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View Full Version : My first stripers last weekend


Triocd
07-06-2009, 10:16 AM
I'm fortunate that my new inlaws own a summer house on the water in Mattapoisett, MA (Buzzards Bay). We headed down there over the July 4th weekend and I got in 3 fishing sessions about 1-2 hours each.

The whole area is very shallow and appears to get very warm water. I think a lot of big fish have moved to cooler water, but I have a good feeling the area is a great early season/late season striper region because it will hold warm water for longer in the season. Within walking distance from the house is an undeveloped peninsula which is great, because if the wind is howling in one direction (15-25 mph winds from the south ALL weekend), I can walk to the sheltered side of the peninsula for better casting.

Friday, high tide at 6pm, I fished from 4:30-6:30 and I didn't realize how good I had it (my first saltwater flyfishing). Little minnows all along the shore, a few random birds picking them off 1-2ft off the shore. Every few minutes I would see a couple minnows jumping out of the water inches from the shore. I assume there were stripers chasing them right up to the shore. I tried casting into the area right after seeing the minnows but didn't get any hookups that way. However, I hooked 5 small stripers casting strait out from shore...my first ones on the fly which was extremely exciting. All were pretty small, a couple 20-22", the others 14-16", landed 4. What I loved was how hard they hit the fly...no doubt about it, they would slam my white clouser. Awesome.

Next day in the morning I hit an outgoing low tide at about 9am. 3rd cast hooked a 12" flounder, long line release. I noticed no minnows around, didn't seem like anything was going on and it was extremely windy. No other fish.

Sunday evening high tide at 7:30pm, I fished from 6-7:30 with hopes that things would be "on". Again, a ridiculous amount of wind but it was at my back so I could still get it out there. Sadly I stuck out and saw no baitfish whatsoever. Conditions were similar to Friday, but the baitfish were nowhere to be found.

Sorry no pics of the fish, I haven't mastered landing photo ops. You can see the bay side which is very shallow but was calm due to being sheltered from the wind. The rough side is more exposed but I couldn't cast out there due to a strong headwind.
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Jared
07-06-2009, 04:31 PM
congrats! still waiting for my first striper on a fly, although id probably be much more likely to catch one if i actually went out fishing :)

Steve H.
07-06-2009, 08:04 PM
Sound like a good time. I'd be thrilled with a 22" striper on the fly right now.

lowwall
07-07-2009, 06:16 AM
Great Report!

You are a lucky guy , in another Month or so you will have a shot at Bonita, Albies, Spanish Mac etc in that area. Also Have a chance at weakfish.

Triocd
07-07-2009, 08:09 AM
Those fish come right into the shallows? That would be fun to fish for all those...