Hello there all you
surfcasters. I can tell you one report that is universal up in
my area....THE BLUEFISH ARE HERE.
Every day has been providing the occasional arm wrestling with these
ocean warriors. The biggest school were probably 12-14
lbers. Those are nice blues. Of course the striper season
continues and my numbers tell me that this may be a great year....both
in size and numbers. I have some eel nights up ahead , when I
can get calm seas and an eerie nite. That's fun. Be sure
to read the dog fish tip this month...they can be a real nuisance and
if you can prevent their invasion, your striper search may
improve. Remember. they are sharks. and if in big numbers, will absolutely
intimidate the linesiders. A couple of real big giants, blue fin
tuna, were
brought into Green Harbor....I am sure I will have a few goes at these
brutes this year. My neighbor and his excellent Robalo are
ready for the quest. We have the right equipment and I feel
comfortable that we could approach this safely. There are also
some excellent stand up blue fin that are close to us and are chasing
live lined baits. This is an ultimate thrill for testing you and
the stand up gear. Blue fins will grind you into dust.
They fight that hard.....honest. So even though my specialty
remain the surf........the deep blue still calls me......and
so.........
MUSHIES
.....Sometimes one
extra coffee before that ride to the tuna grounds can be just enough
to make you queasy . A little extra saliva flowed in my mouth this
morn....the fight to ward off sea sickness was familiar and I actively
participated in the prep work to take my mind off of my churning tummy. We
Could see through the dawns light that the sea was rockin and rollin……….With
my stomach doing the same….I sat down to ride out the run to the
tuna grounds. This trip was a result of a last minute call , hoping
that I could fill in for a buddy that cancelled on the trip at the
last minute. I love yellow fin Fishing
and so I bagged work and set
out in the wee hours of the night for Old Saybrook marina where the
charter boat was docked. Upon arrival I realized that I only knew 2 of
the five guys. Many times , for economic reasons, guys try to fill the
charter and hence reducing the fare. Tuna trips are usually at
least $1,000 . That works out ok when cod
fishing………but assuming we would be trolling makes you take
turns as the rods go off. With me being the last signup…I got the
last rod….five knockdowns before I got a chance. I knew this could
be a long and uneventful day…but being on the sea is in my blood and
even if it was an expensive boat ride…I was in the mood to enjoy it
anyway. The Capt. said we were heading for ‘The Aquarium"…this
tuna haunt was not as far as most and I had previous success there..
The trip was looking better………and my stomach started to settle
in , as my near sea sickness subsided..
I always try to be social and inquisitive with Captains of charter boats. I can smooze with them due to my experiences with renowned Charter Men. This Capt was different. He insisted I stay in the back and converse with the other fisherman. I complied. I was suspicious of his statements…."The bite has been alittle off lately"…"They are not taking to the trolling very well as of late"…."Don’t worry you guys. I will give it my best try" (said with tongue in cheek). The hungover odor from his morning breath told me that he was not into this rough day…or the guys that were paying the good money to tolerate the conditions in hopes of wrestling a tuna. His final statement that made me assured that he did not want to waste fuel and energy trolling. I knew that was the method at this time. He knew it too…none the less , He said…"There have been a lot of small tuna out there and they are great fighters on light tackle. To a fisherman like me, that simply means…we are going to find the bonito or false Albacore…MUSHIES as they are known by frequent tuna fisherman. They are a tiny. poor tasting tuna…that will hit a stationary chunk bite and save him a lot on gas…and energy….These types of capts try to convince the novice charter members, that MUSHIES are good and that they had a GREAT day if they get into them. They also get the full price for the charter….and the boys go home with Mushy , strong tasting tunas…….and no yellow fins….which are the real reason for investing in a tuna charter.
We trolled on three rigs……….didn’t even use the outriggers. These guys were going to get a poor effort from him. They never even realized it. As expected the bonito were crashing tiny baits and causing a surface commotion. "Look guys, we are in luck…the small tuna are here for us"….Striper mike knew it was a con job. None the less the small bonito screamed off line from the little spinning rigs and the guys seemed content…especially when the Capt. said……yum ..I prefer them over yellow fin any day…………Yea RIGHT!!!!!…
I knew that they were MUSHIES…the meat turns to mush even if iced well……..I like fish…and I do not like mushies!!!!
The mate chummed up the area with butterfish tidbits and the boys began getting mushies one after another. I guess they enjoyed it without even knowing they were being had……I knew his routine…….I did not enjoy it.
As mentioned the seas were rockin and as usual the landlubbers were starting to feel the oceans swells. Three of the five began chumming the ocean with their stomach contents. The Capt. stated that he would accommodate anyone that was uncomfortable by taking them back to land. There was no mention of returning some of the charter fee though. This guy was not into his job at all. I felt bad for the other anglers, but I was an outside guest and was not about to get into a tuna argument with the Capt.….so unlike Striper Mikes nature…..I remained silent.
