05-16-2001, 07:50 PM
BOSTON HARBOR & THE SOUTH SHORE- Stripers 5/15/01<br><br>The stripers have moved into the estuaries and bays on the South Shore and Boston following in the wake of the alewife or river herring runs. The school-sized bass are the early migrants, settling in first in upper-reaches of estuaries where the water warms first due to the absorption of solar radiation by the dark peat-muds.<br><br>Usually by the middle of May, the coastal water temperatures push into the push into the 50’s—this year is no exception. As a result, just about every morning, bass push the fleeing silversides or spearing and alewife to the surface attracting the gulls and terns as long as the tide is running. This feeding frenzy got started in Boston’s inner harbor this past weekend. The larger stripers begin to show in early June. On Minot’s ledge off Cohasset as well as Boston’s outer Islands, schools of big bass, aggressive from their northward migration, can be found chasing schools of larger bait fish particularly mackerel and menhaden or pogies. The big bass have arrived early this season. Pete Flaherty , fishing off Minot’s Ledge, landed his first keeper of the season—a 31” linesider—and lost two other good sized bass on Tuesday afternoon 4/14. Again these bass were hooked close to shore where the water tends to be warmer in the early season. <br><br>B-Fast offers three different venues for trip departures for traveling anglers fishing the Boston area: Cohasset Harbor Marina, Back River in Weymouth and Rowe’s Wharf on Boston’s scenic waterfront. Our inshore, guided boat charters will start in mid-May and run through the early fall. Three 20-foot fly fishing platforms, outfitted with top-of-the line Orvis fly-fishing tackle, will take you to and from the grounds with speed and dependability. For the traveling angler, lodging with reduced rates is available. <br><br>For your fly fishing needs in the Boston Area, do stop by the Orvis Corporate stores in Boston and Framingham as well as Concord outfitter’s in West Concord. These stores are staffed with expert fishing managers that can help you with all your needs. <br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com<br> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com