Rock Harbor Fishing Report
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
27 June 2007
Changing Weather & Fish
There are a number of events in nature that affect the activity of the fish in Cape Cod Bay. For example, in the summer when we get a cool front move through and we get a hard northwest wind it will push the stripers up on top of Billingsgate Shoals. When the water in on Stoney Bar warms up the bass move out of there and leave it to the bluefish. That's why when you go up into that area and then towards Sunken Meadow you can pretty much count on finding a number of bluefish most of the summer. It's thought that a hard southwest wind can push the bass out into the deeper water off the north edge of the shoals. At any rate, the weather can greatly affect what the fish are doing.
As far as I'm concerned, and I'm not a weatherman, but, we've had both a strange spring and early summer as far as the weather is concerned. So it's not surprising that the fish are acting a wee bit odd. In the last few days the charter fleet has had to work for their fish. We've been finding some bass in each area we look, just not the volume we've normally seen. At other time we've run across large schools that won't hit our baits. The area that the stripers have frequented the most is the deep water on the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. This area is where we will see the stripers on our fish-finders, put an umbrella rig right into them and nothing will happen most of the time. At other times we load up on both bass and bluefish. Go figure...
Where to look next week? The way things look I'd use the shoals as a center point. Start there and work to the north edge out to 50 feet. If not there check out the south edge by jigging along it. Your best results would most likely be to start from east and work to the southwest along the edge. If you still don't find much work out in the deep water, 50 ft. or more, up towards the Path. Covering this ground should produce you some action.
This coming week Rock Harbor is going to have a small tournament on the 3rd of July on the 1/2 day trip scheduled to leave around 11:45 am.. It involves those boats in the association. Anyone who has booked one of our boats on their own or books it through The Booth will automatically be entered. There is no extra entry fee, it is all gratis. There will be awards for the biggest fish, bass or bluefish, second biggest fish, and other more humorous prizes. This tournament is for fun and to promote the sport of fishing. A local band, OVERBOARD, will be performing down at the harbor the evening before, the 2nd of July, approximately 7:00 pm.. If you're interested is viewing the end result of this competition come down to the harbor about 4:00 pm. on the 3rd and give the winners a hand. There are some boats still open if you want to try your luck. Just ask Roxanne at the booth about the tournament.
This last Monday I had a group of guys from New Jersey. They have been out with me before, a few years ago, and they told me we had done fairly well. This time they brought a you gentleman with them. It was his first time fishing in the bay.
It didn't take long for this angler to catch on and he easily landed a striper close to 20 pounds. Ryan Palumbo, 14 years old, from Wantage, N.J. will not soon forget his struggle with this majestic fish.
Don't forget about the tournament on the 3rd of July, but if you'd like to get out any other time give me a call at 508-240-8267 or 508-255-6211 and I'll try and get you out on the bay.
E-mail - stunmai@copper.net
www.capecodbaycharters.com
