Fall is the best time to chunk for any of the offshore fish that are passing thru our area.

This is what you will need for a successful day of chunking using some of the techniques the pros don't want you to know.

What you need:

• Two boxes of Frozen Butterfish or some form of bait fish to chunk and use as bait.

• Box of #64 rubber bands.

• Box of assorted bank sinkers.

• Package of 12 GOOD quality black swivels (150 pound test).

• Bag of balloons.

• Quality monfilament leader line in 60 thru 125 pound test.

• Dozen of 2x quality hooks in 3/0 to 7/0 sizes.

• Quality serrated knife for chunking bait.

• Two(2) buckets or containers for chunks.

• Two(2) packages of silver or gold sparkles for the chunks.

• Cutting board or some SAFE cutting area.

• Dental floss

Get those two packages of bait fish from a REPUTABLE bait dealer!!

 WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... Open each box and look closely at the eyes of the bait. If the eyes are RED, then pass that box by. Those red eyes mean that that box already was thawed out and refrozen. That’s NOT the best chunk bait you are paying for. You want the freshest bait or FRESH frozen bait you can get. It does make a difference.

Set up your cutting board and thaw out one box of bait.  BUTTERFISH is just about the best bait. I t holds its color and doesn't get soft.  BUTTERFISH doesn't smell bad when thawed and waiting to be thrown over the side.

Use the SAME hook bait as the chunk bait in the chunk slick.

SIZE MATTERS.  Get the biggest BUTTERFISH or bait fish you can find.  On small bait fish, cut each one ON A DIAGONAL so you get at least five(5) pieces out of each bait.  On larger bait, get seven (7) to nine (9) pieces from each bait.  AGAIN, cut them into chunks on a DIAGONAL.  As you get a bunch cut, SPRINKLE some of those SPARKLES on them BEFORE you dump them into your chunk bucket. This will make the sparkles adhere to the chunks and NOT your deck.

On the chunking grounds

Rod 1 will have a 12 foot leader (FLOURO) for daytime chunking. You will put on a swivel (150 pound test) to your main line and also to your leader. Snelling the hook is the best way to attach the hook.

HINT...HINT...HINT... If there is a strong current running, attach a bank sinker VIA a #64 rubber band six(6) feet in front of your hook. Six(6) feet is far enough ahead of the hook bait to allow the Tuna to approach the bait and NOT see the sinker.

HINT...HINT...HINT... I usually blacken up the sinker using a marker pen to hide the sinker.

HINT...HINT...HINT... Attach a safety line to EACH rod placed in a rod holder.

 You will need four(4) rods:

Rod one(1):

ATTACH your 1st balloon to your mainline so the balloon is 10 feet from the blackened sinker.   HINT...HINT...HINT...  Make sure you use a different colored balloon for each line in the water. makes identification a lot easier and less confusion Han a Tuna takes your hook bait.   Place the rod in a rod holder on a corner of the transom and pay out 30 feet of line from the rod tip to balloon.  That way the bait will be up close and yet far enough down to get the Tunas attention, especially if they are in a skittish feeding mood.

Rod two(2):

Put your chunking rig together the same as rod one(1).   ATTACH your blackened sinker to your mainline about 6 feet from the hook bait.  Place rod two(2) in the next rod holder and swivel it out about 30 degrees.  HINT...HINT...HINT... Use a golf ball in the rod holder to be able to swivel the rod OUTBOARD 30 degrees.   ATTACH your 2nd balloon 20 feet from the blackened sinker.   Pull out about 40 feet of line from the rod tip to this balloon. This will put this bait out and down and away from the other rod and will cover more of your CHUNKSLICK.

Rod three(3):

Put your chunking rig together the same as rod one(1).   Place rod three(3) in the next rod holder and swivel this rod out 50 degrees.  Use Another golf ball and safety line.  Attach your next balloon 30 feet from the blackened sinker.   Pull out about 80 feet of mainline from the rod tip to this balloon.

Rod four(4):

This is your free line.  No sinkers, balloon on this rod for best results.  Put your chunking rig together the same as rod one.   Put on your hook bait and place over the side, WITHOUT ANY DRAG.  Let this hook bait out slowly . You can let this hook bait go out as far as 100 feet.   If no hits, then slowly reel the bait back in and repeat until you hookup.

HOOK BAIT rigging:

ALL HOOK BAITS SHOULD BE BUILT THE SAME WAY.

