BOSTON HARBOR & SOUTH SHORE-Stripers 7/10/2008
More keeper bass are working their way onto the ledges and coves of the outer harbor and into the skinny-water of the inner-harbor bays producing good top-water action. The last inner-harbor blitz occurred during the first week of July when acres of silversides and herring were trapped off Deer Island on the morning outgoing tide. Schools of small mackerel are still in good numbers in the deep-water off the offshore ledges, and adult pogies (menhaden) are in the inner-harbor bays along with the abundant silversides. Bait fisherman trolling live mackerel off the South Shore the ledges have been consistently catching big stripers between 36 and 43". These bass are covered with sea-lice, indicative that these fish have just moved in. So, the "table is set" once the schools of bass get pushed off Stellwagen by the bluefins and find there way to the inshore bait concentrations.
Tom Welch (Boston, MA) and friends had our best trip of the season for numbers of fly and light-tackle bass fishing the aforementioned Blitz off Deer Island. The bass stayed up, busting on the surface until the morning ebb tide went slack. Bass Assassin' surface presentations worked well on the spin-gear, as did soft-plastics on ˝ oz jig-heads. Chartreuse Half & half's and Tom Keer's epoxy-head herring patterns were the best producers on the long rod. The anglers were tripled on numerous occasions, and they accounted for 40+ stripers between 20 and 27 inches.
Mike Benavage and Jeff Dimmich—the Doc and the Advocate—from Orefield, PA headed north for a two-day, tag-team fly fishing match with Boston's stripers. Both anglers were avid, world-traveling fly casters, who sported top-of-the line fly gear and their own hand-tied flies. Day one, July 7th, brought Jeff his birthday present; a 30" keeper bass on his own size 1, white Clouser. Both fly fishers were casting fast-sinking lines of 350-400 grains on 9 wgt., Orvis T-3 and Sage RPLXi, respectively. Day two, July 8th, was a different story; for the first two hours we couldn't hook a fish—just raised a few. Then a few terns started circling and diving. On arrival, big bass were busting below the birds spraying silversides out of the water; Doc and Advocate were immediately doubled and into good fish. Most of the bass were between 25 and 27 inches, but mixed in were keepers. Birthday boy, Jeff struck gold first, once again on his small white Clouser. His fish took him into the backing, and when brought to net tipped the Boga to 18# and measured a fat 34 inches; Jeff's personal best on the long rod. Not to be outdone, Doc nailed a twin to Jeff's bass. The foray continued for about an hour with numerous doubles and two more 30" keeper bass added to the 20+ smaller bass.
Capt. Mike Bartlett
B-Fast Charters
www.bfastcharters.com
