Way to go Coalman and Capt Danny....seems like the car salesman really put you guys on the fish....never hurts to have a contact..looks as if you will be eating Lobster and I have to settle for King Snow Crab legs..) good pics and nice fish.......

07-03-09
In order to catch lobsters you need a trap. But that trap wouldn't be any good without a bag full of bait. The freezer is bare so I took a trip down at daybreak to the bait shop.

In Deadliest Catch tradition I arrived at Dutch Harbor, NH. Here it is all about lobsters.


Up the ramp I went looking for the Bait Lady. There was a chill to the air.


These two fellows were sorting lobsters. The flashback is all the moisture in the air. Do you see Edgar?


There were some big bugs in that room.


For a recreational guy like me, I like my herring in five gallon buckets.


In comparison it takes this much bait................


To feed these traps.............


That fish from this vessel. I can smell it now.


The Great Bay lobster line started cold today. The first 8 traps.........no bugs. The first 18 traps and I had 7 keepa's aboard.

The seven traps I set on the Point last week produced seven keeper bugs today, I ended HOT!
14 keepa's today and some very happy faces who will be dining on Great Bay bugs this weekend.

P.S. The birds were active. Schoolie stripers were at the Ledge at the top of the tide. One fisherman had caught six, one was a keeper he released.

07-11-09
Captain Danny said it best.

"When the moon and the stars align with the wind and the tides it is time to , Fish On".

Those four ingredients were all we needed.

I was privileged to share Captain Roccus's boat last night. Knowing we had the right blend we departed at sunset.

We never saw another fisherman. Many times during the evening I would pause to reflect how beautiful it was to be on the water. The sights, the lack of sounds. The stars were brilliant.

I was the greenhorn on this trip. Navigating through the bays, the coves and the rivers could only be left to a seasoned captain. Fishing was no gimme. We worked the rail all night long. I'm going to invent a new gimmick called "Casting Counter".

But we hung in there. Memories of past drifts kept the spirit up as we repeated each as the tide rose to its peak.

After some minor irritation with the yellow eyed choppers, Joe boated the first fish.


The action didn't really pick up until dawn on a falling tide. It wasn't till then that I boated my first fish.


Never look a gift drift in the eye. Just start the engine and do it again.


And then.....just like that............it was over. All the fish were released to fight another day.
Thanks Joe

I ran the Great Bay lobster traps after a few hours sleep. Should have stayed home. 25 MPH winds coming from the south on an incoming tide. Shake, rattle and roll. 25 traps, six keepah bugs. I need a day to adjust the line. Time to find those small honey holes of the past to sink my traps.

I have had a fish holding pen in my yard for many years. Weather had taken its toll. Armand took it home and refurbished it. Thanks Armand!

Come on Pogies.

The weather man said Wednesday was the "Pick of the Week". Had to make a hard decision.

Mow the lawn............or............go fishing. Not a hard choice.

Went to Adam's Point. Boated my first Great Striper of the year on a worm of an eel.

The fight,


The net,


The prize.


Thanks Nick for the photo's.

live everyday like it was the last one...somebody besides me seems to have the same approach to the outdoors...great photo essay...

Every day GN....every day.

07-18-09
It was a GPS morning from the slip on the Squamscott River to Adam's Point. The fog was thick. Thank you Magellan for the yellow brick road.

Roccus the "king of eels" was my mate today. It was my turn to captain for him. We checked 25 traps and ended with 7 nice bugs.

We then spent the next 3 hours throwing bucktails from GS bridge to Fox Point. The sun was bright and the humidity high. Sadly only a few strikes were recorded. The only action we saw were from boats who had live bait.

I know dawn and daybreak are a working man's best chances at bigger bass in GB. I came home, took a power nap then went to Suds and Soda for a dozen eels. The USS Coalman was back at the Point at 1830.

After a trial drift to get wind and tide correct I was ready. The electric motor did nicely holding my angle of attack. This rip has been very, very, good to me be it bugs or bass.

