Seminar Line-up for Winter Striper Shows

I'll be running a new seminar this year at a number of big outdoor shows.  My latest seminar for 2014 is called "Plugging for Stripers from Shore and Boat" and is strictly geared to fishing artificials.  I've got a lot of footage from RI's south shore oceanfront, the Cape Cod Canal and Narragansett Bay.
Here is the line-up:
Fri., Jan. 31 at 4:45 at the Providence Boat Show (www.providenceboatshow.com) .  This will be at the RI Convention Center in Providence.
Sat., Feb.8  at 1:00 and Sun., Feb. 9 at 12:00 at the New England Fishing Expo at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.  The website is www.newenglandfishingexpo.com
Sat., Feb. 22 (unsure of time at this point) at the Springfield Sportsmens Show at the Big E in Springfield, MA. Website is www.osegsportsmens.com
These shows are all big outdoor shows that feature exhibitors, reps from various fishing companies, seminars, fishing experts, etc. Looking to break this cabin fever....attend one of these shows.  

Winter Numbers Down

It should come as no surprise when I tell you that numbers of wintering over stripers are down.  Since the start of 2014, the action in my winter spots in the upper Bay has been fair to poor, with numbers of fish down compared to recent years. Prior to New Year's Day, back in late November and early December, there had actually been good numbers of fish around, but I suspect those fish left the area possibly on a late migration.  Since Jan. 1, it has been slim and disappointing pickings.  Of course, these wild swings in the weather are not helping the situation. Realize, too, that in the past the stripers that tended to winter over were usually large schoolies to small keepers, or fish in the 20-30 inch range.  While I have seen fair numbers of schoolies being caught at times, the number of small keepers is way, way off.  In past years, one winter fish out of twenty would usually end up being a small keeper. So far this winter since mid November, I have taken over 200 fish (mostly in Nov. and Dec.) from the upper Bay and only one was a small keeper.  Keepers are scarce, but then again, they were scarce this fall from shore also, so no surprise here. As a side note, this is the first time in many years that I have not seen a seal or two feeding in the upper Bay.  That should tell us that there is just not much food around to attract them.

First Stripers of the New Year

One of tonight's stripers is sitting on a sheet of ice.
The new year has been off to a slow and cold
 start but the action was good tonight.

I'm on the board for 2014.  I landed my first stripers of the new year as I had a decent outing tonight in one of my winter fishing spots. Up until tonight it had been a rough start to the new year with last week's snowstorm and then the big freeze putting a chill into the fishing.  Most places were completely iced up, but today the ice departed and I was back in business.  I landed good numbers of schoolies tonight on Super Zoom flukes (albino color) mounted onto 3/8 oz. round head jigheads. It looks like the fishing will be shortlived as another deep freeze is coming tonight and tomorrow.

Loaded with Question Marks for 2014

Here's a rare bluefish taken from the boat.
There were few around in 2013.

Our past year, 2013, was not a good year if you were a shore fisherman looking for keeper bass, blues and albies.  In fact, we could call it a year of decline.  That sets up all kinds of question marks for 2014.  Here is a summary of what to look forward to in the coming year.
Striped bass- There were plenty of schoolies around.  That's the good news.  I landed over 1200 stripers in 2013, my best year of the last 5 years as far as numbers.  Yet, numbers don't tell the whole story.  My numbers of keepers were down compared to recent years and large keepers were really down.  This is probably the first time in the last five years that I did not land a 40 inch fish from shore in RI waters (got some at the Cape and from the boat though).  There are lots of complaints out there about the declining numbers of keeper fish, particularly from shore fishermen. Unfortunately, I think this trend will continue as keeper bass are highly targeted by commerical as well as recreational fishermen.  I see 2014 as a year of big numbers of schoolies but even poorer numbers of keepers.
Bluefish- I would have to use the word "collapse" to describe the bluefish situation.  For shore fishermen, there were almost none.  Even when there was a lot of bait around, there were few blues close to shore.  I landed exactly 5 bluefish from shore all year.  I know some fishermen who caught none. We fared better from the boat, yet there were no big numbers of them from the boat either.  They are just not around.  The current regulations of 10 fish a day and no size limit makes no sense.
The outlook for 2014 is poor as blues have been on a decline for the last five years.
Albies-  What the heck went on here. Back in 2011 and 2012, we had banner years for albies from shore and boat.  In 2013 there were NONE.  I don't know of a single one that was taken in RI waters.  They seem to have disappeared.  Historically there have been years with few around, but rarely have I seen a year with NONE.  I have no idea what to expect in 2014.

