Catch your first false albacore (Albie)
Ryan Collins of “My Fishing Cape Cod” is offering a three-day email course free, titled “Catch Your First Cape Cod Albie.” I screened course highlights, and much of the information provided is applicable to water off other parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island too (all except for the specific location information).
Couse highlights include the best gear and tackle, simple and effective albie strategies from shore, kayak and boat, as well as figuring out where the albies can be found. Ryan Collins said, “And once you do find them, they can be agonizingly difficult to fool into biting. They are capable of reaching speeds of 40 mph, which makes them the most exciting inshore fish species to catch.”
Collins said, “The goal of the program is simple. Help anglers catch their first albie, with concise, east-to-digest lessons.”
Contact Ryan Collins for information on the albie email course at ryan@myfishingcapecod.com.
Buying a boat?
If you are thinking of buying a new or used boat, the professionals suggest you first figure out what you want to use the boat for and have that drive your decision as to what type of boat to purchase.
Jon Lyons, president of Ocean House Marina, Charlestown, has been helping customers with their boat buying decisions for years. His father Rob founded the business in 1981.
“You should buy a boat for what you plan to use it for 90 percent of the time. Some may have the desire to fish, which is something they have always wanted to do, however, in reality most of the time they plan to use the boat for family outings, swimming, picnicking and cruising. If this is the case, the vessel should be bought for general family use and cruising,” said Lyons.
Other key factors to consider include where you plan to put the boat … at a dock, on a mooring or trailering. For example, boats put on a mooring may need a dock for shore power to run electrical systems or charge batteries.
Lyons said, “Today, qualified service technicians and mechanics are hard to find, so make sure you know who is going to service your boat once you own it.”
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has a great online tool to help determine the type of boat you might be interested in. It can be found at www.discoverboating.com. This web site will ask you the intended use and then recommend boat types, so you know which boats to see at a boat show, do internet research on, or dealers to visit.
Should you buy new or used is always a good question. Like automobiles, new boats come with warrantees. Often, old boats need more time to prepare for the season and will have a greater frequency of repair due to their age.
Used boats cost less, but make sure you add the cost of repairs to the purchase price. A helpful way to determine repair costs and ensure you are not buying a lemon is to commission a boat survey.
A boat survey is similar to a home inspection. Surveys are conducted by certified surveyors who closely examine the vessel’s hull, structure, electrical system and engine(s). Surveys will not only tell you what is wrong (and right) about the boat but can give you estimates of repairs, which you can use to further negotiate the sale price.
Visit the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at www.marinesurvey.org for accredited surveyors in your area.
Where’s the bite?
Striped bass and bluefish: East End Eddie Doherty, Cape Cod Canal fishing expert and author, said, “Even with the new moon last week, striped bass have been harder to find than inexpensive gasoline! Various species of baitfish continue to swim in the Big Ditch, along with bonito and schools of snapper blues patrolling mostly along the surface.” Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle, Charlestown, said, “Large numbers of fish have been ebbing and flowing in and out of the breachways. The coastal lagoons are loaded with bait, from silversides, bay anchovies, needlefish, bunker, mullet, and eels. Fish have started to show on the beaches. Peanut bunker has been in the wash and are driving these fish in. Bluefish showed up in good numbers around the breachways last week.”
Tuna, bonito, false albacore and mahi mahi
“Albies are popping up along the costal shore, and we have bonito right here in Narragansett Bay feeding on peanut bunker (immature Atlantic menhaden) with anglers hooking up at Colt State Park and the area between Poppasquash Point, Bristol, and Warwick Neck. The tuna bite for giants has been outstanding,” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle, Providence.
Declan O’Donnell of Breachway Bait & Tackle said, “There has been a healthy mixed bag of both bonito and false albacore. The bluefin tuna bite is still on for those looking to go for it. Plenty of mahi around, and the water temperature has not changed much.”
Dave Danish of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle, North Kingstown, said, “Bonito and false albacore were off Narragansett Sunday, and Saturday they were off Pt. Judith. They are popping up all along the southern coastal shoreline.”
Fluke, black sea bass
“There are still plenty of fluke being caught in our bays and offshore. They have been feeding on the Peanut Bunker. We had a customer catch a 30” fish (about 10 pounds),” said Dave Henault of Ocean State Tackle.
Keeper black sea bass to 20 inches feeding on peanut bunker in the General Rock area were being caught by anglers tautog fishing Saturday.
Tautog
Anglers are catching them in lower water right now, but as things cool off, they will move to colder, deeper water. Scott Travers, executive director of R.I. Saltwater Anglers Association said, “One of our members caught their limit of tautog fishing structures north of Fox Island, North Kingstown. David Danish of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle said, “Customers are starting to target tautog focusing on fishing 30 feet of water or less.”
Freshwater
“Area ponds are producing largemouth bass for anglers using shiners. The best bite has been at sunset and early morning at dawn,” said David Danish of Quaker Lane Bait & Tackle.
Dave Monti holds a master captain’s license and charter fishing license. He serves on a variety of boards and commissions and has a consulting business focusing on clean oceans, habitat preservation, conservation, renewable energy, and fisheries related issues and clients. Forward fishing news and photos to dmontifish@verizon.net or visit www.noflukefishing.com .
