MyFishFinder Forum
MFF US Northeast => Massachusetts => Topic started by: 200fisher on Jun 05, 2010, 08:22 AM
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We launched my boat Wednesday afternoon at the Barn Island ramp in Stonington, CT. Myself and two buddies planned to fish the 3.5 mile reef complex which runs from Watch Hill, RI, to Fishers Island, NY. Three states at once, a license nightmare! The plan was to drift and cast plugs until nightfall, then drift live eels on three-way rigs for the big girls after dark.
Arriving at slack high tide, the area was absolutely dead. No fish, no birds, no sign of life. As the outgoing tide picked up speed and the rips began to form, all that changed and things really heated up. Suddenly stripers were everywhere, and they were hungry. Squid were going airborne, fleeing for their lives. Bass were blowing up on them, slurping, rolling, slapping their tails, and leaping right out of the water. We immediately armed ourselves with surface poppers. The bass would crash them repeatedly, slapping them literally three feet into the air, but we had no hookups. It was like the bass were just trying to stun their prey. Then we switched over to Yo-Zuri Hydro Squirt plugs, dead ringers for squid, and it was game on! We spent the next couple hours drifting into the rips catching bass after bass. Each drift resulted in multiple hookups. We guesstimate that we landed well in excess of 50 fish, all stripers. The biggest was 38", the smallest were around 28", most were 30-36". These weren't giant fish, but it was a blast casting and catching them on relatively light tackle.
Unfortunately, our plan was altered as dense fog rolled in. It was OK in the daylight, my drifts were on the GPS and it was relatively easy to get back to our starting location. But nighttime fog is a different animal. You have to watch the chartplotter constantly and you lose all sense of bearing. It's not fun anymore, and it's a bit scary. So we decided that our best course was to head home, thrilled with the action that we already had. Luckily, I have a track saved on the GPS from the reefs to the boat ramp. I've done this before. We never did get to tie on an eel.
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi927.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad119%2Fmgus99%2FWatch%2520Hill%2FIMG_0114.jpg&hash=4c480c927a18cf76bc4d1df042b44704)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi927.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad119%2Fmgus99%2FWatch%2520Hill%2FIMG_0116.jpg&hash=d003262fa0c6fa18520261267d7f5285)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi927.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad119%2Fmgus99%2FWatch%2520Hill%2FIMG_WED.jpg&hash=fc439d8c149447acab32a47efa3ee7ef)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi927.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad119%2Fmgus99%2FWatch%2520Hill%2FIMG_WED2.jpg&hash=c8bd5a7afbe12ef6ca0030c4ef6cac2a)
(https://www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi927.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad119%2Fmgus99%2FWatch%2520Hill%2FIMG_WED3.jpg&hash=4ee1271f2fd638da51f31d022ba0f37a)
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Awesome! Looks like a great day! Congrats
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Nice job...love the fishfinder pic....tells the story...Karl
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nice fish and great pics WTG
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Awesome job guys, we still got some fish waiting to push through the ditch ;) ill be there tomorrow till tuesday night
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WOW, I wish I was there... Nice job getting into them...
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I'm jealous, now I have to take a day next week and get out!
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those are huge fish,
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Awesome report, WTG!
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nice
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nice fishing Congrats
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Nice job mike. i hit the south side of fishers friday afternoon got the skunk perfect tide. coming out of the race theres a sunken tug boat on the reef to the left it was pretty erie. all thow we didnt catch anything it sure beat being in 150degree elevator shaft. hopefully well get into them next time. yo da man the mike :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :thumbup_smilie:.
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Great pics....WTG gents
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GOOD JOB ! smart move on the heading back.it does get scary.
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Great job, Beautiful fish.
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Those are some nice Stripers Mike, Awsome report and you're showing us that you can't catch fish sitting behind the keyboard.
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How size is your Angler? Mine is 22', but I don't like it.
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Hi Capt. Dana-
It's an 18' dual console. If I were closer to the ocean, I'd have a larger C/C. It's not the greatest boat, a little heavy and hard riding, but it suits my needs. And at half the price of a Grady. If you're interested, there's a couple pics of her in a post this Spring "Lake Ontario Report 4/20-4/24" in her full Lake Ontario dress.
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Hi Capt. Dana-
It's an 18' dual console. If I were closer to the ocean, I'd have a larger C/C. It's not the greatest boat, a little heavy and hard riding, but it suits my needs. And at half the price of a Grady. If you're interested, there's a couple pics of her in a post this Spring "Lake Ontario Report 4/20-4/24" in her full Lake Ontario dress.
My boat looks beautiful but rides hard. Its hard to keep all of the pumps, fish lockers, livewell, washdown and bilge, working because there isn't any ventilation in that compartment. But you're right about the price!
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At 18' and with the swing away trailer tongue, I'm able to store my boat in the garage. After a complete soap and water wash after every saltwater trip, I'm able to leave all the compartments and hatches open to dry between trips. Everything is still in perfect working condition.