I just got back from the Stellwagen bank cod trip out of Gloucester, MA. The good thing is fishing was hot and furious with big cod. The bad part is we fished only one hour. I left NJ at 1:00 AM today and arrived at Gloucester, MA around 5:30 AM. The boat left at 6:00 AM and fishing started about 8:00AM in deeper water (250 ft) near the Bank. We needed only two drifts to get the limit averaging 20 - 30 lbs by 9:00 AM. After that we practiced catch and release for 30 minutes and decided to go home. All fishing was done with jig. I've fished the Bank for many years, but I've never seen this kind of fishing. It is a shame you are allowed to catch only five cod per man while cod fishing is getting better.
THE STELLWAGEN BANK CODFISHING
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Nice Catch
That is a lot of traveling time for 1 hour of fishing, 13/1 ouch!!!
All cod????? Cant they take you to spots that hold pollock , hake or wolffish? Maybe bait fishing on a wreck would produce some big hake. Even inshore whiting fishing would be better than calling it a day.
With the restrictions we have today boats need to target more than one species. Party and charter boats are going to have to adapt if they want to stay in business. While I have no problem with the limits when I go fishing I want to fish all day!!!! Although as cold as it was out there one hour is to much for me, lol.
That is a lot of traveling time for 1 hour of fishing, 13/1 ouch!!!
All cod????? Cant they take you to spots that hold pollock , hake or wolffish? Maybe bait fishing on a wreck would produce some big hake. Even inshore whiting fishing would be better than calling it a day.
With the restrictions we have today boats need to target more than one species. Party and charter boats are going to have to adapt if they want to stay in business. While I have no problem with the limits when I go fishing I want to fish all day!!!! Although as cold as it was out there one hour is to much for me, lol.
Bag Limits in Mass
Charter, party and rec. boats are limited to 5 cod from Dec 1- Mar 31. BUT if you are fishing from Cape Cod and south ( 42, 20 line) then there is no bag limit on charter or party boats. Rec boaters are still limited by a bag limit. All boats fishing the Gulf of Maine have bag restrictions on them.
Charter, party and rec. boats are limited to 5 cod from Dec 1- Mar 31. BUT if you are fishing from Cape Cod and south ( 42, 20 line) then there is no bag limit on charter or party boats. Rec boaters are still limited by a bag limit. All boats fishing the Gulf of Maine have bag restrictions on them.
Kilsong
Great fish , glad somebody is getting out. I have a trip lined up but we are waitng for a warmer day. Did you notice what they are feeding on, my last trip they were loaded with macks. To bad you can't line up a commercial jig trip, you would be allowed 25 lb of fillets for personal use on top of the 500 lbs in the round for the boat. At least you wouldn't have to head back in so quick after that long of a drive.
Bob
Great fish , glad somebody is getting out. I have a trip lined up but we are waitng for a warmer day. Did you notice what they are feeding on, my last trip they were loaded with macks. To bad you can't line up a commercial jig trip, you would be allowed 25 lb of fillets for personal use on top of the 500 lbs in the round for the boat. At least you wouldn't have to head back in so quick after that long of a drive.
Bob
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Awesome picture. Don't get too down the the restrictions.
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Hello my friend KilSong,
That's a terrific fishing report but I totally understand your frustrations!
Needless to say, cod fishing has been decimated throughout most regions due to over harvest and abusive commercial methods.
The few sharpies such as you know that majority of the cod fishery lies in the northern, Northeast coast only to find out that some of the restrictions seems to be ill planned and somewhat unbalanced.
The truth of the matter is…That's where our future is heading and there is very little we can do about it.
"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]
That's a terrific fishing report but I totally understand your frustrations!
Needless to say, cod fishing has been decimated throughout most regions due to over harvest and abusive commercial methods.
The few sharpies such as you know that majority of the cod fishery lies in the northern, Northeast coast only to find out that some of the restrictions seems to be ill planned and somewhat unbalanced.
The truth of the matter is…That's where our future is heading and there is very little we can do about it.
