04-18-2001, 02:02 PM
<br>STELWAGEN BANK,MA- Cod Fishing 4/18/01<br><br>Good Friday turned out to be a great Friday the 13th on Stellwagen’s shoal-water with six of B-Fast’s vessels fishing the grounds. Wayne Neuls of Newtown, PA fished on the JANET B with yours truly at the helm. Two groups from New Jersey, Shawn Styles from Keansburg and John Novak from Kenilworth, fished on the KAAMA and the DRIFTER. Bob Cerreta’s group from New Rochelle,NY fished Capt. Scott’s DECISIVE, while two groups from New England, John Antosik of Manchester, CT and Scott Cowell of Marion, MA, fished the HACKER and the ALLIA, respectively. The cod turned on early feeding on pods of bait, which showed up on the color fish finders as blow-ups, stacked ten feet above the bottom. On each drift through the bait, six rods doubled over. In the afternoon, after the tide change, the fish turned on again. Cod and some nice pollock to 15 pounds slammed the jig and teaser rigs. Capt. Tim’s group on the ALLIA, John Antosik (Manchester,CT), took top-honors with a 25 pound cod late in the day. For the forth Saturday in a row, gale winds of 30-40 kts mandated early cancellations of the day’s charters.<br><br>The weather broke on Easter Sunday yielding much calmer seas than forecasted. The shoals and the bank’s western edge produced best on the outgoing tide. Anthony Gantt’s group from the Bronx,NY was just about worn-out by mid-day from jigging up cod between 6 and 15 pounds. Six pollock between 10 and 15 pounds rounded out the catch. With coolers full and New Yorkers sleeping on deck, I headed the JANET B back to Green Harbor at 1:00 pm.<br><br>John Grotha and his co-workers from Rowayton, CT once again found calm seas on Monday the 16th. John, a very experienced angler who fishes all over the world, was the high-rod. Further, John and Capt. Al working the cockpit, worked hard teaching the less experienced anglers the techniques of jigging codfish. When all else failed, John just hooked the fish and passed the rod. The shoals fished well early, however the highlight of the day was the deep-water to the east. After the tide change, the fishing really turned on the 200 ft of water. Market cod to 18 pounds and pollock to 15 pounds found the jigs as soon as they hit the bottom. Doubles were common. We also landed the first haddock of the season. Arm-weary by 1:00, John’s work crew threw in the towel.<br><br>Tuesday’s two-boat charter produced the best mixed bag of the season. Don Talbot’s group from Lisbon, CT fished on on the JANET B, while Steve Click’s group from Jewett City, CT fished the DECISIVE. The deep-water on the eastern edge produced more and bigger fish than the shoals. Further, the early morning whale show as second to none and a surprising addition to the trip. Don Talbot’s group found market cod and 10 pollock between 10 And 15 pounds and well as another haddock. The days highlight was the wolfish—5 of them to 25 pounds. Steve Click’s group had similar results with cod, pollock and one wolfish. Wednesdays trips are cancelled due to wind, rain and believe it or not snow—in late April?<br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com<br><br> <br><br><br><br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com