Local Cod Slam...PIX....

ARCTEKJim · 03-12-2008, 07:34 AM

GREAT TO SEE THE COD OF CT/RI/NY ....VIKING TRIP FR

Friday's Local Trip was a bail job!!!!
"Best Day of Local Fishing in 24 years" that is what Captain Steven Sr. had to say about the Local Cod trip today, his son Captain Steven Jr. was the Captain and he made his Dad VERY proud. Captain Steven Sr. has not seen local fishing like this since before he got his Captains license in 1984. The day started out as a lock and load bail job and continued until 10am with double headers all around the boat. There was non stop gaffs going and fish flying over the rails. The 4 guys on the deck of the Starship couldn't keep up with the gaffs for most of the morning. the average catch per angler was 15 Cod. In total we pulled back into the dock with definitely over 800 keeper Cod. Low hook on the boat was Steve Carmen of Montauk with 9 Cod up to 25lbs. All in all an unbelievable day. The boat was full of great guys and the crew would like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and cooperation and a busy but enjoyable day. The pool winner was Wes Pruitt of the fishing vessel The James Joseph from Huntington NY with a 32 lb Cod. Wes , Capt. Jim, Big Joe and Tommy Cod had a total of 85 Cod and they threw back about 20 fish between 22 and 25 inches. Steven Delara of the Bronx was second place with a 31 pound Cod. Steve and his buddy had over 40 Cod and then stopped counting. The crew from the Captain Al had about 70 Cod between them. Eddie Eurell and John Manyaldi of Montauk had close to 40 fish with a buch in the high teens and a couple in the 20's. What an awesome maybe once in a lifetime day of Local Codfishing!!!! CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS
Captain Dave reports phenomenal fishing on todays Local Cod Trip on the Viking Star. By days end we had about 350 keeper Cod for the 30 anglers onboard. High hook on todys trip was Freddie Shay of Montauk with 18 Cod up to 18lbs. Mark Rafferty had 16 Cod, Steve Schatzberg had 12 Cod. The pool was won by Joe"Little Bear" Mazza for WAntagh with a 27 pounder and one of his 12 keepers. Second place went to Chris Strain from West Hampton Beach with a 25 pounder. Between Chris and his friend they went home with 22 Cod. Captain Steven Jr. just called in from the Viking Starship with terrific news. They are BAILING THE COD FISH!!!! The boat is heading home now with about 800 keeper Cod a lot of which are weighing in around the high teens. Captain Steven Sr. who worked on deck today commented that he has not seen Local Spring Cod fishing like this since he started running the boat in 1984. As I spoke to the Captain Steven Jr. at 3.15pm he told me his mates had been cutting fish for over 6 hours. Captain Dave over on the Viking Star which was our second boat today also had a fantastic day. A full report will be posted after the boats hit the dock around 5pm. Make sure and check back for a complete Captains report as well as exciting photos from todays trips. Due to phenomenal fishing on the Local grounds the Viking will now be sailing on our Local Cod Trip on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week. Also on Wednesdays we have a Special Cod Trip strictly limited to 40 passengers that also depaarts at 3am.

OM FRIDAY.

Possum · 03-12-2008, 07:40 AM

That's insane. Must have been a huge pile out there, that they are obviously still on. Good to know they are around !!

FlukeFox · 03-12-2008, 08:30 AM

THATS AWESOME, I HOPE TO BE OUT THERE SOON. I HOPE THE WALSHS TRIP IS JUST AS PRODUCTIVE.

gman · 03-12-2008, 08:50 AM

Seemed like an amazing trip but are the fish stocks just that good that a single boat can take 800 fish, just seems excessive to me but I don't know anything about Cod and there longevity. Thats alot of fish.

Possum · 03-12-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gman

...but are the fish stocks just that good that a single boat can take 800 fish...

Glenn,

I highly doubt they are "that good", however, it is a good sign. With the massive closures on large breeding grounds and wintering spots northwards (Stellwagen), the fish are finally getting a little chance to recover. I am far from getting my hopes up at all on this fishery, as I know better (and I remember the late 70's, early 80's Cod fishery, where we would literally bail 30-40-50# fish right off block, and we caught boat loads of market fish on the outside of Fisher's Island). Heck, I even remember catching Cod from shore in Rhode Island waters back then.