"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]
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Kilsong, did you fish the kayman 3? I'm thinking of maybe lining up a charter with them at some point.
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oops sorry i meant the kayman too
Willy,
It was not on the Kayman II, but I think Capt Kevin knows the area very well too.
If you do some fluking during summer, you don't have to come down to Point Judith.RI. Fluking from Point Judith is very good, but you can expect better fishing off Hyannis or Martha's Vineyard water. The Harbor of Provincetown is real good too even though the average size is smaller.
If you can't find any boat in summer, let me know.
It was not on the Kayman II, but I think Capt Kevin knows the area very well too.
If you do some fluking during summer, you don't have to come down to Point Judith.RI. Fluking from Point Judith is very good, but you can expect better fishing off Hyannis or Martha's Vineyard water. The Harbor of Provincetown is real good too even though the average size is smaller.
If you can't find any boat in summer, let me know.
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thanks for the info kilsong. Are there any party boats north of pt. judith that do full day fluking???
Thanks,
Thanks,
Willy,
In Provincetown, the CJ(508-487-4330) runs half day, but it takes only 5 -10 minutes to the fishing ground. Also you can rent a boat from the Flyer(800-750-0898)
In Hyannis, there are a few boats run half day. the Hyline fleet(508-790-0696) and the Tiger Shark(508-896-2480).
Only a few years ago they discovered the excellent fluking in Hyannis area. The problem is there are no full day boats from Hyannis. If you can charter a boat you'll enjoy fabulous fluking in pretty shallow water. Nothing is better than silver bullet in this area.
The charter boats in Hyannis:
The Fishhawk (508-790-0660)
The Rose S (508-775-8517)
The Gypsi (508-428-1556)
There has been no party boat fishing Martha's Vineyard water, but the Lady K from Onset, MA has plan to target fluke in Martha's Vineyard water including the Lucas Shoal this year. The Onset Chief in Onset also might try fluking if the bottom fishing is slow in summer.
In Provincetown, the CJ(508-487-4330) runs half day, but it takes only 5 -10 minutes to the fishing ground. Also you can rent a boat from the Flyer(800-750-0898)
In Hyannis, there are a few boats run half day. the Hyline fleet(508-790-0696) and the Tiger Shark(508-896-2480).
Only a few years ago they discovered the excellent fluking in Hyannis area. The problem is there are no full day boats from Hyannis. If you can charter a boat you'll enjoy fabulous fluking in pretty shallow water. Nothing is better than silver bullet in this area.
The charter boats in Hyannis:
The Fishhawk (508-790-0660)
The Rose S (508-775-8517)
The Gypsi (508-428-1556)
There has been no party boat fishing Martha's Vineyard water, but the Lady K from Onset, MA has plan to target fluke in Martha's Vineyard water including the Lucas Shoal this year. The Onset Chief in Onset also might try fluking if the bottom fishing is slow in summer.
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ok thanks kilsong. When is your next cod trip planned for?
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yowch, o for 8 is pretty rough. My next helen is on 2/16, hopefully we'll get out. Do you ever fish walsh's?
wILLY,
I have been on the American Classic. I was there when a guy caught a 50 pounder last year. The Helen-H faces another problem now in addition to the wind. ICE. Even though Sunday weather looks good, they have to find a way to break ice in the harbor. If I can not go up north because of ice, I think about going south to try offshore trip for big sea bass and tile fish or giant bluefin tuna off Morehead City.
I have been on the American Classic. I was there when a guy caught a 50 pounder last year. The Helen-H faces another problem now in addition to the wind. ICE. Even though Sunday weather looks good, they have to find a way to break ice in the harbor. If I can not go up north because of ice, I think about going south to try offshore trip for big sea bass and tile fish or giant bluefin tuna off Morehead City.
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hey, the weather does sound good for georges on sunday. Unfortunately, my charter out of boston cancelled. I was thinking of maybe trying to get on the helen sunday, but i;m not sure if i can get a ride down there.
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