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Goose
Hummock.....Outdoor BLOG
We
here at the Goose Hummock Shops have been Cape Cod's #1 outfitter for over
50 years. Not only do we sell our customers quality fishing, boating and
hunting gear but we are also the place locals go to find out about hot
fishing spots, weigh their catches and just shoot the breeze with our
knowledgeable staff. This blog is an offshoot of all that combined
knowledge and information. Between Michael the owner, Julie in the
office, Fran and Sandy in the big store, local fishing reports from
Capt's Hap Farrell and Garret Lascola and me your webmaster, we hope
to give you useful and entertaining items in our blog. Our fishing
reports will be rolled over into this blog starting in 2007 . 2005 reports -
2006 reports are archived
HERE. Enjoy.
questions or comments or a link you think belongs on this Blog? Want to
write for our blog? email
webmaster@goose.com |
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Aug 22, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
It’s Never to Young...
By; Capt/ Hap Farrell
I’m always asked how
young can someone be to come fishing on my charter boat. I ask them
how young their child is and they say 10 to 12 years old. To me that
is more than old enough. I’ve had young boys and girls as young as 6
and 7 land good size bluefish with little assistance. Older children
can fish unassisted. Jigging with the heavier rods may be a little
difficult but it can be done. I have light jigging rods just for
kids and the angler who may want a challenge. This season
Billingsgate Shoals has been very active and should stay this way
for the rest of the fishing season.
This last Sunday, the
22nd, I had Dan Hoskins and his son Jacob out for the half day trip.
We started out trolling hootchies on top of the shoals. I was using
lead core line with a 20 foot leader and six colors out. There are
30 per color so with the leader I had 200 feet of line out. We were
in 15 to 18 feet of water and I was trolling at about 4.4 to 4.8
knots. We hooked up on a big bluefish first and then next, a keeper
striped bass. Both these fish were landed by Jacob. After Dab and
Jacob landed a number of bluefish we switched to jigging, with the
light gear. It wasn’t long before Jacob landed another nice bass.
Jacob is nine years old...
Go down to the Goose
Hummock, look at the tackle they have. Outfit your kids with the
gear they will need to get into this sport and watch their eyes
light up when they catch their first fish.
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Aug 8, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Two New Anglers...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Friday the 6th of August
I had the Austin and Johnson families out on a half day trip. We
left Rock Harbor a little before 6:00 am. and headed for
Billingsgate Shoals. The shoals has been fairly active for the past
few weeks and I figured it would be a good place to start. This
turned out to be an understatement, big time...
We started at the west
end of the shoals just north from where the old wreck buoy used to
be. Once I got to the north edge I turned to the northeast. This is
where I first hooked up. The first fish was about 31 inches. We were
jigging and had wooden head hootchies in the outriggers. Just as the
first fish hit the deck the second jigging wire hooked up and right
after that one of the outrigger lines went off. Two more keepers.
Both in the low 30 inch range. After that all hell broke loose.
Once I had all four lines
out it did not take long before both outriggers hooked up then the
two jig wires, four on.
They were all keepers, or
should I say 3 bass and one really big bluefish. I had six people on
the boat so I could keep 12 bass. Within 45 minutes we were close to
our limit and we had released some bass that were just barely legal.
We were culling for size. This is really good fishing.
There were two young
girls with the group, Emma Johnson 14 and Alissa Austin who is 13,
and they had not done much fishing. Well, this has changed. Emma
landed the biggest striper of the trip, 38 inches, and Alissa’s fish
was good size also. Alissa got treated to fishing behind the sea
clammer and took a really nice fish on some really light gear. Two
fisherpersons are born...
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July 23, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Shoals Come Alive...
Today, the 22nd of July,
we had the northwest wind we needed. In the morning about 7:00 am.
the wind was blowing a good 15 to 20 knots. All the boats from Rock
Harbor set out and jogged to Billingsgate Shoals. We hoped this wind
would blow the fish up on the shoals. It took awhile to get there.
Well, we were right. The
first fish I got on the boat was 45 inches and went about 35 pounds.
It was not long before we had our limit of 8 fish. Most of the fish
were from 32 inches to 38 inches. I have no idea how many keepers we
landed. The wind calmed down and we had a nice easy ride home. A
good day to fish...
Jigging was the best way
to hook up on these fish and they were spread over the entire
shoals. There were some areas with only a few schools, but it would
not take long before you were tight with a good size striper. There
were small fish mixed in but not very many. When we left to head
back to the harbor we could see the big purple spots of fish moving
around on the northern edge of the shoals. There were a lot of fish
there...
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July 19, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
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Where The Fish Are...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Where
are the fish? This has been the question for most of this season.
Right now the bass and bluefish are sticking around in one
particular area. The bass are on the shoals and the bluefish are in
the deep water west of the Path and to the southwest.
Billingsgate Shoals has been a hot spot for striped bass for many
years. Last season this area was void of these striped bass but not
this season. The most active time on the shoals is during the high
water period and wane off near the low water. Jigging is the most
productive method by far.
The
bluefish are really active again near high water and are in the area
known as the square, which is west of Great Island in 50 feet of
water. As the tide drops the bluefish, with some bass mixed in, move
to the north and end up west of the path in 50 to 60 feet of water.
These bluefish are huge, really big, almost 15 pounds. Single
hootchies on either wire of mono will work. If you tried to put out
an umbrella rig it would get destroyed.
I had a
family out who brought two young women with them,. Delaney “Izzy”
Gilbride 15 and Casey Jagemann 13,
to try and take on the bass and bluefish in the bay. They did very
well on the stripers. When we went out into the deep water they both
had a taste of some hard fighting fish. Both of them handled
themselves well.
If
you’d like to gear up to handle these big bluefish and stripers get
into the Goose Hummock and have them show you what you’ll need. They
will get you set up.
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Really Good “Fishin”...
By
Capt. Hap Farrell
This last Tuesday, the
6th of July, I had the Warren family out for a half day trip aboard
the Stunmai II. They have been out before and are used to the fact
that not every trip will produce big fish and lots of them. Dwight’s
kids, Mitch and Jeffery, started fishing when they were really
young, now they can jig with the best of them. So, that’s what we
did. It wasn’t long before we were hooked up. Jigging, being one of
the most productive methods of fishing for stripers in Cape Cod Bay,
was what I had them do so they’d get the bass they wanted. Before
long they both had landed the limit of stripers we could take so
from then on we released all the fish we landed for the rest of the
trip.
Like I said, jigging is
very productive method. You need a fairly stout boat rod with guides
that can handle wire. The rod should also have a roller type tip so
the wire plays over it easily. The reel must also be strong enough
handle the 300 feet of wire you need to make the jig work correctly.
While fishing the jig you must move the rod in a rhythmic manor from
almost touching the rail of the boat to no more that 45 degree
angle. These rhythmic motions are not a jerk but more a pull and
should have more the a one second duration. The frequency must have
a rhythm to it to work best. When the fish hits you do not, and I
say again you do not set the hook. The fish will do that for you.
For any more
clarification go down to the Goose Hummock and ask the guys there
how to get set up to do this. They will show you the tackle needed
and explain the method if you have any question.
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The 4th of July Weekend...
By Capt. Hap Farrell
It is time... Time to get the barbeque going, get
your flip-flops broken in, a good pair of sun glasses, and some sun
screen. Oh yes, sharpen your hooks for some good fishing. That we
have out of Rock Harbor. Some bluefish have shown up just south of
the Path just before high water and some in on the Eastham side of
the channel between the #3 and #5 cans. The striped bass,
billingsgate Shoals is the place to go. The charter fleet is doing
quite well fishing on the north edge of the shoals and from what
they say there is plenty of room for the summer folks this season.
There is something different about this season that
we have not found a good reason for. It’s the lack of the large
numbers of bluefish we normally get by this time of the season.
There are some in off the Eastham shore, and if you catch it right,
there is a fair amount from just south of the Path down to Great
Island. It is just not consistent. A gill-netter I know told me he
has not seen much in the Bay so far. There is a larger number of
seals in on Billingsgate Island and Jeremy's Point when the tides
out. A number of them have been seen with fish, both bass and
bluefish, in their mouths. Remember, we have eliminated their
natural predators and the Indians who lived here before hunted them
so the seal number are way out of balance which is hurting the fish
population.
So far this season jigging has been the best method
in landing the striped bass both on Billingsgate Shoals and up off
of P-town by the Bath House and Race Point and Woodend. The shoals
are probably the most active area down our way and mostly will
continue this way for a while. The deep water off the north edge
also hold some bass and bluefish from time to time. The best way to
hook up on these fish is the umbrella rig on 200 feet of wire. The
Via family can contest to this. They fished with me on the 29th and
easily got all the bass and bluefish they needed jigging on the
shoals.
The first donation of canned goods for the Lower Cape
Outreach Council is going to be made in the names of three anglers.
Maddy White from Chatham, Taylor Burns from Orleans, and Drew Silva
from Harwich. These three young men proved to be relentless anglers
in landing a good number of fish in rough seas and taking home
dinner for their families.
If you’d like to pit yourself and your friends
against the fish in Cape Cod Bay and help out the Outreach Council
give me a call: 508-240-8267 or 508-255-6211.
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June 16, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Billingsgate Shoals is
Active...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Last season Billingsgate
shoals did not produce much in the way of any real fishing. The only
area that produced any amount of fish was the north edge in about 25
feet. Things seem to be changing. During the past week or so the
west end of the shoals has been the area for some really good bass
fishing. We haven’t found any amount of big fish but there are
plenty of legal size bass from 28 1/2 inches to 33 inches. There are
some big fish mixed in, just not a lot. There have been a few larger
fish jigged up in the center of the shoals and up towards Great
Island. The Billingsgate Shoals are coming alive.
Another area that seems
to be showing some activity is the Sunken Meadow area. The bluefish
are making their presence known in the area around the meadow and in
the channel area just off the Eastham flats. I would not be
surprised the stripers are moving into some of their old haunts
also. One of them are the rock piles in the channel between the #3
can and #5 can and just along the end of the shallower water leading
to the Eastham flats. Swimming plugs and hootchies should be working
now with popping plugs when you see fish on the surface.
This season has been a
bit unusual and the fish are acting differently this season than in
the past. The only area that seems to be normal if you want to call
it that is P-town. The fish are either from Wood End to Race Point
or in front of Day’s Cottages. Down by our area the main area is the
north edge of Billingsgate Shoals with other areas getting active
now and then. There are some fish off the edge of the Brewster Flats
with most of these fish being under the legal size. The best area
that has any consistency is in the deep water off the shoals. I
guess you have to go looking for a while until these fish settle in
to one area.
On Tuesday I had Larry
Lovett and two of his friends out for the half day trip. We looked
in three different areas and caught fish in all three. The first
keeper was off one of the rock piles up by the #3 can. The second
was on the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals where we hooked up on a
number of smaller fish. The third keeper was taken in the grass
patches on the east side of the shoals on the out going part of the
tide. It was also the biggest, 34 inches which Larry landed. It was
a good trip.
If you would like to set
yourslef up with the right gear swing down to the Goose Hummock
across from the Stop & Shop in Orleans. They have all the tackle you
might need and if they don’t have something they will do what they
can to get it for you.
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June 10, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Fish Move to the
Shoals...
By: Capt.
Hap Farrell
I have predicted that the
stripers would start moving to different areas in the Bay by this
time of the season. Well, they have, a little bit. By this I mean
they have moved from the northeast section of the north edge of
Billingsgate Shoals down to the southwest near the #1 can at the end
of the shoals. There does not seem to be much activity in by the #3
and #5 cans or along the Eatham shore. I’m at a loss to say why.
There is or was plenty of bait in there. I have found some fish
there, once, but that was it.
Lately, we have been
dealing with an unusual amount of weather changes. Sun and
relatively calm one day, wind and rain the next and then sun and
wind. Plus, the fleet as a whole has been fairly slow this spring so
not that many boats have been out fishing. This makes it hard to
keep track on where the bass and bluefish are concentrating. So far,
it seems that out in the “Square”, an area where the Loran, when it
was working, read 40 over 40 on the 13 and 44 lines, is the most
active area. Another way to find it is 3 miles off Griffin Island
out in 45 to 55 feet of water.
Billingsgate Shoals is
starting to get a little active now, especially on the west end.
This is good sign because last season the shoals itself was dead. It
was unusual to find any amount of fish on top of the shoals. It was
the north edge out in 25 to 30 feet that was the most productive
area. Now, it is the south edge and up on top anywhere from the #1
can and a mile or so to the east.