I am a frequent viewer of fish finders…..they are my eyes down below. I was heading toward his in the cabin to check the depth and possible presence of other fish. "Stay out of the Capt. cabin please"…His tone was emphatic…I was hoping to see the fish finder…..He replied….the TUNA are right on top. you don’t need that…..grab a rod and have some fun"
So I did. I grabbed my own Penn 30 sw and tuna rod. I hand sewed a big butterfish on the rig and with a nice slip weight attached I hoped to send the bait THROUGH the frenzied Mushies to a fish or many fish that could be more paranoid of the frantic bonito behavior and choose to sample the scrapes that slowly are sinking to the bottom. Darn I wish I could have seen that fish finder. I would go with gut instinct instead of graphics. Gut feelings are good things.
I counted off sixty feet of line and stopped. The Capt. intervened. "What are you doing?…….I gave him my explanation…His follow up reply……."well don’t tangle their lines. they are into the Tuna!!!…….Yea right.
I stood with rod in hand and the other guys piled over those tiny bonitos so that they flopped around in the hot sun. What a farce. None the less I appeared the fool cause my rod was silent.
The TAKE was as furious as any I had experienced in many years of tuna fishing. The first run threatened the spool but the massive fish finally slowed and turned back toward the boat. I yelled for the gimball belt and harness….this was no mushie. The speed of its departure assured me it was a tuna and if it were a yellow fin…it was a beauty. I could feel the bruises forming on my thighs after the first half hour of the war. The constant smashing into the gunnels was taking its toll. There was absolutely no giving up in the fishes mind. I began to suffer from his fury. Forty Five minutes and still I was not in control…WHAT A FISH. Mean while I insisted that the other guys take their lines out because I was not about to get cut off by a guy with a mushie on the line. The Capt. actually seemed mad that this battle was taking so much time……"Lets Go ..put the pressure on him "he said. Its only a 50 lb yellow fin. I have caught many 50 lb yellow fins…………this was not one.
Soon after a guy told me we were at the hour mark in the fight and finally I could feel him below me and starting to do the tuna circle of death. He was tired. I kept the pressure on as much as I could but it must be said that this was the most agonizing stand up fight in my life.…Remember, I held the state record with a blue shark over 400 lb , on stand up gear. I am no sissy.
As the fish came in to view I could judge its weight………..A LOT. Out came the harpoon, until I notice some tell tale markings….A Blue Fin Tuna, that was being an opportunistic feeder from the bonitos. "Don’t Stick It". I yelled it’s a blue fin…and the season had closed. The fish was massive 175-200 lb…Finally after nearly 1 hour and fifteen minutes….the brute was close enough to cut the leader. The Capt. never commented on how I battled that huge tuna. That irritated me….and as the Mushie fisherman looked at me with glazed eyes, I said….that is what you go on tuna charters for….Not for catching MUSHIES. The group knew they were duped and insisted that he set them up with similar rigs. He brought out two similar setups but the fight had dissipated the chum line and the feeders 60 feet below………no one got a bite.
I hope those guys really did find a way to prepare and enjoy the bonito that they took home. I didn't take any....but I did take the fatigue that comes from a grueling blue fin on stand up gear.
Remember...don't hesitate to ask permission or suggest another way on your paid charters. Captains are not the only men with fishing expertise and clever approaches. Pursue the fish of your dreams, through the skills of a cooperative charter captain....ask questions before you go......about his willingness to let you attempt alternative approaches to your fish. If it had not been for my insistence on trying my method....I would not have had the opportunity to land my largest tuna on stand up. Go get adventure.......don't wait for someone to guide you......Striper Mike
Dear Striper Mike-
I'm a big fan of your page. Anyway, I'm a novice surfcaster from the beaches of Eastern Long Island and 4 yeas ago was lucky enough to catch a 38" Striper using clams as bait. Since then there has been nothing. I've never tried fishing at night and want to give it a go. I was wondering if you can give me some tips on the tides and my bait selection. Also, do you ever recommend using lures? If so, what kind?
Thank You Kindly,
Tim Quintano
Hello Tim.
...thank you so much for your appreciation of the site.. Wow a 38" striper. ...nice fish...Well if you are going to get into this great way of angling, you surely do need to GO AT NITE. The large fish will come closer to the shore and hence give you a chance at them. Try 2 hrs before and after high tide, if your in an area where the water tends to be shallow.....sandy beaches etc. If your area is varied,,,,,any time that the water is moving during the tide is a feeding time for nite cows. Start with mackerel chunks ...and when you feel comfortable , you might want to try eels. They can be tough to handle in the nite though. ....www thesurfcaster.com.......sells a book..surf casting at nite.i recommend it.........Good luck. please take a picture of the big cows and release them, if you can..........thanks Striper Mike
Hi Striper Mike,
Love your web page and your attitude. Catch and release is the way to go. I have been fishing freshwater for years, and oddly enough I have always lived close to the shoreline, but never surfcasted for stripers. Last year my twins sons age 12 asked if they could try to catch the big bass from the sea. I figured, geez I have never tried it. So we bought some surfcasting rods and one night fished the in coming tide at one of the local beaches and actually caught some schoolies. 2 fish around 25" We were hooked. Here is my question. What is the best way to catch keepers? We fished mackerel and herring. Last year we had bites on herring. This year we caught a fish on Mackerel. We are located on the Northshore of Massachusetts. Any suggestions? hot spots? Do you fish the outgoing or incoming tides???? we need help!!!!!!
