Ryan Collins
Before this week's storm, my friends and I had a blast catching stripers up to 41 inches.
Even more cooler was the fact we were targeting inshore areas from our 12 foot tin boat, powered by a 6hp Johnson.
Any striper larger than 40 inches in length is a quality fish, but there is something extra special and exciting when you catch that fish from a $350 floating piece of aluminum, and without the aid of sonar and GPS.​
Earlier this week you may of read this post by Lauren which recaps her experience fishing with me onboard the little boat.
Lauren had on a monster striped bass for several minutes during that trip. We will never know for sure how large that fish was, but I would estimate it to of been at least 25 pounds.
More...
Peanut Bunker are Showing Up along the Beaches
Before the north winds of the past few days rolled in, my friend Jason Mazzola and I were able to capitalize on a beautiful weather window, and splash the 12 footer just before sunrise.
As I waited to meet Jason on the beach, I watched in eager anticipation as schools of peanut bunker moved in close along the coastline. A fairly large seal was slashing through the school in the dim morning light.
20 minutes later we had the boat in the water and were ready to rock n' roll. I had a very good feeling with all this bunker around, and sure enough it was not long until we began visually seeing stripers.
The bass were cruising all around the boat. Click play below to watch.
Most of the bass in this expansive school were on the small side, yet every so often Jason and I would spot a 20+ pounder as it calmly cruised on by. Not surprisingly, the bass were very finicky.
The stripers were outright ignoring our baits. I briefly switched up plugs and tactics without any success. We continued to cast, drift in the wind, and visually spot stripers. At the least we were enjoying a nice morning of pleasant weather.
Major Bite, from out of Nowhere!
Eventually the large school of hundreds of bass dispersed, leaving us with sightings of single fish here and there. Perhaps if we just continued casting and waited it out, something dramatic might occur.
As the sun rose higher into the sky, both Jason and myself remained without a fish. "Prime time" had come and gone and the tide was quickly receding. It seemed like this trip would be all about observing bass in their natural environment, and not at all about catching them.
Around 8:00am the boat drifted past an outcropping of boulders the size of small automobiles. I fired my eel directly into the rocks and on my first or second turn of the handle a big bass absolutely crushed my bait!
Jay and I were shocked to say the least! The bite came from out of nowhere. Prior to the bite we had not been seeing many fish, yet as I fought the bass I saw a couple more 20+ pounders swim by.
We must of had a small "wolf pack" of aggressive large stripers cruise through the rocky outcropping at just the right moment. We fished for a while longer but were not able to generate any more bites.
I am Expecting a Productive Fall Run
Last September and October the Cape became inundated with peanut bunker, and I have a feeling it may happen again. I suppose we will all find out for certain very soon here as we move towards mid-September.
I wish you the best of luck fishing this week! Expect to see more posts about fly fishing and hopefully more false albies here on MFCC very soon. I do believe some excellent fishing opportunities for all sorts of species is coming right around the corner.
Tight lines and take care,
Ryan​
Being from upstate N.Y. I do A lot of fishing for Lake Trout and Salmon from my 14ft. square stern Radisson canoe with a 2hp Johnson on Lake George and tons of other lakes, I would Love to take it out on the Cape and see what I could do with it there !!
Sounds like a great boat Stephen! As long as the wind isn’t blowing too bad, you could do well fishing the bays and harbors here on Cape.
The tin boat is rad. Met a guy in Plymouth with his kids in one of these last night rocking a 1970’s 5HP motor. Looks like fun.
I’ve been getting after it with a budget sea kayak. Takes extra perseverance to push yourself to kayak 2-3 miles in an evening. Not too many keepers in the Plymouth area, at least for me, but so much fun to fish this way. I catch at least 3 fish every time I’m out there. So many fish just under 28″, really hoping to pull in a big one soon! Really amped about this upcoming harvest moon.
A 1970’s 5hp motor – now that is awesome!
That is a big time workout paddling that many miles.
I heard there were some good blitzes in Kingston/Plymouth Bays this past Friday evening.
I was not there, but were did you encounter them by any chance Alex?
Ryan. Nice fish. I have a room for my wife and I in Truro for the week of the 19th. Can’t get in till Monday cause of some festival. And if we had a chance to hookup, I would blow off Truro and go to you. I realize its last minute notice
and you are probably booked but I will basically take any time you might have including into the next weekend or week if I can find a place to sleep over the weekend. Deb may have booked another room down by the canal later in the week. I’m just not sure at the moment.. As I said, I just have to visit my old stomping grounds out around Race Point and the Traps one more time in my life. But I don’t like seals and I like Great Whites even less. So that could be a short visit. I was hoping maybe to get a lure in the water somewhere from the Race to Hatches. I would love a little advice on tackle for the bayside. And also eels. I was gonna bring up 30 or 40 if I can find them. Deb and I used to have a system where I would hook and reel in the fish ,hand the rod to her, and she would hand me a fresh rod. She would un- hook the fish and we just kept going. Now she is happier sitting by a pool and is not much into tin boats or dealing with fish. Most of my gear is surf stuff, but again, it sounds like fishing the surf could be tough. Do seals eat pikies, atom 40’s, red gils, Danny’s, bottle plugs or poppers. If they do, maybe I should bring my favorite 264!!!! Anyway Ryan my cell is 302 542 2495. I am having some battery issues. If I can’t get a new battery or phone, Deb’s cell is 302 745 5216. I guess I am in a forum here and not on your e mail, so anybody with any comments is welcome to chime in and tell me what a dummy I am to want to go out to the Ocean Beaches. But me, and Daignault, and the New York Firemen and police had about 12 really good years there. Then the Mounties started closing the beaches. I got a good start in the fight but ended up with the same kind of troubles here on my home beaches and had to go to that. Take care Ryan.
Thank you for the comment John!
If I have any more fishing opportunities come up during September, I will send you and the other MFCC members an email invitation.
Next time I sit down at my desk I will send you another message about some more fishing ideas to consider during your trip.
On another note, I know I have told you before, but man would I love to someday experience the action you, Deb and Frank got into along those backside beaches!
I can only imagine…
Now you have to try some albies in that tin boat. Next week should be good, got my fingers crossed.
Exactly what I was thinking.
Would also like to get an albie on the fly rod.
Have you caught an albie yet this season frankzappa?
Simple is good. Nice fish.
Thank you!
Hope to splash the big boat tomorrow.
You are welcome to join.