The winter flounder have made a miraculous revival in Boston Harbor, and last weekend I received an invitation I simply couldn’t refuse. Captain Dan Morrell of First Bite Charters told me striper fishing has been excellent and flounder continue to hold their own in catchable numbers around Boston Harbor. As Santini explained, blackbacks like a mud bottom and moving water. When the wind is right he will also drift with the tide using live sea worms. So stay tuned for “Balls of Steel” Vineyard Sound Fluke come July with the same cast of characters, (but from my boat this time). Jason is free to do a little fishing himself – which he is as passionate about as anyone I’ve ever known. In any typical year, the bite will continue to improve throughout May and into June, when it is prime time as larger and larger fish begin showing up. At one time, six businesses rented fishing skiffs out of Hough’s Neck in … In that time Capt. Aside from the Deer Island flats, other productive flounder spots in Boston Harbor include Portuguese Cove off Peddocks Island, Hospital Shoal, the mud bottom on the north side of Georges Island, and the mud flats of Dorchester and Quincy bays. In the waters closer to the coast you’ll go after Flounder in June, July, and August. (A.K.A Black Hull Charters) Charter Sport Fishing from Boston to Cape Cod - Fishing Kids Encouraged! I’ve fished with a number of guides and charter captains over the years, east-coast, west-coast, Great Lakes, north, south and Capt Jason is one of the best. Then the bite began to wane with the dropping tide, so we picked up and moved to the lee side of Rainsford Island. Call it a present and a little psychological breather I like to give myself each spring. As for sinkers, you generally don’t need anything more than a 2- to 3-ounce bank sinker, unless the current is ripping or the wind is pushing the boat too fast over the flats. This is when the fish start coming back. We also tend to have a lot of fun together, and of course it coincides nicely with my birthday fishing tradition. We have a great. Boston Harbor At Fishing FINatics in Everett, Pete Santini said the action has been good in the Boston area for flounder. When you fish with Capt. An active member in the New England Outdoor Writer’s Association, he has published feature articles, columns and photos in a variety of popular outdoor publications, including On the Water Magazine, N. Carolina Sportsman, Eastern Fly Fishing, Sporting Classics, Coastal Angler, and The Fisherman magazine among others. The flounder fishing season is excellent. Come join USCG Certified Captains Ronnie & Leo Munafo and crew for a memorable day of salt water sport fishing from historic Boston Harbor to Cape Cod and out to Stellwagen Bank. Fishing for Boston blackbacks, which typically range from 12 to 18 inches, is relaxing sport, and the protected waters of the harbor make this fishery accessible to a variety of boats, from aluminum skiffs to 40-foot lobster boats. We left East Boston’s Shipyard Marina at 6:00 a.m. and headed to the Deer Island flats, adjacent to the Deer Island sewage-treatment facility. Speaking of the Zobo rig, it’s a 2-hook setup that Santini designed with his late partner, Johnny Dicato. The waters around Boston provide nearly perfect habitat and structure for fishing for flounder. You’ll fish all over Quincy Bay, Boston Harbor, and the waters of Stellwagen Bank. But in subsequent trips throughout the following week, Colby reported steady improvement, from good to great to outstanding(!) As of this writing it remains to be seen how the 2015 Boston Harbor flounder season will progress. and on the lee side of the islands, sometimes as shallow as 8 to 10 feet. Jason is an avid fisherman and has years of experience fishing in the Quincy area. Do this for the other hook on the Zobo rig and you are good to go. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Designed & Developed by Visit New England, How to Catch Boston Harbor Winter Flounder, Designed & Developed by Visit New England. We are U.S. Guest Pete Santini, owner of Fishing Finatics (creator of the Santini Tube Lure), was right on the money when he described the great comeback that the flounder and cod have made in the harbor. Years back there were large rental fleets of skiffs that would dot the bay as anglers pulled in flounders by the thousands. Next we moved over to the Deer Island flats. