04-07-2004, 12:09 PM
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]STELLWAGEN BANK, MA- Cod Fishing, April 4, 2004[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Two of B-Fast’s vessels fished the deepwater to the east of the bank on Sunday in the open weather-window between the lows and the next snowfall---not an April Fools joke.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]The water temps in the shoal-water on top of the bank is as cold as is gets—36-38 degrees. As a result, baitfish are not in evidence and neither are the codfish.[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Both the DECISIVE and the HACKER used skimmer-clams to fish the 225-250 ft depths. Mike Greco’s group from Ridge, NY had the best luck on haddock with 18 keepers. Cod between 8 and 20 pounds also came over the rails. Van Phan’s group from Woodside, NY had similar results and a “Pool-winner” cod tipping the scales at 25 pounds. The cod and haddock were grubbing on the bottom and not as stacked-up as they usually are at this time of year, due to the abnormally cold water temps. Hopefully, the bait will move-in as the water warms and fishing will improve in the shoals.[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Capt. Mike Bartlett[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]B-Fast Charters[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]www.bfastcharters.com[/size][/font]
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[size 3][font "Times New Roman"] [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Two of B-Fast’s vessels fished the deepwater to the east of the bank on Sunday in the open weather-window between the lows and the next snowfall---not an April Fools joke.[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]The water temps in the shoal-water on top of the bank is as cold as is gets—36-38 degrees. As a result, baitfish are not in evidence and neither are the codfish.[/size][/font]
[size 3][font "Times New Roman"] [/font][/size]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Both the DECISIVE and the HACKER used skimmer-clams to fish the 225-250 ft depths. Mike Greco’s group from Ridge, NY had the best luck on haddock with 18 keepers. Cod between 8 and 20 pounds also came over the rails. Van Phan’s group from Woodside, NY had similar results and a “Pool-winner” cod tipping the scales at 25 pounds. The cod and haddock were grubbing on the bottom and not as stacked-up as they usually are at this time of year, due to the abnormally cold water temps. Hopefully, the bait will move-in as the water warms and fishing will improve in the shoals.[/size][/font]
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[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]Capt. Mike Bartlett[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]B-Fast Charters[/size][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][size 3]www.bfastcharters.com[/size][/font]
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