*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: If I wanted your opinion I would have given it to you
How's the charter fishing/ commercial fishing for cod/ haddies/ pollock going this season? I have heard lots of mixed stories on the piers- Charter boats maxing out/ doing terrible some days, commercial boats catching a handful but not enough to make the trip... and i have also heard the exact opposite. Just looking for some more info on the cod scene: I understand that letting the draggers fish all winter cleaned out the area pretty good. Anyone?
I watch the reports from Maine to MA and the common word is small fish and no herring (thankyou NMFS for refusing to restrict midwater trawling). If this lack of bait continues its going to be a long summer not only for the groundfisherman but the tuna guys as well.
On a positive note one headboat out of Rye reported the first 50lb+ codfish of the year landed early this week along with some more in the 30's and 40's. The water here is much colder than last year at this time so hopefully it has delayed the spawning cycle and the big fish will arrive a little later than normal. I just hope they have some bait to hold them on the ledge when they get here.
Glad to hear you found some on the southern. The nothern is pretty bare except for occaisional schools..unlike last year in May. At least the trawlers wont have a reason to fish here if it stays this way.
I fished the east side of the bank last sunday and we got a few nice haddock but all small cod.Tons in that 19-22 inch slot that would have been keepers a few years ago.We were jigging in about 150-200 feet. We didnt have any bait but the charters around us that had bait were outfishing us 10 to 1. When I talked with the guys back on the docks at grenn harbor they said they had been using sqiud for bait. They said the fish they got were all under 20 pounds.
This is the first season in the past 9 years that I haven't been in the water before April 20th. It sounds like I really shouldn't be so pissed that my new boat isn't ready yet.
Jeffries has always been my guaranteed have a great fishing day no matter what the weather or time of year. I hope this won't change.
Keep the faith guys ! The bait will come in and things will change.
As long as the &*%#@! Dogs stay away and I don't have to work, I'll be happy.
I took the new boat out for its maiden voyage today. we ran 30 miles out to the northern end of jefferies. the run out was great just good 3 and 4 foot rollers but we did freeze our a$$es off. our first couple of drifts was a bit slow with only a couple of short cod and haddock. around 7am we reset to the southern drop and started bailing them in. we filled one 100quart cooler with cod, cusk, and three haddock. we threw back three times as many as we keep. the biggest cod was 18 pounds , the biggest haddock was 28 inches. it was just one of those perfect days on the water.
good weather
good seas
good fish
good friends
and a great boat
what could be better?
capt. jim
rippin lips charters
The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese
What did the bait situation look like on the ledge..herring? Anything in the fish stomachs?
Last year after those trawlers went through the only thing in the cod were crabs and stones.
Last week I fished 3 days and did 827 pounds of cod. No haddock. All on jigs, off the back side in Truro. 120 to 200 feet. Price was up last week, 1.50, 1.70, 2.00. some big some small, 5 over 25 pounds. Want pix? Here- The ones on the floor wouldn't fit in the three full fishboxes.
codfisher----we marked a few schools of herring,but not many. i didnt check the stomaches for content this time. my buddies wanted to take them back whole.
harpoon-------one guy used a jig and the rest of us used frozen bluefish filets from last year.(the wife said i needed to get it out of the freezer) the jig keeped up with the bait except he didnt catch any haddock
most of our fish were caught between 270' to 220' very few fish were caught above the 220 mark.
good luck
capt. jim
rippin lips charters
The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese
Chances are they werent into the herring or you would have found them all over your deck. One time last year when we caught some cod that spit up some live herring...put them on a hook and sent them right back down...finest kind.
Months after beginning the process of "getting the boat ready" and repairing the si-tex loran it's finally close to ready: new rubrail needs to be installed, then we're off. Cod rods spooled up with 50, not 60 or 80lb spectra (Tackletogo CROOKS) so i'm hoping to get out this weekend. Thanks for all the replies, keep this thread going and i'll post my findings this weekend as well. TIGHT LINES.
the weather headhunter.. looks like a pretty good NE blow coming in fri night into sun am. They are predicting 5-9 ft seas. Of course they have been wrong before. Be careful and have fun if you can get out.
Cape Codfish update? 
