A couple weeks ago I told you guys about meeting Peter Wiersema and the HammerCat 35HH. The HammerCat is a unique boat, and Peter’s been incredibly open about putting it to use for the MFCC community this summer.
The HammerCat 35HH — the boat behind this September’s MFCC giveaway trip — with Naushon Island in the background.
We’ve kicked around a few different ideas for how to do that, and based on your feedback a MFCC fishing trip aboard the HammerCat is the clear winner. So that’s what we’re going to do!
This September we’re going to launch a giveaway for a fishing trip onboard this beautiful boat, with me, Peter, one of our MFCC group trip captains and probably 3-4 anglers from the MFCC community.
Before we launch the giveaway we have a few more details we need to lock down, including one important decision I’d like your input on…
What Are We Fishing For?
This is where I want some feedback.
We could chase stripers working the rips off Monomoy. We could run out for tuna if the timing and conditions line up. We could chase albies blitzing bait on the surface down along the Elizabeths. Or we could slow it down and bottom fish for tautog around the rock piles of Buzzards Bay.
Stripers. Tuna. Albies. Tautog. Which one do you want a shot at? Comment below!
Different species, different game plans, possibly different departure points. So before we finalize anything, I want to know what you guys would prefer a shot at.
Please take a moment to drop us a comment and tell me: tuna, stripers, albies, or tautog? And if you’ve got other thoughts on how this trip should run, I’d love to hear those too.
The Trip Itself
Here’s what we know so far:
- Timing: Most likely late September or early October, depending on weather
- Spots: Room for 3–4 winners
- Crew: Me and Peter onboard, and we’re likely bringing in one of our MFCC group trip captains to help run things
- Departure: Peter keeps the HammerCat at Quisset Harbor in Falmouth, so that’s our most likely jumping-off point — though depending on what we’re targeting and what the weather’s doing, we might shift to another harbor
Quissett Harbor, Falmouth — Peter’s home base for the HammerCat, and our likely jumping-off point. Photo by Brian Tarcy
A Quick Preview of What You’re In For
I recently joined Peter for a cruise out to Woods Hole and off Naushon Island to get a feel for how the HammerCat handles.
Peter even pushed it into a nearly full-throttle 360, a maneuver I have never experienced before in my life and something you’re not trying twice in a monohull. The stability was insane!
I think the cuddy’s walk-around and enclosed cabin and cockpit will also make for a very enjoyable experience on the water — even if we end up needing to do this trip on a chilly October morning in less than ideal conditions. Unlike a center console we should be warm and dry out there no matter the weather.
Help Us Plan The Trip
Please comment below and tell me: tuna, stripers, albies, or tautog? And if you’ve got other thoughts on how this trip should run, I want to hear those too.
We’re not opening entries yet — that’s coming in September, so keep an eye out. For now, I’m interested in your input to help us figure out what this trip will actually look like.
More soon! 🎣
Ryan
Tuna
Ryan for the giveaway trip I vote for tuna and even better mahi mahi
For 4-5 years before I moved to East Falmouth in January 2025, my fishing buddy and I drove down from New Hampshire to spend a week in September chasing albies in my 19 ft
Sea Pro CC. Despite the fact we routinely found them off Falmouth Heights and/or in Woods Hole behind WHOI, we both had a hard time getting a hook into one. In 10-15 days of fishing for them, we only had three albies to show for it (we did find lots of bass and bluefish stacked at the north end of Waquoit Bay). Bottom line–I live here now, have a decent stock of Crystal Minnows, Mag Minnows and epoxies and I want to catch albies so badly I can taste it. I just need someone to show me where to go and how to catch them.
TUNA!!! TUNA!! TUNA!!! PLEASE!
Albies
Tuna, Stripers, Albies and Tautog. That order first to last.
Tuna tuna tuna !!!
Whatever the action is
Whatever is hot at the time. Stripers or tuna? I’d be blessed just to be out
With the year that I have had, I vote for striper
For me the choice woild be casting into the rips off Monomoy which opportunities to catch variety of species including bass, albies, tuna and blues
Definitely yellowfin in the canyons. The boat can do 50 mph, holds a ton of gas, and is an ultra smooth ride. That will give a chance to showcase the boat, and have three my fishing Cape Cod anglers very happy! There is a reason this thing’s called a hammer cat!
Albies!
Hey Ryan,
I can never get enough of the stripers so that gets my vote!
Rec tuna, followed by albies, then maybe bones, bsb, tog, stripers
Tuna
Tuna. Awesome boat and offer
That’s a tuna fishing boat
It definitely is Conor! If there are tuna south of MV late Sept/early Oct when we do the trip, then it would be a pretty easy ride to get there from Quisset in Falmouth. Fall back could be albies, then stripers, then tautog.
Play it by ear … whatever is hot. Don’t force it …
Thanks Jeff. Sounds like tuna is most popular, so we may try to do that first. I still have to run it by Peter but I’d imagine he’d be game. If the wind is bad or the tuna aren’t around, then we’ll likely fall back to albies. If that’s not producing then we’ll go for stripers, and finally last in the list will be tautog.
My fist choice would be tuna
Thank you Jim!
I vote tuna and/or Albies as well!
Thank you Robby!
I vote for Tuna or albies (I’ve caught neither )
Roger that. Thank you Chris!
Tuna… Stripers, Albie or Tog would be like taking a Ferarri to the grocery store. Fun drive, but the grocery store would not show you what the Ferarri could really do.
LOL, that’s a pretty good analogy. Thanks Mike!
Inshore Slamma Jammah: BSB, Monsta Tog, and if time permits or opportunity presents shift to Stripahs, Albies or Bones
Good idea Chris, thanks! Seems like folks are also interested in tuna so we may lean towards making that happen if the tuna are around and the weather is good. Fall back would be inshore.
I say Tuna given the ability for the boat to haul ass
Sounds good Chris! Appreciate the feedback. Yes, the boat can definitely haul ass. LOL!