2006 Fishing Reports
November 5, 2006
This will most likely be the last report for the season... Has been fairly slow
fall but some of the die hard surf casters are landing fish finally. There
are big seas bass and scup around but nothing to report for cod. We delivered
the 'Island Lady' to FL last week and got 46 minutes into the trip and had to
stop at Montauk due to the incredible bass and bluefish blitz. Took a
couple casts at the Great Bridge lock in VA and got a striper, trolled a bit
here and there off SC and GA and picked up a wahoo and barracuda.
September 9, 2006
Sea Bass have moved in for all the
folks fishing the bottom, as well as some good sized fluke out in deep water off
Clay Head and the West beaches. SW ledge was excellent for bass provided
you could get past the blues - we did this with heavy jig heads on big ronz's or
sluggo's and had fish between 25-35#'s. Bonito have been spotty but are
around the channel and Charleston Beach - you have to be at the right place at
the right time but the grand slam from the shore is possible now. Went
offshore again on the Island Lady (thursday, friday) and tallied 4 YFT 50-70#'s
and one albacore trolling. We were lucky enough to release yet another
Swordfish while chunking at night. Unbelievable conditions. Fished
the Dip to the Tails.
August 26, 2006
Another weakfish was taken by a client of guide Greg Snow. This one
was10lbs and was graciously released. Bonito have been spotty around
Charleston Beach and in the channel. Mornings on a moving tide seems to be
the best time. The Copp party had a great morning on the SW ledge landing
1/2 dozen fish over 25#'s on light tackle, the largest at 33#'s. RonZ's
did the trick again. Topwater at first light and sunset has also been a
blast at the N. Light using Zara Spooks and Jumpin Minnows. Giant Blues
are still a regular occurrence and alot of fun. September is near and that
means the BI Inshore Fishing Tourney on the 15, 16, and 17th. This annual
event benefits the National Childrens Cancer Society and is always good fun.
August 18, 2006
The fishing has been solid around the Island with plenty of bass and blues, as
well as other fish showing up to entertain us all. Bonito have been caught
at SE light and Charleston Beach. Scott Banerjee landed a 12lb bonito two
days ago. Guide Pete Farrell landed a 9 lb weakfish as well - a rare
occurrence for BI waters. There was also a 36" spanish mackerel
landed at the CG Station. The 'Gladiator' showed up in Old Harbor this
evening with a blue marlin estimated at 1000lbs - don't know where they were yet
but there were several blue marlin tagged during the Tri-State Canyon Shootout
last week. The Hula Girl reported several fish over 40#'s caught without
eels... yet another rarity recently. SW corner, Black Rock, and
North Light have been the usual haunts for bass. Pearl, black, and
chartreuse soft plastics off the bottom have worked well. Only BFT's were
last week and we had to travel to Newport for them - had BFT's, bonito, and BIG
blues off Castle Hill. Haven't had a false albacore yet
though.
August 6, 2006
I was once again invited to fish the 'Island Lady', a 32' Cabo out of New
Harbor. Capt. Joe Noel had plans to head back to Atlantis and fish the
excellent temp break reported there and stay overnight. But 40 miles into
the journey at, around 10am, we ran across some slicks and birds and
decided to drop the lines in for a quick try... 7 minutes of trolling and
we had 3 YFT on, boated 2. We fished the area for 4 hours and tallied
16YFT up to 60 lbs. Kept a few for a big cookout on the Island and headed
home. But not after hitting a few flyers for Mahi - back at the dock at
7pm - unbelievable day, perfect weather, fishing, and crew. Didn't see
another boat until we picked up to leave. No other life except a couple
whales in the distance. I'm sure we will be back out after the Tri State
Tuna Tourny that starts tomorrow.
July 31, 2006
Bass have been hitting the tube and worm for Hula with a couple 40#ers taken in
the past week. Wayne Pinkham did well with fluke weighing in a fluke over
6lbs for the B.I.V.F.D. tournament this past weekend. RISAA member Don
Smith took the tounry once again with a 36.7 lb bass. Peter Vican and Don
Smith also weighed in bass for the OTW Striper Cup -40#'s and 36.77
respectively, more points for RISAA. Sean Bristow weighed in a 4.56
lb sea bass for the RISAA year long tourny junior division. Had clients
from Kansas fish with us and boated 20lbers on light tackle at Black Rock... say
they'll never fish walleye again. Headed offshore in a friends new 32'Cabo
- did an overnight at Atlantis on 7/30... trolled up 4 yellow fins up to
50lbs, a few dorado, the night chunking produced sharks and a swordfish which
were all released. Lots of life on the run out, temps all over 75
degreeswith a few 3 degree breaks. Lots of whales, porpoise, turtles,
etc.. The boat ran like a dream - what a machine. Bonito and albies
have been spotted and a few caught in the channel but nothing consistent
yet. Bass have been heavy on the south side but it gets crowded after 8am
so we generally look elsewhere, and find them. Good fishin' y'all......
