In today's podcast and blog post, My Fishing Cape Cod member Tim O'Connor shares his most notable experiences and takeaways from his first year as a member.
For many anglers, finding a community of like-minded fishing enthusiasts can transform their fishing experience. Tim is a native of Hull, Massachusetts and found MFCC the key to unlocking the opportunity to be successful fishing new waters around Cape Cod.
Click play below to start listening, or scroll down to access a written version (with photos and links to additional resources) of everything we cover.
From the Merrimack to Hull: A Fisherman's Journey
Tim's fishing story begins in his childhood, fishing the Merrimack River with his father and brother. "I grew up in [the area] north of Boston and sort of began fishing as a child near the Merrimack River," Tim recalls. "My dad used to take my brother and I out on party boats when we were kids."
His passion for fishing eventually influenced his decision to move to Hull, near Nantasket Beach. The proximity to water and shared love of the ocean with his wife made it an ideal location. This move would later prove fortuitous for his salt water fishing adventures.
Discovering MFCC: A New Chapter
Tim found MFCC through a combination of watching the MFCC television shows and online research. What drew him to the community was the opportunity to connect with fellow fishing enthusiasts, especially since many of his old fishing companions had either moved away or stopped fishing.
"It seemed like the perfect thing for me to reconnect with people who love fishing as much as I do," Tim explains. The guided group trips particularly caught his attention, offering an economical way to experience different types of fishing throughout the season. Not only were the trips easy on the budget and a great way to meet other anglers, but the variety of species targeted during these trips provided bountiful opportunities to target new species.
Adventures on the Water
Throughout his membership Tim has embarked on a series of memorable fishing expeditions that showcased the diverse fishing opportunities available through MFCC's guided trips. Each adventure brought new experiences, techniques, and species to target.
Tim's season kicked off with a bang as he joined Captain Tyler Putney of Flatliner Charters for what would become an unforgettable mixed-species trip. The day began targeting black sea bass, a species that was somewhat unfamiliar to Tim given his North Shore fishing background. "It was fantastic. It was lights out just one after another after another after another," Tim recalls of the sea bass action.
Tim O'Connor (pictured above) with a beautiful Cape Cod Black Sea Bass landed aboard a MFCC group trip with Captain Tyler Putney.
What made this trip particularly special was Captain Tyler's ability to adapt once the group had limited out on sea bass. "We went for stripers and we were fishing in the rips, which I had never done before off of Martha's Vineyard," Tim explains. This introduction to rip fishing opened up a whole new technique for Tim, as they used large spooks and other surface plugs to entice the stripers feeding in the turbulent water.
As the season progressed, Tim ventured out with locally renowned Captain Jimmy "the Greek," Koutalakis of On Time Charters, a trip that lived up to all expectations. "He was as great as everybody talks about," Tim shares. "The fishing was fantastic. He had spots... I mean we dropped down and it was instant action for fluke and sea bass."
Jimmy "The Greek" Koutalakis of On Time Charters has consistently put MFCC members like Tim O'Connor on the bite for Fluke and Black Sea Bass. Jimmy is a master of putting members on big fluke and is a revered figure in the Cape Cod fishing community.
What impressed Tim most was not just the quantity of fish, but their quality. "The fish were all really great sized fish," he notes. Jimmy's expertise in finding productive spots and putting his clients on fish demonstrated why he's such a respected figure in the Cape Cod fishing community.
Perhaps the highlight of Tim's season came during a late-summer trip with Captain Tyler. This trip epitomized the diverse fishing opportunities available in Cape Cod waters, as they targeted multiple species throughout the day in the legendary Monomoy rips.
The morning began with striped bass and bluefish, but it was the afternoon session chasing false albacore and bonito that would make this day legendary. Tim achieved what many anglers dream of but few accomplish: a grand slam, landing a striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and bonito all in one day.
The false albacore was particularly memorable, as it was not only Tim's first but also an exceptionally large albie. "It was the largest one that Tyler had ever seen on his boat to that point," Tim recounts with obvious pride. "I told Tyler, I was like, I think I should just hang it up right now. I'm done. No more false albacore fishing for me." The fact that such a trophy came on his first-ever false albacore catch made the achievement even more remarkable.
Tim concluded his season by venturing into new territory once again, this time targeting tautog. This trip came about through recommendations from fellow anglers he'd met on previous MFCC trips. "Many of the guys that I was fishing with on the trips kept talking about, 'you got to go tog fishing, you got to go tog fishing, they're fantastic.'"
MFCC Member Tim O'Connor (pictured above) with a nice Cape Cod Tautog. This MFCC group trip gave Tim the opportunity to target Tautog for the very first time.
"We had a great day. He put us right on so many spots where there was a lot of action and everybody limited out again," Tim shares. This introduction to tog fishing added yet another dimension to Tim's growing repertoire of fishing experiences.
What makes these adventures particularly noteworthy is not just the fishing success, but the economic value they represent. As Tim points out, "I think if I added up all the money I spent going out multiple times with the guides and the other members of the club, I don't think it would've even added up to going out twice on my own with a guide." This combination of quality fishing experiences, expert guidance, and cost-effectiveness exemplifies the benefits of MFCC membership.
Local Knowledge: Fishing the Hull Coastline
When fishing his home waters near Hull, Tim typically works the rocky coastline, which he notes holds fish year-round. He's particularly successful with surface lures: "If it's a surface feed, I use a lot of spook-like lures... especially the small, more realistic ones."
From his kayak, Tim has developed effective techniques for targeting larger fish: "I actually troll with an umbrella rig on my kayak and that is phenomenal. I've caught so many big fish doing that." The kayak provides an intimate fishing experience, allowing him to see the fish up close: "They look so beautiful. You see the purples and the greens and the blues right in front of you as it's happening."
Closing Thoughts
Throughout my conversation with Tim, he emphasized how MFCC has enhanced his fishing experience through both guided trips and the connections he's made with fellow members. "I learned a lot, I met a lot of great people, I fished with great captains, and it really couldn't have gone better," he reflected on his membership experience.
It was a true pleasure listening to the unbridled enthusiasm in Tim's voice during our conversation when recounting his adventures on the water. The combination of economical group trips targeting a variety of species and the opportunity to build lasting friendships has made Tim's MFCC experience all the worth while.
Tight lines and take care 🎣
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