The 3rd Annual Vets Fish
P-town was a big success last Saturday. Even with wind and rain six
boats from Rock Harbor made up and took these vets and their
families fishing. I had Kyle and his uncle Joe, plus Dominik and
Katye who were marines. Kyle’s father is in Iraq serving as an MP so
Joe, his brother accompanied Kyle out fishing. We got everyone a
keeper, as the other boats did, and a large number of small fish.
The weather improved and it turned into a great day for all.
Capt. John Shakliks, of
the Luau, had a regular trip with Dick Stroble and Kenny Henderson,
from Stockholm, N.J., plus their crew, that day and fished
Billingsgate Shoals and the north edge. They landed a full
compliment of stripers trolling, casting and jigging. Capt. Shakliks
threw everything including the kitchen sink at these fish with
extremely good success. His anglers were worn to a nub by the end of
the trip, but they were smiling from ear to ear.
If you’d like to get into
some this really good bass fishing give me a call and we’ll get you
out and see how lucky you are.
508-240-8267 or
508-255-6211
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June 2, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Stripers Move to Deep
Water...
By Capt.
Hap Farrell
This last Sunday, the
30th of May, I had Bob Cantin and his family members out for a half
day trip. Up until lately most of the bass had been west of where
the old Target Ship was. Some of those fish are still there but a
new group of much bigger fish have moved into the deep water, 50 to
60 feet deep, off the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals.
Some of these will hit
swimming plugs on mono but most o f the big fish are hitting the six
arm umbrella rig with either a swimming plug or a spoon on the
trailer. Rods with 200 feet of wire work best, but the 150 foot
wires will work. Just let the knot between the wire and backing out
20 to 25 feet. When you mark the school on your fish finder just
slow a bit and wait. If they are hungry you'll get one on. If not
try another school. There seems to be plenty of them.
I get my six arm rigs at
the Goose. The black and red or at times the all white or black and
white work best. They come with the bugs (teasers) in with the rig
and are all set up. All you have to do is clip them on and them make
up a leader for your trailer. Good luck, the Cantins certainly had
some, especial you Lisa who had never caught a fish ever.
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May 28, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Good
Fishing Continues...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It was close to the
Memorial Day Weekend, Thursday the 27th to be exact, when I took
Harry Pike and some friends on a half day trip out of Rock Harbor in
Orleans. The stripers have been in an area west of where the old
Target Ship used to be, about three mile to the west. They are still
there and there are plenty of them. You can see them rolling as the
chase the small sand eels they are eating. For what ever reason they
will not hit the outriggers trolling surface plugs. What they will
grab is an umbrella rig using 150 feet of wire. So, for most of the
trip that is what we used.
When you have a chance
head down to the Goose Hummock and they will set you up with one of
the best rigs on the market.
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May 19, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Stripers in
Abundance...
By:
Capt. Hap Farrell
Last weekend the striped
bass showed up in Cape Cod Bay down by Rock Harbor in force. I also
heard they were plentiful in the P-town area and around the #1 can.
What I do know and caught were bass from 29 inches up to 36 inches
in the area known as the New Grounds which is basically west of
where the old Target Ship once was and north of the Brewster Flats
in the area that is between 26 and 30 feet of water. The sign that
gives away the exact location is look for a few birds flittering
around and then dive to one spot. You will see the swirl of the
fish. Troll through the area with an umbrella rig on 150 foot to 200
foot wire set up at about 3.5 to 4 knots.
The weather has been
excellent, especially compared to last May. We did not have a spring
last season but we are having one now. This is going to help the
fishing out greatly. Water temperature and bait are the two most
important aspects to an active fishing season. We have both. The
water temperature is coming up quickly and there is plenty of bait
around to keep the fish here. If not by this weekend then most
likely by next week the fish around South Sunken Meadow and off Cole
Road will move out to the deep water exposing them to the boat
fisherman.
Other areas where fish
have either been seen or caught are many. To start with P-town had a
big school of legal and undersize fish between Race point and around
to Long Point and some over by Day’s Cottages. A school was spotted
just off shore of the Pamet River. The north edge of Billingsgate
Shoals was spotted and these fish were big ones. They were thought
to be from 20 to 40 pounds. Also there is a reliable rumor that some
really big bass were caught around the #1 can on the southwest end
of the shoals that were up to 56 inches in length. That is a big
fish. From what I hear these fish were caught using live mackerel.
Things will change pretty
quick as May processes. Once the fish along the Eastham shore move
out into the deeper water and the water warms a bit more more fish
will move out onto Billingsgate Shoals and to the north edge. Many
of the really big fish will continue to move north on their
migration.
The best lure system will
remain to be the umbrella rig however, swimming plugs and soon a
hootchie will also work well. Jigging with 300 ft of wire will also
work in the right circumstance. Time will tell so be ready for every
situation.
Last weekend, the 16th, I
had Dave Smith, Justin Gilbride, Pete Davenport, Vin Zackes, and Kim
Jagemann out on a half day trip. Actually it was their second trip.
They were out on the 14 th also. On both trips we fished west of the
old Target Ship. On both days we did very well. On the first trip we
got our limit and the second we were one shy of the limit. The
umbrella rig was the primary lure system. As I said this system will
be the main stay for the next few weeks.
If you’d like to know how
to set up this system stop down at the Goose Hummock and they will
help you set up the very successful system.
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May 18, 2010 Blog Entry :
Anonymous poster |
Notes from a seminar at Arey's Pond Boat
Yard held last Saturday:
• The new break has accelerated tidal currents in the bay,
especially
in the area around Chatham Light. The tide now runs through there at
a
speed usually associated with river rapids, according to a marine
biologist whose name I didn't get. He is a life long Pleasant Bay
boater and summer resident of Orleans. His research connection is
to
Harvard; he was impressively well informed and while not a jeremiah
on
the subject of climate change (never used the term global warming)
he
was pessimistic about the long run weather effects on the Cape.
Lots
more strange patterns such as those that led to heavy snows in the
Mid-
Atlantic last winter and heavy downpours this spring on the cape,
he
thinks.
• He emphatically said that because of the speed of the tidal
currents, prudent sailors will wear a life jacket this season. He
recommended a model sold by Goose Hummock in Orlean's.
Tony, the boat yard owner, concurred saying, "You used to be
able
to walk ashore if your boat capsized in Pleasant Bay. No more
the
tidal current is now simply too strong."
• For emergencies he recommended a cell phone with the number
for
Station Chatham on speed dial. New cell phone gps technology allows
the USCG to locate the user quickly. Dialing 911 connects to a
state
police center in western Massachusetts where the operator is
unlikely
to have any idea where Pleasant Bay is.
• A hand held uhf radio capable of broadcasting on ch.17 was
also
recommended.
• Marine biologist said that the seal population has increased
to the
point where it's common to see as many as 400-500 hauled out at low
tide on a single sand bar. Having so many seals will bring white
sharks back to the cape this summer, he predicted. "When they look
at
the Chatham area, they think lunch," he said. He doubts they will
enter the bay however, which caused the assembled sailors to emit a
looong sigh of relief.
• The annual cat boat gathering in late August will feature two
very
large cats - both in the 30' plus range. They will come from the
New
York area. These boats have followers on social web sites so they
are
expected to attract a larger than usual number of out of towners
for
the weekend races.
• The boat yard was flooded by coastal storms four times this
past
winter so Tony will move a number of his operations to a facility
in
the Orleans industrial park.
Don't know about you gents but this sailor will take the advice
offered and get a non bulky life jacket. And I plan to wear it.
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May 12, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The Season Begins...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Cape Cod is at the
threshold of another season. We actually had a spring this year
although you might not know it by this last week. The boats were in
Rock Harbor early this year, it was warm, and we all hope the fish
will be early also. We should find out this weekend, if the weather
cooperates.
The first sign that we
may have an active summer fish wise was a healthy herring run. All
the runs were full with nice big herring. Other bait showed up early
like the sand eels and such. There’s even a fair amount of squid in
the sound right now, so when they show up in the Bay the stripers
will really get active.
Speaking of stripers,
they also were among the early arrivals. First the sound side of the
Cape showed good signs of small fish. Then Pleasant Bay, after that
fish were caught up in the Sunken Meadow area. Now the sound is
loaded, and there’s a good amount in Pleasant Bay. Barnstable Harbor
has fish in it. A little better than a week ago two boats found a
big school of stripers attacking a school of herring just outside
Sesuit Harbor.
There were fish in that
school up to 35 inches and they were hungry. Big fish are being
caught off Cole Road in Eastham by the herring run and up at South
Sunken Meadow. So, the charter fleet is getting ready for these fish
to move into the deeper water which they fish in. That should happen
any time now. A few warm sunny days and look out.
Last season the bass
first got active west of where the old Target Ship used to be. Also,
just off the Brewster Flats out in front of Paine’s Creek. There
were some fish off the herring run near Cole Road in Eastham out in
20 feet of water, but only a few. Another spot was along the south
edge of Billingsgate Shoals about half way from the #1 can to the #3
can. At any rate, there seemed to be a lot of fish around. By all
signs, this season will be better.
If you are in Orleans,
stop at the Goose Hummock and ask how the fishing is. The guys there
will tell you where the actions is and what is working the best for
the Bay, the Beaches, Ponds, and anywhere fish swim.
If you’d like to get in
on this early season fishing give me a call. There is a striper with
your name on it out there somewhere. Cell: 508-240-8267, Home:
508-255-6211.
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May 6, 2010 Blog Entry :
Store Fishing Report |
Well the ponds are active and the state has done a great job stocking the
ponds! The trout have been taking everything form bait to artificial lures.
The new rapala maxx rap has killed everything we have thrown at it from bass
to salmon and everything in between. Big cliff has been a popular hot spot
with many angles fishing from the boat ramp but don’t be discouraged if this
area is packed there has been plenty of fish all the way around the pond
providing plenty of new hot spots. The Bass in the ponds have been super
hungry eating what is ever in front of them, because they are getting ready
to bed up! Some of the smallmouth are already bedded up and are ready to
spawn. Top lure for these fish have been spinner baits, soft plastics, pig
and jigs, jerk baits and crank baits.
Saltwater is picking up with herring and pogies are showing up with a few
squid here and there and we have great reports of keepers being caught from
Barnstable harbor to Eastham. Some people are getting these fish on jigs and
other artificial but the majority has been on chunk bait herring, macks, and
pogies! Red river has seen bass with an occasional bluefish and flounder
fisherman have been finding them when the wind is not blowing by the target
ship! Plus the ground fish has been red hot providing plenty of fish for the
freezer the east side of stellwaggen has been hot. There have been some nice
cod caught but most of the action has been haddock and pollock! 17 + oz jigs
are need because these fish have been staging up in the deeper water!
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May 3, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
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The Bay is Coming Alive...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It’s the 1st of May. A
sunny day, warm with no wind to speak of. I moved my boat over from
Sesuit to Rock Harbor the day before. Now I’m getting all the gear
on it, the chairs, tackle, rods and reels, plus doing some small
projects before the season starts. This will all be done the next 4
to 5 days. It’s dubbing around time. My first rip is around the
middle of the month. I will get out a few times before that to see
what is happening, but for now it’s dubbing time.
Chuck Cataldo, on the
Fair Lady got out today to see if there were any fish up towards
Welfleet and along the Eastham Shore. He found a few Mackerel and
one small striper. That’s a good sign. They are getting small
keepers in South Sunken Meadow now by drifting sea worms, so the
bigger fish are here, that is a really good sign.
The next few days will
tell whether the bigger fish will come out from the shallow water.
If it stays mostly sunny and warm for the next 3 to 5 days the
keeper size bass will move into the 15 to 25 foot water where they
will start feeding on the squid and mackerel in the area. At that
point we have them where we want them and we’ll start catching them.
There are small stripers
in Barnstable Harbor and I’m sure they will be off the Brewster
Flats soon. I heard another report that some good sized bass are up
in South Sunken Meadow now. Chucked mackerel works well there.
Pleasant Bay has schoolies. It seems more fish are coming and soon.
On the 2nd of May you could get a fair amount of mackerel just east
of the # 3 can near Billingsgate Island. They are perfect for tuna
fishing later. Just a few more sunny days. That’s all we need.
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April 30 2010 Blog Entry :
Webmaster |
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2010 Kids Fishing Tournament
Sr. Pickerell
1.
Jim Ilkovich
a.
3.52
2.
Jim Ilkovich
a.
3.4
3.
John Daley
a.