Continued management and a hopeful focus on the draggers/seiners will only help the fishery over time, but that is a long time.

CaptDom · 03-12-2008, 09:34 AM

Those fish are not being protected by this so called closure to the north. The comercial fleet(draggera AND gill netters) have been pounding the bank all winter, while the closure shut out the recreational fleet. Some protection.

There is no closed season, and no bag limit, south of the 42 line(for the most part). Go check the Helen H reports out from December through mid January.

These fish are also not of the same basic stock. The George's bank 2003 class was the best recruitment in man, many years. These fish tend to traditonally move off the bank and to the west and south in late January. This is the reason why the last couple of years has shown a sign of local fish being around. The herring and sand eels have been abundant, and the fish have been caught chasing these bait during the early spring... While there is mixing, the fish up north tend to be of different stock and migration patterns. Stellwagen has a huge winter over population, these are the GOM stock.

I am torn; I understand a local charter outfit needing the much deserved boost to their income by posting these reports. However, when references to the early years are made, I always cringe, because this is why the stocks got to the point they are in. There is no foressight in putting a boat over these fish which could spawn locally, and create a resident popultaion of returning, healthy, spawning cod while taking unlimited bags for weeks on end. It is very hard to impose self limits in the fishing world, especially when it comes to groundfish. It has traditionally been the MEAT fishery, and most anglers want to fill their coolers.

The Viking also did a crew trip to retrieve their anchor, and posted a report of 77 fish caught by 3 crew members fishing till after dark.....I understand the need to post these reports for business, but at what cost for the future?

The numbers posted may be good for immediate business, but no out there could ever convince me that leaving them alone(or at least limiting the pressur) could not be good for codfish in southern new england in the years to come. leave them alone for just 1 or 2 seasons, and we could have some reason to be guardedly hopeful. I fear they will never rebound to the numbers of old, due to the constant bail jobs by the fleet back then, and seemingly again now. Leaveem alone for a few years... Look at what happened with the striper, and the cod is much more prolific and fast growing....

The fisheries people are to blame in my mind most, as they could very easily just impose the same 24" and 10 bag limit. This would definitely give these fish much better chance of rebuilding, and being stable for many years to come. Mother nature is pretty prolific, and takes care of things herself. BUt the greatest parasite ever to walk the earth throws massive, aluminum and steel hulled monkey wrenches at her constantly.....

May not be a popular view amongst those getting paid for this small resurgence, or those filling their coolers aboard their boats.

THese local fish would spawn out on the inshore rocks and hard bottom, Coxes, the NY Bight, and then with proper management, one could still go bail fish off Block Island in the winters, along with their grandkids and

so on.

Possum · 03-12-2008, 09:40 AM

Dom,

I guess this has always been a confusion point to me (granted, I read it all, but apparently don't grasp everything in the regulations).

So, you are saying that while the recreational fishermen are prevented from possessing Cod during the "closure" period (11/01-3/31), the commercial operations are operating as they have in the past? Very disturbing, and an absolute travesty for what was traditionally a staple New England fishery.

CaptDom · 03-12-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Possum

Dom,

I guess this has always been a confusion point to me (granted, I read it all, but apparently don't grasp everything in the regulations).

So, you are saying that while the recreational fishermen are prevented from possessing Cod during the "closure" period (11/01-3/31), the commercial operations are operating as they have in the past? Very disturbing, and an absolute travesty for what was traditionally a staple New England fishery.

The recreational fleet cannot fish for cod inside this closure, yet the commercial fleet has been out in force all winter long. We pass them up on the bank on the way in and the way out.

This is why I get so dumbfounded at who comes up with these retarded measures. The codfish don't know who catches them, but the result is the same....THeir numbers dwindle.

The commercail fleet is much better at efficiently killing them, and yet they sghut out the few operations that would come with rod and reel and be limited to 10 fish per man....

THis fish is the single most pursued species in the history of fishing. That fish made it possible for New England to be the spring board for the founding of this country....

sportandcommercial08 · 03-12-2008, 09:44 AM

Capt Dom,

VERY WELL PUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1

fishcounterbob · 03-12-2008, 09:55 AM

Great post Dom. I actively fished cod every year from various ports since '81. Most of it was actually dogfishing on point judith boats but they never called it that.

