Striped Bass, Bluefish, False Albacore, and Bonito migrate throughout the fall displaying an aggressive “all you can eat” baitfish buffet feeding style. Shoving, barging, heave and repeat as the main course flees for their lives. Fat and satiated to a point of gagging each predator is preparing for a very long and dangerous journey South.

Unlike last weeks’s eighty one degree anomaly, once the temperatures really drop mystical sea smoke appears. At first light the smoke is parted by a nearby school of False Albacore zipping across the surface leaving surreal curly tailed jet streams in their wake. The day warms and the fish keep feeding. If the fish are not on top just look for a bait ball- and you are likely to find fish nearby.

The bait ball shrinks. It always shrinks. Flocks of birds seated on the adjacent shoreline had their fill and indicate food is not far. Looking into the depths also confirms whether a feed has recently occurred as millions of remnant scales fall and sparkle as clearly as the Milky Way during winter’s midnight sky.

The arrival of the seasonal Seal population and Gannets diving like kamikaze jet fighters offshore  is entertainment while searching for the next blitz. Seals make catching Striped Bass look simple as they play with their food. Tossing, catching, surely grinning at the funny guy waving a fly rod on the bow of the boat, as if to say with his mouthful “just grab it like this!” And yes, Seals steal fish right off your line, somehow leaving you to land the optimistic look of the still stunned Striper as they want to believe they still have a tail.

Warm thoughts arrive as whiffs of smokey wood stoves linger off the beach calling the ever weary guide home. Hot cider, fresh baked bread, smoked fish, and plenty of dark evenings lie ahead- perfect opportunities to recall the season’s highlights and gear up for some southern adventures.

Written by Capt. Gregg Weatherby
Boat ramps are slippery. The two straps that secure Bad Monster Dog firmly to the trailer, left intact, make shoving her off a hernia inducing effort. One more time down the slippery slope to strap removal and the rest of the day would be simple. Walking back up the ramp I realized how cool being awake at “O Dark thirty” really is.

The anticipation of the great adventure ahead, hearing a couple of Stripers feeding off in the cove, and the challenge of the full moon. The full moon has little to no effect on ferociously feeding fish once the fall migration kicks into high gear. In contrast during summer’s full moons the afternoon bite is usually best. The full Moon tends to keep the fish up all night eating- or trying not to be next.

This morning’s moonlight came in handy. It made it easier to see that the car doors were all locked. The moon also highlighted the shocked look on my client’s face when I strolled up the ramp and snapped the antenna off the truck. Having grown up watching the A-Team and McGyver, a quick bend, shove, and the lock popped. I hopped in rather proud of the moment, drove up the ramp, and left the well trained boat adrift by the dock.

A locked, running vehicle on the ramp with a boat trailer halfway submerged in the water is comical when it’s someone else. The car antenna was the manly solution to not holding up the other guys waiting to launch their boats. Taking it in stride, without a word, is what real guides do and I know the memory will be a distant one after a good day of fishing.

With a tough start to the day those who see a glass half empty would have packed it in right then and there. But for the optimist we get to see what other amazing challenges, tricks, or treats the universe has in mind. The day was just beginning as we rounded Brenton Reef heading east to the Sakonnet River.

The islands separating Buzzards Bay and the Sakonnet River are very special. Full of structure, eel grass covered flats, and deep tide pools that spin bait to their demise. Upon entering the shallows I slowed Bad Monster Dog to a crawl and then shut her down. There was something large swimming into shore from an outer island. It was too early for the Seals to have shown up and too low in the water to be a deer. (Widely accepted as the true origin of saltwater bucktails).

The sun sat touching the horizon. Balance in the universe was struck as the huge harvest Moon did the same to the west of us. Illuminated by the rising sun our mysterious swimmer turned out to be a very healthy Coyote.  He looked back at us as if determining whether we looked edible. The Coyote clearly had been eating his fill of birds and eggs on the island- predawn. This incredibly strong feral animal then slipped over the peak of the rock pile and disappeared.

