| October 16, 2009 | |
| |
| This is what the shore at Rockport looks like today, Friday!
Fishing Report | |
| Just as we all feared that the striper season was coming to an end….BAM!
Bait, Birds, Bass and Blitz! On Thursday morning all I could see for miles to the north and south of Halibut Point were tons of birds working over even more tons of bait fish….spikes, Pollock, and hordes of tiny peanut bunker, all being chased by thousands (only a guess)of stripers. It appears that all of the stripers that migrated north throughout the entire season has come together, all at once, to create a massive school of stripers ranging in size from 12 inches to well over 40 inches. I have not seen any of these smallish stripers since May and seeing them gave me hope for stripers next season. The blitz/feast lasted the entire day from what I could determine. I actually got tired of catching them, but what super way to get tired! Getting into the bigger fish was difficult at best with so many smaller fish getting to the offering more quickly. I had success with just about anything I tied on; topwaters and flies brought the most excitement. Steve P. and other shore anglers had similar success just about anywhere they fished from the Gloucester back shore to Loblolly Cove in Rockport. Stripers and bait everywhere! It was an epic fall migration day to be sure. I’ve heard reports from Plum Island that a good blitz occurred along the beachfront as well yesterday. And with one unsubstantiated report of a few very large stripers pushing 50 inches were taken. However, with a nasty nor’easter in place for today, and strong NE winds forecasted tomorrow and Sunday, I’m not sure if the bait and stripers will hang in for more than a day or two. But for sure, boat fishing is a no-go and with huge surf crashing in, the shore anglers will have to seek protected areas to stay safe. A good bet might be the beaches inside Gloucester Harbor….there is a good chance a pile of bait might seek refuge there. Another possibility might be the somewhat protected back waters of the Annisquam. If you get out….stay safe first!
|
