August 2002 Daily Fishing Reports

After communicating only by email, today I got to meet Andrea Quadrio Curzio and two of his friends from the same fly fishing club - in Italy! Apparently Andrea and his friends plan a trip each year to a fly fishing destination somewhere in the world and this year they chose the Cape. Since they had booked time with another boat captain, they were looking for some shore guidance. The tides weren't great on the backside, but we gave Newcomb's Hollow and and Herring Cove a look, with the latter apparently holding some big bluefish as well as bass. It was not to be, so I made arrangements to call and meet on Wednesday for another shot at some fish, which we found this along Sandy Neck despite a fair amount of wind and weed in the water. Only Andrea spoke and understood English, but it was interesting to see how we all could communicate about fly fishing. These three friends proved to be more than competent casters and anglers and I was really grateful to be part of their Cape Cod experience.

At least baby pogies, that is, as Steve Bachand returned with his friend Chuck from California who also fishes a great deal in Hawaii. Steve had enjoyed Middle Ground in June, but now with warmer around, it was time to find some cooler stuff and that meant Cuttyhunk. Sure enough, there were bass pushing pogies down at one of my favorite spots and both Steve and Chuck managed fish up to 30 inches, using both live eels and artificials. What is really cool is seeing how such big fish will inhabit such skinny water, making it possible to see their assault on a hapless Mr. Wiggly.

Tom Tierney was aboard this evening to do some spin fishing or fly fishing if the wind allowed. We ultimately ended up in the Hole to avoid a bit of wind and as the sun set, things got very tranquil near Penzance where we found fish pushing baby pogies. Tom managed some fish on topwater plugs and it was one of those special moments when the world just seems a little less hurried and people less harried, as other boats drifted around doing their thing and nobody seemed stressed out, at least certainly not in the Katie G.

Or something like that, as Tim Negronida and his young son Grady joined me for a day of tossing eels along the islands, especially the farthest point west, or Cuttyhunk. I was really impressed with how well nine year old Grady handled the casting and retrieving of his eel, and ultimately he was rewarded with a 36+ inch fish which he fought by himself, although I did give him a hand holding the rod. Dad also managed some nice fish and overall this was another banner day, with good memories and photos as well as video to remember it by.

Today I got to meet up once again with Charles Mann and his son Griff, who brought along his college roommate, Alex sessions; the Manns are some of the nicest folks I fish with and I always look forward to our trips together. The islands were a little slow with a pick of fish here and there, but once again Woods Hole still had good surface action on bass of all sizes. Both the fly rod and spinning gear with soft plastics and topwater plugs worked well and it was really difficult calling it a day with fish still busting all around us.

August can be a tough month to fish, with bass mainly in deeper water and bluefish on the shoals as well, but usually I can find schools of small choppers in the sound, which was the plan with Joe Ritzo and his kids. Unfortunately, the fish gods wouldn't cooperate and other than some snappers off Osterville, it was way too quiet. They were good sports about it and I once again learned that when the heat and humidity are up, an early start is always a good idea.