11-26-2001, 12:53 AM
STELLWAGEN BANK, MA-Fall Cod Fishing-11/24/01<br><br>On Saturday, Gary Cornelia and friends from Lindenhurst, NY spiced up the Thanksgiving holiday weekend by traveling north to fish for Stellwagen’s Cod. Gary’s spring trip was cancelled due to weather, so the group rolled-over the deposit to the fall. Wind has been the only complication this fall season. <br>Even though the weather has been unseasonably warm, the cod have started to move into the shoal water.<br><br>B-Fast’s DECISIVE with Capt. Scott at the helm headed to the shoal-water at the north end of the Bank. The action was fast and furious from the first drop until the tide change. Using jig and teaser rigs, the group filled the coolers with medium or “Market” cod and pollock to 15 pounds with a few haddock mixed in. The ground fish were feeding on sand eels and mackerel in 110 to 140 feet of water on top of the Bank.<br>After the tide change, with the wind and tide against each other, the drift all but stopped and the fishing slowed. A trip to the deep-water was unproductive.<br><br>There is a move afoot to radically alter if not ostensibly eliminate recreational cod fishing. This comes at a time when the size and numbers of cod, haddock and pollock are the best of the decade. The reason why penalization of recreational anglers is now being attempted is simply because recreational landings are now going up. A decade ago, recorded recreational landings were zero. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why recreational landing have increased; it is now easier to catch ground fish on a rod and reel with current commercial fishing restrictions implemented. <br><br> Anyone interested in expressing their views on this issue can direct their correspondence to the: New England Fisheries Management Council, 50 Water Street, Newburyport, MA , 01950, Att: Thomas Hill, Chairman. Additional information is available in the “News” section of my website.<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