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VxYrEBoRs4, [su_dropcap style=”simple” size=”4″]A[/su_dropcap]few years back, Pete Santini of Fishing Finatics Bait & Tackle in Everett, Massachusetts, showed me just how fun and easy it is to catch blackbacks on a mid-June trip. His experience in the commercial fishing industry has given him insider knowledge. https://newenglandboating.com/how-to-catch-boston-harbor-winter-flounder With the city of Boston as a backdrop, anglers from New England and beyond converge on the area each spring to relive the glory days of flounder fishing’s past. Im sure a dubbing ball will work as well. During our trip, we shared the flats with even a few kayak fishermen. 3 Reasons Why I Charge for Full Access to My Fishing Cape Cod, I Never Liked Bluefish, Until I Tried This Simple Recipe. Jason anchored and tossed out the chum pot. We fished on the drift at the first two stops with no results. Welcome to Boston Harbor Charters Sport Fishing! Once we zeroed in on the right depth zone, we caught dozens of fish in just a few hours, including a monster 21-incher! We specialize in inshore fishing charters in and around Boston Harbor for Striped Bass, Bluefish and Flounder as well as offshore / deep sea fishing charters for Bluefin Tuna, Cod, Haddock, and Sharks. Only now that they have wiped out the cod are they turning to flounder. Once the kids became grown adults (and my own mom retired to Florida), Mother’s Day freed itself up along with all the rest of the days on the calendar. Those days unfortunately are gone but the flounders are NOT. So the tackle discrepancy was quickly rectified and everyone was now on equal ground. Boston Fishing Charters Boston Saltwater Fishing at it's Finest! Low season is February to … I was all over it. What began as a cloudy, foggy morning cleared out and turned into a beautiful, warm, clear sunny day, just the conditions we were looking for. Fishing for Striped Bass(Stripers), Bluefish and Pollack, Fluke, known as Summer Flounder, Haddock, and Atlantic Cod is great this time of year. Yep, it’s very easy mtrl to work with. He has experience working in both commercial and recreational fisheries and has been at it for many years. Every year, June produces the biggest flounder caught in Boston Harbor. Next: June 5 “On-Site” Cape Cod Fishing Report. Threw this together in ten minutes but think I’ll lose the eyes and uv on next try and try a dubbing ball behind last reverse tie to bulk out head more […], Fishing for Cod & Haddock with Bruno Demir, Stormy-Day Dartspin Fishing for Striped Bass on Cape Cod, Live Presentation Recording: Spring 2020 Video Review, Wingman Sportfishing 2020 Season-In-Review | Part #1, Cape Cod Fishing Report for Tuesday November 17th, What It’s Like To See Striped Bass Chasing & Attacking Flies Underwater, Extended Report | Stripers Attacking Flies Underwater, My First Experience Smoking Bluefish (and Our Smoked Bluefish Pâté Recipe), My First Experience Smoking Bluefish VIDEO FOOTAGE, The My Fishing Cape Cod Bluefish Cook Book, Friday August 9th Report + New Giveaway For Members. Indeed, when cleaning a flounder, you will often find its belly packed with the little yellow tubes. This day in May often turns out to be one of the nicest weather days of the year, and often the trip ends up happening around Mother's Day. Since flounder will feed in different depths depending on water conditions, try to set up a drift that takes you from deep to shallow, or vice versa. With a dozen flounder now in the cooler, (the largest of which was about 18 inches), we pulled up and powered our way back to the dock. The last time I saw that kind of increased dragger evidence was in 2013 when we lost the Month of May and pretty much only had June. Boston Harbor, an angling hot spot surrounded by the city of Boston, has an abundance of cod, pollock, striped bass, rainbow smelt, winter flounder and bluefish. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. The ideal drift speed is 1 to 2 knots, which lets you cover ground slowly while keeping the line fairly vertical. Once you’ve set up a drift, lower your rig to the bottom and wait for a hit. (Photo by Toby Lapinski) Boston Harbor and Quincy Bay remain host to a strong fishery while other locations on the coast flounder in mediocracy. Thanks Jim, So far I’ve only used bucktail for bulk and support. If the draggers "worked on" the offshore bodies of flounder this would not be an issue up and down the coast, but what they have done is target the very same fish that are utilized by recreational anglers.”