BOSTON HARBOR & SOUTH SHORE-Stripers 7/21/2013
Capt. Mike Bartlett
July 25, 2013
Boston Harbor - Saltwater Fishing Report
BOSTON HARBOR AND SOUTH SHORE- Stripers- July 21 2013
Oppressive heat-wave temperatures and the warmest surface-water temperatures on record in Boston couldn't suppress the feeding blitz in Boston's outer harbor all last week! Acres of big bass—fresh fish, covered with sea-lice—moved into the area to feed on the abundant silversides and tinker mackerel. Surface-water temperatures were in the mid-70's and as high as 77.8 degrees; I have never observed these tropical temps in Boston in my life-time. Nevertheless, in the few areas where the temps registered just below 70, the outer-harbor was alive with activity.
Early in the week, the morning ebbing tide was best. Fly fishers using half and halfs and mackerel patterns on fast-sinking lines and sliders, gurglers and poppers on top did well. Spin casters slammed the fish using Texas-rigged Bassin' Assassins. Most of the bass were between 28" and 36" with numbers of school bass in evidence, which was good see for the future. The feeding blitzes in the 30-50 ft depths continued well into the late morning producing 6-15 keepers per trip.
Best trip of the year to date was Ken Kakol's (No. Plainfield, NJ) annual trip to Boston to fish with His Brother-in-law, Mark and Mark's children, Adam and Madison on Saturday the 20th. Friday afternoon, the southwest wind really kicked in gusting to 25 knots, which continued right through midnight. This proved to be a blessing in that this typical prevailing wind of summer moves the warm surface water offshore upwelling colder water from the depths to the surface. As a result, surface water temps dropped over night to the mid to high 60's. On the am flooding tide we moved to the shallows and were into bass—all by ourselves for 4 hours straight--- with more that 30 bass landed and 13 keeper bass. Madison's 36", 18# linesider looked like it would be the pool winner. Just before high slack, Mark hooked "Walter" pictured above—44" and 38#--our best of the year on light-tackle. Not to be outdone—the Ace on the Ice—Adam hooked "Walter's cousin" while Ken battled another relative—both going in different directions; 40" and 27# and 38" and 20#. All the big bass were revived and released.
Capt. Mike Bartlett
B-Fast Charters, www.bfastcharters.com
781-293-6402, 617-645-3278 cell
Target Species:
Striped Bass and bluefish
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