Hi Folks,There seems to be plenty of fish around. Standing in the hardware store in Brewster last week, I overheard a man in a yellow slicker with a New York accent excitedly telling the story of his first keeper of the year. At a 5 o'clock meeting that I regularly attend, I recently listened to a local man complaining about his girlfriend catching a bigger one than he did. Yup, there are lots of stripers around ! Cape Cod Bay and the Canal seem to be the hot spots. At this time of year Bishops and Clerks in Nantucket Sound gets some good fish as well. Martha's Vineyard will have some big ones moving through. Any estuary will have schoolies as long as there is a a good food supply and decent current flow.
Yesterday John A. and I finished the installation of a "trolling valve" on the Marilyn S. That allows the reduction of shaft revolutions at idle and reduces the minimum trolling speed. Before this addition the Marilyn S has a lowest speed of 4.2 knots. With the new valve engaged at maximum, I should be able to get her down to "hover". That will increase the fish catching ability on the bluefin, especially with a rigged subsurface bait. In addition to the trolling valve, I have added a new "secret weapon" from my experiences on the west coast, that should benefit the catch ability of the Marilyn S on the bluebird days when you can see the fish under the boat, but can't get them up into the rigs. Lastly, I also ordered at least one more new commercial giant rod this year as well as the usual 50 lb class Shimano stuff. Shimano has the best tuna rods and reels in my opinion and as a Shimano VIP Program member, I use them exclusivly when trolling for bluefin.
My boat will be put in the water sometime in the next week, and with the first charter a week or so after that, I am hoping for a great start to some decent and memorable fishing days ahead. Father's Day has always been the measuring point for the bass to move into the rips easterly of Monomoy point and with a freezer full of fresh frozen squid, I intend to make the most of it.
I hope you can come along too !
Bruce & "Marilyn S"