Take your whole hook bait and take your hook.  Place it in the baits mouth AND pull it out one side of the gill plait.  Now pull out a small bit of leader and take the hook and push it down the gullet backwards.  Position the hook so the hook POINT will SLIGHTLY come out the hook bait's side. P ull any extra leader tightly out of the hook bait's mouth.

Take some dental floss and tie BOTH gill plait's shut. Toss the bait over the side and watch . If the bait spins take it back in and tie the hook bait's mouth shut.

Now your hook bait should slowly swim in a side to side motion. This will make the BUTTERFISH side flash and pulls the color down into the depths.

CHUNK LINE TACTICS:

HINT...HINT...HINT...Take a small handful of the chunks you cut up and powdered with Sparkles and toss this handful as HIGH and as FAR UPTIDE as you can. This IMITATES the sound the trawlers make when they shovel all their by catch over the side and into the sea.

The DIAGONAL cut pieces will slowly flash and splash the seas surface and SPREAD out as they sink.  The SPARKLES will ALSO spread out making it seem to the Tuna that other TUNA are in the CHUNK LINE . This will start a Tuna feeding frenzy as the sparkles act as fish scales being dislodged from feeding Tuna.

When the batch of chunks disappears from sight behind the transom, throw another bunch of chunks out again as HIGH and as far UPCURRENT as the other batch.  Repeat this continuously throughout the chunking time at sea.  WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... you must always keep the chunk line going.  Any break will make the Tuna go somewhere else.

The distance between the balloon and the sinker should be adjusted as the fish move into your CHUNKLINE.  They will take up stations and feed in particular spots.  Keep an eye on the recorder to see how far down under the boat the initially are.  You might see them rise up into your chunk line and start to feed.

HINT...HINT...HINT... If the fish are taking chunk BUT NOT the HOOK BAITS, change to a smaller diameter mono or FLURO.  I have had to get down to 30 pound test FLURO at times. Mostly that's a daytime trick, especially if the fish have been beaten up by a lot of boats.

Now go out there and

WHACK'M  'N STACK'M

Joseph B...AKA...Ancient Mariner

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Not much doing this time of year. Snow...Snow...Snow... that’s in most of Europe now. EXCEPTION...EXCEPTION...EXCEPTION... Norway and the LOFOTEN Islands. What do you get????Giant COD , Giant POLLACK (COALFISH) , Giant HALIBUT and I mean GIANT HALIBUT!  A whole lot more fish now. That’s why All the big time fisherman go up to Northern NORWAY and the LOFOTENS! There will be BIGTIME Tournaments now. GET UP THERE!

All fishing closes down when those cold , cold , winds come roaring down from the ice caps. When u get a day or two of warmer(?) weather, then those offshore boats can get out and fish close inshore. EVEN those special surf marks and jetties will produce CODLING and whatever can with stand those bitter ocean temperatures . 'Nuff said.

EAST COAST;

Read above.  The only difference is the WEATHER. Yes, I said weather. It's not as bad as what the Europeans will have to contend with, BUT BAD ENOUGH! Look to a few more days of winter temps in the 40-50's than across the pond, IN BETWEEN ROARING COLD FRONTS that rip down from the arctic that is.

Cod , Haddock , Pollack(Coalfish), Winter Flounder, and other denizens of the deep will be on hand, IF YOU CAN GET OUT. BE CAREFUL , 'Cause the winter seas can turn UGLY in 5 minutes or less.

JIGS, and T'ZERS will be the keys to good catch rates when the seas calm down between cold fronts. Bait you say? Yeah , if you can get FFRREESSHH SKIMMER CLAMS. The more I think about it , STAY WITH THE JIGS and T'ZERS. Why put up with cold, frozen fingers on sloppy, gooey, grungy bait when you can keep those fingers clean and dry with jigs 'n T'ZERS.

NOR'AST;

The Stripers have gone into their 'winter overing' spots now. The Blues have moved down south to warmer climates. The Winter Flounder are warm and cozy in their hibernating spots. The offshore pelagics are long gone . What’s left, you ask? Those good old standby fish; COD , POLLACK , HADDOCK , HAKE(Red and White) , HALIBUT , ROSEFISH .

Jigs 'n T'ZERS will be a great option to start off with. If they don't work , then it's back to bait. AAARRRGGGHHH . I'm an inveterate JIG 'n T'ZERS fisherman. I firmly believe that Jigs 'n T'ZERS will out fish bait MOST OF THE TIME.  Please reread that last sentence.  It really matters in winter fishing, BUT, learn how to use jigs 'n T'ZERS correctly. 'Nuff said.

