36 Fish on Fly & LT
On board today, I had repeat client, Rolando Jeter, and friend, Sheema, for fly and light tackle striped bass.
At first light, dead low -1.4 tide, and flat calm seas. We picked our way out through the channel and out onto the bay. We found a big school of striped bass that we estimated to be about 100+ fish working bait right up tight to shore. In fact, so tight, my skiff was bottoming out as we tried to get close enough for casting. With work, we got right on top of them and Rolando and Sheema began to hook up.
Later, we saw fish breaking in the distance around some flats and decided to try and get to them. The tide was rising now, so no worries about getting stuck – for long. We found little cuts with a foot or less of water, but it was enough for us to squeeze through and get into the fish. That move proved a good one as we were into fish for the next couple of hours!
As the morning progressed, we decided to run Brown Bank and found some more fish. Then we made a trip into Plymouth Harbor, Whites flats, on into Kingston bay, and then back up into Duxbury. The sun was hot and high and fishing began to slow and we finally called it a great morning and headed for port.
Total catch and release today was 36 striped bass. We also hooked into a giant hickory shad. No sign of blues, and no sign of seals (or sharks!). Top tackle today for flies was my Baymen Universal fished on an intermediate line. For light tackle, we had good success with Baymen Jigs, topwater spooks, and rubber crank baits. Our best lure color was a Chartreuse rubber shad on a jig head.
Laying low for the weekend, but back at it next week as the Fall Run continues…
Capt. David Bitters, F/V BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com