FullStrikeAngler

Saturday, June 20th, charter produced some of the finest ground fishing of the season including plenty of steaker codfish, haddock to 7lbs and slammer Pollack. The bite was so furious the charter waved a white flag at Noon and decided to troll home looking for tuna along the way. No tuna were landed but alligator sized bluefish to 15lbs attacked the trolled plugs. We even stopped to catch them on light tackle spin rods…what a blast. If you want to catch ground fish or combine it with a tuna hunt now is the time as the Bank is alive with life. Beginning this week, I am now able to take charters 7 days a week so call today 978-590-2131 and get in on this incredible action. Read the whole story HERE Tight Lines

This past weekend I had the pleasure of welcoming guests aboard the Lady Diane who had not previously fished with me. Both charters hailed from NY (yes we do allow Yankee fans on the boat) and in fact lived within a few miles of each other. While we did not “limit out” on cod either day (the streak is over) we did experience some great fishing targeting both ground fish and tuna. In fact we had a possible record catch For the complete story on this remarkable catch and the rest of the weekend's fishing adventures go HERE

Another great weekend of cod fishing on Stellwagen Bank off the shores of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Limited out on cod both days and chased busting tuna as well. Saturday weather gave the anglers tough fishing conditions but being very experienced fisherman they stuck to it and limited out on the cod by the time we headed for the barn. The complete story can be read HERE Sunday’s charter enjoyed much better sea conditions and I had the pleasure of having a true fishing machine on board. For a great story go HERE Tight Lines,

This post was made by a fellow charter boat captain in our area and describes a serious attempt to destroy the charter boat and recreational fishery in our area. Please take the time to read this and write an email to the persons noted. It dosen't matter if you are from this area or not. The fact that the NMFS is trying to destroy an industry means that today its cod and tomorrow maybe the fish you like to target...thanks for your help. URGENT NOTIFICATION FOR ANYONE WHO FISHES FOR COD AND HADDOCK Amendment 16 to the Groundfish Fishery Management Plan is coming due. This will effect seasons and bag limits for anyone who fishes for cod and haddock weather a recreational fisherman, charter boat or a recreational fisherman. A defined time period will be used to calculate the allocation: either fishing years 1996-2006 or 2001-2006. If no action is taken, there will be no allocation of groundfish among the commercial and recreational fisheries. On May 27th the Recreational Advisory Panel met and decided to send to the council a recommendation that if a reduction in Gulf of Maine Cod and Haddock is needed to reduce the bag limit down to six fish per angler and increase the haddock size to 21” which will keep the same season and no bag limit on haddock. Can you imagine only being able to retain six 24” codfish per person? The Council is considering an allocation certain regulated groundfish stocks to the commercial and recreational components of the fishery. For this action, an allocation will be determined after accounting for state waters catches taken outside of the FMP. An allocation will not be made in the case of stocks that are not fully harvesting the ACL. An allocation will also not be made if the recreational harvest, after accounting for state waters catches outside the management plan, is less than five percent of the removals. A defined time period will be used to calculate the allocation: either fishing years 1996-2006 or 2001-2006. If no action is taken, there will be no allocation of groundfish among the commercial and recreational fisheries. If the selected allocation years are 2001-2006 or if no allocation is made the minimum size for GOM haddock is reduced to 18 inches. There is no bag limit and no change in seasons. This means there is no changes to the current size, bag limits or seasons for fishing Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod. If the New England Fisheries Management Council decides to use the allocation years 1996 -2006 then we will need to take a further reduction in the way of three options: Options for GOM cod (if the selected allocation years are 1996-2006): Option 1: The minimum size for GOM cod is increased to 26 inches. There is no change to the bag limit or the season. Option 2: The bag limit for GOM cod is six fish per angler per trip. There is no change to the minimum size or season. Option 3: Landing of GOM cod is prohibited from November 1 through April 15. There is no change to the minimum size or bag limit. Options for GOM Haddock (if the selected allocation years are 1996-2006): Option 1: The minimum size for GOM haddock is increased to 21 inches. There is no change to the bag limit or the season. Option 2: A bag limit for GOM haddock is implemented as nine fish per angler per trip. There is no change to the minimum size or season. Option 3: The minimum size for GOM haddock is reduced to 18 inches and a bag limit of 7 fish per angler per trip is adopted. There is no change to the season. Written comments on the DEIS may be made from April 24 through June 8, 2009. These comments may be mailed to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Regional Office; 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (Attention: DEIS for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP), or faxed to 978/281-9207 or sent via email to: multsamendment16@noaa.gov. (Subject line: DEIS for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP). Public comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 8, 2009, EST. There have been public meetings on the proposal for both recreational and commercial fishing in Wakefield, MA, Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH. There are still two more meetings coming up on Monday in New London, CT and South Kingstown, RI. June 1st, 2009 1-3:30 p.m. New London, CT Radisson New London 35 Governor Winthrop Blvd New London CT June 1st, 2009 6-9 p.m. S. Kingston, RI Holiday Inn 3009 Tower Hill Rd S. Kingston RI Written comments on the DEIS may be made from April 24 through June 8, 2009. These comments may be mailed to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Regional Office; 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930 (Attention: DEIS for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP), or faxed to 978/281-9207 or sent via email to: multsamendment16@noaa.gov. (Subject line: DEIS for Amendment 16 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP). Public comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 8, 2009, EST. Please also send e-mails to the members of the NEFMC, RAP and Director of Marine fisheries below: Pat Kurkul pat.kurkul@noaa.gov Paul Diodatti paul.diodati@state.ma.us Paul Howard phoward@nefmc.org Rip Cunningham Ripcham@verizon.net Barry Gibson BarryGibson6@aol.com John Pappalardo johnp@ccchfa.org It is imperative that charter boats, recreational fisherman and charter boat customers write to the NEFMC above and tell them that if a reduction is necessary you request that they use Option Number Three for cod which is a closed season Nov 1 April 15 which is only two more weeks of cold windy weather. For a haddock reduction you are requesting they use Option Number 01 which is an increase in size to 21” and no season or bag limit.