3.2
Sr. Trout
1.
Chad Avery
a.
1.5
Sr. Bass
1.
Jim Ilkovich
a.
4.3
2.
Tom Pike
a.
3.8
3.
Tom Pike
a.
3.4
Jr. Girls Trout
1.
Madison Daley
a.
.9
2.
Grace Fernandez
a.
.89
3.
Lexi Griffin
a.
.88
Jr. Girls Perch
1.
Madison Daley
a.
1.1
2.
Madison Daley
a.
1.02
3.
Isabel Travers
a.
1.01
Jr. Girls Bass
1.
Madison Daley
a.
2.8
2.
Isabel Travers and Madison Daley
a.
2.7
Jr. Girls Pickerell
1.
Madison Daley
a.
1.84
2.
Madison Daley and Elizabeth Avory
a.
1.8
Jr. Boys Brown Trout
1.
Liam St. Aubin
a.
2.28
2.
Tyler Brundage
a.
2.1
Jr. Boys Bass
1.
Ben Pike
a.
5.51
2.
Neil Connell
a.
5.2
3.
Richie Emerson
a.
5.1
Jr. Boys Pickerell
1.
Richie Emerson
a.
3.8
2.
Macklin Devine
a.
3.4
3.
Liam St. Aubin
a.
2.8
Jr. Boys Perch
1.
Xavier Freeman
a.
1.1
2.
Jake Travers and Ben Travers
a.
1.0
Jr. Boys Rainbow
Trout
1.
Tyler Brundage
a.
1.5
2.
Garret Argir and Avery Argir
a.
1.3
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April 6, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The Bass Aren’t Far
Behind
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Cape Cod does not have
much of a spring. Usually we’ll see some warmth by mid to late
April. Not this spring. We may actually have one. It’s the fourth of
April and it is 70 degrees out right now and the long range
prediction has sun for most of the next ten days.
I made it up to the
Brewster Herring Run at the right time today. The town has been
working on it, putting in new walkways and cleaning it up so you
couldn’t park during the week. I caught a seagull gorging himself or
herself on a big fat one. In the picture with this report you can
see the tail sticking out of his mouth.
If the water temperature
rises a little more I think we will see schoolies at the narrows at
pochet Island and the River Road area in Orleans. I also think many
of the estuaries on the south shore of the Cape have fish in them
now. They might not eat right now, but soon, very soon...
So, get down to the Goose
Hummock. Load up on while jigs, which worked well last early season.
Hit River Road Landing mid month anf then South Sunken Weadow at the
end of this month.
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Feb 9, 2010 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Cape Cod Bay’s 2010
Season...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
What is going to happen
in Cape Cod Bay this season? That question is asked by most every
charter captain that fishes those waters whether it is to anther
fisherman or to themselves. No one can really know the answer, all
you can do is come up with an educated guess. So here it is.
Each year the striped
bass seem to congregate in a different area. Last season it was
P-town. The season before that it was Scorton Ledge. Where are they
going to settle down this coming season? A good educated guess would
be the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. Last season the whole edge
was inundated with sand eels all summer. There were stripers there
but most of them were under size fish. I think they’ll tell their
big brothers and sisters about all the food that was there and they
all will show up this year. Really, fish seem to work in cycles and
it’s been a while since the bass concentrated either on the shoals
or on the north edge. I think or maybe hope that they will show up
on the shoals.
The bluefish will most
likely do pretty much the same as they did last season. The main
area for these fish will be off the Path on the Welfleet/Truro line,
off the Eastham shore, and the deep water from the north edge up to
Day’s Cottages near P-town.
I’ve been writing reports
and articles for a few web sites like this one, which is one of the
better ones by the way, for a while now. I also write a small weekly
report in the Cape Codder, a local newspaper for the Lower Cape
area. The one thing I’ve noticed is that they are not as timely as
I’d like. So, I’m making changes in web site,
www.capecodbaycharters.com, so I can post timely reports on what
exactly is happening in Cape Cod Bay. They will be short in nature
and right to the point, giving areas, what lures seem to be working
the best, and such like that. It should be up and running in a week
or two. Until the fishing starts I’ll put occasional short
statements on what to do to get ready.
If you have a Facebook
account type in one of these pages: Stunmai II Charter Fishing,
Stunmai II Sportfishing Service, or Sportfishing, Rock Harbor, Cape
Cod. This will show you something of what I do fishing in the Bay.
There are videos on each site. I’ve have videos up on YouTube also.
Just type in the search box Stunmai II and they will come up. What
I’m hoping is that those who come to the Cape and want to fish the
Bay will put my information to good use. Of course, those who are
coming to go fishing will look me up to take them out for a day or
half day of good Cape Cod Bay fishing. That is what I do.
 
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Dec
14, 2009 Blog Entry :
Webmaster |
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2009 Archery Harvest |
Date |
Town |
Sex |
Weight |
Points |
|
William Barabe Jr. |
12-Oct |
Harwich |
Buck |
110
lbs |
3 pts. |
|
David M. Davis |
13-Oct |
Chatham |
Buck |
155.5 |
8 |
|
Jeff Lavoye |
26-Oct |
Orleans |
Buck |
136 |
4 |
|
Walter Fogg |
31-Oct |
Harwich |
Doe |
92.5 |
|
|
Mike Escher |
3-Nov |
Orleans |
Spike |
104 |
2 |
|
Mike Woods |
4-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
141 |
7 |
|
Jeff Richardson |
6-Nov |
Orleans |
Spike |
|
2 |
|
Sal Manganaro |
7-Nov |
Shrewsbury |
Buck |
160 |
10 |
|
Jason Condit |
9-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
215 |
7 |
|
William Sprague |
11-Nov |
Eastham |
Buck |
100.5 |
4 |
|
Chris Vardakis |
11-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
112 |
8 |
|
Matt Mallowes |
14-Nov |
Chatham |
Buck |
106.5 |
6 |
|
Cecil Newcomb |
15-Nov |
Ohio |
Buck |
160.5 |
8 |
|
Kevin Smith |
16-Nov |
Orleans |
Doe |
83 |
|
|
Doug Cox |
16-Nov |
Truro |
Buck |
152 |
6 |
|
Mike Woods |
17-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
146 |
9 |
|
Kenneth Macphee |
18-Nov |
Truro |
Buck |
121 |
9 |
|
Daryl Chase |
19-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
166 |
4 |
|
Louis Boudreau |
19-Nov |
Harwich |
Buck |
96.5 |
3 |
|
Dawson farber |
19-Nov |
Orleans |
Buck |
197 |
6 |
|
Kevin Mendes |
21-Nov |
Harwich |
Buck |
103 |
6 |
|
Andrew Kogut |
21-Nov |
Brewster |
Buck |
138.5 |
8 |
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Nov 6, 2009 Blog Entry :
Webmaster |
Check out the official weigh in of a
Tuna caught from a kayak!
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091106/MEDIA0302/911069984/-1/NEWS
and the article here
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091106/NEWS/911060327
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Oct 15 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The Fish May Go, But They’ll Be Back...
Capt. Hap Farrell
I fish
out of Rock Harbor in Orleans, Ma. on Cape Cod. We’re located on the
inside of the elbow of the Cape so we fish the waters of Cape Cod
Bay. Even though our season was a little slow trip-wise, the fishing
was very good over all. There were days that all we found were
bluefish, but we found plenty of them. There were days that we
hooked up on some big stripers and when we did there were plenty of
them also. For the most part we had good fishing with a little of
both, good size bass and a fair amount of bluefish. It’s not so much
the amount of fish caught it’s also about how you catch them.
At the
end of the Columbus Day weekend there were still fish in the Bay.
The north edge of Billingsgate Shoals was loaded with bait and a
good amount of small bass and bluefish. There were a few keepers
mixed in. I imagine they will be around for a while more. I’m out of
the water now so I’m starting to think about next season.
Speaking of next season... This year I had Tom, down at the Goose
Hummock, build two rods for using the tube and worm with lead core
line. I wanted them to have plenty of muscle but also absorb enough
of the energy of the fish so a young person could handle the fish
easily. He put together the perfect tubing rod doing just what I
wanted it to. Now I want to design a pair of rods to use with 10 to
12 lb. test mono for both bass and bluefish. I’ve been using store
bought rods which are all right but now I have a better idea of the
action I’d like these new ones to have. Again, I’d like to give a
seasoned angler a thrill yet have the ability to show a young angler
a good time. I specialize in light trolling gear and carry over 30
rods aboard the boat. Each pair designed for a specialize method
from jigging with light wire on very light action rods to tournament
grade 2 lb. test line on hand built rods.
This
last season I took a number of stripers over 30 pounds on line as
light as 6 lb. test tackle, but most of the people using this light
gear enjoyed the 10 to 12 test set ups I carry. That’s why I’m
having these rod built. I can’t wait ‘till next season. Only 200
some days to go...
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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Sept 24, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
As
the Season Winds Down...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
This
has been one of the strangest seasons in Cape Cod Bay in a number of
years. The first part was rainy without much sun. The second part of
the season had the stripers moving from place to place without
telling anyone where they went to. Even the bluefish were not as
predictable as normal. We muddled through and made the best of
things. So, why should this fall be any different.
The
bluefish have settled down to one basic area. That’s off the Path.
Sometimes we will find some along the north edge where would
normally find the striped bass. At times there have been some
bluefish along the Eastham shore and over by the #3 can. That is
where they normally hang out during the fall, not this one though.
The
striped bass. That is one of the biggest enigmas this season. In
years past Billingsgate Shoals was where these bass would congregate
before moving south. Lately, they have taken up other areas. This
season it is either off the parking lot by Corporation Beach near
Barnstable Harbor or more often up by P-town. In the P-town area
they can be either by Day’s Cottages or by the Bath House near Race
Point. Sometimes in both places.
I hope
this helps your searching for either of these fish. Don’t worry you
will have plenty of help looking for them. You can stop by the Shop
(Goose Hummock) and ask one of the guys there. They will know what
is happening from day to day.
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Sept 22, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Garret LaScola |
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Fishing Report
for September 22, 2009
Well we have had
some nice openings in the weather this week and it was well worth the wait.
We found tuna east of Chatham from 4 miles all the way out to the sword
crashing half beaks. The troll has been slow on this seize but if you’re in
the general area casting plugs and rubber at these fish have been paying
off. Some of these fish we are seeing are anywhere from 28” to 70” class
fish. We are finally relieved to see these smaller fish in good numbers.
We at the shop we concerned that the new off spring just were not around at
all due to overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Hot lures have been RonZ,
Slugos, Got Strypers, Ocean Lure Half beaks and Sp minnows, Hydro poppers,
Tuna hunters and Sebile stick shads and poppers.
Up to the north
has been a little bit slow but still plenty of action to get your heart
pumping. There has been some nice commercial fish caught off the south west
corner of Stellwagen. Seems that most of these fish have been taken on
kiting bluefish, or blues down a little bit deeper on a flat line. The
troll has slowed down a bit but trolling meat such as ballyhoo and rigged
blue fish have been getting the bites.
Bass action has
been sprat tic everywhere for the most part we have seen some nice fish
caught off the Brewster flats on bait and fly rods. On Monday it seemed
that all the fish wanted for the most part was chartreuse clousers. Guys
throwing bait during the day have been doing the best on freshly raked
sandeels.
Seems that we are
seeing lots of bluefish towards race point, Lieutenants Island, Nantucket
sound over towards Hardings beach, have been producing great top water
bluefish action. Seems that any popper whether it is a sinking style or one
the floats will work. If you’re looking to do number of fish you might want
to take all the trebles off and replace them all with a single buck tail
hook and mash down the barbs. This will be a little safer for you to
un-hook the fish and less strenuous on the fish if you plan on releasing it.
The past week has
produced some great Albie fishing off Monomoy Island with light tackle and
fly gear. If you’re looking for one of the most challenging fish for their
size get some small tins, rubber bait or epoxy fly patterns and chase these
fish as the crash on baitfish. |
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Sept 16, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Garret LaScola |
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Fishing report
for September 15, 2009
Well the weather
is cooling off but it seems that the fishing heating up from Falmouth to
Provincetown. The past few weeks more and more bait has been showing up in
good numbers, whether it is offshore or inshore. We have notice that more
Pogies(menhaden) peanut bunker, butterfish and small juvenile squid showing
up in the sound with plenty of bass and blues chasing them around. Bass and
bluefish are not the only fish harassing these baitfish, we have gotten some
great reports of albies and bonito showing up. Seems the hot spot for these
guys has been off Craigsville beach from the shore where t hey have been
taking small tins, haw river sting silver youzuri livebait minnow jig,
rapala x wrap jerkbaits and small flies such as a rody chovie or any other
small epoxy pattern. A fast retrieve has been the method of choice with an
occasional pause on the presentation.