Sharing this kind of experience with others is incredible. As Kieth Deinert and I looked at one another, totally blown away by the Discovery Channel adventure we were experiencing, a tremendous feeding frenzy of Striped Bass erupted in all directions. Fish after fish was fought on the fly and caught using a variety of top water poppers. Next on the to do list was to look for the rest of the grand slam – (Striped Bass, Bonito, and False Albacore).

Vibrant, rich, coastal fishing adventures can be experienced right here in Rhode Island from April to November. Come visit the plant in Rhode Island, take a look at NorthCoast Boats and if we can sneak out for some fishing, I promise to bring a spare set of car keys.

Florida bound always sounds good- without question once the ice has made its home in your veins come late winter in New England.  Join us as Team NorthCoast and the expert Anglers from Rifles to Rods head South on 95, with two NorthCoast Boats in tow.

180 Center Console crew consists of Peter Weatherby and Brandon Dame- both exceptionally well versed in a wide variety coastal species. Specializing in sleep deprication and flexible planning the all nighter, thirty one hour drive, would be rewarded well. 

190 Center Console crew has Rifles to Rods (riflestorods.org) founders Gerard McAllister and US Army Sergeant Ryan Puzzo at the wheel. Both committed to the mission: Preserving the well being of veterans through fishing. Rifles to Rods is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization devoted to the transition, recovery and well being of our Veterans. The president of Rifles to Rods, a veteran himself, was inspired to start this charity after fishing enabled him to better cope with stress that comes with returning home from war.

Dawn was welcomed by the Miami heat and seemingly near proximity of Keys type species. Although it would take another four hours of driving, Key West would arrive just in time. Restless anglers all, the boats were launched handily where they would be docked for the next four days. Hammocks were hung and gear was tossed aboard quickly in order to get on the water. Sleep could wait. Navigating the shallows of Key West is an amazing feat when your awake, however best experienced in a dream state as the colors are vivid and the thoughts of Bonefish and Tarpon are as good as real.

The 180 Center Console draws a wapping six inches and to quote a memorable phrase by fishing Legend Lefty Kreh, that boat could "go where water was." Undoubtedly he was talking about one of his closest buddies, Flip Pallot's Hells Bay flats skiffs, but you get the point. The only issue is the 180 poling platform was not installed prior to leaving Bristol, Rhode Island. In fact, we were unaware it even had one until the Owner of NorthCoast (C&C Fiberglass) Jose DaPonte pointed out how much better it would have been than the Home Depot Ladder the team bought. Even still, the photos of the ladder harken back to the authenticity of the old Florida Keys Tarpon videos. You know the one, with Jimmy Buffet and Tom McGuane. Anyway, necessity is the mother of invention and after all NorthCoast Boats greatest strength is practicality.

With fish skirting the edges of the channels the Rifles to Rods crew aboard their 190 Center Console would be fishing these unknown waters hard until sunset. A wide variety of fish were caught and their guest veteran's heart rate slowed to allow his smile and good humor to return. The three were dashing out to deeper water, cutting the Hawk's Bay chop like butter. Reef fishing is always productive and tons of fun.

Welcome to Newport, Rhode Island’s hundreds of miles of navigable, fishable, spectacularly beautiful, coastline. An Angler’s paradise.
The water off Newport’s visibility for sight casting is excellent. Clean and fresh- with new baitfish and their crazed predators arriving on each tide. A large variety of salt water species enhance our world class angling experiences- all season long.

Today, Striped Bass is our main target in the white water, boulder fields, flats, and estuaries. Each month the bait changes the hunt and the Striper’s behavior. Up the bay very large Bass frequent the depths in search of large bait.

Menhaden have arrived and there are some very cool situations where a shallow area is adjacent to a nearby drop off. Casting cross tide and depth contour produces some shocking strikes! Stripers have already filled in on the Sakonnet River’s Boulder fields. Once the hook is set the battle truly begins as you try and turn them away from the rocky structure.

Note: Early season inshore begins in mid-April as Stripers feed on a variety of baits, from Menhaden, Herring, Mackerel, Squid, Cinder Worm and even Crab hatches.

