Hi Folks,The day after Labor Day. The day after the 9 mile backup of nice folks leaving the Cape to head back to the wonderful and neccessary experience of "BACK TO SCHOOL" !!! We natives here on the Cape appreciate your patronage and without you would have a longer and colder winter I am sure, so THANK YOU ! Please come back next year. Reserve in advance though !
Those of you that can stay here a little longer will appreciate the reduced humidity and less crowded waters that the fall months provide. The water temperatures are quite warm, but a knowledgeable captain can put your charter on some really nice catches of 3 foot long bass. Most, if not all, of the last two weeks trips for stripers have produced over 20 fish outings of fish ranging from 32 to 42 inches long. These bass will hang in areas with cold water eddies, or in the deeper areas of the rips. Drifting a single sand eel through these sections will almost always produce a decent fish at this time of the year. Some decent stripers have moved into the area just outside of the Chatham inlet. Look for them on the bottom just outside the 50 foot ledge as you head out the harbor. There are also the usual many schools of bluefish that are always there through the month of September and early October. I have heard of big schools of blues on the beach at Nauset the day before yesterday too.
The bluefin tuna bite slowed a bit with the full moon last week, but I think we are coming out of that period now too. On Saturday I made skunk on the Merrick tuna charter after running all over the choppy ocean trying to put my folks on the fish. I was on the bait and had a good showing of whales and birds, but no tuna ! I found out later, that the day before, many other fishermen better than I am, had suffered the same fate. Yesterday though, I managed to do a bit better, landing 4 nice bluefin up to 85 pounds, in the same general area as where I fished on Saturday. Although a bit finicky, it seems they are starting to bite again. With tuna trips scheduled for the next 5 days, I will have a good handle on whats going on.
Good Fishing to you,
Capt. Bruce & " Marilyn S "