[Capt. Marc]

Found this on Onthewater.com reports if your really want to try. Not comfirmed at all and a long ride for a cold night.

Capt. Marc

If you would prefer keeping both feet firmly planted on terra firma as you search for a cod fix, consider Marshfield Beach. Just south of the Green Harbor Jetty, this beach has actually been crowded (at least by winter standards!)with surfcasters taking in the cod action. This beach can be reached by way of the Beach Access Road. Improve your chances of hooking up by tossing out clams with a 4-ounce bank sinker, attached to a fish finder rig. A nice sharp Mustad 7/0 All Around hook should seal the deal.
You can be sure that if guys are getting cod from Marshfield than they are also frequenting other venerable shoreline favorites such as Point Allerton in Hull. The ideal time to fish these places is just after a storm. When the pounding surf stirs up the shoreline, quahogs, crabs and lobsters take a beating and the cod clean up like finned vacuum cleaners. Don't be dissuaded by the coffee colored and mung filled water, cod's olfactory senses are among the best in the business and they will have little difficulty finding your offering.
Another place to consider for cod in the suds is Point of Pines in Revere. Arrive here at low tide (minus tides are best) and be sure to dress for the part with neoprene waders and warm clothing. Walk out along the mudflats in the direction of the channel marker and cast a wad of clams as close to the channel as possible. An extra tall sand spike helps here. Cod flood in with the tide and spread out along the mudflats in search of an easy meal.

 

[Fishing Friend]

That's a neat idea. Through the years I considered trying for codfish off of Long Island beaches in the winter from the surf. Then I realized that it's not a good idea as the fish are so scarce that even the boats have trouble catching. New England is a different story. In the winter cod snug right up to Boston Harbor and the boats do very well offshore. In the future, if the winter is not too bad a weekend getaway and a cheap hotel up there might keep cabin fever at bay; and make for an interesting and unusual trip.

 

[leakyrivot]

Plum Island

I gave it a shot on sunday for cod on plum island - ran into trouble with all the debri in the water. Constantly the line got fouled & pushed in. 12 ounces of weight & a 12 ft pole did no good. Good to wet a line this time of year though.

Jon

 

[623407]

just out of pure curiosity when was the last time you herd or saw a guy catch cod from the surf on Li?

 

[Tiderunner]

Cod on the beach

In January of 1974 my brother and I were suffering from cabin fever. We decided to grab some frozen clams from the freezer and try tossing them out in the Jones Inlet near the old radio shack. After about a hour of freezing our tails off my brother had the only hit. He caught a small 5 pound cod fish. It was so cold and windy that afternoon that we packed it in after about 2 hours of fishing. That was in 1974. I am sure that cod run in and out of that inlet but it's so **** cold that few people if any fish it during the cold winter months. I haven't done it since. It just wasn't worth freezing your butt off.

 

[Surfcaster]

I have never seen a cod caught from the surf. But I do remember hearing that a few cod were caught during the late 60's from Demo.

 

[Fishing Friend]

Just as a sidenote, the father of George Tweedy who used to run the Captain Scotty out of captree told me that in the 1930's the farthest that they traveled for cod was the whistle buoy right outside the mouth of Fire Island Inlet. They were not all small fish. 30 pounders and stuff. I'm sure the surf was alive with cod as well. Then again, the 1930's wasn't yesterday.

 

[leakyrivot]

Tried it again yesterday

I gave it a shot again yesterday on Plum Island - no such luck. Someone I spoke to, that has actually had luck doing this, said he'd only caught cod at night in the surf. It really makes some sense - these are fish that live in total darkness most of the time . So, my next attempts going to be after dark.

Jon

 

[Fishing Friend]

Neat !! We got live reports if it's possible to catch cod from the surf. Thanks, Leakyrivot.

 

[625247]

Fishing Plum Island in March

So has anybody had any luck fishing this area (Plum Island) in March and if so what did you catch? Please let me know for better of for worse! I might see you there. I would rather go catching than fishing!
Any good guesstemate when the stripers start hitting in the area?

 

[leakyrivot]

Stripers

No such luck yet on the Cod front - This week is pretty jammed for me, next week I think I'll get out there for the PM.

As far as the stripers; I'd be willing to bet that schoolies & misc holdovers are still sitting under the rt 1 bridge in Newburyport. All season, every day, any weather, any tide they are there waiting to pick the bait off the hook & some have gotta hang around. Getting them to bite w/ these temps might be the problem though. When I have a uneventfull day, that's where I go to proove I can still catch fish, even if they are only 12 inch stripers .

Jon

 

[625247]

Did I just buy a bridge?

Since Wed was in the 50's and I had nothing better to do I decided to give it a try. No such luck on the south side of the river under the Rt.1 Bridge. Just how bad of an idea is it to go onto the rusted bridge next to the car bridge and walk out to fish? I saw an opening in the fence but did not get that brave.
After that got old (1 hr) I went out to plum island and did some (Clams)fishing off the beach. I then walked out to the rocks and fished until sundown without a nibble. No Cod or Stripers. No surprise. It didnt hurt to give it a try.
On my way out I passed a guy on his way out to fish for cod off the rocks. Maybe next time I will try fishing off the rocks after dark.

 

[leakyrivot]

If I was going to try the bridge area, I'd sink a clam or seaworm from the northern side, right under or just upstream of the rusty bridge. As for climbing on it - I've seen someone on it once - not reccomended - for safety's sake, if you fell in this time of year, you'd probably die. The current is quick & the water very cold. It's also posted & it wouldn't take long for someone to notice.

As far as fishing off the rocks on the southern side of the merrimac river - that jetty gets partially covered at high tide. I've seen people get stuck out there. I wouldn't go anywhere near there alone this time of year, especially after dark. Same deal, lots of current & cold water. If I was out there by myself, I'd probably hook up a life-line.

The advice I got from a local who has caught cod off Plum Island was fish at night & a good spot is smack in the middle down the street from surfland. There is a little lot there on the corner & right next to the sand. Walk straight out to the water.

If you head out again, drop me a line or hit me on the PM. Weather provided, I want to give it a shot this coming week after dark. Possibly Tues or Weds.

Jon

 

[leakyrivot]

Giving it a shot again tomorrow PM

Weather provided, giving it a shot again on Plum Island tomorrow, as the sun goes down and into the night a bit. Will fish the ocean side direct route from the lot near surfland.

Jon