. If the flounder are biting, you’ll be glad you brought plenty. Without question, Capt. Limit this season is 8 keepers per person. He has to his credit over two dozen striped bass caught over 50 pounds, (with a personal best of 64 pounds). This 21" flounder is huge by most standards, but they catch 'em even bigger in Boston Harbor. Ideally, you’re looking for mud bottom in 10’ to 25’ of water, with perhaps a slight depression or “hole”. A few years ago, myself and a few of my friends and colleagues in the outdoor writing field planned an early season flounder fishing trip on Boston Harbor with Capt. Moore has been monitoring harbor flounder since 1986, when the poor health of the once-bountiful bottom-feeding fish became emblematic of the … Final Podcast Of The Season + MFCC Member Giveaway! Mud, of course, is the key to finding flounder. With the water temperature at 42 degrees during the last week of April, his season kicked off with 0 flounder on the first trip (and a limit of “world class skates,” reported Colby). After fishing with Santini several times, I can vouch for their effectiveness. Improvement came each day as water temps crept up into the 48 – 49 degree range. We boarded Little Sister at 6-AM at the public landing at the end of Bayview Street in Quincy. Click play below to see what I mean. They come in close to shore, are relatively easy to rig for, and are one of the best eating fish in the ocean. The Biggest Fish I’ve Ever Caught From Shore. The flats here are well known for holding large numbers of flounder in late spring, and the place didn’t disappoint. I was all over it. Jason, “dismal” by his estimation. Jason one thing is for sure, you are going to catch fish. Captain Mike Bousaleh & Boston Fishing Charters have years of experience fishing Boston Harbor for Striped-Bass. Once we zeroed in on the right depth zone, we caught dozens of fish in just a few hours, including a 21-incher! Initial results included a couple skates and a few crabs. Then Andy finally got on the board with a keeper flounder. Medium size bait-casting rods are used with flounder rigs and tiny glow sticks attached, with enough lead weight to hold bottom: typically 2 to 5 ounces depending on the tide. The last few years have seen very good flounder fishing in and around the bay for most of the summer. Of the first 30 fish on Little Sister this year, three had "net rash" (marks on their skin consistent with net encounter). Fish Boston’s historic flounder fishing grounds on a small-group fishing trip from Houghs Neck, once known as the ‘Flounder Capital of the World.’ A scenic cruise through the Boston Harbor Islands gives you great views across the waterfront, and flounder fishing is fun for everyone from first-timers to experienced anglers. That’s one reason why Santini’s special “Zobo” flounder rigs feature a yellow bead ahead of the hook, which imitates the feeding tube of a “piss” clam—one of the flounder’s favorite foods. Jason’s desired target temperature ranges between 50 and 62 degrees, with 55/56 being "ideal.". Catching flounder is fun for all ages and make for an excellent meal. Even at its dirtiest in the 1970s and 1980s, Boston Harbor was a mecca for recreational flounder fishing. John D. Silva is an award winning outdoor writer and photographer with over 45 years of experience fishing inland and coastal waters in the United States and Canada. Andy’s personality, adept fishing ability, and sharp wit fit right in with the rest of the crew. When the fish are scarce they decrease both their range and their season. Capt. He is also an expert at filleting fish! The late May flounder fishing visit to Boston Harbor was a real eye opener. Next stop was Quincy Bay (48.8 degrees) and in front of the Quincy yacht club (47.6 degrees), all without another bite. Moore has been monitoring harbor flounder since 1986, when the poor health of the once-bountiful, bottom-feeding fish became emblematic of the harbor's broader environmental challenges. What do you think? But in subsequent trips throughout the following week, Colby reported steady improvement, from good to great to outstanding (!) 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