Bluefish are long considered North Atlantic Piranha as they eat aggressively and rarely give up without an epic battle. Pound for pound one of the most ferocious feeders in New England. No lipping unless the Boga Grip is involved. Slicks are beginning to appear and all the credit should not go to the Bass. You can bet the Blues are filling in. Nine weight fly line with wire and a top water popper- what a fight!

Bonito on the grill with Garlic and Dill, for those who wish to enjoy a tasty treat. But don’t count your chickens before they’ve laid an egg. You have to find them, entice them, and then get them to the boat. These very fast speedsters are a blast to match your wits with as they are typically very sensitive to your ability to match the bait du jour. Best caught along the beaches or rocky outcropping with an exceptional occasional bait ball feast. Note: They tend to arrive when the QE2 shows up. (Cruise ships in June)

False Albacore, or “Albies”, are spectacular in many ways including size, (poundage in the high single digits to teens), speed (rpms like a dentist drill but less painful), and beautiful colors. A mirror finish with markings of three dots, zigs and zags, cobalt blue and emerald green all highlighted by an oil slick like Palladium silver mirror sheen. This species foreshadows the most epic fight of all.

Those are some of the most sought after species while there are plenty of others offshore and around New England which people are exciting to chase. Would love to hear our NorthCoast family favorites!

While on a fishing expedition in North Carolina the NorthCoast 24CC provided the perfect platform to inaugurate our work with Rifles to Rods.

Question: When do you get the opportunity to share the day with a few good men? Answer: When you let Ryan Puzzo of Rifles to Rods.org know where you plan to be fishing and when. Ryan is co-founder of Rifles to Rods and a Veteran who served eight years in the military and he continues to serve others. He knows personally what it means to spend the day on the water.

Your heart rate slows considerably. Down to a beat, or so, every once and awhile as you watch an epic display of sea life go about their business. Between the herd of wild horses running the beaches, Spanish Mackeral surface feeds, Tarpon visual fest, and Sea Turtles and Sea Bass we had momentary visits by the tax collector, the man in the brown suit, otherwise known to most as- Shark.

Ryan was able to wrangle up Army Master Sergeant Darryl Mullins and his son Rashidi, who both currently serve our nation. Ryan even flew in for the day to join us. We all enjoyed the day. There is a peace and calm on the water found in the moments somewhere between the permanent smiles and laughter.

If you want to share a day with some great human beings or make a donation, contact Rifles to Rods, pitch in, and support this excellent organization’s efforts. These guys are awesome!

On behalf of all of us at NorthCoast Boats, Thank you for your service!

And Ryan, given the next opportunity- We are ready when you are!

The NorthCoast 180 Center Console was designed for the serious coastal angler, to be efficient, fast, smooth riding, and virtually maintenance free.  The solid fiberglass hull, foam cored deck, and foam filled fiberglass grid system combine to create a lightweight incredibly tough and durable composite structure.  The transom is a fiberglass and high-density foam core composite – no wood here !!

The hull’s deep forefoot cleaves any chop while the shallow-V aft promotes easy planning and provides a stable platform while trolling, drifting or at rest. Light gray non-skid floor and an impressive list of standard features with options that appeal to both the serious fisherman as well as the family day boater, we can build your boat the way you want.

The NorthCoast 180 Center Console…ready to go anywhere you want, any time you can!! (Read More)

Check out On The Water Media’s hunt for trophy Striped Bass onboard NorthCoast Pro/Ambassador Capt. Brian Patterson’s NorthCoast 23CC with On The Water TV Host Chris Megan.

For giant striped bass, it’s tough to beat the waters off Block Island. Chris Megan joins Captain Brian Patterson to look for his biggest striper ever on a warm summer night at the Block.

FLY OF THE MONTH

Joe O’Clair, of Flycatcher Flies, a NorthCoast Boats Ambassador and well respected fly tier who fishes his new NorthCoast 19CC out of the Bass River on Cape Cod.

SNOW WHITE

When the Striped Bass arrive in the Cape Cod waters, they are small , hungry and tired from their long trip.   The fly should be small, and tasty looking with good visibility.

1.  Start with a long shank #2 hook.

2.  On the bend of the hook tie in 2 small hackles on each side of the hook facing in.    Over the hackles tie in 4 pieces of flashbou.

