25 Fish
On board today, I had repeat client, Pete Gaudette for light tackle striped bass. Pete was a regular at The Baymen Fishing Club and Baymen Fly Tying Club back in the day when those clubs were running in town. Boy, what great times we had!
At first light, we found a few fish on topwater over the flats on the dropping tide. We picked up a couple and then moved on to fish the rips. The first rip had fish for several drifts and then it went quiet. The second rip had topwater action for a couple of drifts and then that went quiet. A short time later, we hit a big school of fish in a deep channel. Schools of bass (some giants on the sonar) were hugging the bottom in 30 feet of water. We fished my Baymen Jigs and hooked up on every drift. A while later, “High Rod” called me over the radio to report topwater fish across the bay. Pete and I made the run and found them and hooked up on a few more.
As the tide bottomed out, we moved into the little guzzles around the bay and tried topwater poppers. Not a single fish holding in my spots!
As the tide turned around and stated coming in, we found a small school of fish on top over the flats. We landed one fish, had another strike, and then the wind freshened out of the east! Fog rolled in and the bite shut down like the flick of a switch. We hit a few more spots and then called it a great morning and headed for port in thick fog.
Total catch and release today was 25 fish, most of them in the 24″ inch to 27.5″ inch range. Rubber cranks worked for topwater, but my Baymen Jig was tops again for getting down deep to fish holding on the bottom. Seas were very flat and water temps were 58+ degrees. Air temps today are pushing 80 degrees.
We are still waiting on some big fish to come into the bay. Word of big fish a few miles north of Barnstable. So they should show any day… Also, macks continue to be thick out front. Memorial Day Blitz?
Tight Lines & Stay Posted:
Capt. Dave, BAYMEN www.baymenlife.com