Breaking Bass and Breaking Down on Cape Cod Bay

This is a guest report and photo contest entry from Brian Atchinson, local Cape Cod recreational fishermen.

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Thanks!

Ryan

By Brian Atchinson

My most interesting day on the water this year was certainly not my best!  Early in June I had gotten on a hot striper bite in Cape Cod Bay.  The day before I had crushed them with my father and girlfriend.

My brother (not a big fisherman) had not been out on the water yet, so I convinced him that he had to get in on the action.  We got out there at first light, same spot we hammered them the day before, and of course…. there were no fish to be found.  We trolled around on top of Billingsgate, in the deep water off the north, over towards Wellfleet, and finally found them back where we started on the southern edge of the shoal.  After looking for several hours we had finally found the fish and the bite was amazing!

We were on the fish for all of 3 minutes and were doubled-up when the motor stalled.  I didn’t think too much of it as I was in the middle of battling my first striper of the day.  We both landed our fish and it was time to get back over on the breaking school of bass.   I went to start the motor and it only turned over.   I tried again…. just turning over.   Long story short, the fuel pump had seized up while we were fighting the bass and our day was over… just as soon as we found the fish.

The Sea Tow captain was great, and was out there in less than an hour to give us a pull back in.  However, bobbing helplessly in the ocean while watching breaking bass out of casting range was a pretty tough pill to swallow.  As you can see, my brother was not a happy camper on the tow back to Sesuit!