MIDATLANTIC;

Further down the coast, the fishing gets better and better 'cause the weather gets better and better and better.  The Blues will stay around a bit longer as the weather stays warm.  The surf fishing stays good thru the winter.

The offshore scene gets broken down into good bottom fishing for BLACK SEA BASS and Blue and Golden TILEFISFH.  Here the key is bait, bait , bait.  Fresh frozen Skimmers will work most days. HINT...HINT...HINT... lightly Salted KOSHER SALT will out fish fresh frozen and FRESH(!) Skimmers at times.  For whatever reason, Lightly Salted Skimmers will out produce when the fish turn off to everything else.  HINT...HINT...HINT... If that fails, try SQUID HEADS.  Just slide them UP and over the hook shank and drop the rig down to the bottom.  ANOTHER HINT...HINT...HINT... Use bait saver hooks in 6/0 or 7/0 sizes. Ah heck guys .......HINT...HINT...HINT... A secret the commercial guys use........Cut up ocean EELS in 2-3 inch pieces.  HUH! big TILEFISH just love to suck that bait down.  YOUWZA!  Please don't spread that secret around . The commercial guys will jump all over me for that one.

Offshore trolling, it's tough fishing. The only bright spot will be the Giants that come inshore (OVER THE WRECKS) on 60-100 feet to gorge themselves on BUNKER...aka...MENHADEN. WARNING...WARNING...WARNING Get your TUNA PERMIT BEFORE you leave the dock. That can be an expensive MISTAKE...OOUUCCHH!!

The "JIL CARRIE" is STILL SAILING. That boat just doesn't quit. I hear they have been doing GREAT on ROCK FISH.  YOUWZA, that man can find and get YOU into FISH.  I sure wish I could get out there with you all. When you do go, please tell Cap'n Jim a big hello for me, please. CALL for reservations and what happening.  THEY TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

SOUTH;

Mahi , Sails , Kings , Wahoo , etc will all be out there to please the sportfisherman. T roll, bait with T'ZERS in front of them.  That is the standard combination to catch all these fish.  Me , I will ALWAYS put out a three(3) T'ZER setup in BRIGHT, FLASHY color combinations in front of my BALLYHOO bait.  HINT...HINT...HINT... Put a special Flashy T'ZER lure on the BALLY's nose. Why? 'Cause that extra T'ZER will keep those fish coming back and back to WACK 'N STACK your rig 'til they get hooked. That’s why!

Inshore it's REDFISH , SNOOK , PERMIT , BLACK DRUM , and most other inshore species. When those COLD FRONTS come thru, look for the fish to find deep holes and then lay UNDER the Mangroves.  A nice lure(plastic) or a live shrimp tossed into those holes or under the Mangroves will get you want you want.  As the water warms, these same fish will move onto the FLATS to feed so be Q U I E T!!!  WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... S T E A L T H is the key word here. The waters are crystal clear and these fish up on the flats will be SPOOKY. You might even have to make LONG , LONG , casts way out front of the fish and let them come to the baits.

GULF;

The oil platforms and the deep water ridges will pay off for the fisherman now. HINT...HINT...HINT...Jig up live bait and your in business.  "SABIKI" type jigs will get the bait in your live well.  These fish can be anywhere from 10 - 50 feet down.  See them on the fish finder and ALSO...HINT...HINT...HINT... look for predators UNDER the bait.  HINT...HINT...HINT... Look close around the oil rig legs.  Lots of deep water fish hang out there waiting to pick off the bait seeking sanctuary close to those same legs.

Inshore the Redfish and Summer Flounder will attack any fresh live mud minnow. For the lure thrower, "NEW PENNY" and Gold, or Gold Chartreuse colored plastic will be the key here.

California;

Lots of shark and bottom fishing going on now.  Bait , bait , bait will be the key here.  Get live bait when you can.  Light lines, light lures, and light hooks on your bait will help get those fish into your cooler. I'm going to ask my commercial friends for more info on what’s happening.  As soon as I get any new info, I'll pass it on.  What I did find out was to use iron jigs as lures ( Blue is the color) and look for fish on your meter.  Stay right over the fish and use the new jigging techniques.

Washington and Oregon;

I just can't get enough info on the bottom fishing.  I know the Greenling and Halibut are out there to catch.  I know the offshore fishing has stopped for the winter.  I know that SQUID bait and JIGS will always work.  If anyone has any more info, PLEASE e-mail me and I'll get it out to all.  Send pictures if you can too.

That’s about all for now so;

WACKM 'N STACKM

Joseph B...aka...Ancient Mariner

Maine, Mass, Rhode Island, Conn.

