I’ve just received my reels back from Shimano service, lubed, tuned, and ready for next season. Thanks to you Shimano replaced one spinning reel – worn out after only one season. Now that’s fishing!

We may have a change in boats for next season – stay tuned. For sure we’ll continue to have our “client pot” set for your lobstering pleasure.

We’ll also be updating the site slide show with some memorable ‘09 shots.

Wish me luck on my upcoming Panama fishing safari!

Best wishes, thanks, and God Bless.

Capt. Bob

If we’re done, way to go. Our morning trip – where I literally scraped frost from the boat seats, began on a good note with quick action on perfect “candy” mackeral. On a hunch I headed south, then second guessed myself with not a bump for the first hour. Returning north to a little fished spot, we came on a school of adult pogies working the surface. These guys, as big as my boot sole, are rarely found inshore here. We had a hit and long run soon after, bit came unbuttoned. Without warning a whale breached not one hundred feet from the boat – scattering pogies in 15 feet of water! This guy was hungry, blitzing through the pogie school again and again. The highlight was seeing it lunge head out of the water – not fifty feet away and headed towards us. The wake rocked the boat!
Beach walkers were cheering – I’d like to think for us but somehow having two whales as long as our boat cavorting on shallow water was the feature. But….

After snagging a few pogies we got our first trophy – a fat 43″ girl. Soon after a 41″, followed by a 40 and then finally a 34 that grabbed a pogie which had become snared on an eel – NO LIE. We also got bitten off by several bluefish that grabbed pogies we were retrieving for bait. What a day, indeed.

Our trips earlier in the week all produced quality fish, with the exception of one. Sorry Steve…

Well folks, this may be it. Unless the weather cooperates during the week and we have a corker warm weekend next. Right…..

Capt. Bob

Our two evening trips this week have been productive. Mackeral are thick at the Isles of Shoals, meaning we run longer to acquire bait, but spend less time gathering. We’ve also snagged some herring now in pods along the points. As always, eels after dark.

Fish are of mixed sizes, from schoolies to goodies. They are feeding much more aggressively, making for fun bites and higher hookup ratios.

Won’t be long, so…..

C’mon down.

Capt. Bob

The season is not over yet, however. Water temp yesterday was 56.5 degrees, and we had schoolies chasing baby herring on top in the morning. With luck once this blow moves out we can get back on ‘em!

Until then….

Capt. Bob

It has been a tough week [again], with multiple trips canceled due to high winds. More like Oct., but that’s fishing.

We did sneak in two trips amidst the blows this week, and experienced a similar pattern. Mackeral are tough to get, both slow to appear and then content to ea chum. Once we get some in the well, it’s been an easy conversion to stripers on light gear.

We are scheduling trips through Columbus Day weekend, then watching conditions for options thereafter. Rye Harbor is loaded with baby herring, so we could have a fun surface bite as they head south.

C’mon down….

Capt. Bob

We were spared a much worse churn this weekend, and should be back in business by midweek.

As per our typical fall pattern, weekends are booked solidi. The good news is we are now heading out at 5 , so even a weeknite trip is over early enough to be home for the news. ***For a slight tip, I will hook (bit not land) your fish while you enjoy a shipboard supper!***

Herring are solid in the harbor, and mackeral still available with some work inshore. Our pattern is now to fish the mackeral until an hour after dark, then cap off with eels.

The folks listed below warmed up for the annual NC marlin trip by spanking and releasing some fish under moonlight early in the week. They will be back for round two early next month – hopefully with some marlin pics!

As mentioned, weekend bookings are complete for the year. Please call is you are amenable for a weeknite twilight trip.

C’mon down…

Capt. Bob

The bite continues to be an evening twilight to early darkness pattern. Interestingly, it’s been mackeral even after dark they prefer – so we oblige! My one recent bummer trip was an early morning foray. Ironically, it was a rescheduled twilight trip due to traffic havoc on their end.

We’re using the light Shimano spinners almost exclusively now. It’s fun for all to have a good tussle with this gear – feeling every tug through the light braid. For eels and larger mackeral we switch to the Shimano level winds – and still have fun.

The downside of light gear is the occasional “oh no” moment with a fish that wants to get to the next county. We’ve been pretty successful employing electric motor hot pursuit, unless it’s too rough. The smiling blond client below – who released that big girl right after the photo, had an “oh no” a few nights ago. Snotty rough so we had to stay put. Ouch…

While it’s really unusual to have mackeral all season, we’ll stick with it. We are enjoying several spots where juvenile herring are concentrating bass, making double headers a fun challenge.

While the water temps are still above 65, the days are getting short.

Soooo….

C’mon down.

Capt Bob

Although the storm moved through pretty quickly, the weeds and churn will take some time to settle out.

Just before all this, the fishing was holding up nicely. The herring that held in certain shoreline pockets made the twilight bite fun. Stripers were also a little further offshore, at one point making it dicey to leave just-jigged mackeral in the water too long. They need to make Sabiki rigs with heavier leader!

Pre-storm we also had solid numbers of bluefish, and a slug of school tuna near the Isles.

I’m going to let things settle out, then come back swinging into Labor Day Weekend. Pretty booked through Sept, but I’d happily refer you on if I can’t make the trip happen.

Best,

Capt. Bob

The fishing has trended upward in the last week. Our last three trips have had fish exceeding 40″ – our trophy baseline. It’s been fun cheering on the bass as they swipe mackeral in shallow water – attached to our lines!

Bluefish continue to mingle, although not in the numbers of recent weeks.

We’re fishing hard during the early mornings and evenings right now. It was fun having a client tag a 40″ striper on a live mackeral by moonlight several nites back. Almost time to emulate those southern swordfish guys and illuminate our floats!

I can now offer lobstering side trips, and am properly licensed to sell [you] fresh lobsters after our charters if desired. Ask me about my “client pot!”

C’mon down….

Capt. Bob

P.S. Want a photo that says SPECIAL OCCASION?

How many mackeral? Long rod Ace Scott hooked one on a MACKERAL pattern today in 10′ of water!

The warm waters and macks have the bluefish in tight. We must have been bitten off six times today. Ouch!

Collective wisdom is that the predators will push the mackeral out shortly, which should reinforce the nite bite. Until then, come see how nervous a mackeral gets when a striper is on its tail!

Best,

Capt. Bob