Hi Folks,I painted the bottom of the Marilyn S yesterday. I couldn’t resist adding a sexy new dark blue boot top ! Its tough when you have the best looking boat on the water, you have an image to keep up! She is scheduled to splash into the water at Nauset Marine East a week from tomorrow. I haven’t done too much this year, but there are a couple of things added to make things a little more comfortable or easier. I added new rod holders on the top and along the side of the cabin and a new elevated radar stand to get the radar over the life raft canister. Also, a new 3-burner propane stove, that still has not been plumbed yet. I’ve added another separate bank of batteries for the electronics circuits. Lots of other maintenance related stuff and spares too.
New bluefin tuna fishing gear has been added for this year. Added was a couple of the new SHIMANO “stump puller” bent butt stand up rods for the big tuna fish we are going to catch this year and 2 new 30W LRSA and 50W LRSA reels for the braided lines. I hope to be adding more lightweight but heavy-duty “Trevala” series rods with either “Torsa” or “Trinidad” reels when the rest of those folks that have not sent in their charter deposits get with the program. I also have about 600 pounds of frozen menhaden; herring, mackerel, butterfish and squid, all vacuum packed in my new chest freezer for the chumming trips. New squid rigs are being made almost every week to add to the colors of the rainbow. (Some secret colors too!) I think the school and medium bluefin tuna fishing is going to be much better this year, now that we can take a couple fish. I think the average size of these fish will be 45-48 inches and weigh 50-60 pounds. If you are considering one of these trips remember that we will be booked in the summer season and a reservation in advance will ensure that you get a day with a suitable departure time and decent tide.
It seems that there are piles of fish around, both bait and stripers. With this stretch of warm weather it can only improve further. I know that the scup fishery in Hyannis has been strong and that the blues have moved into Nantucket Sound and the Island with a vengeance. Cape Cod Bay will explode with bass in the next week. Martha’s Vineyard will improve quickly as the water rapidly warms. By mid June there will be fish in all of the rips and we will start our fishing for them there. The bigger bass will be where there is big bait. Pogies, or menhaden, mackerel, and squid are the baits to be looking for. Stay away from the river herring ! Its not legal to take them. A live scup will be a good way to get a big bass as well. Just make sure that the bait you have on your line and in your live-well is of legal size, so you don’t get a ticket.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend,
Capt. Bruce and “Marilyn S”
