Rock Harbor Fishing Report
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
23 May 2007
The Stripers Have Arrived
During this last week and especially this last weekend we enjoyed lovely overcast and rainy weather. It was perfect for lots of indoor activities but not much in the way of fishing. One charter boat out of Sesuit, the Prime Rate did get out and found a number of bass west of the #3 can. He also reported that there were lots of Mackerel over by Sesuit Harbor by the Farway Buoy. This is a good sign.
This time of the season is when many changes take place. Even with the cool and cloudy weather we have had, more and more bass have moved into the Bay. From what we hear from the Nantucket Sound side the bluefish have already arrived in force so it will not be long before they show up here. More times than not the first bluefish will be landed in by the #3 and # 5 cans near Billingsgate Island, most likely on the Eastham side of the channel there. This inside of the elbow of Cape Cod seems to be an important area as far as fish activity. It is also one of the areas where we start catching the larger striped bass of the season. It is probably because it is where the water is the warmest this time of the spring season.
As the season progresses and the weather warms the water these large schools of small stripers move through this area. They stop off and feed as the bait also migrate north. Some of these bass are just legal fish and this makes for good early season fishing. Now, as we get into the middle and end of May we see schools of larger fish move in. Some feel these fish have been here for a while and were just up in the shallower water feeding on some of the herring and small crabs found in those areas. Once the water warms enough these larger bass move out in the deeper water feeding on the same bait the smaller bass had been feeding on, sand eels, squid and anything else that might be swimming in the water.
Last year during the same period of time these large stripers found a number of squid in the area of the inside of the elbow of the Cape, Right in the area between Rock Harbor and Welfleet Harbor. Very handy for us. It looks as if it is happening again. This last week myself, John Shaklis on the Luau, Steve Ellis on the Watanya, Don Viprino of the Osprey, and Eric Stewart on the Hook Up have found a number of stripers up on the Stoney Bar area. Some of these bass have been close to 40 inches long. I've been told by Fran, at the Goose Hummock, that he saw a striper landed in the Sunken Meadow area that had to go 35 to 40 pounds. It was caught from shore. There has to be some really big fish around. Last year I landed a few bass in the 42 inch range in the area between the #3 can and #5 can in the Stoney Bar area. I used hootchies most of the time and also some mackerel type swimming plugs.
Memorial Day Weekend is coming up. It is the official start of the spring fishing season and from all the signs it is going to be a great season. For all of you with your own boats you should have checked everything such as battery condition, having a working radio or cell phone, life preservers and all other safety equipment and a supply of fuel filters with the problems in the new fuel. Also, in this case water and alcohol do not mix well. Unlike a car, you can not pull to the side and walk home. Be very careful and enjoy the holiday weekend and some good fishing.
For those who want to do some fishing and don't have a boat, come down to Rock Harbor. Talk to one of us and we'll get you out for some of the best fishing this season. To contact me call, 508-255-6211 or 508-240-8267.
stunmai@copper.net
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