What an exciting week this has been, though things were deceptively slow at the start. Fishing was pretty good for striped bass even though water temperatures have been skyrocketing lately. […]
Fisheries
A TIME TO SOW
In Wellfleet, Hats Are a Summer Tradition
Oyster farmers set out cement-coated contraptions to catch the season’s larvae
WELLFLEET — When those perfectly shucked oysters show up at your table, and you lift the shell, tilt your head back, and let that sweet, briny bivalve slide between your […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Cooler Water Turns the Bass On, Big Time
Bluefish and tuna have arrived; the fin whales didn’t stay
Striped bass fishing remains uncharacteristically hot as we head into July. Typically, what happens is that July comes with higher water temperatures, which slow down the bass’s metabolism. As the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
When Not to Look Elsewhere
Bass and more bass, the first bluefish, and a blessing
Striped bass fishing this season is bordering on epic. We are seeing almost everyone limiting out despite the tight slot-size window we have to deal with. My mentor, Capt. Francis […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Of Live Orcas and Dead Oysters
By the way, striped bass fishing is ridiculously good right now
An orca was spotted a few miles off Provincetown this week, followed by another sighting on Stellwagen Bank. It has been a while since orcas have been observed here. They […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
A Hit-or-Miss Week for Predators
Humans chasing bass, dogfish chasing flounder, sharks chasing seals
Bass fishing was hit or miss last week. It seems the stripers are moving about a lot more than usual. The bass typically arrive in densely packed schools, and when they […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Big Bass Arrive Ahead of a Storm
Cold winds sweep in behind a warming trend and plenty of pogies
Some very big striped bass have moved into our area with several fish in excess of 40 inches being caught and released. Capt. Dave of the Ginny G got into some […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Between High Winds and New Rules, Striped Bass and Mackerel
The state goes with the new striper slot rules, but there’s still a chance to comment
We finally got some guidance from the state about the new emergency-mandated striped bass rules, called for by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Striped Bass Management Board on May […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Cool and Windy for Fishing, Hot and Bothered About the Rules
Skinny stripers and fat flounder define the week’s catch
Striped bass fishing was a bit spotty last week. They seem to be cruising north to south in the bay. From the Pamet to south of Billingsgate Shoals are where […]
ON THE BEACH
Looking Back to Plan Ahead for the Future of Striped Bass
The catch has improved — but not because there are more fish
New England groundfishermen complained loudly two decades ago about increasing regulation of various fisheries, notably our region’s cod and haddock, which were easily its most lucrative species. Why cut the […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
The Stripers Are Here, and the Bay Is Hot
Right whales have moved on; mackerel are many; flounder fishing picks up
The 2023 striped bass season has officially begun on the Outer Cape. It may seem like we’ve been waiting a long time, but the truth is they are way ahead […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Schoolies Arrive. So Does a New Upper Limit.
There are big blues off Montauk and mackerel in our harbor
The striped bass have arrived, and schoolie-size fish, which typically lead the charge north, are all the way up into the Race. That would indicate the keepers are probably not […]
ON THE BEACH
Fishing as a Way of Life
Striper fishing offers a glimpse into what it means to be a Cape Codder
A year off from graduate school in 1972 gave me the chance to fulfill my dream of being on Cape Cod all year round. I finagled free winter digs in […]
THE SCUTTLEBUTT
Them’s the Rules
Regulations can depend on whether you’re fishing in the Gulf of Maine or Southern New England
The word is migratory bass have begun to show up in the Canal and in estuary mouths along the Cape’s south shore. Some fish as large as 30 inches have […]
FISHERIES
Stricter Rules Sought for Horseshoe Crab Harvest
A precautionary approach in response to a burgeoning biomedical market
There is perhaps no thornier marine management issue for regulatory bodies on the Atlantic Coast than what to do about horseshoe crabs, which are harvested as bait for the whelk […]
