman rate their experiences based on their catch. “What’d you catch?” “Any luck?” “How are they biting?” These phrases are often the norm in conversations with fishing buddies. Don’t get me wrong, I love catching fish, and that is my primary goal each time I head to the beach or out on the boat; but I’ve also learned to appreciate more than just a singing drag.

From sunrises and sunsets, to rainbows and rainstorms, to seeing more stars in a sky than you could ever imagine; each time you go fishing you’re likely in for a treat - other than a fish on the end of your line. I’ve even stood on top the banks of the Cape Cod Canal and watched a school of stripers corral and pick apart a school of herring, without even causing the slightest of ripple on the surface.

So hopefully you're angling adventures are full of fish, but if they're not, remember there is more to fishing than catching fish.

MV Derby 2011 is Underway and Over-exciting

It is over-exciting for me atleast. I can't get enough of the Derby, even though I haven't weighed a fish in for the past three years. Does that make any sense? Probably not since I did have a shot at a few daily prizes and potential mystery prizes, but its not all about the prizes to me. I try to tell myself that I'm fishing for a grand prize winner, and I check the leader boards frequently to know what it will take.

I'm leaving for the island Saturday am, and can hardly wait as I sit in the office writing this post. In fact, this is a pretty pointless blog post, since I'm writing it mainly so I can release some excitement and make it through these final two days of work before I leave for a week of Derby fishing. I'll try to make this post valuable by adding some Derby advice - something that may help the angler who is only there for a short time (a week, a weekend, a day) be successful.

Tip #1: Have fun. Don't worry about catching a grand prize winner. In fact, a good portion of derby winners have been inexperienced, yet extremely lucky anglers, just enjoying themselves on the island, while other experienced, diehard anglers can fish the Derby their entire lives without claiming the top prize.

Tip #2: Go to the Derby Headquarters at some point between 8am and 10am or 8pm and 10pm. Even if you're not weighing in a fish you can get some great Keurig coffee, some stickers, brochures, some cool Derby gear, and you can even check the wharf to see whats going on.

Tip #3: Stay safe. Weather this time of year can be downright nasty. No fish is worth putting your life on the line. Keep a constant eye on the weather.

I am going to try my best to post next week while I am on the island. Hopefully I'll have some good pics, stories, and reports - but we'll see.

Tight Lines

The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby

The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, or more popularly know simply as "The Derby," is one of the oldest and most prestigious fishing tournaments on the east coast. In less than two weeks, the 66th annual Derby will begin, drawing anglers from across the world to the waters of Martha's Vineyard. Though the Derby was started as a way to generate off season revenue by an advertising executive and the ferry company, it is now run by a non-profit committee, with all the proceeds going to scholarships for local kids. All prizes are donated, including the grand prizes, an Eastern boat and Chevy truck. I won't give too much of a background, because authors David Kinney and Robert Post have given excellent descriptions and stories in their works "The Big One," and "Reading the Water." I recommend giving each a read.

The Derby is more than just the hunt for a trophy fish that will lead to some really cool prizes. It is a combination of passion, comraderie, skill, luck, and most importantly, fun. Though I've been a fan of the Derby all my life, this fall will mark only the third Derby that I've registered for. For some reason my parents didn't let me miss school to travel with my old man to fish the Derby every year like he did (I think this will be his 35th consecutive year). Now that I've been out of college for three years, I am taken over by Derby fever each fall.

Though it began as a primarily shore fishing tournament, the Derby has transformed to suit a variety of anglers. Whether you are the hardcore wetsuit-clad surfcaster; the daytime bait soaker; the dedicated fly fisherman; or the boat/shore/light tackle/somewhat serious surfcaster like me, the Derby has what you're looking for, even if you never weigh in a fish. The history, the pursuit, the luck, the skill, the heartbreak, the success; in the the end it all results in a truly spectacular experience.

I am heading to the Island on 9/16 for the entire week, and can hardly wait. If you haven't experienced what the Derby has to offer, I highly recommend checking it out. There is no place I'd rather be between September 11, 2011 and October 15, 2011. Plus, I hear they have trucker hats this year.

Check out the Derby website and Facebook page for more info. I'll do my best to post updates, reports, and more while I'm there.