Fishing for bass
and bluefish has been good and fishing the rips off Chatham has been good
many anglers have been jigging wire in the rips but the majority of fish
being caught has been on light tackle. The reason being is that most of the
bait in the rip has been of a smaller size and throwing small imitation
baitfish and squid bodies seem to be getting the bite. Popular lure have
been RonZ, bomber long A’s, Diawa saltiga Laser and Sp minnows, Timber wood
swimmers and Tsunami TC poppers!
Provincetown
still remains to be holding fish from Race point towards the day cottages
and the fish seem to be taking top water plugs early and switching over to
soft baits rigged on a jig head bounced off the bottom. There seems to be
lots of big fish moving around the area with the occasional bluefish blitz
occurring.
TUNA, TUNA, TUNA
seem to be everywhere from east of Chatham to Stellwagen bank and inside
Cape Cod Bay. East of Chatham has produced some of the most explosive
action ever seen out east. There seem to be an abundance of half beaks and
these baits fish are being destroyed by fish from small 40 pounders to 400
pounds. These fish have been keyed on these bait for the few past weeks and
trying to get them to eat plastic squid has been difficult. The spinning
rod guys have been doing well with got stypers, slugos, shankas, RonZ, ocean
lure half beaks, and saltiga large poppers.
A few giants are
being caught on bluefish, shad and pogies (menhaden) around Cape Cod Bay,
Peaked Hill bar and Stellwagen Bank. Some of these fish are bruisers and 50
# class gear is no match for these fish it seems you need at least the 80w’s
for these fish. Inside the bay there has been plenty of sbft that are
adequate for casting and fly rods these fish seem to be feeding on sandeels
but the word is that there have been some peanut bunker showing up inside
the bay.
The north east
edge of Stellwagen Bank has been producing some nice ground fish action with
bait, jig and bugs. There has been some nice size cod and haddock towards
the double L’s. Every once in a while we have heard of some nice wolfish
being caught. |
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Sept 3, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Staying
in Form...
Capt. Hap Farrell
Practice makes perfect is an old saying but is true. To stay good at
something you must practice. That was all the excuse Miss Anne
MacDonald needed to come down to Cape Cod to fish. That and to check
on her mother’s cottage in Eastham.
Anne
loves bluefish and likes catching them even more. So, I took her to
one of the areas that is producing a lot of these fish. That is off
Great Island on the Bay side out in 20 feet of water. Hootchies work
very well or a umbrella rig on 150 feet of wire. I prefer the
hootchie on mono or I also use lead core line. In this case I used
12 lb. test lead core line. The other area that is producing
bluefish is off the Eastham shore in the shallow water, under 15
feet. The hootchie on mono works in this area. Anne has been at this
for a number of years now having been a fill in mate on the charter
boats in Rock Harbor back in the mid 80’s.
A new
angler has come on the scene. She is much like Anne was when she was
young. Brook Reese, who is 12 ish and from California, is new to
this sport but is taking to it like a duck to water. I had her out
this last Wednesday, the 2nd of September, and put out some of the
lighter tackle. It was not long before Brook was fighting these hard
fighting bluefish standing up using a belt and taking on these fish
with 12 lb test line. Brook and her father are frequent customers of
the Goose and they will be gearing up for next summer with some of
the Goose Hummocks light gear.
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Aug 26, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The
Shoals Come Alive...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Last
season at the beginning of August Billingsgate Shoals went dead. The
only fish we could find were some bluefish and a few small stripers.
It was not all that hot last season before the 1st of August. When
this season started we checked the shoals out but still did not find
any large bunches of fish which the area has been known for.
Starting around the mid of July we found some schools of bass on the
west end of the shoals but they were there off and on. No real
pattern or time you can expect to find them there. It seems this may
be changing. A week of so before “Bill” came on the we found many
schools of legal fish on the north edge of the shoals. They extended
from the west end area right along to the middle of the shoals and
even up to the northeast end. The fish may be back. It’s not unheard
of to hook up on a 40 plus inch fish either.
In
years past the end of August and the beginning of September has been
a good time for finding big stripers and really large bluefish. The
big bluefish have shown up around the Path from 50 feet of water
into 25 feet. They might also start showing up back in the deep
water off the north edge of the shoals. Also, the bluefish should
return to the shallow water off the Eastham shore. This can happen
when we get our first real cold front moving through. But what
really should give us good reason to work the shoals is the bass
moving up on the shoals with the cooling of the surface temperature
of the water in the Bay. One other area that will show more activity
is the Brewster Flats during the flood tide and the deeper water off
the end of the flats when the tide drops. As far as P-town is
concerned, that place is just loaded with fish and no one knows when
it will end.
The
lures of choice can be somewhat narrowed down. The umbrella rig is
always a good choice, but the hootchie and the jigged eel are the
two main lures to have ready. They both can be used in shallow water
where the umbrella rig has to have at least 15 to 18 feet of water
to be used affectively. So, make sure your jig rods have a full 300
feet of wire and your mono lines for the hootchies are around 250
feet in length and you’ll be ready when the big fish move onto
Billingsgate Shoals.
Last
Monday I was on the north edge right where all these big stripers
have moved to. I had Eric Murphy and his father James out for a half
day of fishing. Last time they were out with me was a few years ago
and we had done very well with some good sized bass. This season was
no different. We had one just legal fish and two more good size bass
in the boat when James hooked up on a fish that didn’t seem to want
to come in. After a good prolonged battle James watched a 35 pound
46 inch striper come over the rail. Not bad for a man in his 70’s.
If
you’d like to try for a fish like James Murphy give me a call. I
can’t promise the fish, but we’ll certainly try for it. Cell:
508-240-8267, Home: 508-255-6211.
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Aug 20, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Garret LaScola |
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Fishing report
for the week of August 20, 2009
Well the bass
fishing has slowed down towards Provincetown seems that the fish have had a
case of lock jaw. From what we have been seeing the bass are there but the
fishing pressure in this area has been high all summer, especially with the
commercial bass season going on. Live eels still seem to be doing the trick
and some anglers have been trolling tube and worm just outside of the fleet
and picking up some nice bass. Bluefish seem to be in abundance and running
hutchies on mono seems to be keeping the rods bent.
Bass fishing off
Monomoy Island has been getting better with more and more fish showing up in
the rips. Squid imitations and sandeels drifted in the current seems to be
getting the bites. Also in the deeper water anglers have been dragging 4
and 6 arm umbrella rigs with a bomber down the center and pick up bass and
bluefish. These fish seem to be holding anywhere from 40 to 80 feet of
water.
Tuna fishing
still remains great off Chatham and Provincetown with many anglers cashing
in on trolling ballyhoo with skirts and naked. There still are some fish
out there eating trolled plastic but the majority of the fish being caught
has been on meat. Also anglers have been fishing live baits with kites and
balloons such as Bluefish, Pogies and Shad. The Hook of choice seems to be
a live bait 9/0 whether it is a gamagatzu or owner offshore hook.
The hot spots
seem to be south west of the BC Buoy east of Chatham, Peaked Hill bar off
the coast of Provincetown, and The Stellwagen Bank area from the double LL’s
toward the South West Corner of the Bank.
Plus with this
hot weather it is shark season and the fish are hungry, the sharking has
been good when you find structure and deep water. East of Chatham there has
been plenty of monster blue sharks and we have been getting reports of some
makos, and threshers. The key is setting up a good slick and getting some
fresh bait to chuck over the side. With the abundance of bluefish around it
isn’t hard to make bait on your trip offshore.
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Aug 18, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The Trip
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Last
Saturday, the 15th of Aug., I took a few friends fishing for the
day. Like a busman’s holiday of sorts. I run a charter boat out of
Rock Harbor so I ended up taking my mate Pete and his sister Sarah,
Meghean, the daughter of a a regular customer, a friend of hers
Nick, and Danielle. Danielle is the girlfriend of one of the other
mates who work at the harbor. Matt had to work but Danielle came
anyway, She doesn’t get much of a chance to fish. Anyway, it was
just going to be a low pressure trip, just hit some of the more
active areas and see what mother nature would hand us. Remember
these spots because for the most part they are good areas to check
out if you’re not sure where to start fishing.
The
first area we hit was just off Henderson’s Rock outside Great Island
in Welfleet. I started in 15 feet of water and worked out to 20
feet. It was a dropping tide so I figured the fish would be coming
out of the shallows. Soon as I hit 20 feet we started hooking up on
good size bluefish. I stayed inside the pot line and zigzagged from
15 feet out to 25 feet catching fish well past the Path. Things
slowed down just south of the Pamet but picked up as soon as I went
past the river. Everyone landed at least 10 fish each. I used
floating lures in the outriggers and hootchies on lead core with
five colors out. I use a 30 leader so it’s like have another color
out of the real.
We cut
across to Wood End to go bass fishing from there up towards the Bath
House. I put up my outriggers because it can get tight there with
all the boat traffic. I used the tube and worm system with six
colors out. Red tubes seemed to work best this day. You have to stay
in the 30 to 35 foot depth range and this can be very difficult with
all the boats trying to do the same thing. If you have fished there
you know what I mean. If you have not experience is your only guide.
Anyway we got four nice bass in about one hour with a few undersize
bass and a few bluefish. Our biggest bass, landed by Sarah, was a
solid twenty five pounds and 42 inches in length.
After
that we went back to the North Range, which is just north of the
Path. There we set out the six pound test gear with small hootchies.
After landing 5 or 6 fish we jogged home. The three young ladies,
two on the bow and one in one of the chairs, fell asleep to the
sound of the engine.
For
those who want to try areas other then the ones I have mentioned so
far, go check out these areas: The shallow water off the Eastham
shore for bluefish. Out in the deep water off the north edge of
Billingsgate Shoals out to 55 feet. At times there are both bass and
bluefish on the west end of the shoals. Jigging works best in the
area.
If
you’d like to try one of the spots give me a call at: 508-240-8267
or 508-255-6211.
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Aug 5, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Mid Summer Fishing
Capt. Hap Farrell
It’s
mid summer and the Cape finally has the warm, humid days with some
sun for those who came here for that summer glow. The fishing is the
same way. The fish and the fisherman have set into somewhat of a
routine. The bluefish are either up in the Sunken Meadow area and
along the Eastham shore or up by the Path, or even in both places.
The bass are either on the shoals, primarily the west end, or out in
the deep water. P-town is also a very good bet for stripers. Right
now it seems it is the only place in the Cape area that is producing
big fish on a regular basis. Some areas around Martha’s Vineyard and
Nantucket are also producing big bass but P-town seems to be more
consistent. However, August is here now. Things may be about to
change.
For
some of the more unusual areas to fish try the “Fingers” using the
tube and worm. Fish eight colors and go very slow. There some big
fish there. The deep water off the north edge of Billingsgate
Shoals. Also, there are a few big bass left in the New Grounds. You
just have to find them.
The
bluefish, the backbone of our business, are well and in large
numbers from Henderson’s Rock outside of Great Island in Welfleet up
towards the Path. Actually you can fish up to the Pamet River and do
well catching these fish. Just stay inside the pot line and use
hootchies on mono. If you really would like to load your boat put
out an umbrella rig on 150 feet of wire and hang on.
What we
need right now to get the bass up on Billingsgate Shoals like it was
a few years ago is a cold front to go through that will produce a
hard northwest wind for a day . A cool day with that northwest wind
about 25 knots or more will push the bass up onto the shoals. Then
we can jig for them and count on finding some of those big cows the
Bay is famous for. Until then just work the north edge using jigs.
This
last week, Monday to be exact, I had the Gray family out for a half
day trip. They have been fishing with me for 5 or 6 years now. All
three generations. The grandfather. his son Andy, and his two
granddaughters Ashley and Cassandra, This year it was Ashley and
Cassandra that landed the biggest stripers. Not one of the really
big fish we’ve seen but a respectable 34 inch fish. Two of these
fish were landed so the two young ladies tied. However, Ashley had
come out ahead. She added a another generation to the Gray family,
having had a young son some months ago. Soon he’ll be out looking to
hook up on a big fish.