Schoolies were around in good numbers for shore
fishermen, yet keepers were on the decline in 2013.

Baitfish- The baitfish situation is not good.  Just about all big bait (menhaden, mullet and herring) were in decline this year. I saw no peanut bunker at all this past year. The only bait that seems to be abundant near shore are the small bay anchovies that we see in the fall.  Sandeels were abundant off Block Island but  not close to the mainland. Maybe the lack of big bait is contributing to the lack of keeper bass and bluefish.
Good News?- If you have a boat, try fishing for black sea bass, a tough fighting fish and a good one to eat.  They are more abundant now than ever with big numbers all over the south shore of RI. I suspect we will continue to see this abundance in 2014 with their numbers at or near record levels.  They have taken over!

Winter Fishing Hits the Skids

Winter fishing has taken a dive.  What started off as real good fishing a month ago has hit the skids in recent weeks.  I continue to fish several times a week and I hit a lot of spots, yet I am lucky to get even one fish.  My last three outings have produced a grand total of 2 small winter holdovers.  It's not good. But, it's winter fishing and its trademark has always been inconsistency.
The interesting thing about winter fishing thusfar is the lack of keeper fish.  This is consistent with what we have seen all year. In  past years about one winter fish in twenty has been a small keeper about 30 inches long.  This year I've caught close to 200 winter fish, yet not one fish has been a keeper.  While there have been good number of schoolies around all year, the numbers of keepers have fallen drastically this year for RI shore fishermen which is bad news for the upcoming season. It will only get worse next year. Most of us who fish a lot know this, but there seems to be no push from management officials to conserve what we have and reduce the mortality rate of keeper bass for the upcoming season.  Don't expect any changes in the regulations for 2014.

Severe Cold Shuts Down Winter Fishing

Prior to the cold shutting things down,
small swimmers were hot for winter
schoolies.  The 4 inch Rapala X-Rap was
especially effective.

This is one of the coldest early season spells I can ever remember.  It has put solid ice along some shorelines and moving sheets of ice in some of the places I fish for winter holdover stripers.  Because of that, the winter fishing has suddenly come to a grinding halt. I tried to fish some open pockets a couple of nights back, got no hits and was constantly getting hooked on floating ice sheets.
Rest assured the fish are still around, but are probably in a dormant state, just finning along the bottom in a large group in a deep spot.  I expect some of my fishing friends to tell me they have been hitting fish and snagging them on jigs. That happens in the severe cold.
Prior to the shutdown, the stripers were hitting small swimmers with regularity.  Jigs had lost a lot of their effectiveness as I was scoring best on 4 inch, Rapala X Raps in a blue color.  With a warm-up coming this weekend, I expect the winter fishing to get back on track.

Okuma Trio 55.....Could be the BEST BUY in Spinning Reels

Standard retrieve Okuma
Trio-55.

High speed retrieve Okuma
Trio-55S.

Can you buy a quality saltwater spinning reel for just over $60?  I think I have found that deal, and it is an Okuma Trio-55 reel. I used this reel many times this fall from the boat and shore, and my son Jon uses it exclusively from shore. We have caught countless stripers on this reel up to 45 inches and the reel has performed flawlessly.  It is super smooth.  In fact, my brother, Steve, calls it the "smoothest reel he has ever used".  It has a phenomenal drag that is so smooth and silky you almost have to look down at the reel to see if it is going. If you don't believe my assessment, check out the reviews at the link below.  It gets stellar reviews from fishermen who have purchased a Trio.
This reel comes in a standard retrieve, Trio-55, and a high speed model, Trio-55S.  I have both and I prefer the standard model.  I like the handle on this model better and I also thought the standard model was a bit smoother on the retrieve. The Trio-55 weighs in at 15 oz. and matches up well with an 8 or 9 foot surf rod or a 7 foot boat rod.  I spooled my Trios with 30 lb. test Power Pro braid. It is very braid friendly, and I have never gotten a wind know with this reel.
The reel is a super product right out of the box.  However, my big question is how well will it hold up to the abuse of heavy use over time.  I don't know the answer to that question, but for $60, I'm willing to take my chances that it will last at least several years.
You can purchase this reel at Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/Okuma-Standard-Speed-Spinning-110yards/dp/B0031D0G3Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386598952&sr=8-1&keywords=okuma+trio+55
It lists for $62.50 on this site and that includes shipping. Can you beat that deal!