For those who want to fill your cooler- bring ice. Ihad over 15 good keepers with at least that many throwbacks. Prepare for doubles!

03-12-2008, 07:34 AM	#1
ARCTEKJim User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: VOODOO GRILLE MYSTIC Posts: 2,805	Local Cod Slam...PIX.... GREAT TO SEE THE COD OF CT/RI/NY ....VIKING TRIP FR Friday's Local Trip was a bail job!!!! "Best Day of Local Fishing in 24 years" that is what Captain Steven Sr. had to say about the Local Cod trip today, his son Captain Steven Jr. was the Captain and he made his Dad VERY proud. Captain Steven Sr. has not seen local fishing like this since before he got his Captains license in 1984. The day started out as a lock and load bail job and continued until 10am with double headers all around the boat. There was non stop gaffs going and fish flying over the rails. The 4 guys on the deck of the Starship couldn't keep up with the gaffs for most of the morning. the average catch per angler was 15 Cod. In total we pulled back into the dock with definitely over 800 keeper Cod. Low hook on the boat was Steve Carmen of Montauk with 9 Cod up to 25lbs. All in all an unbelievable day. The boat was full of great guys and the crew would like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and cooperation and a busy but enjoyable day. The pool winner was Wes Pruitt of the fishing vessel The James Joseph from Huntington NY with a 32 lb Cod. Wes , Capt. Jim, Big Joe and Tommy Cod had a total of 85 Cod and they threw back about 20 fish between 22 and 25 inches. Steven Delara of the Bronx was second place with a 31 pound Cod. Steve and his buddy had over 40 Cod and then stopped counting. The crew from the Captain Al had about 70 Cod between them. Eddie Eurell and John Manyaldi of Montauk had close to 40 fish with a buch in the high teens and a couple in the 20's. What an awesome maybe once in a lifetime day of Local Codfishing!!!! CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS Captain Dave reports phenomenal fishing on todays Local Cod Trip on the Viking Star. By days end we had about 350 keeper Cod for the 30 anglers onboard. High hook on todys trip was Freddie Shay of Montauk with 18 Cod up to 18lbs. Mark Rafferty had 16 Cod, Steve Schatzberg had 12 Cod. The pool was won by Joe"Little Bear" Mazza for WAntagh with a 27 pounder and one of his 12 keepers. Second place went to Chris Strain from West Hampton Beach with a 25 pounder. Between Chris and his friend they went home with 22 Cod. Captain Steven Jr. just called in from the Viking Starship with terrific news. They are BAILING THE COD FISH!!!! The boat is heading home now with about 800 keeper Cod a lot of which are weighing in around the high teens. Captain Steven Sr. who worked on deck today commented that he has not seen Local Spring Cod fishing like this since he started running the boat in 1984. As I spoke to the Captain Steven Jr. at 3.15pm he told me his mates had been cutting fish for over 6 hours. Captain Dave over on the Viking Star which was our second boat today also had a fantastic day. A full report will be posted after the boats hit the dock around 5pm. Make sure and check back for a complete Captains report as well as exciting photos from todays trips. Due to phenomenal fishing on the Local grounds the Viking will now be sailing on our Local Cod Trip on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week. Also on Wednesdays we have a Special Cod Trip strictly limited to 40 passengers that also depaarts at 3am. OM FRIDAY. __________________ custom built t tops/towers/hardtops etc www.arctekmarine.com CLINTON, CT

03-12-2008, 07:40 AM	#2
Possum User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CT / Summer in RI Posts: 2,742	That's insane. Must have been a huge pile out there, that they are obviously still on. Good to know they are around !! __________________ ________________________ NBS Sportfishing Affiliates

03-12-2008, 08:30 AM	#3
FlukeFox User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: granby ct Posts: 43	Local Cod THATS AWESOME, I HOPE TO BE OUT THERE SOON. I HOPE THE WALSHS TRIP IS JUST AS PRODUCTIVE. __________________ FISH TANK 28FT PARKER SPORT CABIN BOATS INC,NIANTIC CT CAPT. ROGER FECTEAU Route 10 Tire - Granby, CT

03-12-2008, 08:50 AM	#4
gman NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,196	ok here comes the dumb question ... but I have to ask Seemed like an amazing trip but are the fish stocks just that good that a single boat can take 800 fish, just seems excessive to me but I don't know anything about Cod and there longevity. Thats alot of fish.