Inshore: Cod , Cod , Cod . Now off the shelf and ridges feeding heavily on Sand eels and Mackerel.  All kinds of bottom dwellers are also feeding heavily now.  Cusk, Wolfish, Haddock, Ling both red and white, Black back Flounder are getting fatter.  Jigs and bait.  Bait and Jigs ...Doesn't matter much what your dropping down close to the bottom, it all will work.  My preference would be to use Skimmer Clams early in the morning, then gradually changing over to Jigs for the middle of the day, then back to bait for the evening bite.

Stripers are moving back out of the river mouths on their way down south to winter over in the HUDSON river.  This migration will last about two months.  I like to cast plugs to breaking schools just off the local reefs and ridges close into to the rivers. T rolling big Danny plugs and Bunker spoons will work, BUT, remember SLOW is the way to go.  1 to 1.5 knots is the speed on the troll.

Bluefish are just what they were meant to be called...CHOPPERS.  These monsters have been feeding for a few months now and will attack just about anything the swims by.  These fish will be very oily from the feeding they have been doing. HINT...HINT...HINT...  Eat these fish as soon as possible, else the meat will spoil.  WARNING...WARNING...WARNING...remember that there is a limit on how many you can keep.

YFT Tuna are now slowly moving down south to their winter grounds.  They will be spooky as the water gets colder and colder.  These warmer water Tunas should be gone by months end. Chunking will be the smart move early in the month, then trolling towards the latter part of the month.  I love to pull 6-8 inch plastic squids on bars and chains, WITH JETS inside my spread.  The bars and chains gets 'em interested and the Jets clean up the rest of the school YFT.  Straight running lures back in the 4-5th wake wave.  I add a Yellow or orange UNDERSKIRT to my lures now.  I feel that this gets me more fish.

Bigeyes will be just about ready to leave for warmer climes.  They will be bigger now than in the spring.  They will not hang around much longer.  I feel that these tuna are more susceptible to the cold waters than YFT.  Night fishing for these on the chunk out at the canyons and trolling in the early morning before the BIGEYE go down and away from the sun. HINT...HINT...HINT... I would try having one(1) deep line down below the thermocline after the sun comes up.  If no hits on this line than clean up and start the troll.

Surf guys will find more and more fish as the month wears on.  The night fishing will still be ok, BUT, the day fishing gets hotter and hotter as the fish get the urge to move south.  Clam bellies wound up your hook and have the hook point just showing is about right.  Blues, Bass, Weaks, all will be in the surf looking for food.  Winter Flounder have moved back into the mud flats for the winter.  Thin clam lips and worms sand and blood all work now.

NY, NJ, Del., VA, Maryland:

Read the above comments with the added fish being caught .  The fish will stay longer and longer because the water will still be warmer than up north.  What nice about this area is that you get a shot at the warmer water pelagics that never go further north on their migrations. ' Hoo fishing will still be good.  The Marlin have gone south by now. All the other tuna will be milling around chasing bait and hanging in until the cold fronts get to much for them.  Out in the Canyons, the BIGEYE will hang around longer than he YFT and the BFT.  A good bet will be to chunk them off the Canyon edges.  WARNING...WARNING...WARNING... tying up to a high flyer is illegal.  Get the owners WRITTEN ok before you tie up.  The Coast Guard will be checking.  'Nuff said.

Closer to the shore, the Black Sea Bass, Tautog will be the target fish now for the bottom bouncer.   Squid and Skimmer Clams are the baits of choice for Black Sea Bass.  These fish are schooling up to start their mating season and then to move out to deeper waters for the winter.  DOUBLE HOOK RIGS with 3inch Glow squids ABOVE each hook will be a great starter. Chartreuse or Pink are good second choices for you to have aboard.  Look at my web site for the Double Hook Rigs I make.  These are the KILLER RIGS for Black Sea Bass.  Start out fishing for these tasty fish in the 50-70 foot depths.  Even these fish will move out to deeper waters as the water gets cooler and colder by month's end.  Blackfish will be willing biters on Clam strips, better yet get crabs for bait. G reen crabs cut in quarters or whole Hermit crabs are the best baits .

Sea Trout...AKA...Weakfish will be around for the surf fisherman and the trollers and casters.  Find the birds and cast or troll around them.  Look for more birds and do it all over again.  You'll also get Bluefish and Bass this way.  Next month or a little earlier (end of October) the deep drop fishing on the deep wrecks picks up and really starts to turn on. Clams on special deep drop rigs or squid chunks will get them into your cooler.  Snowy Grouper and Golden fish will be hungry for your baits.

