Fishing Cape Ann

[Fly Rod]

The striped bass fishing is under way here. The mackerel have arrived and so has the big stripers, fish 38" or longer. Small stripers arrived two weeks ago and the fly fishermen have been having a lot of fun catching the schoolies in the Annisquam river and an occasional keeper over 28" is being taken in the river.

There is no better place to fish for stripers then around the Cape Ann area from now thru September. This is where they summer along our rocky coast and estuaries. The blue fish will be arriving soon and driving the mackerel futher north and that is when we switch to chunking herring for the stripers.

With the return of the sand eels on Stellwagon Bank the whales are also here. It is just a 12 mile chaunt to the bank and seeing the dozens of humpbacks breaching and feeding on the eels.

Also on the bank there is cod and haddock fishing. Not far from shore starts Jefferies Ledge which holds some of the riches fishing grounds in the north east from Cape Ann, Gloucester , Mass. to Maine.

Cape Ann is also known for the true movie " THE PERFECT STORM" Once known as the commercial fishing capital of the world this little island just 36 miles north of Boston has lost over 5,000 fishermen since the year 1900.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

I will be there next Friday,just to see whether you are just advertizing your little dot on the map or whether there really are fish near Cape Anne.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

U have been here before and know what it is like to catch, a fine catch of of deep water fish Lad. So bring along them sea legs and your finest keg of brew.

If you want to cook some of your catch the Gull Restaurant will cook your catch for about six bucks. Don't forget about the restaurant across the street where you will never leave hungry.

Are you coming on friday the 1st or the day before and staying at the motel?

On Friday from about 3:30PM I will be in the bar area of the Gull more then likely on the window side, corner stool, white cap, gray sweat shirt. Come on in and I will buy you a drink. It will be nice to meet ya. More then likely i'll be there on Thursday from 3:30PM

 

[mackkie]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Hey!
I used to fish up in Essex with my Dads friend and used to hammer tons of stripers. Now that my friend and I just bought are own boat, we want to bring her up to that area.

Any tips where we can launch our boat? Any good spots where we should concentrate on? What kind of bait?

We are new to saltwater fishing but I have been dreaming for years now of owning my own boat and doing some striper fishing. Any help you can offer a "rookie" like me would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Matt

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Hello Matt!!

The ramp behind the high school in Gloucester is a great ramp to launch from. This ramp is fairly new. Take 128 North to exit 14 go east about 2 1/2 miles to you reach the water, turn left, go over bridge turn left, high school on your left. you can enter the ramp through the high school parking lot.

Another great place to launch is at Granite Pier in Rockport. When you launch you are two minutes to the open ocean.

Your best place to fish for stripers is most any place along the rocky shore, be careful or the ocean will suck you into the rocks.

North East and East winds over 15 knots are hard to fish in along the shore on the outside of the breakwater. Some times we are fishing in 3-4 feet of water.

 

[mackkie]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Great -- thanks for the info!
What would you recommend for bait? sea worms, shad, eels, clams??
Thanks

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Live Mackerel are the best when ya can get em.

#2 Chunk herring which you can by whole at the STATE FISH PIER in Gloucester. Cost 15 bucks for 50lbs.. If you have a freezer buy a couple of boxes. Bait is going to be to hard come by.

#3 EELS only because these are better at night and you can still use herring chunks.

Last is plastics, you catch to many small fish

Seaworms are excellent for flounders and you can go from 10 pound island out to the break water towards the shore 20-30 feet of water.

 

[adoucette2466]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

HI all
I have a 19' bowrider with new motor and outdrive , Will i be ok to take her out fishing cape ann and how far can i go .don't want to get in trouble out there in such a small boat or am i just crazy
thanks andy

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Sometimes it depends on how big your testicles are, or how crazy you are. You need to keep an eye on the weather. Weather here on Cape Ann can be different then the rest of the state, especially if you live inland. What may seem a calm windless day inland, can be a brisk windy day here on the island. Then again there are days that you could go 20 miles out to sea on a calm day.

Your best bet with a 19 footer is to launch from the ramp in Glousta. I say this because if you are a weekend warrior, you have a limited time of good days. If the wind is from the northeast or east you can fish in the outer harbor. A heavy wind from the southwest, you can go up the Annisquam River and fish the bay towards Rockport or Essex, & Ipswich, and you can fish the river or the Essex river.

And do not leave out the option to launch from Granite Pier in Rockport. If the weather is good, you are just minutes away from good fishing.

We have the BEST FISHING on the NORTHEAST COAST. And yes, there will be a day or two that your hook will be bare.

Today even the 60-70 foot Yankee Fleet Boats are not going out because of the windy conditions.

 

[adoucette2466]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Thanks for the info

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Today the winds were 30 knots gusting to 40