07-18-09 First GB Keepah. 34" Live eel, released.


There were words of encouragement spoken from a home on the shore as I fought the fish. And a round of applause when the fish was in the net. I considered keeping the fish. But I get as much thrill releasing them as catching them.

We saw the red Norton out there today. I introduced Joe to John McCooey. John is 88 years old and still lobstering. We could have stayed moored up for an hour. When John and Joe got talking about stripers and the "old" days I knew my job was to listen. You should have see both their faces light up when they each discovered they both had pictures of 50's at Surfland. John has been a big influence in my Great Bay adventures.

Thanks for the help Joe.

See you on the water.

Enjoyment precedes expectations.

I read those words this morning. They reminded me of the all nighter I recently spent with Captain Danny.

Over the years I have looked forward to hunting or fishing with Danny. During our short friendship we have made more memories hunting and fishing together than most people do in a lifetime. I am talking bucks, hares and bass. He is a lucky charm.

So the enjoyment of spending time on the water chasing monster stripers with Captain Danny far outweighs my expectations.

And in the tradition of the "Adventures of Captain Danny and Coalman".....................

Captain Danny's first fish 16 pounds.


And a little competition never hurts. Coalman's 24 pounder.


Thank you Captain Dan. Till we sail again.

Coalman..ya sure know how to hurt a fishing bud....lol..way to go guys...both are good fish....

As I was loading the boat at the dock Saturday, Andy from Marsh Marauders goes by. I ask him if he got any fish. Shows me two feet and yells over bluefish. Got them at Hilton Park. Stow my pole in the cuddy, I forgot my net at home.

I pulled a trap in the Bay and it had a 10" tom cod and a 15" cusk. Put them in a bucket. Lobster traps checked I went to the honey hole drift. Incoming tide, not my favorite for that rip, tom cod on, no bites.

I have caught three cusk in 12 + years of lobster trapping. It really is a good looking fish. It was looking weak in the pail. I had a soft moment and let it go.

Then I remember the "Dick Spot" and him telling us on the charter that day about the flood tides. Go over there get the boat just right, tom cod out sideways with the drift (my favorite method).

I left my tackle box in the truck after fishing with Danny Saturday. That is where it was when I needed a big hook. All I could come up with was a #4 eel hook. It only went through one nostril the tom cod was that big.

Half way through the rip.......I'm on, set the hook, pulls out. Grabs it again, set the hook, pulls out. Grabs it again, I open the bail, let it run, set the hook........I"M ON. Big fish. Stays on bottom. Not even a head shake. I don't think it knows it's hooked yet. And no net.

And then just like that the line breaks. I'm thinking poor knot? I get it to the boat. Cut like scissors. The only thing I can think of is the tom cod slid up the line and a blue fish cut me off.

Those big bass live in the Bay. I know where they live. But I need live bait. I spent the next three hours chugging around looking for pogies. I think I saw some at Adam's Point on the way out. But the wind made the water choppy so I threw bucktails till my back hurt and told me to go home.

I sure would have liked to see that fish. AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG Only me.

blah blah blah . . . he got away . . . blah blah whine

Just messin with ya! Fishermen love to tell about the one that got away just like turkey hunters love to tell tales of how Old Tom whooped them . . . again. I know how you feel! Sorry he got the slip on you and I wish you luck next time out!! Keep the stories coming!

PM, I felt like quitting fishing right then and there. But like turkey hunters we are optomists.

She ain't seen the last of me.

08/01/09
I saw 4 wild turkey hens with 8 rooster size poults on the way to the boat this morning. That is not a good average.

Took a co-worker on the lobster line today. 25 traps, only 4 keepa lobster. The good thing is they are hard shell. Lots of shorts. They are coming to molt.

Next shed............your dead.

We caught a tommy cod in one trap and saved it till the line was checked. The second rip we tried and Brian was on. The tommy slipped up the line. At least five other bass escorted our catch to the boat. Tommy cod are a secret striper bait. You heard it hear first.

