Boston Harbor 2010

No better place to wet a line like Boston Harbor. With it's perfect blend of modern sky scrapers surrounding such historical sites like the Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church, Castle Island and of course "Old Ironsides" the USS Constitution, you never get tired of fishing the area. There are many things to see and do if the bite slows or you just want to go sight seeing.

As usual we are at Anita Marie's in Rockland Center at 0400 for a good hearty breakfast to start the day. Owner Vivian always follows us out the door to see the "Irish Ayes" parked across Union Street.  "Rachel, mind the shop if I don't make it back! I may be going fishing." shouts Viv, as she slides out the door and over to the boat. "One day I'm going to do it!" she calls as we roll on down the street.

We were underway before dawn on our way to catch some bait. Menhaden or pogies, as we call them, are the target and Wollaston Beach is our destination. There you can usually get enough bait with only a couple of net sets. Be careful if you are among the boat moorings as the harbor police frown on those that drive around like crazy, trying to drive the fish into the nets while among the boats.

With plenty of bait in the live well and the cooler, we set off for the Castle Island area to scope things out. Lots of bluefish bite offs and only pieces of pogie left on the hook. Finally Rock Bottom have a good strike and after a brief struggle he managed to net a 37 inch, 21 pound beauty. The Captain was all over it before Rock could figure out where it went. "Look over there at the big ship, Rock." said G-No. "Nice try Captain! But it will take more than the Queen Mary to turn my head." laughed Rock.

Billy Bob tried the old balloon trick to hook himself a nice big bluefish. "I think I have one on!" he cried as the balloon went screaming across the surface of the water. "Using live bait is the best." says Billy Bob "I had to make some stinger rigs to make sure I come up with my fish instead of half my baitfish." he scowled. "But I had this one with the circle hook doing it's job."

Watch out for those teeth, Billy Bob. As always we meet friends we know on the water. Here we were live lining pogies in Hull Gut.

There are so many places to fish for striped bass in Boston Harbor and adjacent waters. And there are fishermen and women everywhere chasing them in as many ways. From live bait, to fly fishing, and everything in between. Whether you fish from shore or boat make sure to cast a line in and pull a prize out.

Now there's a life's work. And it shows it!