If
you’d like to get out and get in on some good fishing call me at:
Cell - 508-240-8267 or Home - 508-255-6211.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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Aug 4, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Garret LaScola |
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Fishing report
for August 4, 2009
Well the bass
action seems to be slowing down a bit towards Chatham! The Rips off
Monomoy Island have been slowing down and the fish seem to be moving outward
towards deeper water. Vertical jigging seems to be doing the trick, whether
using butter fly jigs or soft plastics rigged with a minimum one ounce jig
head.
Even though the
bass fishing is slowing down a bit the tuna action east of Chatham is
heating up! These fish are taking everything from squid rigs to ballyhoo
rigged naked or skirted. These fish are anywhere from the inside of crab
ledge to out towards the Regal Sword; ranging anywhere from high 50 to lower
70 inches. We have had some reports of smaller fish busting on the surface
around fifty pounds, which is a good thing because we have not seen this
class of fish in a few years.
Cape Cod Bay has
been doing well even though we are approaching the dog days of summer. The
Charter boat fleets have been doing well fishing The Fingers towards Fishing
Ledge. Some of the captains have been running bunker spoons in the deeper
water looking for some bigger fish. With the few tournaments that have been
held the past couple of weeks, bunker spoons seem to be producing wins! The
clam bite behind the draggers has been doing very well. Anglers are using a
2oz. egg sinker with a 2 foot section of 50# leader and a 5/0 octopus circle
hook, and pitching the baited rig behind the draggers fishing gear. Tube
and worm on Billingsgate has also been producing fish but there seems to be
an abundance of sub legal fish on the shoal.
There are still
fish in the deeper waters of Provincetown and the live eel bite is still
doing well. People who are not throwing bait at these fish have been doing
well fishing wire with jigs and umbrella rigs. When not loading up on bass
the bluefish have been quick to cooperate on jumping on the hook. Some of
these bluefish are weighing in upwards of 15 lbs.
The tuna bite
inside the bay is heating up and light tackle enthusiasts are finding out
they are out matched by the fish. These fish have been taking everything
from top water poppers to “walk the dog” type baits. Also, larger soft
plastic have been getting bit when rigged with heavy duty hooks such as
Owner monster and ballyhoo hooks. The top soft plastics have been Slug-Gos,
RonZ, and Got Strypers. As you head towards Provincetown the tuna have been
taking squid rigs and rigged ballyhoo. The ballyhoo have been rigged with a
skirt or naked. The Skirt colors seem not to matter from one day to
another. Some days they are taking chartreuse, blue and white, pink, red
and black and black and purple. The guys looking for the giants have been
getting bites from flying kites with baits suspended in the water. The bait
of choice has been live pogies, but some fish have been caught on small
bluefish also.
Fluke fishing has
been decent and the hot spots have been Nantucket sound over by Bass River,
inside Barnstable Harbor, and Provincetown harbor. Spin and glows baited
with squid or sand eels have been doing the trick and we have heard of some
nice fluke taken. The Party boats have been doing well and seem to be
keeping the customers busy.
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July 29, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
A “Fisherman”
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
I run a
charter service out of Rock Harbor in Orleans, Ma. Cape Cod. I fish
the waters of Cape Cod Bay. I also specialize in light tackle. I’ve
been at this for 30 years now. Needless to say I’ve had many good
fishermen aboard my boat the Stunmai II.
For the
past five years I’ve been taking Chris Ewen and his friends out on
mainly full day trips. He’s been bringing one of his daughters,
Emily, for most of these trip. Emily, when she was 10 or 11, was
exposed to using the light tackle I had on the boat. Tackle down to
2 lb. test mono for landing bluefish. She accomplished this with
ease. As she grew and came on the most of the 6 trips a season Chris
booked she was exposed to fishing for striped bass. Each season she
would land a bigger bass than the year before. It didn't take long
to notice that she always landed the biggest bass on these trips for
that season. Each year her skill at handling these big fish
improved.
Now, I
think she is 15, she can handle any fish found in the Bay. It is
also become clear she’s been landing the biggest fish on most of the
trips she comes on. The trip before last, while drifting sea clams,
she landed a bass weighing over 30 lb.. with 8 lb. test line. This
last trip the bass fishing was a little slow. We were able to get
our limit but we had to work for it and most of the fish were not
over 30 inches. Not good enough for Emily. She jigged up this 27
pound bass amongst all those small ones. She has become a true
“fisherman”.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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July 15, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Wife
Shows Up Husband...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Last
week I had Steve Winiecki and his wife Kathy. They booked a half day
trip and wanted to get on stripers for a small gathering they were
going to have. Steve and done some fishing in Florida but Kathy had
never been sport fishing before. The whole aspect of our way of
fishing was foreign to both.
We
headed for the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals out to 50 foot
line. We set out the umbrella rigs on wire with a little weight to
get it down to the fish. It wasn't long before one of the rods went
off. It turned out to be a big bluefish that hit the spoon which was
the trailing lure on the rig. Kathy had a time bringing it in and
was proud of her catch. Shortly after that Steve landed a nice 33
inch bass which filled their need for the gathering the next day.
One
would think the day was a success now that they have all the fish
they needed. They both landed a number of bluefish which were
released until something unusual happened. As Kathy was reeling in a
small bluefish on the umbrella rig it suddenly took off. She
screamed out for help. After some instruction she had what ever it
was under control. A few minutes later she landed a striper big
enough to feed her friends 3 times over. A nice 41 inch 27 pound
bass.
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July 8, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Albina
the Fisherman
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
On
Tuesday the 30th of June I took a young woman from Russia fishing.
Heather Young, her summer host also came a long plus their friend
Tim. It was Albina’s birthday present.
Albina
is on Cape Cod to work for the summer. She is part of this foreign
student exchange program that brings students from other countries
to work here and learn about us. This whole fishing thing is brand
new to Albina. She was in for a surprise
I
special in light tackle so near the end of the trip we went in
behind a sea clammer and drifted sea clams off the bottom. We handed
Albina a small spinning rod with 6 lb. test line on it. It was not
long before she hooked up. At one point the reel was almost spooled
but Albina held on. She had picked up fishing with this light gear
quickly and handled herself very well. Within 10 minutes she had the
fish next to the boat. A nice 20 pound striper. Not bad for someone
who never did this before.
My next
thing is to get her out and put her on a bluefish using my 2 lb.
test gear and see how she handles that.
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July 6, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
A True Angler
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
There
are only a handful of women who I have had on my boat, The Stunmai
II out of Rock Harbor, that have not shown some enthusiasm in the
sport of fishing. Most find that once they have conquered the stigma
that they can’t handle the tackle and the fish as women they excel
at the sport. One such woman, a young woman at that being only 15,
is Emily Ewen.
I’ve thrown her up against many different methods of fishing and
types of tackle and she has mastered each one. She’s landed bluefish
on 2 lb. test matched gear at the age of 12, jigged with both the
normal heavy wire set ups and the light 30 lb. test wire with ease,
and landed 45 lb bass on 18 lb test lead core line using the tube
and worm. Now she has taken on a big bass on 8 lb. test line while
drifting sea clams.
My next
challenge for her is taking a big bluefish or bass on a fly rod set
up. I’m sure she will handle this with the enthusiasm and excitement
she’s shown before. There will be another enlarged photo of her
catch hanging at the Goose Hummock Shop over by where the reels are
loaded with line. It should be up in a few weeks. Right next to her
first big fish.
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June 29, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Video
Games vs Fishing...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
On the
28th of June I was booked by John DiGiovanni for a half day trip. It
was his son’s 13th birthday present. Des’s actual birthday was the
25th of June. He brought two friends with him to share the
experience. He did this instead of playing a bunch of video games
and pizza. Hopefully this with start a trend. It’s a good thing to
see kids want to get outdoors and enjoy the experiences it offers.
Des is
a very energetic boy and was up to the challenge that the bass and
bluefish could hand him. His two friend were no slouches either. We
fished the Stony Bar area and the old Screen Range spot near the #3
can in Cape Cod Bay. This area is just south of Welfleet Harbor. Des
was able to land 3 keepers and one 13 inch black sea bass on his
own.
As I
said, it’s good to see kids taking an interest is fishing and other
outdoors sports rather than sitting indoors and playing games on
either a tv or computer. Come down to the Goose with your kids and
see what they might be interested in.
You could be starting them on a path to enjoy what mother nature
provides us all in a way that respects what is all around us.
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June 24, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Fishing
Cape Cod Bay
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
The
Cape has been going thorough a phase in the weather that has not
been seen since 1903. By this I mean, clouds, drizzle, rain, and
just plane crappie weather. However, the fishing in Cape Cod bay has
been outstanding. The most active area has been around the #1 can on
the southwest end of Billingsgate Shoals and up around P-town.
Most of
the charter fleet has been fishing around the #1 can and along the
north edge of the shoals. The fleet started out using the umbrella
rig but since squid have shown up in the area the hootchie has been
working the best. Most are just using mono line where a few will set
up 200 foot wire set ups to hook up on these fish. One type of line
that has been overlooked for the most part is lead core line. I use
it exclusively and it works very well. Normally I’ll put out 5 to 6
colors depending on how far down I read the fish on my fish finder.
The speed is around 4 knots depending on the habits of the fish.
As time
goes on and we finally get some sun and warmth I feel much of these
fish will spread out along the north edge of the shoals and move up
towards the Path. Also, they will move onto the shoals itself. Then
we can jig them. That is one of my favorite ways to fish and places
to fish. All we need is the sun...
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June 16, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The
Stripers Take Up Residence
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
For the
last two weeks those of us fishing Cape Cod Bay have been able to
count on one thing. That the striped bass could be found in one
specific area. Every day you can set a course to a larger area
northwest of the #1 can which is on the southwest corner of
Billingsgate Shoals. Once in this area put out either single
swimming plugs, hootchies, or the more productive system, the
umbrella rig. It will not take long before you are hooked up. They
aren’t super big. Some of these fish are over 40 inches but most are
from 30 to 34 inches in length. Real good bass fishing.
There
is a lure combination known and a “combo”. This is a hootchie
followed by a swimming plug set up on one line. We, as charter
captains use a slightly different system which works that much
better. The best way to find this out is to book a trip on one of
these boats and see how they set up their gear. One of the pictures
is the three guys, Tom, Bob, and Will, that I had out on June 15th
with three of the six fish we kept. The other is Will who landed two
fish at once with one of these secret “combo” set ups.
If you
need to find out how to set up one of these combo’s call or come
into the Goose and ask. The guys will show you how it’s done. Goose
Hummock - 508-255-0455
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June 15, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
That
Perfect Rod...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
For
those that fish a lot this will make perfect sense. For those who
are just getting into the sport, pay attention. Every once in a
while you run across a rod in those racks of rods you’ll find in
tackle shops. It may be the odd one in a line of identical rods, or
it looks a little different from all the others. Something about it
sets it apart from all the others in the racks. You pick it up,
check the flex, the weight, the balance. Immediately you know the
reel you want, or you may already have, that will go with this
extension of your arm that you are holding in your hand. The perfect
rod.
Well, I
have found a way to make that happen. I went and talked to the guy
who fixes my reels and repairs the rods that bust up in my charter
business. We talked of that rod that you find on that rare occasion.
I asked him if he ever builds rod to which he replied, “every so
often.” Well, could you building me two,” I said, “that could be
both a good tubing rod yet I could troll other lure systems. That
both adults and young children can handle easily.” After some more
detailed discussions about which blank I wanted, soft tip with a
little meat to the but, extended for grip, long slick-butt, and good
porcelain guides for a boat rod, etc. Tom was off to build me “the
rod”. In this case two of them.
It’s a
few weeks later now. Tom hands me two light weight, black slivers of
composite material with eyelets, reel seats and a gimble at one end.
I put a pair of Shimona “800” series level wind conventional reels
on them and off to Cape Cod Bay I went. After landing a nice 36 inch
striper and a good 10 pound bluefish I knew Tom had both the rod
building ability but more importantly the philosophical
understanding of what a specifically designed rod should act like.
However, when I hooked up on what turned out to be a nice 30 pound
bass, I knew. The rod had been forged like a mythical sword. Like
having a good putter built for you, now you need a new driver.
That's going to be Tom’s new mission.
If you
know a good rod builder, one with a bit of imagination, bring him a
cup of coffee, sit down and talk about what you want built. Be
specific. Build that perfect rod, it’s worth it. Or, you can come to
the Goose Hummock in Orleans on Cape Cod. Ask for Mike, Gerret,
Fran, or whoever is there. Meet Tom whos out back. Together with
these guys you will truly have that custom built rod.