26" Fox Point Striper.


Next we tried a rock weed point with live eels. Brian was on in the first drift. It was kind of a wimpy hook set and the fish broke free. He will have dreams about that fish. It was a nice fish. Next drift we got another 26". The tide topped out and so did the bite.

I heard a couple pogie reports. That got my blood flowing. After a pit stop at home I spent the rest of the day on the Pogie Patrol. They are there. And when I find them, watch out Mr. Bass.

I was at Fox Point near the bottom of the tide. I saw a boat coming from the Bay and he is going over Sunk Ledge. Big hidden rock ledge. I'm saying no, no to myself. He hugs Bickford Island and makes it through.

Not three minutes later here come a 25' with a cuddy. He rounds the green can at the Point and heads straight for Sunk Ledge. Again but much louder my mind is saying NO! NO! and bang he hits the rock.

The engine hits the ledge and comes flying up and stays up. They are dead on the water. Second time in my life I have seen that. I headed off to Oyster River. No way my boat was towing that monster. Plenty of boat traffic out there. He was gone when I got back.
That was a multi thousand dollar mistake.

Red, Right Return. Live by it.

I caught two horseshoe crabs in my lobster trap. Took an eel trap out of dry dock, baited it with the crabs and set it 15 yards off the dock. Checked it today 08/02 and had 12 eels. Three you could have eaten. I let the breeders go. I reset the trap. Ended up with 9 fishable eels in 24 hours. I have two dozen in the car.

And the bass bite is picking up. See you on the water.

Coalman,

Thanks for keeping us apprised. I am hoping to get on the water this weekend. I think the spot are up the bay and they are candy to Rockfish (Stripers). I am hoping to get a couple smaller Rockfish and wouldn't mind getting into some croakers either. Will let you know how it turns out. It is nice to read your stuff while at work, makes the day go by.

Vic

Newburyport, MA has been giving up steady striped bass . But only up to 30-35 pound range. We are looking for bigger fish so last night we went striper hunting.

I was the mate. We motored out the mouth of the Merrimack River . Captain Joe showed me spots along the beach he has taken bass in his life. We had to motor down and pay respect to a special spot of his. He caught a 61 pound striper there. Along with numerous 50 pounders.

We tossed live eels into the surf till midnight. A few swirls early, followed by some breaking bait, followed by the yellow eyed choppers (bluefish) . We stayed out front till the top of the tide.

Our return brought us through Ipswich Bay and the Plum Island River. When we got back to the Newburyport flats we spooked fish driving by in the boat and stopped to fish. A couple casts and a couple teenagers (mid teens in pounds) were on board and released .

I hooked a good fish and played it to the boat. Low and behold a tagged striper. 40".


I can read DERSIZE CUT OFF TAG-RELEASE FISH. (I followed the instructions. )

A co-worker could see the numbers. I called it in to US Fish and Wildlife. They are going to send a certificate and a hat. I am going to have them framed with the tag.

You would wonder why we drove by spots that have been so good to Joe in his life. He has a honey hole. If they are there it is a night of landing 40 pound class fish or better , one after another. The solitude can be deafening. But the crashing waves always reminds you of your position.

From your friend on a full moon tide.
Coalman

Joe went back and fished out front last night the same place he took me. After dealing with the yellow eyes who make choice eels stumps the trolling rod got a hit.

Joe's email subject line to me this morning was "It only takes one". As we were drifting and casting into the surf Monday night Joe told me he wanted to see me catch a 50 pounder. I guess if there ever going to be a place this would be it.

Tuesday 08/04 48.75", 29" girth, and 48.35 pounds. Released to grow a couple pounds for Coalman,

Wow, that is a wopper. We only get them that big in late spring as the breeders head back down the bay to the ocean. 38" is the best I have done, but time holds many treasures.

Wish you luck on your next adventure.

Vic