No. Carolina, So. Carolina, Ga.:

All the inlets will be lit up by month's end.  Bass, Blues, Weaks, Kings and all else will be patrolling the surfs edges looking for an easy meal. Surf casters are in heaven.  Bait and plugs and Tin will be what you'll be casting.  Black Sea Bass and other bottom species will be on the wrecks now. Most guys will be using Squid strips as a primary bait, BUT, Skimmer Clam in quarters soaked in Kosher Salt will get more than you can keep.  You'll get arm sore catching these tasty fish.  Kings will be off the beach for your trolled lures.  Trolling along the beaches now will get you into anything that is swimming around.  These fish are hungry. Small lures will pay off big about now.

Offshore, the Tuna are getting closer to the beach.  Mahis are around to please.  Marlin are still around but getting harder and harder to find.  Trolling a mixed sized spread of lures will put you into the ballgame.  I love the 4 inch Cedar Jigs with three(3) T'ZERS in front.  This will do the trick on most of the fish.  6- 8 inch lures will get you the bigger pelagics . HINT...HINT...HINT... place the Cedars back into the 2ND Wake Wave.  That’s the hot spot for this time a year. T he bigger Tunas will be a bit further back in your spread.

Wahoo bite will get stronger later in the year, BUT, you can still pull Wahoo on the smaller size (10-20pounders) will be around for your fishing.  Black/Purple, Black/Red, Blue/Black are the standard colors that the Wahoo will pursue.

Fla., Ala., Texas:

The trips out to the towers and the Gardens will now be the hot ride for Tuna.  Trolling around these structures will be the effective way to fish.  As for me, it's trolling 6-8 inch straight runners and Chrome Jets, 6inch Cedars.  Up close (3rd wake wave) will be the 4inch Cedars in Red/White, Blue/Yellow, Black/Blue are the colors of choice.  If it swims, then it will jump on your lures.

Inshore the Reds, Trout, are willing as long as the cold fronts allow them to bite.  Just off the beach will be the Kings and the Coalfish.  Bait is best when you sight the fish.  Grouper and Redfish will be on the wrecks and the live bottom.  Get out there and look around for small rough bottom.  That’s where the big grouper and Redfish will be hanging out.

West Coast:

All the bottom fish will be pulling out all the stops as they feed like crazy.  The 1/2 day and full day boats will be on them for the whole month.  HINT...HINT...HINT... Live bait on light lines will catch the most fish.  The jetty/pier fisherman will be hitting them hard.  California Halibut will be around.  Use my DOORMATTER Rigs in waters less than 0 feet and Both the SUPER DOORMATTER and DOORMATTER EXPRESS rigs for the deeper waters.  A strip of Squid or baitfish (SKIN SIDE UP) will catch most of your fish.  LING will be on the rough bottom areas.  These toothy critters are tasty and tough fighters.  GO GET 'EM!

Salmon are around.  I'm not sure what’s happening with them.  I have a call into my commercial friends to find out what’s going on.  I'll post the info when I find out.  Halibut are always around.  The weather will determine when you can get out for them.  Whole Mackerel on a double circle hook rig will get them for you.  MY DOORMATTER EXPRESS RIG with Halibut hooks will really tear them up.

Canada:

Canadian Maritimes fishing gets hotter and hotter as the month wears on.  As in UK fishing, the seas get ugly and the storms come quicker and quicker.

Inshore, the Cod and Haddock and Pollock will hang around the wrecks and reefs throughout this month.  They will move offshore to the winter grounds when the ocean temps drop far enough to make these fish uncomfortable.   Bait fishing for the medium sized fish will work the best.   Jigging for the larger fish will still be the way to go.   Not many big ones now, but still worthwhile to jig. HINT...HINT...HINT... Use the new Japanese type jigs and stay with the power non stretch lines.   I just spooled 80 pound stealth on my two jigging rods. This line is the equivalent of 20 pound test.  You use less weight and feel the fish better.

Offshore the BFT Tuna have moved out of their usual haunts and are now starting to chase the baitfish south.  This time chunking will hold the fish for a shorter and shorter while. Trolling will as usual be a key way to fish for the larger BFT. HINT...HINT...HINT... Use the 14-16 inch plastic squids in daisy chains.  I like to have 5 in a row on their own short leader to the main daisy chain line.  I like to have each squid's individual leader line attached to the main line using shorter and shorter individual leaders.  That way as you troll these daisy chains the individual squids have more movement . This make each chain appear realistically as a small pod of baitfish running away from the chasing BFT.

