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 water warms, the fish feed less and often only at night. We had one day like that this week, where the fish were stacked up under the boat, but no one was getting much of a bite. The water temperatures were starting to hit the low 70s in most places on the bayside at that point.
Following that, however, some cooler water came in around the Race and brought the water temperature down to 65 degrees. The bass turned on big time. From Hatches Harbor to the Rip and slightly beyond, a large number of fish were feeding aggressively. Needless to say, that turned the fishing around.
I am told there are lots of bass down the backside beaches as well — all the way to Longnook. But word is the vast majority of these fish are over the 31-inch upper end of the slot limit and therefore are too big to keep.
I’m watching various groups advocate on the question of striped bass regulation. On one side, there are groups like Stripers Forever, who want to end the commercial fishery and are calling for recreational protections for the larger fish. On the other, there is Fish 4 Dinner and We the Fishermen, of which I am a founder, who are pointing out how they and consumers rely on a well-functioning commercial fishery for their dinners — in two ways: for their livelihoods and at their tables.
My position is that it’s important for more people with offshore experience to be part of the conversation about regulation.
More and more bluefish have arrived this week and they, too, have been in a feeding frenzy around the Race, especially. I have also seen bluefish in the harbor. You don’t need a fish finder to spot them. Just watch the surface of the water.
Tuna fishing is also starting to improve substantially in our area, and last week the Peaked Hill area was the most productive, while Stellwagen Bank was quieter. The mackerel we had in the harbor are now thick on the southwest corner of Stellwagen.
There is also currently a rather large group of humpback whales hanging out on the southwest corner of the bank. The fin whales that were in the Race last week and the week before did not stay long; they haven’t been seen for a few days now.
