Greetings from Capt. Dave & BAYMEN!

On board today – Dr. Brenda Chapman from Oklahoma, for Day 2: light tackle striped bass.

At first light, a SW wind and some minor chop on the bay. We ran to spot #1 of the morning to look for yesterday’s topwater action. One small school of fast moving, skittish striped bass. We left and headed for spot #2 of the morning, a piece of structure. BINGO! Three drifts, three fish to 13 pounds!

Next up, we headed for Spot #3 of the morning and found a few birds working over a nice ball of bass. They did not stay up for long but we worked them and landed several fish. They were in run and gun mode and after they broke up, we moved to spot #4 of the morning: Void of fish.

Onward across the bay to spot #5 of the morning. BINGO! Big Bass On Topwater! Brenda worked the school of fish while I shouted out size and depth. Some real GIANTS in this school of fish that would bust bait and topwater and then go down deep and light up the sonar. Small schools of big bass of 6-12 fish. At one point, I thought I saw football tuna in the mix but it could have been huge blues? In any event, they had bait in a ball on the surface and were absolutely destroying it with a vengeance!

Brenda hooked up on some nice bass on the light tackle rubber crank baits that gave some screaming runs. She fought them to perfection and brought them all to boat, including a fine 18 pounder that taped out to 38″ inches. These big bass were in shallow water with water temps 71 degrees! I was absolutely amazed that big fish were in this hot water. But as I often say, “Bass are where you find them, not where you want them to be.”

Total catch and release today was 14 fish, 4 keepers, all on light tackle rubber crank baits. Just an absolute blast. My late friend, Tony Stetzko, who holds the MA state record for biggest rod and reel striped bass (73 lbs) said his favorite wind was a SW. My favorite is a very light S or a very light W. But today was all SW all morning, and the big bass loved it.

Back at it. Stay Posted: 

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com 30 Years Guiding The Bay. Fly Fishing & Light Tackle Shallow Water A Specialty. Now Booking 2023 & 2024. Book Early, Dates Go Quickly.

TYL