UK:

Now is the time that the surf fishing and pier fishing takes off.   Almost any combination of bait for the Bass and Cod will work. T  he larger fish will be eating anything that they can see or smell for the long trek offshore to their winter grounds.

Offshore, the days are getting shorter and the fishing windows are fewer and fewer.  Up tiding and Jig fishing now comes into play for the sharp fishermen.  When the bad weather finally closes in, you can always retreat to the surf fishing marks that you know so well. WARNING...WARNING...WARNING...  Be extra careful when you climb out of those rocks.  Stay clear of the black rocks.  If you must go out on the rocks, then wear corkers over your wader bottoms.

Now go out there and

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July 2007 Tips and Hints

Hi All:

Just got back from CODZILLA fishing in the fjord area of NORWAY.  SUPERB was the trip.    Lots 'n lots of Cod, Halibut, Coal fish, Pollack and Flounder on the trip.  I stayed with jigs and very little bait.   The hot , hot , hot color was PINK.  I used my OWN built Pink/Red/Glow/Silver T'ZER fly about 12 inches above the jig.   I attached that T'ZER fly via a dropper loop.   Next best color was dark Blue or Green.  Both of these colors were ok, BUT, the PINK T'ZER was better.  HINT...HINT...HINT... Even better on some days was a 6-8 inch PLASTIC worm in HOT PINK with Medium BLUE Sparkles imbedded in the worm.  On the deeper drops, this worked really well.  I have them in stock if anyone is interested along with the T'ZER FLY.   E-mail me on these.  They are DEFINATELY INEXPENSIVE.  The jigs used were my UGLY jigs and the standard NORWEGIAN jigs in RED/WHITE or Glow.  Japanese jigs are the wave of the future, BUT, I'll repeat that, BUT, use them slowly on the jigging technique!   You were warned.

The HUMMERIN HOTEL, run by ROAR SANDVAL (SORRY ROAR, if I misspelled your name) is the "THE PREMIER" place to go.   It has everything: rooms, food, BOATS, GUIDES and everything else.   YOUR whole family will love it.  (www.hummeren.no)

Off the UK coast, the wreck fishing has heated up.  Just about anywhere you go will produce on the wrecks out side of 20 miles.  The wrecks inside that are ok, but not as productive as outside the 20 mile range.  I think its cooler water temps out there.  Again the color of the days fishing was HOT PINK and PINK/RED T'ZER fly over a Glow jig.  The new Japanese JIGS and the special way to use them FAR OUTSHINES the old jig fishing.   YYOOWWZZAA !!. Again, read the above paragraph on the jigs usage.  If you want the latest info on sea fishing call or drop by "SOUTHEN ON SEA" the SOUTHEND ANGLING CENTER ask for Roddy .  They will hook you up with the latest info and any GEAR YOU MAY NEED.   01702-603303.  Please tell them Joe the Ancient Mariner sent you.  I get nothing from them BUT good timely fishing info.

CANADA:

East Coast:

Cod, Haddock, Pollack and big SNOWSHOES are the order of the day now.  Get them while the weather stays calm.  Jigs ...Jigs ...Jigs on all species, Except the SNOWSHOE Flounder.  For the SNOWSHOES, I'll use Clam lips and Sand worms in combination or by themselves.  Don't Laugh.  The inside rim of the clams (CLAM LIPS) is one of the greatest baits you can use.  I ALWAYS lay a strip of it on AFTER I cut a narrow 1/8 inch thick strip of clam belly.  That Clam lip keeps the bait on and stops the SNOWSHOE from slurping the clam belly off the hook.  Use a two hook rig, LONG SHANKED hooks, tied 3-4 inches ABOVE the sinker for more catches.  I make an absolute killer two hook rig if interested.  E-mail me, I make them up on an INDIVIDUAL e-mail basis.  They are NOT expensive.  HEY UK ANGLERS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Use this technique too.  Cockle work well too.  HINT...HINT...HINT... If you use mussels, then par boil them for a minute to harden them up, or use a bag made out of pantyhose the keep them on the hook.  Bet you never thought of that one, did you?

Back to the Cod and such.  Glow Jigs, Dark Blue paint schemes, and the old standard PINK/RED colors will catch anything you're after.  For more info on the jigs and T'ZER flies, e-mail me.  I make a mean killer JIG on most species.

