By Guide Rick Buss:
“It was bound to happen” is something we hear now and again. That phrase can refer to something good or bad, although more often it’s something unpleasant.
Good news first… When I left off last month, I was doing road trips twice a week to meet-up with a New England Kayak Fishing subgroup called “Team Old Guy Ugly” to pursue zooms, funny fish, Fat Alberts, albies, little tunnies. Whatever you call ‘em, euthynnus alletteratus, false albacore, have driven many anglers nearly mad. The usual crawl is to start early in the short window of opportunity when they’re within kayak range and hit the South Cape beaches, then work westward as the season progresses following the birds, boats and blitzes through the Waquoit area to Nobska and Woods Hole, along the Elizabethans and into Rhody and beyond.
It was on one of these mini road trips (my sixth) that I managed to hook, play and bring to laptop my first ever Fat Albert. It was all worth it. What a rush. Playing that fish was insane. They are so flippin’ fast. I still appreciate the shear power of a big striper’s run, but these little tuna’s are another dimension, like warp fish. He bit an epoxy fly that I was dragging around behind a Salty Bugger casting egg. What an amazing experience. I know a bunch of yakkers are still chasing them. Check NewEnglandKayakFishing.com for the latest reports and planned outings. I got mine. Go get one yourself.
And now for the unpleasant earning of “It was bound to happen…” Albie fishing or any fishing from a kayak can be magnificent, but all water sports can be dangerous, and in small plastic boats like ours, we are at a disadvantage when conditions get ugly or when playing around in an area where not only kayaks but bigger, harder boats are running and gunning for a cast or two. Recently, a close friend of fellow kayak angler and mine was run over while fishing in the Point Judith/ Galilee area. There were a bunch of mixed craft all chasing albies and, for whatever the reason, the driver didn’t see Bob and hit the bow of his kayak doing about 35 mph, flipped the yak, totaled it, broke his fish finder and sent all his rods and tackle to the bottom. It almost killed my friend. He’s a brave man and has been a waterman all his life, and it shook him up badly. He said, “It was bound to happen.” He is here because of his life vest, radio, fishing companions and a good amount of luck.
Keep your eyes open, kids. Get a loud air horn, a tall flag, lights…hell, even a flare pistol. When those center consoles are running into the rising sun, they can’t see you, so watch them closely. I’ve had my life jacket unzipped and ready so I could bail out and get down six feet the surface to avoid being hit. Some googans veered off at the last minute, and their wake almost swamped me. My friend’s story had a happy ending. Tip the odds in your favor all you can. I like happy endings. Keep fishing!
FORECAST BY: Guide Rick Buss, (617) 719-2036, www.belleislekayakadventures.com. Kayak specialist and fishing guide Rick Buss fishes, dives & snorkels off his kayak. He runs his guide service out of Belle Isle in Winthrop but can deliver kayaks to your location.