The Goose Hummock - 508-255-0455
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June 4, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
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The Bluefish Have Returned...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
To make it
short and sweet, the bluefish are back in Cape Cod Bay. This last
Wednesday I left Rock Harbor and went up to the Stony Bar area and
started trolling an umbrella rig through the area. I got up by the #5
can and turned around and headed towards the #3 can. Out of nowhere with
no sign I went tight. I, at first, thought it might be a small bass. To
my delight it was a small bluefish. It will not be long. When the water
warms a bit these fish will show up in force. I figure about a week or
better. Especially with the newly arrive poggies that moved into
Welfleet Harbor.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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June 2, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
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Get
Ready for the Summer...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
2 June 2009
The summer
is almost upon us. The bass are in the Bay and the bluefish are not far
behind. Right now the stripers are west of the #1 can which is on the
southwest end of Billingsgate Shoals. There is plenty of sand eels to
keep them fed so they should stay for a while. The north edge of the
shoals also holds some fish. The edge of the Brewster flats is also very
active with a lot of small fish. There are some keepers mixed in up to
30 pounds so don’t dismiss this area without giving it a good look.
It’s going
to be a good season by the looks of things so come down to the Goose,
jaw it up with the crew there. They get you rigged up with all you'll
need. Just be ready to hang on when you hook up.
This last
Sunday and avid fisher woman, A Miss Anne MacDonald, tested her skill
against these stripers using some light tackle that was provided to her
by the captain of the Stunmai II out of Rock Harbor. Miss MacDonald took
home two nice keepers she landed using a 10 lb. test trolling set up.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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May 27, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Big
Fish in the Bay
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Each
day that goes by seems to bring more and more stripers into Cape cod
Bay. Some of our boats, from Rock Harbor, have seen schools of small
and just legal bass moving from the deep water off the north edge of
Billingsgate Shoals, over the shoals and into the area west of the
old Target Ship.
There is plenty of bait for these fish. The whole area is full of
large schools of sand eels. Up towards the # 3 can by Stony Bar and
up towards Welfleet Harbor is loaded with mackeral right now. When
the bass find them we will have a blitz on our hands.
The
lure of choice in this area is the umbrella rig on 150 feet of wire
trolled at around 3.5 to 4 knots. If you see the fish on the bottom
using a fish finder let a little more line out. There are a lot of
undersize bass but there are many fish up to 40 inches mixed in. I
don’t see this changing for at least another week or so. Some of
these fish will move on in their migration but many will stay.
Lisa
Buziewicz, from DC, will attest to this. She came along with the
Jerry Kottman party aboard the Stunmai II, out of Rock Harbor, and
showed everyone up by landing the biggest fish of the bunch. A 38
inch striped bass. Not bad for an up and coming engineer who had
never fished before.
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May 20, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
Cape
Cod Bay Comes Alive...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It has
been a long wait but the 2009 fishing season has started in Cape Cod
Bay. This last Saturday, the 16th of May, a few boats ventured out
on to Cape Cod Bay looking for the first run of the striped bass.
They were not disappointed. A large amount of small and legal size
bass were found west of where the old Target Ship used to be. There
were small groups of birds working these fish and by that one could
see there were numerous schools of bass in this area. Most of the
fish were under the legal limit but working through the small fish
each boat came up with the keepers they needed. The fleet at Rock
Harbor in Orleans is off to a good start.
There
were a number of good signs that this may be a good season. First,
there is a good number of fish entering the Bay. Second, there seems
to be plenty of bait to keep the fish around. The main thing we see
is the fish are in good shape and healthy looking. Let the water
warm up just a little more and this place will go nuts. There are
some good size fish around. Fish to be measured in pounds not
inches.
The two
young ladies in the photo are from Bulgaria. Lyubomira Yordanova
(Lucy) and Elena Karakasheva (Leni) are on the Cape to work for the
summer. They got a chance to tangle with some of the newly arrived
bass and did very well. They easily got dinner for the evening and
the next few days too.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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April 25, 2009 Blog Entry :
Garrett Lascola |
Well this warm weather
seems to be jump starting the season. With these south west winds the pogies,
bass and squid should arriving in Nantucket sound with in the next week or
so. There is plenty of small baitfish to sustain these fish and help keep
them in the area this season. The cod and haddock fishing off the middle
stellwagen bank still seems to be producing constant action. These fish are
being caught on jigs and teasers and hi-lo rigs baited with clam and squid.
We have had some reports of schoolies in some of the rivers and harbors in
the sound but still seem to be slim pickings.
The fresh water action is heating up and it looks like the bass bite is just
about to go off with the spawn about to happen in the next few weeks once
the water temperature reachs the mid 50's. These fish seem to be in 4-10
feet of water crusing for food and looking for bedding areas before the
spawning time. Bait fisherman have been doing very well with shinners and
night crawlers floating them off the bottom. The artificial guy have been
doing well with jerk baits,spinner baits, and crank bait to find schooling
fish that are feeding aggressively. once located the anglers are dropping
soft plastic baits such as gary yamamoto senkos, hulla grubs, and kut tail
worms. Also large 10" power worms seem to be catching the larger bass in up
wards of 6 lbs and more. For the ponds that have herring runs angler looking
for trophy bass have been throwing swim baits such as spro bbz's and sebile
magic swimmers.
The Kids fishing contest is coming to a close and kids have until 3 pm sat
4/25 to weigh in their final catch. As the standing look so far as of sat
4/25 12:30 pm.
Junior boys bass
Nich shea 8 lbs 14 oz.
Ben Pike 5 lbs 7 oz.
Liam St. Aubin 5 lbs 5 oz.
Junior girls bass
Megan Woods 5.5lbs
Elizabeth Avery 5.3 lbs
Madison Daley 4.3 lbs
Senior bass
Evans St.Abuin 4.7 lbs
Nick Sweetser 2.47 lbs
Junior perch girls
Cammille Gibbons 1.4 lbs
Isabelle Travers 1.2
Laura Barabe 1.2 lbs
Junior perch boys
Ben Pike 1.4 lbs
Ben Ering 1.3
Ben Travers 1.3
Junior Boys pickrel
Chad Avery 4.0lbs
Chase Wiley 3.9 lbs
Ben Pike 3.5 lbs
Junior Girls pickrel
Luara barabe 1.9
Oliva daley 1.5
Eliza Stevens 1.3
jr boys trout
Liam St. Aubin 1.9
asa St.aubin 1.8 lbs
Anothony T. 1.8lbs
Junior Girls trout
Isabelle Travers 1.6kbs
Oliva Daley 1.4lbs
Dianna Glinos 1.3 lbs
Salmon Neil Oconnell 4.3lbs honarable mention
Brown troutTyler brundage 3.9 honorable mention
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April 21, 2009 Blog Entry :
webmaster |
Ralph Wilkins headed out in late
November alone. Two days spent waiting on the docks in Chatham, Mass., had
honed the 50-year-old New Yorker's urge to get back out on the water. It was
the end of the bluefin season and he knew it would be his last shot at a
fish before winter.
Ralph Wilkins fought and brought in this 900-pound bluefin tuna by
himself.
Flush with provisions in the
FV Odysea, a 32-foot BHM sport fishing boat rigged for giant tuna
(picture a sleek tugboat with a fiberglass hull and a two-story wheelhouse),
Wilkins headed out for perhaps his 12th trip of 2008. As he tells of his
day, Wilkins echoes Santiago — protagonist of Ernest Hemingway's The Old
Man and the Sea — albeit in the unmistakable cadence of the Bronx.
read the rest of the story
HERE |
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April 18, 2009 Blog Entry :
Garrett Lascola |
Record start to the kids contest this past Saturday. We have
had numerous big fish weighed in with some qualifiers for the Massachusetts
fish and wildlife sport fishing awards. 6 year old Liam St.aubin weighed in
nice brook trout, largemouth bass and perch that qualify him for the award.
7 year old Nick Shea teamed up with his uncle mike woods and landed a
monster largemouth bass weighing 8 lbs 14 oz. This fish is sure to place
high in the contest and the mass fish and wildlife awards. That fish is the
largest recorded largemouth in the contest since the goose has sponsored in
over 30 years. Laura Barabe came in with a monster yellow perch that
weighed 1 lbs 2 oz that is in first at the moment in our tournament and for
sure qualifies her in the sportfishing award. This year we have had record
weigh-ins from kids and the kid and parent participation is the best we have
seen in all the years we have help this kid friendly competition. We
encourage all kids to get out fishing and that with every child who enters a
fish in our contest whether it a a huge bass or small pan fish they will
receive a prize from us and our charitable vendors and manufactures! There
are no penalties, pre-registration or hassel for dead fish and what not. We
do recommend keeping them alive if possible and returned to the pond in
which they came but we understand how difficult it is to do so. If you have
any questions please contact us at the shop 508-255-0455!
Garrett |
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April 15, 2009 Blog Entry :
Capt. Hap Farrell |
The
Season is Upon Us...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It’s
the early part of April. The day is going to be in the low 50’s and
sunny. The smell of spring is in the air. Now, have you gotten your
rod and reel cleaned with new line on it yet? If not, get down to
the Goose Hummock right away, the fish are almost here.
With
all the turmoil going on in the country, here on the Cape we can
count on one thing. When spring comes so do the bass, flounder,
bluefish, and all the other finned critters we go fishing for. The
freshwater anglers can fish year round for the most part but us
saltwater anglers have to wait for our quarry to come with the
spring season. Now that it is here anticipation is starting to mount
so get your gear ready.
In a
week or two the first spring run stripers will show up on the south
shore of the Cape and shortly after that they will hit Pleasant Bay,
the outer beach and then Cape Cod Bay, Barnstable Harbor and other
little nooks and crannies around Cape Cod Bay.
A few
days ago, while in Orleans Center, I spotted a Jeep with rod holders
on the front bumper. In one of those rod holders was a light action
bait cast rod and reel with a white squiggly lure hooked on one of
the guides. This means some fisherman has already started looking.
So, don’t be the last one there, get ready, it’s time...
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January 7, 2009 Blog Entry :
Webmaster |
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A few links, some I found and
some send in by others.
Tuna stuff:
http://news.aol.com/article/tuna-fetches-100000-at-auction/293036
Gun Stuff :
This describes who can get a
permit to purchase
This section describes how only
residents may purchase ammo. There is not a section for nonresidents
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Sept 2,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
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Going Back to Basics
By:
Capt. Hap Farrell
I fish Cape Cod Bay out of Rock Harbor in Orleans. I've been running a
charter business since 1980 and fished the bay for a few years before
that. I did some cod fishing out of Nauset Inlet and Chatham for 5 or 6
years also. Actually, I've been fishing either the Cape Cod Bay , Pleasant
Bay or off shore since 1955, when I first came to the Cape. I moved down
here soon after getting out of the service in 1972. So, I have seen some
of the changes, especially in the actions and habits of the fish in this
area. Most of my experience is in Cape Cod Bay. However, I am not claiming
to be an expert or to have all the answers. But, the Bay is going through
some changes.
When I first started running a charter boat we would steam out to the deep
water off Billingsgate Shoals, set out my umbrella rigs and start catching
bluefish. Occasionally, and I mean occasionally I would hook up on a bass.
The only way you got any stripers was early morning on the shoals or
jigging with the 450 feet of wire. Does this sound familiar? This is
pretty much what is happening now. The big difference is there is a lot of
small stripers on the shoals now. The average length is 26 to 27 inches
which means they will be legal next season. This is a good thing.
What I'm doing now is showing my regular clients that taking on the
abundance of bluefish we have using light tackle can give an angler as
much of a challenge as any big striped bass could. It can also give that
action you need to keep a family busy landing fish. Kids can be an
impatient lot. The hard fighting bluefish keeps them concentrated on
getting their fish to the boat. The bluefish was and really still is the
mainstay of our industry fishing Cape Cod Bay. When I listen to what the
other Captains say over the radio the statement, well, there is always the
bluefish... is repeated often. The big stripers will be back, but until
then hooking up on the bluefish while trolling 6 lb. test line will more
than keep our most seasoned angler happy.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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Aug 14,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
The Family That Fishes Together
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Every season I take the Gray family fishing out off Rock Harbor for a half
day trip. At first they seemed like every other family group that I take
fishing. It took a few seasons but I came to realize how much they look
forward to this activity and their vacation on Cape Cod. Simply put, it is
the highlight of their summer. That’s why I look forward to taking them.
