Greetings from Capt. Dave & BAYMEN!

Today at first light, a rise in water temps to 70 degrees, a change of wind to a light North.

After yesterday’s fish-filled bay and a 25 catch and release morning, I expected to have the same results today or even better, ahead of the storm. Nature, however, is on a whole different pattern than man.

We drove around the bay today for two hours without seeing any topwater fish and not marking any fish on sonar. It was beautiful out there but fishing was tanked ahead of tomorrow’s stormy weekend. Go figure?

Maybe the fish will arrive at high tide today on the high incoming closer to mid-day? Maybe there will be a fantastic night bite tonight? It was shocking to see all of yesterday’s fish gone. But like they say, “that was yesterday.”

So after searching for fish for two hours with none found, I called the trip and we came back to dock and rescheduled. My client gave me a generous, and completely undeserved, tip. That is just the kind of clients I have had for the past 31 years. Generous to a fault, understanding, and just great people to fish with.

OTHER STUFF

STORM – I spoke with the Harbormaster this morning, and he said fifty boats were hauled out yesterday. I suspect another fifty will be hauled out today. Coming back in this morning, it looked like 50-60% of the boats in the harbor have been hauled. Some will be left in to weather the storm. The good news is, at last weather check, our bay is out of the hurricane cone. It can still swing back inland and Nantucket looks like it will still get slammed but the South Shore waters of Massachusetts may do better than expected with just high winds and lots of rain. Time will tell…

BEARS – I have yet to see a Black Bear in our area, but there have been several sightings this summer. Last weekend, there was a black bear a few miles up the road, and earlier in the summer there was a bear in my neighbors yard caught on video. There were no bears in town from the 1800’s until this year. Nobody in my family history ever saw a bear here. I am still hoping to see one!

FINAL FALL RUN – I am fishing through the first week of October in the hopes that there will be fish inside our bay. Every fall as the fish move south, we typically have great fishing daily until early October. Then, we hit what I call “Gap Days.” Days when there are tons of fish passing through, and then days when there is not a fish to be found until the next school comes down the coast and passes through our waters for a tide or two. Then the Gap Days get longer and longer with a week of no fish, then a big school, then no fish again. This is the typical pattern in our bay. If you don’t mind running the coast and putting on the miles, you may be able to find fish right up into early December. Then again, you may just hit Gap Days. But it always good to go!

BALD FACED HORNETS – Just an FYI. Watch for these wicked bees to be very active building their gray paper nests about the size of a basketball, in trees high off the ground and also low to the ground. I mention the Bald Faced Hornet because they are ferocious and will attack non-stop if you get too close or worse, stumble upon a nest unexpectedly. I have a very big nest in my yard and it is very active. I am hoping for the best and that when we get the first frost around October 15th, the bees will all die off and I can cut the nest down and hang it in my office as a beautiful ornament of nature.

That’s today’s Baymen Mix. Wishing you all a great and safe weekend. I will be back on the bay next week and post my daily Baymen Reports on how the fishing is going in our bay right into the first week of October.

Tight Lines!

Capt. David Bitters, BAYMEN, www.baymenlife.com 31 Years Guiding The Bay. Still In Love.

*******BOOKING 2025 THROUGH 2028 SEASONS. FLY FISHING & LIGHT TACKLE STRIPED BASS ON THE MASSACHUSETTS COAST. BOOK EARLY – DATES GO QUICKLY OFTEN SEVERAL SEASONS IN ADVANCE******

Soli Deo Gloria!