July 20, 2006
So the BFT's were around from the South West and all the way to the East of BI
with only three reported BI landings and one broken rod. All fish caught
on light tackle, all short but fun. The fish were reported to be very
fussy and hard to get to bite anything. Sharking has picked up a bit with
water temps getting in the mid 70's, good for the threshers. We made it
out to the rip for some great evenings on the fly and light tackle. Zara
Spooks and Ron Z's worked every time. This AM we went to Black Rock and
hit several keeper bass and lots of blues. The one that got away bent out
a 6/0 mustad ultra point... ran like hell and didn't stop till we chased
it down. Once Beryl gets by we'll get out and let you know whats going on.
July 7, 2006
Last week was red hot around the Island for light tackle, with a little lull
through the weekend and holiday but it picked right back up again. On the
fly and on the spin was good inside New Harbor with lots of small fish mixed
with some in the 20# class. A 6wt was used on morning to land several bass
12" - 18" - small fish but lots of fun and not particularly
fussy. 8 yr old Margaret Stover landed her own 22.5#er in the harbor using
a chartreuse RonZ, her picture will be added to the site soon. Bait
fishermen using clams in the channel are getting keeper bass. The North
Light at sunset has been particularly fun with bass up to 28" chasing baby
bunker. Hula Girl has had several bass in the high 20's and 30's
utilizing the tube and worm... plus a few of his secrets. FV Rooster
reports fluking has picked up as well with many of the fish keeper size being
caught off the west side in the deeper waters. Jigging soft plastics at
the ledge out produced the trollers this week. The BFT report has been
suspicious... fish sightings but no landings. This will hopefully
change in the coming week.
June 24, 2006
Great light tackle fishing the past couple days.
When we were able to make it out in the weather windows Black Rock, the ledge,
and the SW corner were very fruitful. A customer landed a 40" bass on a
topwater plug in the early am on Wednesday around the SW side. BFT were
spotted again but no landings. Sluggo's and RonZ's were again the lure of
choice. Picked up a couple fluke on the RonZ fished slow along the bottom
near the CG channel. We got close to 5 inches of rain today... it may stop
by Tuesday.
June 21, 2006
The BFT's are still being sighted south and southwest of the Island with one of
the Islands youngest anglers landing one with a crystal minnow... Action
was sluggish last week and has gradually picked up. The early AM outgoing
tide was good for several surf casters. Eeling seemed to be the ticket
while things were slow from the boat. My recent order of RonZ's came in
and were immediately tested with much success... I might put the sluggo on
the back burner for awhile. Fly guys have not strayed from the sand eel
patterns, and there really isn't any reason... the bait is still primarily sand
eels and they work.
June 10, 2006
Bass and blues a plenty around the Island. Hula Girl
picked up a 39 and 25lber while fishing the SW area with eels. Beach
fishing has been stellar at night or early morning with a moving tide.
Sand eel imitations are the norm... biggest fish reported on the fly this week
was 38". Greg Snow fished the rip with a friend at the beginning of
the week and landed a 14lb bluefish. Many of the shore fishermen have
reported 20+ fish nights, but all small. One report of BFT's very close
but nothing since... waiting to see them for myself.
May 21, 2006
Alas, fish are hear and it's time for a report... and it looks like a promising summer considering the past week of fishing. Tuesday marked the end of nine days of rain and the beginning of good fishing for many BI fishermen. The usual spots have produced steadily throughout the week; North Light, Charleston, CG Channel, OH Point, Ballards... sand eels galore and lots of squid seem to be the bait fish are gobbling. Sizes have been mostly schoolies but Jamie Johnson landed a 32lber using a Surf Hog, an new soft plastic by Eben Horton in Wakefield. So some larger fish are around. Needlefish, bombers with teasers, and bucktail jigs have also worked. Incoming tides at night appear to be the best time, but fish were caught today on the outgoing during the middle of the day. Fly guys will find plenty of fish as well with no crazy fly needed... sand eel patterns, black half n halves, white deceivers. A few regulars have had good luck flounder fishing off Paynes Dock - a great place to fish with the kids and catch dinner.