NH Striped Bass report 8/8/09
Capt. Joel Koch
August 9, 2009
Portsmouth - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishing Report Week Ending 8/8/09
The fishing was good this week with a few great days and then WOW!!.. Monday and Tuesday were really good fishing days with 20-30 fish each day. In addition we caught a couple of bigger fish with the biggest on Monday at 34". Midweek was slower with 10-15 fish caught each trip. Everyone caught fish and all trips were deemed successful, and the weather was great. Best weather of any week so far, it was finally summer in NH and no days of rain.
Then on Saturday it happened. It was a slow start only 5 fish in two hours, but then we hooked a good one. Had a rod with a heavy weight off to the side and line starts to move off the reel. We engaged the drag and line continued to move off the reel at the same speed. I knew instantly it was a big fish. Thirteen-year-old Mike was up on the rod and as he continued to work the fish it never stopped taking line. After the fish took 50 or so yards of line off the reel I knew it was time to take action, clear the lines, toss the anchor buoy and start the boat. There were a number of moorings behind the boat and I knew we would wrap one with all the line out, probably 100 yds. by now. I kept telling Mike and his Dad, "THIS IS A BIG FISH", I played this game before, no doubt about it. We backed the boat down on the mooring that the fish was now wrapped on, and Mike skillfully, took up the slack line and kept tension on the fish. We swung the boat around the mooring and freed the line and the real fight was back on. Mike had a tug of war with the fish for a few more minutes before we were straight up and down with it, only gaining a little line at a time. Net was extended, and ready, we see color, it is a monster, and in the net, barely. One, two three, in the boat. Mike lands a trophy 43" striper and on 20 lb test light tackle. The fish was fat and I estimate the fish weighed 32-34 lbs. 
This is the largest fish of the season for us, and one of the heaviest ever. What a day. We only got a few more fish after that but I hope Mike and his Dad remember this day for a long time. Guys spend their whole lives trying for a big fish and to get one at 13 is fantastic, what memories for Mike and his Dad.
I have many open dates in September and hopefully we will see more big fish, move into NH waters.
Tight lines,
Capt. Joel
www.nhsaltwaterfishing.com
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