BFT , if you have a permit, are now on the feeding rounds INSHORE.  Yes, they were spotted in and around Prospect Bay, and off HALIFAX Nova SCOTIA this year on their migration up to NEWFOUNDLAND.  They're feeding on Mackerel. MMMMMM. getting ideas, are you?  I hope so. 

USA:

East Coast:

Up in Maine and Mass. It's the ALMIGHTY COD and others that are there for the taking.  Jig and T'ZERS would be my starting fishing plan, then switching over the SKIMMERS on my bait rigs if the Jigs aren't working too well.  Where would I go, you ask?

Why I'd hi off to the local Edges 'N Ledges in water 100+ deep.  Be there when the suns starts to come up.  That’s the best time for BIG Cod and POLLACK.  As for East Coast Halibut, It's a hard , hard days work (if you're lucky) for them.  I would stick to bait and work the sand/gravel edges where the banks drop off to very deep water.  Soak a good sized fillet of Mack (122 inches) or a Ling or Wolf fillet on a dead line either drifting or anchors. HINT...HINT...HINT... Anchoring is far better.  It's a waiting game guys 'n gals.

Read your NOAA chart and BATHY chart and see where you want to fish.  Remember, these Halibut are scarce and want MEAT...MEAT...MEAT. 'Nuff said.  AAWWHH, what the heck: HINT...HINT...HINT...  Use my 16 ounce or better CHROME BALL SINKER .  Tie off your DOUBLE HOOK rig on 100+ mono leader and keep that leader 12-14 inches long from the my CHROME BALL TO THE 1ST HOOK.  The 2nd hook should be measured to the bait your using. Now it's 'NUFF SAID , just send pictures.

SNOWSHOES, YELLOWTAIL and BLACKBACK FLOUNDER will ALL fall for the tricks mentioned in the CANADA section.  The only difference "IS" that down here it's much shallower water. Indeed, you can get them off jetties, back bays, mudflats, piers .  Even in the big cities, the Flounder congregate around pier pilings where the commercial boats tie up.  Gee, that’s another tip for the city bound fisherman.  It's a great safe way to start your children fishing.

BASS and Blues are now just about everywhere in Massachusetts.  Trolling plugs is a great standard way of getting them.  Bait fishing in the surf is another tried and true way of doing that.  Plugs in the surf?  Sure thing too.

REEL EEL---HOW about this.  I've been showing this new lure around the world AND IT'S catching on.  I call it my "REEL EEL".  It's 8 inches of GREEN or BLUE fish catching colors.  They have caught fish from the UK/NORWAY areas to Africa to USA and now it's going to OCEANA.  Cast it, troll it, slash and jerk it and it catches and catches and catches whatever is around it.  I hope to have a photo up on this sight soonest.

*** INTRODUCTORY PRICE*** of 3 for $10.00 or $4.00 each. e-mail me and PURCHASE now and I'll add some extra goodies in for FREE!!  This offer will NOT last long.

MID ATLANTIC to the Keys:

OFFSHORE:

If you’re not sure of what to use and where to put it, E-MAIL me.  I’ll help where I can.  Look at my site for TUNA BIRDS and the lures that FOLLOW them.

Yellow fin Tuna, Wahoo, Big Eye, Mahi Mahi, Skipjack, Marlin, Longfin and Blackfin Tuna are all now crashing and slashing lures.

Do you know where to put your lures in your spread for OPTIMUM HOOKUPS?  I sure hope so. Too many times, I've been WACK'N 'N STACK'N the Tunas and guys around me have not been doing well at all.   My 40+ years of experience has taught me where to put the lures FOR BEST HOOKUP SUCCESS. M  ost guys know this as "THE SWEET SPOTS" in your spread. REEREAD that sentence... the optimum word is SPOTS!  All boats have certain areas that will PRODUCE, best results, time after time.  As much as 12 inches off will narrow your success ratio.  I LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY.  I can and will teach you WHERE to put your lures in YOUR BOAT to up that catch ratio.  Look at my offshore pages.  If you place an order for $150.00 or more, I will INCLUDE FREE of charge (after you e-mail me certain info I need from you) a SPECIFIC set of places and what to put there to increase your catch of all pelagics that swim where you fish.  If you just want that info, then for a small fee, I will diagnose and build a plan using the specific sweet spots FOR YOUR BOAT and your boat only.  This charge is $30.00. Your call. 

AN ASIDE on OFFSHORE SPECIES:

The boat "JILL CARRIE" is running offshore deep dropping trips (I get nothing from this) out of Lynnhave, VA.  His Tile and slob BLACK SEA BASS TRIPS has been nothing short of phenomenal.  I know guys from the NOREAST who are planing more drips down there to go on his boat.  His SPADEFISH trips are selling out quickly.  This is a reservation boat with a few walk on trips when he can schedule them. GIVE HIM A CALL NOW before he is filled up for the whole summer season.