Fished on Stellwagen on Saturday with a great crew. Fishing was what I would call a slow pick all day. The guys had to fish their way through hundreds of short cod to put some good keepahs in the boat. The guys ended up with 85lbs of fillet which I consider a slow day of catching. On Sunday I took a couple friends for a ride to the inshore areas off Hampton. My buddy limited out there on Saturday so I wanted to see if we could get a couple fish for our own freezers. As I arrived there was only one boat on my radar and he was offshore from where I planned to fish. We nailed a half dozen nice fish on the first couple of drifts before a good squall blew through. The wind put up a frothy chop on top of a 3' southerly swell in a matter of minutes. The tide and wind combined for a real fast drift so after a half hour we decided to call it a short day. By the time we left, every headboat and 6 pak from Newburyport to Portsmouth converged on the spot we had setup up on. Guess I chose the right spot You may read my full report HERE Tight Lines

I run charters from the Cape Ann Marina in Gloucester on my boat the Lady Diane. In July and August I also trailer up to the Saco in Maine for my Maine customers who want to fish Platts.

You might want to check out OTI jig rods. I am setting up a couple 600g rods with Stella 20000SW for tuna jigging. Price point is fair as well.

FYI... May 1, 2009 MarineFisheries Advisory SPRING COD CONSERVATION ZONE EFFECTIVE TODAY May 11th Public hearing on emergency action The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) is issuing this reminder that a Spring Cod Conservation Zone (Spring CCZ), implemented by emergency action, is effective today, May 1st. Spring Cod Conservation Zone rules (322 CMR 8.15): 1. comprised of waters under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth north of latitude 42° 30’, south of latitude 42° 33’, east of 70° 43’ and west of 70° 40 (see map); 2. any person is prohibited from landing or possessing cod in the Spring Cod Conservation Zone (Spring CCZ) during May 1 through June 30; 3. vessels are allowed to transit the Spring CCZ during May 1 through June 30 with cod in possession provided said cod were caught outside of the Spring CCZ and all fishing gear is stowed; 4. any person is prohibited from fishing, setting or abandoning gillnets in the Spring CCZ during May 1 – June 30. _________________

A slang description for large haddock >7lbs.

Sunday's charter on Stellwagen landed the largest catch of bull haddock that I have ever cut as a mate on any boat or as a Captain of my own. Throw in a dozen nice market cod to 15lbs and it was a day to be remembered. I cut fish all day as the bite was relentless. On one of the drifts we hooked our first porbeagle of the season. My customer was retrieving his jig when it got slammed about 20 ft from the surface. Unfortunatley the top shot chaffed on the bottom of the boat on the initial strike and after a five minute fight he broke off . Good news is the gear I use handled the fish and we had a good shot at landing him...next time! My customers left the boat with 150lbs of haddock and 50 lbs of cod FILLET. If you like to catch haddock now is the time to go fishing! Go HERE for the full report

Hope to do the same. The Admiral will be on board for the shakedown cruise so it better be FAC and the fish in a biting mood as she dosent like fishing only Catching

April 11th if all goes to plan. The Admiral will be on board and she dosent like fishing only catching so the Captain had better be on top of his game

The MA DMF is proposing a May 1 until July 15th closure of the Cod Conservation Zone to all angling including recreational and party/charter boats. A public meeting will be held on April 8 th (6PM) at the Annisquam River Marine Fisheries Station (30 Emerson Ave. Gloucester). If you have an interest in codfishing please make an effort to attend this hearing. For more information go HERE

Codfisher is here but under my new name

Going to have to miss it this year as I am heading to the CR show on Saturday and picking up the boat on Sunday.