POST NOTE: I doubt if this record will ever be broken on my boat. Just an amazing morning, in the right place, at the right time, on the right tide, with the right wind, with the right tackle, with the right anglers…

MOTHER OF ALL BLITZES…!!! You read that number right: 402 Striped Bass boated and released in 5 hours with anglers, Al Uhler of Marshfield, Ted Healey of Hingham, and Jeff Hardenstine of Peabody. They have been fishing with me for many years now.

At first light, a stunning sunrise, high tide dropping, and a light West wind. And a massive school of fish feeding on a massive pod of bait. We are all still stunned. My thumbs and hands ache from lipping that many fish, de-hooking them and throwing them back.

All fish today were landed on rubber crank baits. Most of the fish were in four feet of water, some where in one foot of water and we were bottoming out. A few fish were in ten feet of water. But all the fish were on top, non-stop, for five solid hours. We stayed with that one school of fish the entire morning.

Our best fish today was a 37″ incher that weighed 18 pounds on the Boga. Seven fish were keepers out of the 402 fish we landed. We released six of the keepers including the 37″ incher that was landed by Jeff Hardenstine of Peabody.

I don’t know what else to say other than in my twenty-four years of guiding on the bay, we have never landed and released that many fish in one morning. Not even close. My prayer last night to God was that the bay would be filled up with fish and that my charters would land some nice keepers.

As most of you know, I am not into record numbers or even sizes. I just enjoy being on the bay with my clients and giving them a great morning on the water, and catching what is available. Today what was available, was the biggest school of fish I’ve ever been into.

If you are south of Plymouth or on the Cape, get ready. These fish are heading your way tomorrow…

Congrats to Al Uhler, Ted Healey, and Jeff Hardenstine on setting the new BAYMEN boat record for most fish caught and released on my boat in twenty-four years of guiding. 402. That’s one for the books that I doubt will ever be broken.

Tight Lines and enjoy the excellent fall fishing!

Capt. Dave
www.baymenlife.com