For the WAHOO fishing, I strongly suggest running your hard lures down deep.  I mean at least 12 inches below the surface.  Yes, yes, you can catch them on top, BUT, you're missing a whole lot more that will not come up for a bait.  Down riggers or the NEW deep running lipped lures. T he colors are the old standbys: PURPLE, PURPLE/BLACK, BLACK/RED, BLACK/ORANGE, MULTI HUED GREEN.

That's what I would start with.  As for speed, the minimum speed will be 9-10 knots.  If you're targeting just WAHOO, I woulf go with 12-15 knots or better and leave all the other lures (for Tuna etc) home.  I would run 3-4 lures way back behind the transom.  I would run wire( MONEL ONLY) on the close lures (30-70 feet) and a top shot of MONEL on the way, way, way back lures.  I would also use at least a 50-80 wide and keep the drag as possible on all my reels.  These fish are tough, tough, tough and you need as tough a rod/reel combo as you can afford.  Me?  I like an 80 wide.  75+ pound WAHOO are big bad and tough fish to subdue.

OK , OK, OK, HINT...HINT...HINT... Use a #64 rubber band on all your double hooks on your hard plastic plug lures.  Keep those hooks tight to the plugs body and you'll increase your hookups.

Bait for Sails is the easy way to go for these fish.  A BALLY snuggled up tight to a concave plug trolled at 5-6 knots will bring these fish right into your spread.  BLUE/WHITE...AKA BALLYHOO, GREEN/YELLOW...AKA...LEMON/LIME , RED/WHATEVER...AKA MAHI are the colors of choice.  A long shanked hook is a great way to start.  For those with lots of experience, the circle hooks will please you.

MAHI MAHI are all over the place. T hey will take a LEMON/LIME feather, or JET, or Plug almost anytime.  ORANGE/YELLOW...AKA...excited baby MAHI is another color you should have out there.  PURPLE is the last choice color.

GULF COAST:

Bottom AKA wade fishing is prime now.  A small 1/2 ounce jig with a plastic tail or mud minnow is the only way to go.  REDS, SEA TROUT, FLOUNDER (Summer) will eagerly suck these offerings down.

OFFSHORE:

YELLOWFIN, WAHOO, ETC are out around the gas and oil rigs.  Fish these the same way as always.   Try a jig/bait or bait around the platform legs for spectacular fishing.  Just about everything that swims will around the legs.

WEST COAST:

ALASKA:

Alaska will always be Alaska.  Huge HALIBUT, SALMON in their many subspecies will be around to please too.

HINT...HINT...HINT... Try for LINGCOD and CODFISH.  These are a underutilized species that is always around.  Jigs, bait, lures of any kind will work.  These fish aim to please. HINT...HINT...HINT...  Try POLLACK fishing from jetty tips and along commercial pier pilings. You'll get sick of fighting these tasty eating fish when the other types are not biting well. O H, For HALIBUT use a 12-16 ounce jig tipped with a 10 inch tasty tail in GLOW or ROOTBEER. When they chew those off, slap on a slab of COD fillet or POLLACK.

SALMON are a huge fishery. Each place demands subtle changes in presentation and lures. Flies, Plugs, Streamers all work. I t all depends on the "where" you're fishing.  My biggest Chinook only went 40.  What was yours?  50?60?70?  Share that with us.

CA-WA:

If it swims, it's out there.  From MAKO/TUNA fishing to YELLOWTAIL fishing, call TAILCHASERS in California.  He runs a great boat, has great lures for sale and will tell you THE TRUTH, not "you should have been here yesterday"!

OCEANA

BLUEWATERS will give you all the inside story on all the fishing down there.  They publish a newsletter on what’s going on where and what to use on them.  Give them an e-mail, call. Again guys, I tell you these people to call, because they are telling the true story.  I get nothing from them except satisfaction when some of my guys e-mail me ANOTHER great story how they were taken care of by the people mentioned in these tips an tricks.

07/12/2007:

I'm getting my boat (EDGES 'N LEDGES" ready for some serious fishing from PONCE INLET in Florida.  Then I'm off to HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA for some HALIBUT/COD/WOLFISHING.  Maybe even get in some GIANT BLUEFIN fishing.

WACKM 'N STACKM

JOSEPH B. …AKA…ANCIENT MARINER

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