As it has been in the past, so shall it be this season. The big bass are on the shoals. For the past several years the big bass move in on Billingsgate Shoals for the end of our fishing season. This year is no exception. This last Sunday and especially Monday proved it. There was a heavy northeast wind but the boats that did get out on the shoals hooked up on some big bass into their half day trip in the afternoon. Once the wind backed down the boats that were out there did very well. It seems like the fish come into this area to gather up and feed before starting the migration south. This gathering can last into the beginning of October at times. Lets hope the bass do that this season. Right now jigging is your best bet although the umbrella rig can be productive, you just have to weed through the small bass before you finally get one to keep.
This last weekend some of our boats went up to P-town over the low water. For the most part P-town has been a good area for finding and landing both good numbers of keepers and large bass. That is if you can find room amongst the other fishermen. Since Labor Day there hasn't been an over crowding problem, just an infrequency in the fishing. Some days it's good and others the bass are a little hard to find. If you've got the time and the fuel it can be worth the ride. Jigging and the tube and worm are the most productive methods. Some of the other areas are the east bar outside of Barnstable Harbor and the Scorton Creek area.
The bluefishing has been a little slow lately. When using the umbrella rigs on the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals we've landed a few fish. Our boats have averaged 10 to 12 fish on a half day trip. Another area that has produced bluefish is from Henderson's Rock, outside of Great Island, up towards the Path in 10 to 20 feet of water. Single swimming plugs or hootchies are your best bet. A more traditional area is in around the Sunken Meadow area. The bluefish have come back into this area again. This is a good thing because when we have these heavy east and northeast winds we can still fish in this area. Here, also, the hootchie or swimming plug works well. This last Monday I landed a couple of small striped bass in the Sunken Meadow area which is unusual for this time of year.
Since this is the last report for the season my best advice for this fall is to keep an eye on the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. This includes the deeper water out to 30 feet. I think this will be the prominent gathering area for the big bass this season. Make sure your jigging wires are in good shape with no kinks and you've sharpened the hooks on your jigs.
This last week I had a number of men from England out fishing. They we here to attend a wedding so they decided to try out the fishing also. They landed a number of bass and bluefish in both trips. One gentleman stood out from the rest by his unexpected ability to land a big bluefish. After an event filled struggle, Karl Williams from London, England, landed a large 16 pound bluefish on fairly light line. It was by far the biggest fish he has ever caught.
Well, have a good winter and I'll see you next spring. As always I've enjoyed doing these reports. If you'd like to get in on some of this good fall fishing call me at: 508-255-6211 or on the boat at: 508-240-8267.
