Fishing Cape Ann

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Thanks for the emergency #s<br />How deep do you guys troll when fishing stripers, bluefin,tuna in the bay and the Merrimack river?

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

When trolling the Repalas they only go down about 3-5' !!!! You could also use surface poppers in blue/white, olive/white yellow/white for blues and stripers!!!! Forget the Tuna, you need a federal license to keep one and besides using only 15lb. test line you will either be spooled or broken off quickly!!!! Also when trolling for blues you need wire leaders!!!!!

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

I've been told by Kay from Surfland that the tuna is caught offshore and not in the river.How far from the mouth does one have to be to catch tuna?

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Forget about it!!! Your chances are 1 in a million!!! to catch a giant bluefin tuna from 300-1000lbs.<br /><br />I tell people when they want me to take them to take there 900 bucks go to the bath room and flush it down the toilet!!! And after telling them that I always get one or 2 that still want to try and catch one!!!

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

I thought you said in a previous post that in July there's football size 60 to 100 lbs giant bluefin that can be caught so that's why I was asking.<br />Thanks for helping, I really appreciated your replies.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Yes there are football size giant bluefin tuna!!! Sometimes they are in close, then other times you may be 10-20 miles off shore!!!! What you have to remember about fishermen is that when they say for exsample,there are football size tuna off Thatches Light, they forget to tell you they may be 12 miles off shore!!!! If you were just targeting tuna, you may burn 100 gallons of gas to locate them and to get back home!!!<br /><br />One day with a charter, only a half mile from shore, we had tuna busting around the boat and a few people were trying to catch em!!! Fish don't come and find you ,you try to find the fish!!!!<br /><br />Talking and writing about fishing is the easy part!!! Regardless of how good a fisherman that anybody may be, when you get to unfamilar waters, you are in a learning process!!!! You should be sticking to the striper snd bluefishing which will be in abundance!!!!<br /><br />Case in point!!! When I 1st fished the Merrimishee River in New Brunswick I was out of my expertise of fishing!!!! It took me 7 days to catch my limit of 6 salmon (grills)!!! The owner came down one day and caught 2 for dinner in 10 minutes!!! He knew what he was doing!!!!<br /><br />You may come here and fish and may not catch a lot of fish!!! Most days I catch 20-30 stripers in 4hrs. and not all big ones and there are a couple of days that I get skunked!!!!

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

I here ya,that's why I've been asking all those questions so that the little time I will have to fish there,I don't waste it trying to figure out the basics.Life is too short to learn on your own mistakes I always say!<br /><br />Regards

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

let me know when you are coming and I will try to touch base with ya if I'm fishing that side!!!! You can click on the school house and if ya want e-mail me or call and chat!!! During the day it is best to call cell phone!!!

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Thanks for your offer, will do.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Flyrod,<br /><br />I'll be fishing the Merrimack this weekend, .In one of the above post you mention that the mouth of the river is very very dangerous for boaters,that it gobbles up people every year,if I fish from a 18.5 foot boat how dangerous can it be?I'll be fishing with my wife and daughter.<br />Thanks

 

[peterc38]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Knoti,<br /><br />I grew up in Newburyport and Flyrod is right about the mouth of the Merrimack. I would not take it lightly. In my opinion, your boat would be considered small to take through the mouth and into the ocean; although in the right conditions it could be done for sure. Every year there are at least a few small boats that capsize there, sometimes with loss of life. The river is pretty fast moving anyway and there is a big sandbar nearer the mouth that seems to make the water move even faster as it approaches the ocean. Couple that with an incoming tide and/or an onshore wind and it can get downright nasty. Use common sense and see what other boats are doing and/or talk to locals and wear your PFD’s . There is plenty of good striper fishing in the river. Since you already know of Kay at Surfland, she should be able to point you in the right direction. Good luck and have fun.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Peter_in_Maine,<br /><br />So I guess I'll stay in the river and see how boaters navigate.<br />BTW, since I'll be camping in Salisbury State Park do you know of a boat lauch that has fresh water hook up so that I can flush the motor?<br /><br />Thanks

 

[peterc38]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Knoti,<br /><br />I typically launch on the Newburyport side at a private club when I get down that way (which hasn't been for a while), but I would imagine that they have a fresh water spigot at the state park in salisbury you can tap into with a piece of garden hose to flush your motor. Maybe you could call and ask them.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Peter,<br /><br />I'm considering fish close to shore ( on a nice day) but launching from another boat ramp so that I don't have to go through the mouth of the river,do you have an idea where I could launch the boat.

 

[peterc38]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Knoti,<br /><br />You can launch at the state park in salisbury and you will be fine. It is near, but not right at the mouth. My advice was just don't go near the mouth if the tide and conditions are not right because it can be tough in a small boat. When you launch, you can head kinda straight accross the river to the joppa flats area, there is good fishing over there. Get a chart and watch the tides so you don't run aground. You can also head up river and fish near deer island and carr's island, etc. Also, there is a public dock to tie up to on the Newburyport side where there are nice restaraunts and shopping, etc.

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Peter,<br />From what you know, is it safe enough to bring my wife and teenager at the Joppa Flats deer island and carr's?

 

[peterc38]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Peter,<br />From what you know, is it safe enough to bring my wife and teenager at the Joppa Flats deer island and carr's? <br /><br />Yes, absolutely

 

[Knotiboy]

Re: Fishing Cape Ann

Peter,<br />I was asking myself if a downrigger would be useful there?