As a charter captain we are under some pressure to make sure our clients
catch fish. Especially the striped bass. For most anglers in New England it
is the premier fish to catch. That is with the exception of the bluefin
tuna. The Grays seem to be an exception to this. They’d like to land a few
stripers but it’s more the fun of fishing that they are looking for. Because
of this the enjoy each trip no matter what happens. Both young ladies,
Cassandra and Ashley, have turned into quite the anglers and handle every
fish with ease. So far the Gray family has done well each time they have
gone fishing.
So, if you have a young family and are looking for something to do as a
group, come down to the Goose Hummock. Talk to Fan, Garrett, Jim or any of
the crew that work there and have them set you up with a couple of starter
fishing rods and equipment. Find a good pond or beach and just go fishing.
Don.t expect anything but enjoying the day and the fish will be a bonus. You
will create memories to last a lifetime.
stunmai@copper.net
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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Aug 4,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
A New Method of Bass Fishing...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
The bass fishing in Cape Cod Bay has been an off and on proposition this
summer. In the beginning of the season it looked as if we were going to have
a fairly active year but the habits of the stripers changed. They used to
come up on Billingsgate Shoals especially in the early morning. At that
point you could use the jigged eel or the tube and worm with an expected
success rate. During the flood tide, even in the middle of the day, we could
find schools of good sized bass in the grass patches on the east end of the
shoals. Even when the fish were in the deep water we would do well working
them with umbrella rigs or the tube and worm. This season we have not seen
the volume of fish in these areas. We are still catching fish, there are
just not as many or as often.
To compensate for this lack of fishing in one area one of our charter
captains went looking for another area and a new method, at least new to us.
In as area west of Rock Harbor and a mile or so off the Brewster Flats in an
area we call the New Grounds. There are really no boundaries to this spot
just a general area. Anyway, two to three seas clammers work this area on a
regular basis. Capt. Steve Ellis, of the Watanye, out of Rock Harbor, and a
true Cape Codder, developed a method of coming up behind one of these sea
clammers and dropping baited hooks just behind the cage being towed behind
the dragger. He uses chucks of seas clams as bait. At times you may get a
mess of dog fish, but a good many times you’ll get a number of bass mixed
in. Some of the fish have been over 40 inches. He uses spinning tackle with
20 lb. test line with heavier leaders. It works very well and is a lot of
fun.
Taking to another level was something I wanted to do. I specialize in using
light tackle, mainly tackle that you troll with. I have a pair of nice light
action rods with small bait cast reels on them using 6 lb. test line and use
this to troll for bass and bluefish. I also to have some light action
spinning tackle for those who like to cast on fish when the opportunity
presents itself. This spinning gear has 8 lb. test line on it. Well, why not
put a 20 lb. test leader on this gear with a 3/4 egg sinker and see how this
works behind one of these draggers. I had Tom Burns and Dan Maguire, both
from Great Falls, Va., out on a full day trip where all we use is this light
gear. They have never fished way so it was all new to them as well as new to
me. I had tried it a few other time with fairly good success. We used this 6
lb. test and 8 lb. test tackle in this method. After landing well over 20
keepers in a two to three hour span as well as a large number of dog fish, I
had tired these two angler out. The biggest fish we landed was over 40
inches and it was released. They kept 4 of the smaller legal fish to eat.
Next season, when they come back, they want to try it with even lighter
tackle. What did I get myself into...
All of this tackle was put together with help from the staff at the Goose
Hummock who have worked with me to find and develope this light tackle.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
stunmai@copper.net
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Aug 1,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Local People Fish The Bay
By Capt. Hap Farrell
A few weeks ago I got a call from Bonnie Nuendel. She wanted to book a half
day trip. This, by itself, is not very unusual. In the summer that is what I
do. I take people fishing.
A while ago, on one of the day I was in the Goose Hummock, Jim Dooley who
works there, told me he was coming along with the Nuendels on that half day
trip. At that point I knew they were local folks. That is not all that
unusual either.
Well, they all showed up that morning, jumped on the boat and off we went.
We fished the deep water off Billingsgate Shoals. the water depth was 50 to
60 feet and just about flat calm. We didn’t get the first umbrella rig on my
200 foot wire rod out for more than a few second when it went off. The first
fish was a small bass. After that we landed a number of bluefish, which we
kept 10 to 12 and one striper that was a little over 30 inches long. That’s
when I found out that this was an anniversary present. Don and Bonnie
Nuendel were sharing their anniversary present to each other with friends
and neighbors. It seems they are going to do this every year from now on.
Right now there is not much going on. P-town is fairly active if you can get
around the commercial boats on sell days. Jigging by the Bath House and by
Long Point works well with not all that many hand-ups. The tube and worm
also works, that is my favorite way to fish that area. As always on the
Cape, if you don’t like what is going on just wait a bit and it will change
so the fishing will get better, soon.
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July 24,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Quality over Quantity
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
I specialize in using very light tackle while trolling for bass and
bluefish. I can put out gear with true 2 lb. test line with a streamer for
both bass and bluefish. I’ve taken bluefish up to 13 pounds and a 29 inch
striper. I also carry mono rods with line from 6 lb. test up to 12 lb. test
and 17 lb test. I have jigging rods with 30 lb. test wire that allow you to
jig by hand and then when you’re hooked up you are fight a fish on a rod
lighter than most spinning tackle. All of this tackle I have developed with
the help of the guys at the Goose Hummock. During the winter I’ll get
together with Fran and Garrett and we’ll see what new type of gear we can
come up with. This last winter it was a system that uses really light lead
core line.
Recently I had two guys out who only wanted to use my lightest tackle. We
put out the 6 pound test gear and landed some decent size bluefish on that
gear. We set out the 2 lb. test tackle and hooked up on big bluefish. That
fight lasted better than an hour. As the fish got close to the boat the hook
pulled and the fish was free. We were going to let it go anyway. It looked
as if it might have run 10 to 12 pounds. The best results came when we put
out the 12 test lead core tackle. We used the tube and worm with this gear
and fished a rock pile down near the #3 can south of Billingsgate Island.
Both Chuck and his son Nate landed a number of good sized stripers. Chuck
took the largest which weighed in at just over 20 pounds. So far that is the
biggest bass I’ve taken with this light gear. So far...
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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July 17,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
The Season of Kids
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
If you like to fish, can you remember when it was that you first went
fishing? Was it with your grandfather or your father? Did friends come
along? You were probably a young child around 5 or 6 years old. More time
than not this is the only time you may have gone fishing. Well, these two
groups are a little different. They were novices, the four young ladies and
the two young gentlemen. Not any more...
With the small tides we have been having the bass fishing has slowed down
some in Cape Cod Bay. Even the areas up by P-town, like Race Point, off the
Bath House, Wood End, and Long Point are not as active as they could be. So,
when you have a boat load of kids, take them bluefishing. The area in by
Sunken Meadow and up towards the channel into Welfleet Harbor is very
active. Up by the Path is also full of bluefish in the shallow water under
20 feet. You can jig the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals, do well on
bluefish and maybe hook up on a small keeper bass in the process. Give the
tides a little time and they will start getting bigger. Then the currents
created by the tide will bring the bass back. Remember, fishing and patience
goes hand in hand.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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July 10,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Rock Harbor Fishing Report, The Bass Fishing Gets Good.
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
Since the spring it seems that the normal schedule of where and when the
fish, the bass and bluefish, show up and make their moves from one place
to another has been a little off. The stripes concentrated in areas we
were not used to and the bluefish showed up, in mass, a little late. Now
things have settle down to what we hope to be a relatively normal
summer. That is if anything can be normal this season.
Right now most of the legal size bass are located in the deep water off
the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. The main schools of bass move
from northeast to southwest as the tides and the bait move. There are
very large schools of sand eels in this same location and that is why
the bass and very large bluefish are there. You would stick around the
area where your dinner was served too. There is enough bait in this area
to last for weeks so we may find them here for an extended period of
time. This make the might umbrella rig a very productive method although
you may have to use wire up to 200 feet in length.
The other area in the Bay that is showing signs of improving is the New
Grounds. Basically this is a large area west of the old Target Ship and
off the Brewster Flats and as far west as off Paine's Creek. You see the
sea clammers in this area a lot. Anyway, the clammers have reported
seeing schools of bass around their dredges as they haul back to empty
them. Also a small number of the charter fleet has found some good sized
bass while jigging in the area where the clammers are working. It would
be a very good place to check out. Use your umbrella rig to look over
the area and when you find the fish by hooking up, put out your jigs and
see what happens.
One area we have not seen much action from is Billingsgate Shoals. One
day a few weeks ago we had a northerly wind and there were some decent
sized bass up on the west end of the shoals. It lasted one day. If we
get a fairly strong northwest wind it should blow all those stripers in
the deep water up on the shoals a long with all that bait. This is a
good thing. Jigging and hootchies on mono should work very well there
and the fish will be a little easier to find. This is one time when we
do pray for wind. Just have it happen at night. Oh yes, the bluefish.
There are still a moderate amount of bluefish up along the Eastham shore
during high water. All you need do is trolling some hootchies up through
there.
For the past 3 to 4 years I've been taking Chris Ewen and his daughter
Emily fishing. Sometimes it's just Chris and Emily and other time Chris
bring some friends, but he always brings Emily. Last season Emily landed
her biggest bass on a light lead core line set up. It was right around
40 pounds. Emily is considered to be a good luck charm. The group always
does well with her a long. She also seems to land the biggest bass of
the trip. This season was no exception. While fishing in the deep water
of the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals Emily hooked up on what seemed
to be a big fish on the lead core system. As the mate pulled this fish
over the rail it was obvious that she had bettered her biggest fish.
This bass was almost 45 pounds. She had very little trouble handling
this fish now that she's 14 years of age.
If you'd like and try and break Emily's record give me a call at: cell -
508-240-8267 or home: 508-255-6211.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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July 3,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Where Have All the Big Fish
Gone?
By Capt. Hap Farrell
Since this season started all of us, the charter boat operators, have been
looking for these schools of big stripers that Cape Cod Bay has to offer.
Last season we found them up inside the area between the #3 and #5 cans for
a while and then up on top of Billingsgate Shoals. This season these big
bass were west and southwest of the area of the old Target Ship. They have
since moved on, but where? We are still looking.
Right now it seems the main body of good size bass, 36 inches and bigger,
are in the deep water off the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. Recently,
by this I mean for the last week to week and a half, there has been a good
charge of bass in this area. Mixed in are a good number of smaller bass and
bluefish and this has made for some good fishing. The umbrella rig has been
the lure system of choice. This should continue for a while more and then
things will change again. Also, as I understand, there are some big bass up
off the Bath House area near P-town. In fact, the whole area from Race Point
to Long Point is producing some excellent fishing.
Back to where the larger bass may show up next. My feeling is they will work
up on Billingsgate Shoals. Once these big tides we are having drop down a
bit and we get another northwest wind, the big fish will first be found on
the west end of the shoals and then farther to the east. The end of next
week will tell us what will be happening.
On the 2nd of July I had Paul Gamaette, From West Hartford, Ct., and his
father Gus out of Rock Harbor on a half day trip. They were looking for one
of those big bass they heard were in Cape Cod Bay. We had set out the
umbrella rigs and were landing some stripers averaging 29 to 33 inches. As
we landed one of the fish and were just idling along the outrigger went off
and line went screaming off the reel. After a good ten minute fight Paul
landed a 45 inch striper weighing over 30 pounds. It seems some of those big
fish are out in the deep water, wouldn’t you say...
www.capecodbaycharters.com
stunmai@copper.net
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June 26,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
The
Fish are Moving In...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
In the past few days there has been some dramatic changes in Cape Cod Bay.
These are good changes. The stripers are still to be found in most areas
like west of the old Target Ship, up between the #3 and #5 cans, and along
the Brewster Flats. Now a large amount of both bass and bluefish have moved
into the deep water off the north edge of Billingsgate Shoals. Umbrella rig
is you best bet on these fish. More importantly, a number of big bass were
found on Top of Billingsgate Shoals today, the 25th of June. The jigged eel
works very well. Particularly any color with a little white in it. That was
today, tomorrow may be different.
By this weekend these fish should have settled down some. In a while the
main area most likely will be the shoals and the north edge and out to the
deep water, 40 to 60 feet. Depending where you come out of I’d head to the
shoals, jig down it for a while and then move from there. If not that go to
the deep water somewhere in the middle between the #1 can and up by Welfleet.
Start in 50 feet of water and troll northeast.
