Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
Hi folks,
Just got back from the cape and parents cottage, and a weekend of torn hands and sore elbows, 2 broken rods and some pretty mangled flies. The cape is loaded with fish right now, and they are pretty easy to get for the most part. Blues are starting to show up in good numbers as well and the fish sizes range from 12 inches all the way up to 15 plus pounds. Loads of bunker are in the harbors, the bathtub off Monomoy is loaded with big fish and baitfish to boot. My first night in was nothing but keeper size stripers right out the shoot, 2nd cast 32 incher. And it went on from there, watched several pods of bunker get jumped by fish and managed to hook some cruisers as well. Yesterday I went down to Morris Island to check things out while my dad dug clams. Can you say bunker ball the size of a half soccer field! Blues rippin through them like crazy while the stripers picked up the pieces....retarded.
What was even more retarded was the people, I cant tell you how many times I shook my head in disgust at the number of discourteous fisherman in boats running through the pods of fish and cutting the shore anglers off. Complete amateur hour BS, if any of you guys out there read this, GET A CLUE!
Once the crowds came I resorted to open ocean beach fishing on the rising tides and had some pretty stellar outings, 30-40 stripers at a conservative whack, mostly schoolies in the 12-26 inch range but who cares. One evening I was fishing tandem streamers and had doubles on 4 times. Can you say Halloween cat in a box....really cool.
If you guys are looking to head down to the cape, nows the time its red hot from the shore, fish the tide switches and you will be rewarded and fly selection isnt all that important right now. If you are looking for some honest insight pop into Fishing the Cape in Harwich and they will steer you in the right direction. Good luck
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
That sounds like a ridiculous good time. Thanks for the report.
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
Well,
I learned something new, One of the balls of baitfish were in fact hickory shad. They were getting beat up hard. It was a bad day for them.
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
Dude, Were these fish just blitzing all day long or what? Bait getting hammered off the beach non stop?What rods and lines do you like to use out there?
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
ER, aka Jawzz,
I usually just fish an 8 weight unless there are some deep holes and a heavy grained line is the norm. Then I would go with a 9 or 10 weight. Sometimes you just step in S$&@ out there, this past weekend was the case. At some point in the future I will be purchasing my own flats skiff equipped with poling stand and fiberglass deal....should be good, stro taking to the salt.... If you hit it right it can be a total sore arm, ripped hands deal...
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
sounds like you hit right. all 9 foot rods? Wow, a flats boat would be sweet!
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
Jawzz,
I primarily fish 9 footers, however for the higher banked beaches I have a 10 footer, the spey rod comes in really handy too for those overly windy days. You can really belt a cast through wind with a 2 hander. You will have to come down some time, it can be ridiculous if you hit it right. I have the place to crash, so room and board is free and taken care of...think about boss....who knows it could be a great place to take the wife and kids too, we should have one of those little ones running around in a year or so......sounds like a possibility....between my parents, my in laws and my two sister in laws cottages it could definately happen....sounds like a future deal...
Re: Chatham, Cape Cod Report 05/25-05/28
Figured as much on the 9 foot rods, just wanted to see how you like to fish up there. When I fish Long Island (North shore and Montauk), I use the same. I would love to get up there and fish, have not been to the Cape since I was a kid, it would be all new to me, as I know zero about Cape Cod. Talk to you soon...........hey let's hook up for some warmwater drifting. Will be in touch!