| The fishing on the flats remained good throughout the week with large numbers of medium to large stripers and some blues showing and actively feeding on crabs in and around Woodbridge Island.
The fish were showing on both the morning and evening tides. Aggressively presented flies and surface plugs worked, combined with finesse and coupled with patience and stealth, accounted for a number of good fish boated. The fish remained in the flats 3 hours into the outgoing tide and would exit the flats and move out into the channel and to the river mouth were they could be taken on flies, leadhead soft rubber lures and top water plugs worked under diving birds. The cooler temps have kept the water in the flats in the high 60’s and low 70’s resulting in an extended flats fishing season.
My fishing day started at 4:30 A.M. Sunday with a predicted high tide at 5:58 A.M. We found the fish on Joppa Flats at 5:30 A.M. and they stayed there until 8:30 A.M. when they vanished. They were not taking flies or any other offerings readily this morning. There was evidence of a crab hatch by what the 35” striper I caught regurgitated. |
 Yesterday afternoon Richard Campiola, Richie Jr and their fishing friend John Solomon, caught over 250 stripers on Sluggos. The largest was 41”. Sometimes I think I should spin fish more!!!!
| The striper fishing around Cape Ann remained consistent through most of last week. Fish were holed-up in structure along the rocky shore areas, in the surf foam, and easily fell for a well presented fly. On Friday of last week I had the pleasure of fishing with Dino and Ken, both accomplished fly casters. They hooked and landed upwards of 25 stripers. The fish ranged in size from 20 to 27 inches and were healthy and strong. We managed stripers at every stop from Gap Head, top of Straitsmouth, on down to Milk Island. Both anglers enjoyed the experience of casting flies into breaking surf and tight casts into rocky reefs. I look forward to fishing with both of them in the future! Steve P. reported somewhat slow shore fishing with the best fishing at Magnolia beach. Most of the stripers were in the 20-25 inch range with a few small keeper sized fish. Porter B. reported having three good outings at Lobster Cove chumin’ and chunkin’ up a dozen keepers up to 32 inches. Look for the summer pattern to continue with fresh fish coming into the area. I have started to observe stripers off Straitsmouth and Milk Is. beginning their top water “slurping” behavior typical of this time of season. These stripers are best fished with intermediate or floating fly lines tipped with top water or slightly submerged fly patterns such as Toads or Gurglers. This action can get real exciting. Look for it to continually improve as the water warms. I have no substantial tuna reports to pass along.
 |