This last Wednesday I had a booth trip from the Rock Harbor Charter Service
(508-255-9757) for the half day trip. Things started off a little slow but
picked up about 45 minutes into the trip. I was fishing up near the #5 can
near Welfleet and was able to limit out with decent sized stripers. Then we
moved down a little west of the #3 can and put out the light tackle and went
to town. Aboard I had this little 10 year old girl Sara Jane. She had taken
to this fishing like a gambler to a winning hand. Once we started using the
light stuff an angler was born. Give a little more time and she will out
fish anyone.
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June 17,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Rock Harbor Fishing Report
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
The Fish Spread Out...
As the 2008 season continues the habits and location of both the bluefish
and striped bass start to change. The main body of these fish have been west
of where the Target Ship was and up between the #3 and #5 cans. The fish are
starting to spread out. Some of the fish have moved up on top of
Billingsgate Shoals. The small bass right now, but the bigger fish will
follow. The deep water off the north edge of the shoals has been up and
down. However, this should change in the next week or so. Whatever happens
this is the time in a normal season that the fish make a move. That is if we
are having a normal season.
There is one area that I have not really looked at and I have not seen
anyone of the charter fleet in there either. Not recently anyway. This area
is in the shallow water off the Eastham shore and up by Lieutenant’s Island.
This is where the bluefish first go when they come into this area because
the water is warmer in the shallower areas. There could be some good
bluefishing up inside there and last season we would find a bass or two up
in by the South Sunken Meadow area. It might be worth checking out.
The fishing system that has been the most productive is the umbrella rig
used with wire. Single hootchies have worked well but not all the time.
There is some squid around but the predominate bait has been small sand eels
and because of that the rig works well. Lately some of the boats have tried
out jigging with the 3 oz jig on 300 feet of wire and had some decent
success. This system cannot be used everywhere. If the bottom has
obstructions like rocks and other types of hang-ups the jig will hang up a
lot. You need relatively clean bottom with out a whole lot of thick grass.
The shoals is a prime area to jig. Sandy bottom, areas of grass with spaces
between them, and not too many obstructions to hang up on. West of the
Target Ships is another although you can find an occasional ghost lobster
pot, a trap where the buoy and buoy line have been cut off. Along the edge
off the Brewster Flats is another good area. You sort of have to try in
different areas to see if you find these hang-ups. This is called “local
knowledge”. The area to look at this coming week would be the Top of
Billingsgate Shoals and this area is an excellent area to jig in.
This last week I had a family from White Plains New York out for and evening
of fishing. This was the first time they had ever been saltwater fishing.
They camped a lot when Adam, their 14 year old son, was little and had
fished in ponds and small lakes. The biggest fish Adam and ever landed was a
14 inch pickerel. Well, things changed in short order. Now he can say his
biggest fish is a 37 inch striper.
If you’d like to try to land a bigger fish than a 14 inch pickerel, give me
a call. Cell: 508-240-8267 or 508-255-6211.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
stunmai@copper.net
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June 6,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
A New Group of Fish
Arrive
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
6 June 2008
A week or so ago we had some very good fishing in Cape Cod Bay and then it
slacked off a bit. It seemed the main body of big stripers had moved on
leaving large schools of small bass behind. We would pick a few keepers out
of large number of these small fish. Well, this has changed.
On Thurs., the 5th of June, four charter boats left Rock Harbor to look for
some good sized stripers. We didn’t expect to find much with the weather
being the way it was, rainy and windy from the north-northeast. We were
fishing around the #3 can, southeast of Billingsgate Island. It wasn’t long
before we hooked up with decent sized keepers. The crew on our boat, the
Stunmai II, only wanted four fish so that’s all we kept. One of the other
boats found a school of stripers up to 40 inches southwest of the #3 can.
They are back.
The areas to check out this weekend would be, west of the old Target Ship,
the south edge of the Shoals, Stony Bar, and possibly up on top of
Billingsgate Shoals. These fish will do a bit of moving around before
settling down in a few weeks, so enjoy the chase.
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June 4,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Fishing on the Fly...
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
On Tuesday, the 3 rd of June, I took a friend of mine out to help me check
out a few areas to see if there were any fish there. The second area we
check, which will remain a secret for now, we took a 35 inch striper. Next
we went over to the edge of the Brewster Flats so Leo could see if he could
land a small bass with his fly rod. Leo, an avid and accomplished fly
fisherman is a purist. No trolling the fly. We worked around a number of
active schools of these small bass. He was unable to land one of them.
Instead he hooked up on and landed a nice 29 inch fish which will be his
dinner that night.
If you’d like to learn about this style of fishing, which can be very
rewarding, go down to the Goose Hummock and see Garret who will set you
right up.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
stunmai@copper.net
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May 29,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Fishing Cape Cod Bay - Goose
Hummock
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
29 May 2008
The fish are on the move. In the past week more and more striped bass have
been moving into the Bay. There is an abundance of mackerel in the bay plus
a large amount of sand eels which is a good thing. There are reports of
stripers up to 40 pounds being landed using live mackerel up near Race Point
to Wood End. There are large schools of bass in the deep water off the north
edge of Billingsgate Shoals and schools of mixed small and legal fish are
moving into the Stony Bar area off the Eastham Shore. The Brewster shore is
also holding a number of legal fish. They are everywhere.
The lures of choice other than live bait are the umbrella rig using wire
line and mackerel style swimming plugs on mono. Most are taken trolling.
However, there are time when you can plug them up. The weather on Saturday
does not look good depending on the wind direction, but Sunday could be a
very good day to fish Cape cod Bay.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
stunmai@copper.net
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May 26,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Memorial Day Weekend Fish Stories
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend was a picture perfect day. An almost
cloudless sky, temperatures near 70 and a very light wind. I had gotten a
call from Sally Stern about taking her family and friends fishing. We left
the harbor around 1:30 pm and headed out to the deep water off the north
edge of Billingsgate Shoals. It wasn’t 10 minutes before we hooked up on
what turned out to be two legal size stripers. The rest of the trip went
very well with the biggest fish being around 38 inches.
If the signs we’re seeing as charter captains hold to be true, we are
looking at one very good season. There is plenty of bait in the area and
good size fish are being taken in a number of different places at the same
time. There are a lot of fish around. More bluefish were landed this weekend
which is early and this shows that water temperature is getting better and
so will the fishing.
Check out the Goose Hummock (508-255-0455) for further information.
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May 20,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
The Bay Comes Alive
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It’s about time... The stripers have really moved into Cape Cod Bay. This
last Sunday, the 18th of May, 4 boats ventured out of Rock Harbor to see if
any fish had moved to the area and if so, where they were. Well, we found
them. Some keepers were even caught, the biggest being around 34 inches.
Most of the schools of bass were west of where the Target Ship used to be
and about 3/4 to 1 mile off the Brewster shore. Most of these stripers were
just under the legal size of 28 inches and they hit most everything we threw
at them, umbrella rigs, swimming plugs, hootchies, and the always reliable
jigged eel. It was the jig that landed most of the keepers. As I see it
things will do nothing but improve. The fish have definitely arrived.
I had Cherry Reid, owner of the Booksmith in Skaket Shopping Center, and her
two daughters, Natalie 10 and Lucy 7, out to help find these newly arrived
bass. The two young ladies certainly earned their stripes by landing a
number of the fish. It was not their fault that none of them were big
enough. They were both tired enough to fall asleep on the way home. It was a
good day to fish.
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May 13,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
Start of the Season
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
This 2008 season is finally underway. I’ve been out looking once, on the
11th of May. There was nothing to find so I have nothing of consequence to
report. There have been a few keeper size bass taken off South Sunken
Meadow. The water temperature is still under 50 degrees so that must come up
before the stripers move out into the deeper water where we can get at them.
Weather has been a big factor in the water condition so as until that
settles down some the fishing will be a little slow. Two warm days in a row
with very little wind and we will be in business. The best areas to look are
off the Brewster Flats especially by the Paine’s Creek entrance and down on
Stony Bar by the #3 can off Billingsgate Island.
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April 20,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
The First Fish
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
This last Thursday afternoon, the 17th of April, I stopped
off at River Road in Orleans on Cape Cod and cast a lure out into The river
coming from Little Pleasant Bay up into Meeting House Pond. The first two or
three casts did not produce any action. On the next cast a hit, reeling a
little further another hit and the fish is on. There are fish at River Road
now. I’d heard that fish had been taken but had not actually seen it. My
first fish of the season.
You know how every once in a while an old memory will flash into your head?
Well, that happened when I lifted that small striper out of the water to
release it. Years ago, when I moved down to the Cape after getting out of
the service I got back into fishing in this area again. When I got my first
bass I’d run down to tell Old Mack, who owned Mac Reed’s Bait Shop. Back
when I came to the Cape as a kid I would always get my bait from this kindly
old gentleman who ran a funky old tackle shop. He was a well known and liked
character in Orleans and a wealth of knowledge of where to fish in Pleasant
Bay and other areas on the Lower cape.
It came to be a tradition every year from the early 70’s on I’d Find Mr.
Reed, Mack, and tell him of the fish I had just landed. He say he’d taken
his first a few days before up in False Channel in Pleasant Bay. Some years
he just smile and nod agreeing I’d taken the first fish. True or not it
really didn’t matter. Mack was a man of few words but everyone listened to
what he did say.
This Thurday, while looking at that small striper I told Mack I landed my
first fish...
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April 15,
2008 Blog Entry :
Hap Farrell |
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The Fish Cometh
By: Capt. Hap Farrell
It is that time of the season. The real first sign that life is coming
back to the world of sport fishing on Cape Cod. First there are some
reports that the early anglers have found a few small stripers in the
estuaries of the south shore of Cape Cod. These are the secret spots that
these anglers have and start to check this time of the year. They claim
there are fish there. The second sign is finding the gulls working Paine’s
Creek that ends up at the Brewster Herring Run. These gulls are working on
the first real heavy run of Herring making their way up to the run.
The next area on the lower Cape that will hold these small early run
stripers will be the small river leading to Meeting House Pond and the
Narrows between the mainland and Pochet Island in Pleasant Bay. This area
is located at the end of Barley Neck Rd. and then walk to the left. There
is now word on anyone checking these areas, it is a tiny bit early. We are
going to get a number of sunny days next week (14th to 18th of April) so
this may warm up the water enough to bring these fish in.
Swing by the Goose Hummock (508-255-0455) and check in before fishing
these areas. Either Fran or Garret may have already checked them and other
places and will know what is going on. Or,you can be the first and check
them yourself and then go tell them. One thing is going to happen, the
fish will arrive.
www.capecodbaycharters.com
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March 18,
2008 Blog Entry : Michael - President - Goose Hummock |
Dear Friends,
I am writing this blog to ask for your support for the Goose Hummock
Relay for Life team. The Goose has had a Relay for Life team for several
years and this year we are walking with renewed energy.
For many years I have walked in this event in support of my mother Karen who
is a cancer survivor. I consider myself fortunate because my mother is here
to walk with us. As I walk I think of those who are less fortunate and have
lost friends and family to this disease. In the fall a member of our Goose
Hummock family was diagnosed with lung cancer. Two weeks after his surgery
he returned to work. He is still undergoing treatment but his prognosis so
far is good. This year the Goose Hummock team will walk in his support as
well.
I have set an aggressive goal for myself and my team. I believe strongly in
this cause because I have living proof around me that research resulting in
better treatments and earlier detection saves lives.
The American Cancer Society has funded researchers that have been involved
in virtually every cancer breakthrough, including mammography to screen for
breast cancer, the Pap smear to test for cervical cancer, the link between
smoking and lung cancer, and more recently the link between obesity and a
higher risk for the disease. Forty of the researchers it funded early in
their careers have gone on to win the Nobel Prize!
Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to
help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to
eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Society works hard every day
to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research,
affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people
on how to prevent or detect cancer early. Thanks to our hardworking
advocates, all six New England states now have comprehensive statewide
clearn indoor air statutes.
The Society helps people with cancer by providing free rides to and from
treatment, free wigs, retreats for cancer patients and their families, and a
hotline manned by cancer information specialists. By calling
1-800-ACS(227)-2345, anytime, day or night, 365 days a year, people can get
answers to their questions about cancer and everything related to it.
Our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep
working toward a cancer-free future.
I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against
cancer by joining us for this year's event. Please click on the link below
for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors' Lap
and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there!
If you can't join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to
support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the
lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them.
Thank you!
Michael MacAskill
President
Goose Hummock Shop
For state fundraising notices and the American Cancer Society's Privacy
Policy click here
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SU/su_0.asp
Click here to visit my personal page.
Click here to view the team page for Goose Hummock
thanks for your support.
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Michael MacAskill |
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