03-12-2008, 09:34 AM	#6
CaptDom User Gallery Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Blue Planet Posts: 963	Double edged sword Those fish are not being protected by this so called closure to the north. The comercial fleet(draggera AND gill netters) have been pounding the bank all winter, while the closure shut out the recreational fleet. Some protection. There is no closed season, and no bag limit, south of the 42 line(for the most part). Go check the Helen H reports out from December through mid January. These fish are also not of the same basic stock. The George's bank 2003 class was the best recruitment in man, many years. These fish tend to traditonally move off the bank and to the west and south in late January. This is the reason why the last couple of years has shown a sign of local fish being around. The herring and sand eels have been abundant, and the fish have been caught chasing these bait during the early spring... While there is mixing, the fish up north tend to be of different stock and migration patterns. Stellwagen has a huge winter over population, these are the GOM stock. I am torn; I understand a local charter outfit needing the much deserved boost to their income by posting these reports. However, when references to the early years are made, I always cringe, because this is why the stocks got to the point they are in. There is no foressight in putting a boat over these fish which could spawn locally, and create a resident popultaion of returning, healthy, spawning cod while taking unlimited bags for weeks on end. It is very hard to impose self limits in the fishing world, especially when it comes to groundfish. It has traditionally been the MEAT fishery, and most anglers want to fill their coolers. The Viking also did a crew trip to retrieve their anchor, and posted a report of 77 fish caught by 3 crew members fishing till after dark.....I understand the need to post these reports for business, but at what cost for the future? The numbers posted may be good for immediate business, but no out there could ever convince me that leaving them alone(or at least limiting the pressur) could not be good for codfish in southern new england in the years to come. leave them alone for just 1 or 2 seasons, and we could have some reason to be guardedly hopeful. I fear they will never rebound to the numbers of old, due to the constant bail jobs by the fleet back then, and seemingly again now. Leaveem alone for a few years... Look at what happened with the striper, and the cod is much more prolific and fast growing.... The fisheries people are to blame in my mind most, as they could very easily just impose the same 24" and 10 bag limit. This would definitely give these fish much better chance of rebuilding, and being stable for many years to come. Mother nature is pretty prolific, and takes care of things herself. BUt the greatest parasite ever to walk the earth throws massive, aluminum and steel hulled monkey wrenches at her constantly..... May not be a popular view amongst those getting paid for this small resurgence, or those filling their coolers aboard their boats. THese local fish would spawn out on the inshore rocks and hard bottom, Coxes, the NY Bight, and then with proper management, one could still go bail fish off Block Island in the winters, along with their grandkids and so on. __________________ CAPT. DOM PETRARCA COASTAL CHARTERS SPORTFISHING NEWPORT, RI (401)-862-0358 www.coastalcharterssportfishing.com

03-12-2008, 09:40 AM	#7
Possum User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: CT / Summer in RI Posts: 2,742	Dom, I guess this has always been a confusion point to me (granted, I read it all, but apparently don't grasp everything in the regulations). So, you are saying that while the recreational fishermen are prevented from possessing Cod during the "closure" period (11/01-3/31), the commercial operations are operating as they have in the past? Very disturbing, and an absolute travesty for what was traditionally a staple New England fishery. __________________ ________________________ NBS Sportfishing Affiliates

03-12-2008, 09:44 AM	#9
sportandcommercial08 NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: I'm not talking about pleasure boating or day sailing. I'm talking about sharking. Posts: 105	Capt Dom, VERY WELL PUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! +1

03-12-2008, 09:55 AM	#10
fishcounterbob NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: northford,ct Posts: 89	Great post Dom. I actively fished cod every year from various ports since '81. Most of it was actually dogfishing on point judith boats but they never called it that. For those who want to fill your cooler- bring ice. Ihad over 15 good keepers with at least that many throwbacks. Prepare for doubles!

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