Thanks for any help.
Brian C. & Sons
Welcome to surfcasting Brian and boys..
......the setting will offer precious moments of memory for you and your boys. The north shore is a great spot...there are many.....I suggest using the local bait shops knowledge and get in good with them....otherwise Plum Island might be fun. Be sure that the tide is moving...any time other than slack tide on low and high.....and use mackerel from this point on. Try to use the bait that is frequenting the area....mackerel are still prevalent. Hold the rods ...fish at night....use new line and sharp hooks...and I suggest that you guys read the old TIPS section of previous editions.....that areas has most of my personal approaches to this form of angling. Thank you for catch and release and handing down those ethics to your sons..your a good man...sincerely Striper Mike
HI THERE, MIKE; MY FAVORITE FISHERMAN FRIEND...
GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE STILL MANNING THE BEACH AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC WITH YOUR WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TURNING OF ANOTHER YEAR AND IN CELEBRATION OF THE DAY YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS REALM BEGAN...AND WISH YOU MANY MORE CIRCUITS OF THE SEASONS IN GOOD HEALTH AND EXTREME HAPPINESS. I AM HONORED TO KNOW YOU AS A FRIEND.
DAVID
Thank you so much for your personalized note Dave.
Yes I have grown another year older......maybe not wiser....but older. The season is great so far and I have notched some real beauties this season. Hope all is well ...Hope your new custom rig gets some nice surf action for its virgin year..thanks for catch and release ethics that you practice and profess...remember. your in charge of New York State..Stay in touch...Striper Mike.
TROUT
....a familar site on the family stringer...here is a way to prepare it.
4 one lb brook trout....cleaned....1/4 cup flour...1/4 cup sliced almonds...3 tabs dried sage...1 teas. salt...fresh ground pepper...6 tabs peanut oil.
flour , almonds , sage , salt and pepper in a food processor...until fine
put mix onto plate...coat trout with it....sprinkle cavities with salt and pepper
saute two trout at a time in a pan...over med high heat, turning once, until crisp..about 10 min.......enjoy
Trout
can be delicious!
PLEASE NOTE THE AGE OF THE BIG ONES, THEY ARE THE PROVEN BREEDERS, LET THEM GO.!!!!!!!!
Congratulations go to a couple of wonderful , blonde , beach ladies....Diane and Rebecca...they both manned (I am not being gender biased) my surf rods and landed a 12 lb bluefish each. Women always fight a fish so gracefully. These ladies proved that as they were both newcomers to it all and handled the scene with finesse.....They also released the fish...Hats Off
Terry Miller and his 3 sons caught schoolies all day in the south river and released them all. Terry spent the day showing them how to handle and release the fish safely..he is a good man
Stan K. told me that fish are taking eels at the glades...He got 2 keepers and let the larger on go. He also used one of the striper recipes I published, some time back. Thanks for making me feel its worth it Stan.....
That chumming all the time...or at the wrong time....can ruin your fishing....not necessarily help it???? Do not chum automatically. Wait ...if you catch a dog fish at nite....do not chum at all...they will invade your chum line and your nite of striper fishing. Do not chum on the incoming tide......why you ask?...because it all washes up on the beach during incoming....only chum at nite when the dog fish are absent and on the outgoing tide....It is at this point that chumming will lure in your seasons great keeper. Also , chumming is not feeding the fish it is meant to tantalize the fish...more is not necessarily better when it comes to chumming......Scent is the key...not volume of chum........Good Luck.....Striper Mike
CHUMMED
UP AT 4 AM
Bring two rods this time of year for the blues. I use only one at a time. but I bring two...Why????....The invasion of blues on bait fish can be brief.....if you see them or have one bite your baited rig, I always pick up the spare rod and try one of my favorite plugs to catch these great fighters. The advantage to this is ....that will readily take a plug at this point...and Here is the Kicker.....it keeps the school there longer because of the visible action of the plug and the ensuing battle from on of their comrades. Bluefish are escorts....they follow a hooked fish in hopes of robbing the bait it has taken...Keep casting and keep the water active.....they will stay longer and the thrill of bluefish on plugs will be your own Striper Mike Moment......Bluefish are a rugged ...famous fighter from the open ocean....please respect them and only take what you need..release the rest.......thanks
18-19 lber..............released
Got a fishing tale?
copywrite-Stripermike
....does the mist of the oceans fog leave the same dew as a morning kiss?
....does the south west breeze gently scratch your head?
....does the ocean make touches tingle?
.....do you rise to greet your lover....the sun?
......if this be the case...Welcome to my world...
Striper Mike