Rock Harbor Fishing Report
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
28 Aug. 2007
End of the Summer Blitz
The summer season is coming to a close. It seems many of our summer visitors have already left with many schools starting early this year. This does not mean the fish have left too. Just the opposite has happened. At the start of this last week schools of large bass moved into the grass on the southern edge of Billingsgate Shoals. The fishing was fantastic. This is something that will come and go for the rest of our fishing season which will run into Columbus Day Weekend for the most part. During that late summer and early fall we can have some of the best fishing of the season. Especially concerning the striped bass.
Actually, starting last Sunday, we found some large bass in the grass on the southeast section of Billingsgate shoals. This is the first time we've seen this during this season. In years past the first place we looked was there in the grass. Not so this season. We got used to just steaming over this area and going straight to the north edge or to the deep water to find any striper action. Jigging was the method that worked best, However, in the grass, the tube and worm will work very well. It takes a dedicated jigger to work the grass. It can be hard on most anglers, plus you have to learn a slightly different action to make the jig work the best. The tube and worm method is much easier to do and just as productive when done correctly. Some of the bass taken have exceeded 40 pounds.
The tube and worm was, as far as I know, first used in Pleasant Bay many years ago. About ten years ago we tried it here in Cape Cod Bay and it worked very well. Using it in the heavy grass gave us the best results when the fish were there and they they were there quite often. The best way to fish the tube and worm is by using lead core line with a long leader. Lead core comes in a series of colors. Each color is equal to 30 feet so when you set out three colors you have 90 feet of line out. The basic rule of thumb is one color for every 5 feet of water you are in. This is when you use the non-weighted tube. The worm comes in when you place it on the hook of the tube. We believe it adds a scent to the tube which will attract the fish to the tube. The tube itself makes a slow spin as it is trolled through the water. It should be trolled at 1.5 to 2 knots through the water to be the most productive. As with any lure system each fisherman will find the exact speed and line length that works for them in each area. This system works in area where jigging is difficult or the bottom is too irregular.
This last week I had Glen Kaufmann and his three sons, one of their friends and his 14 year old daughter. The fishing was good that day. Not great, we had to work for the bass but the bluefish were coming fast and furiosly. It was not more that 2 to 3 minutes and we had a bluefish on. Now his daughter Emily, who had never been fishing before, was a little reluctant to try jigging out. Once she was harrassed into trying this type of fishing she was hooked up on a fish. It acted different than the bluefish and it wasn't long before we noticed it was a striper and one we could keep. She looked at her brothers and said she could do better. Being a young lady of her word, she promptly hooked up on and landed a striper just shy of 30 pounds.
If you like to get in on some of the good late season fishing call me at: 508-240-8267 or 508-255-6211.
Web Site: www.capecodcharters.com
E-mail: stunmai@copper.net
