Spring in winter and winter in spring. That’s what this crazy year has brought us so far, along with copious amounts of rain. The more unpredictable the weather seems, the […]
Fisheries
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Striped Bass Are Stopped Cold for Now
Reading the rules while waiting for warmer water and pogies
The striped bass spring migration has come to a screeching halt for now. There has been no evidence of any significant movement north in the past week. It seems that […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Can Cape Cod’s Namesake Fish Come Back?
NOAA says there are signs of hope for cod, but a recovery still seems daunting
Cape Cod is named for the fish that for centuries was extremely abundant in these waters and became the focal point of a major fishery that is no more. I’ve […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Whales Are in the Bay, and Stripers Are on the Way
New rules to further reduce striper catch will soon be set
Spring is in the air on the Outer Cape. If you don’t believe me, just ask the whales and the stripers. The right whales are in Cape Cod Bay now, […]
AQUACULTURE
Wellfleet Has Its Opening Day
Wild harvesting begins, and growers return to the flats with overwintered oysters
WELLFLEET — The season opened for commercial shellfishing permit holders on March 15, and the next day, a partly sunny, mild Saturday, a dozen or so wild pickers waded and […]
ON THE BEACH
Fishing for Solace in the Cold Months
With the sun fading, a fisherman winterizes his psyche
The semiannual changing of the clocks couldn’t come at a worse time — just after the fishing has slowed to a near stop, when the days are getting colder and […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Listening In on the Stripers of Squibnocket
In a coastal pond on Martha’s Vineyard, some bass may be staying year-round
Word is there’s still decent striped bass fishing along our south shore and in the canal. It’s getting kind of late for striped bass to still be here. Although most […]
ON THE BEACH
Before the Bluefins Were Big Game
Where the weirs were worked, the promise of a new fishery comes into view
When we were kids hanging out at the West End Racing Club in Provincetown or walking the flats in front of our summer digs on Capt. Jack’s Wharf, our ears […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
NOAA Finds Flaws in Its Surveys
Recreational fishermen tend to overestimate the catch
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been looking at the way it gathers information from recreational fishermen for its Fishing Effort Survey (or FES). The idea involves testing […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Facing a Drop in Numbers of Juvenile Lobsters
Cape Cod's lobstermen may be more ready than Maine’s for tighter rules
If we want to imagine the future, it’s a good idea to take a close look at the young. Last week I wrote about five years of declining striped bass […]
AQUACULTURE
Future Clam Diggers Seed Provincetown’s West End Flats
Volunteers spread tiny hatchery clams for a recreational harvest
PROVINCETOWN — About 20 recreational clammers gathered on Oct. 6 to experience a clamming day in reverse. Instead of walking out to the flats empty-handed and gathering up a dinner’s […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Wishing for a Snow-Covered Winter
Young-of-year study shows 2023 was another poor spawning year for stripers
There has been much trepidation among fishermen about what the National Marine Fisheries Service will do next regarding the rules and regulations for recreational and commercial harvesting of striped bass […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Southern Migrations Begin, With One Exception
A good season and a call for keeping an eye on changes in the northern end of the bay
We’re nearing the end of our season in the sun. As fall strengthens its grip on us, the leaves are showing off their colors and the winds coming more from […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Happy Days, Tuna-Wise
What’s not so fine is a weaker Gulf Stream
Happy days are here again: the commercial bluefin tuna season has reopened as of Oct. 1. The quota, at 117 metric tons, is set pretty low, so if the bite […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Humpback Whales at Stellwagen, Giant Tuna in the Harbor
The blues and stripers are still here, and there’s good albacore fishing up Cape
We dodged yet another tropical storm, as Ophelia veered to the west and made landfall in North Carolina instead of staying offshore and heading to our neck of the woods. I’ve […]
