Conference wahoo::fishing

    ALSO.....
    
    HOW FAR OUT SHOULD I BE TROLLING... I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN AS CLOSE
    TO SHORE AS POSSIBLE !

I will add my 2 cents for what it is worth...
    
    I assume you mean the area around the mouth of the merrimac or in
    side the mouth. I have surf fish this area but never fished it in
    my boat. My experience in this area has been the blues tend to be
    pushed into the mouth by a strong NE wind, when the wind blow SW
    there is no blues to be found. Also an out going tide during the
    late afternoon is better. Be aware that the mouth of the river is
    bad news in a small boat (if the seas are breaking in the mouth
    do not try to go through it!) and usually the worst when the wind
    is from the east. For my money I find this area to be hit or miss,
    you either get fish of nobody gets a thing.
    
    I would recommend trying around Boston Harbor in a small boat, there
    is a good ramp in winthrop and this time of year big blues are right
    there at shirly point. Also you can try dorchester, quicy or the
    reserve channel...day break is usaully best.
    
    Good luck.
    
    

    You should of been there tuesday 9/29 within two hours we caught
    over 40 blues ranging from 8-20 lbs. We went out at dead high tide
    right outside the mouth of the river and started trolling 2 deep
    diving Rapellas. Within 15 yards of trolling we had 2 on at the
    same time. Reset the rods and again 2 on. We decided to stop trolling
    and just drift with the outgoing current from the Plum Island side
    to about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile out. This continuous action resulted
    in the number of fish caught. The action was so intense herring
    were coming right out of the water. We also eliminated 1 treble
    hook from the front of the plug. After 2 hours of casting and 
    hooking on almost every cast we had enough fun for one day. I
    hadn't cuaght blues like that in 5 years or so. The plugs were
    colored like a mackeral G,B,Y,Blk and LB,W,R. Hope this helps
    and you have as much fun as I did. My arms were still sore the 
    next day.
    
                                                 Good Fishin,
    
                                                     Guy

    Guy,
    
    	Sounds like you had one of those "you should have been here
    yesterday" days. Thats great, from speaking to you I know you've
    paid your dues and certainly deserved it. Keep up the good work
    and keep us posted.
    
    
    					Jim

    I am planning to fish Plum Island/Merrimack mouth this weekend for
    blues but I have a few questions.  Are they there yet? How big?
    What is best to catch them on?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Tim
    

    Unless the blues have shown up in the last few days, I'd plan on
    fishing for bass. There are very few blues around.
    
    Steve

    Steve,
    
        Are you referring to the fresh water variety or stripers? I have
    never fished for nor caught a striped bass (fresh water, plenty).
    If you are referring to stripers, any tips/hints would be greatly
    appreciated, including the legal limits aspects.
    
    Thanks,
    Tim
    

    re: .7
    Legalities of Stripers:
    
    		All States (Atlantic Coast):  33 inches Minimum
    			exceptions to this exist in NY- Hudson River
    north of the Tappan Zee Bridge, 18". Also, Potomac R. in VA., Pamlico
    Sound (and others) in NC. These have smaller mins., not sure exactly
    what they are.
    		Possesion Limits: Generally 1 fish in possession
    			Except: Delaware = 0 (moratorium)
    				Maryland = 0	  "
    				Connecticut= ?? (had a moratorium, may
    						have changed recently)
    				New Jersey = 5  (we have some optimists
    						 in the State House)
    
    One point of interest: the 33" limit is a federal mandate, BUT,
    this size limit only pertains to state waters (beach --> 3miles
    out), and only to Atlantic Coast states. 
    
    BTW....
    Stripers are REAL bass, as opposed to largemouths, etc., which aren't.
    (This might turn on some flames  :-) )
    
    Bagel
    

    re: .-1
                                        
    Conn. has a 1/day 33" limit I believe.
    New Hampshire has a 2/day 33" limit.

    Having read on several occassions that the Isle of Shoals is a good
    spot to fish for Blues, im wondering where it is? Someone said its
    due west out of the Hamptons, but was wondering if someone could be
    a little more specific ie; you go out of Hampton or Merrimac River
    so many miles...... I have a coastal chart of the Merrimac area but
    donnot see it.... any other comments on fishing this area would be
    appreciated...
    
    2nd question: Are we pretty much done on Blue fishing from say the
    Hamptons to Plymouth, or is someone still finding them?

>    Having read on several occassions that the Isle of Shoals is a good
>    spot to fish for Blues, im wondering where it is? Someone said its
>    due west out of the Hamptons,

 Kinda tough to go due west from Hampton and find the Isles of Shoals. It'd
be much easier to go Northeast. It's probably 4 or 5 miles out of Rye Harbor.
You'll need the Portsmouth to Cape Ann map.
 
>    2nd question: Are we pretty much done on Blue fishing from say the
>    Hamptons to Plymouth, or is someone still finding them?

 You'll need to go south of the cape at this point (I'd guess).

 The Doctah

    Your right as soon as I sent it I realized I meant to say due EAST.
    
    about Blues still being around, I was out 2 years ago last of Oct
    out of Green Harbor and we had a great day with the Blues and given the
    fact that one of Charter boat captains claims that if the water temp is
    53 degrees theyll still hang around in their favorite haunts, I was
    wondering if anybody had run into them in the last week? especially
    North and south of the Boston area my usual haunts with dragging my
    16ft boat around....