By Joe Gugino, Why Knot Fishing
As expected, June provided us with some big striped bass! We got some big fish on artificial lures, but there were some absolute monsters that fell to live and chunked mackerel, in Boston Harbor and on Boston’s North Shore.
On Saturday June 25, we hosted our First Annual Why Knot Summer Striper Showcase; which was a catch and release only tournament for striped bass. It was held during Swampscott’s Harborfest weekend, and the after-party and awards were held at Swampscott Yacht Club. We had many anglers compete in both the Shore and Boat Divisions, and had a great time during the day demoing some fishing gear and getting kids into the sport! Thank you to those that participated this year, and we are looking forward to doing it again next year.
July is the time when we look forward to hooking up on those big fish more consistently on lures as they actively feed on bait. If you are fishing from shore, your best options are most certainly early morning, or at night. The fish typically retreat to deeper water during the hot daylight hours, so shore options aren’t the most effective then. July is also a time when we start to spend more time in the kayaks, especially at night, pursuing striped bass when they move into shallower water.
If you have ever wanted to get out on the Hobie Mirage Drive Kayaks to try some fishing of your own, July is a good month to do it. There are a lot of fish in the area, and can be targeted in many different, and fun, ways. One of the most effective kayak fishing methods in the summer months is trolling a tube and worm. And while not as exciting as some methods of fishing, it can catch the largest fish. The three awesome Hobie First Cast Meet-Ups that Why Knot had in June, at Little Harbor Boathouse in Marblehead, were great. And this month we look forward to getting more people on the water, and in a kayak, for the first time.
Even if you are an experienced angler, getting out on the water on a kayak can be the next great challenge. You can reach areas that are difficult to fish effectively from shore or kayak, and there is nothing like getting pulled around by a nice striper!
As always don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing you out on the water!
FORECAST BY: Joe is a life-long fisherman, who fell in love with the sport when he moved to the North Shore and started fishing in saltwater for striped bass. After fishing from a kayak for the first time, he became even more excited about (and obsessed with) fishing. Joe is also the co-founder/co-owner of Why Knot Fishing, a community-based fishing organization.