While little schoolie stripers remain abundant off our coast, many big striped bass have disappointingly left us for colder waters. A substantial school was even observed apparently beginning early to migrate south. But local bluefin fishing has proven truly phenomenal. In many tuna captains’ minds, 2020 has been “crazy,” “epic” — and “the best year ever.”
Captains Matt Blazis and Bryan Wilson notably have been teaming lately to “insanely” catch giant tuna on EVERY trip out. Under the best of conditions, that’s not supposed to happen. The tuna gods are feeling generous.
After hauling in several giant bluefin over the last couple of weeks and providing me with fresh otoro sashimi, my son Matt had a giant of Hemingway epic proportions that just refused to come within range of Bryan’s harpoon, even after over an hour of brutal battle. Likely over 1,000 pounds, the magnificent fish broke off, leaving only lactic acid in Matt’s strained arms, disbelief, and thoughts of a might-have-been, big pay day for the team. Fortunately, within an hour after the emotion-draining break-off, the team hooked and landed another 96-inch giant. Those wanting to fish with Bryan on his Hell On Reels 2 can google “Fat 2na Willys Fishing Charters.”
Bruce Peters, another one of my favorite tuna captains because of his honesty, T&G column contributions and exceptional success, shared, “This bluefin season has been fantastic. We’ve incredibly had 100% success on every tuna charter this year. That’s unheard of in these waters. On my last charter, all four anglers fought, landed or released their own bluefin.” If any of you anglers with strong arms and backs ever wanted to fight a fish far bigger than you, the next month is your best chance — maybe ever here. There might still be room on the Marilyn S. Check out Cape Shores Charters.
While some of the best hot spots are secret and require long hauls out to sea, there are plenty of tuna being caught at Stellwagen Bank, the traditional tuna grounds just east of Chatham, and Crab Ledge.
Elsewhere, the cold waters of the Monomoy rips are proving hot for bluefish, big striped bass — and the second show-stealer of August — the delicious bonito. Cape Cod Canal fishermen also witnessed huge schools of bonito moving through last week. These delicious tuna family members have also been building off Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Sandy Neck and, most notably, the Hooter, with scatterings of the first false albacore among them. These are the “hard-tail” species that elicit so much fervor among September’s most rabid saltwater disciples. The Hooter is particularly attractive now because it’s also loaded with delicious sea bass.
Large numbers of bluefish — mostly under 5 pounds — have been cruising close to shore, providing constant action just off the Cape’s south side beaches.
Fine fishing elsewhere
Montauk has been rewarding. Bonito, big bluefish and stripers are being caught around the Race. Toward the eastern end of Long Island Sound, bonito are appearing in greater numbers. The hope is that game fish will be coming in soon to feast on the huge schools of menhaden there. Some of the best fishing right now might be off Niantic, where there’s been excellent striper action right off the beaches.
Rhode Island fishermen — including fly fishermen who know how to handle a 10-weight rod — have been hauling in “gator” blues, many over 10 pounds. Striper fishing has been excellent, with all sizes of fish being taken. Watch Hill has had plenty of early morning surface activity, with fish responding eagerly to the presence of big schools of anchovies and tiny menhaden.
For anglers seeking bonito to eat and albies to catch and release, the stretch from Watch Hill to Newport has been very good.
Word from Labrador, which hasn’t had its normal migration of American fly fishers this year, is that fishing has been much below par this season because of the unusually dry, hot summer there. Salmon fishing has been particularly slow.
New York anglers heading to the fabled Beaverkill and Willowemoc rivers are being asked to fish elsewhere as warm waters are challenging trout just to survive. The Delaware River is an alternative, providing midday Sulphur hatches along with Light Cahills and Isonychias in the evenings. But just about every water is now terrestrial fly time with ants, beetles and hoppers floating down in increasing numbers.
Fly fishing on Connecticut’s Housatonic Trout Management Area is not permitted now because of high water temperatures. The great Farmington River also has been down because of lack of rain. The good news is that its flows are still cold. Blue winged olives and caddis have been hatching, but ants and beetles are everywhere. Some anglers are fishing successfully at night with mouse imitations. Fortunately, both our Swift and Deerfield rivers, though lower than normal, are still running cold.
Commerical benefit
Despite our striped bass stocks being way down, the Division of Marine Fisheries has mandated that commercially caught stripers must be at least 35 inches. That, of course, means that just about every fish sold to markets and restaurants will be our most productive breeding fish.
The Division also has controversially extended the commercial season, giving them an extra day (Tuesday) to fish each week — supposedly to address the financial hardship incurred by them because of the pandemic. Theoretically, this change will allow commercial fishermen to conduct fishing over consecutive days and take greater advantage of night fishing opportunities. They already have Mondays and Wednesdays. Many recreational fishermen wanting to bring back our stripers are greatly upset, feeling these policies don’t help our stocks.
Black sea bass commercial catches also will be increased. Pot fishermen’s limits will increase from 400 to 500 pounds, while hook and line fishermen’s limits will increase from 200 to 250 pounds.
Commercial summer flounder limits for trawlers also will increase from 400 to 600 pounds. It’s definitely not easy scientifically managing our fish stocks, dodging politics — and keeping everyone happy.
—Contact Mark Blazis at markblazissafaris@gmail.com.
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