3.  Tie in your belly hair, flip the fly over and tie in your top wing.  Add a  3/4″ eye and cement head.

This fly can be tied with many color combinations, and is easy to cast….    have fun ……  joe

Flycatcher Flies, “Saltwater Flies made by a fisherman for fishermen”, are as stunning to look at as they are effective. Striped Bass, Bluefish, Albies and Bonito are the typical quarry that fall for his baitfish imitations. One of my favorites is Joe’s Grass Shrimp (see previous post) where he blends a subtle tan fiber throughout the pattern, hidden on the hook by pearlescent flash and wiggly legs. This weighted fly’s action is hard to pass up as a regular go to.

For more information or to reach Flycatcher Flies contact Joe at joseph.oclair@yahoo.com 508-398-0512

flycatcherflies.com

The New England coast has spectacular, sometimes forgiving, sand flats where Striped Bass ambush sand eels and other baitfish. But a real favorite are the very productive rocky shorelines surrounded by their protective boulder fields. Through the years anglers who spend enough money on bottom paint and propeller repairs come to know these waters “very” personally.

My good friend, and mentor, Mike Kenfield and I had been fishing near a ten foot, dark, rock shaped like bird wings.  The right wing points down towards to the hole whose name refers to a feeling- Sweetwater Hole. It’s located on the western entrance of the Sakonnet River. This spot was consistent in producing nice size Striped Bass followed by, “Dude, this is some sweet water!”

The challenge is timing the cast so that your fly enters the feeding zone as the bait would- while standing on what feels like a rolling barrel.  Note: Sweet water- anywhere associated with good food source and hungry fish.

We had hit a few spots hard, relentlessly casting, covering the water, for large Striped Bass, when one of the old timers came confidently flying into the area in his red classic fishing boat. No sooner had Mike stated the guy had fished here forever, and knew these waters like the back of his hand- and boom.

He squared up onto a submerged, object of unknown origin. Texting was still twenty years out so it wasn’t that. Could have been there all these years? Maybe he was checking the morning Donut stash or focused on a spilled bucket of Eels. Either way he veered off his usual path. My respect for the areas challenges went up a few notches.

This unforgiving area becomes even more interesting in the fog. Knowing what rock belongs to what formation is critical. It’s easy to get spun around in these areas and the fog demands an exhaustive sense of place. Fog is very tiring. Second Note: “Intuitive piloting” does not show up on the USCG Captain’s exam. (Nor should it). Knowing the river as your back yard takes years of attention to details and someone willing to share their experience.

Anglers, like Harbor Pilots who can draw each shape of each rock, and others in near proximity,  successfully navigate their way to the fish and  safely home. True Boulder fields are relatively shallow areas which are covered with fish holding structure. Fighting Striped Bass in these areas can be exceptionally challenging. The drift of the boat is positively affected by a cushion of water flowing around, and over, the boulders. This moves the boat naturally through the obstacles with an occasional nudge.

The fly is placed on the feeding end of the fish, holding on the left side of the rock. Strip, strip, pause, strip and wham! A solid, sudden smash and your tight. I highly recommend a low rod angle as you set the hook. A knee jerk, high “Trout” hook set pulls the fly a few feet away from the fish.

The bigger the Striper the harder it is to set the hook. I’ve seen guys swear they drove home the 8/0 ultra sharp hook, only to feel it spit back at them as a prehistoric size fish they had the privilege to be momentarily connected to swims by.  There is a respectful silence- as the Bass gracefully passes by us, off the boulder field, and into the depths.

NorthCoast 24CC reviews are pouring onto the desks of magazine subscribers everywhere. Check out the very cool “Float Plan / First Look” piece in Saltwater Sportsman Magazine, August/September 2017 Edition. Thank you Saltwater Sportsman we really appreciate the press!

FLOAT PLAN / FIRST LOOK (click here)

Our Pro Team of Captains /Ambassadors (and Dealers) can be found on or near the water daily. Their adventures and recipes provide more colorful blog material than the tattoos on Queequeg, (see Moby Dick). Come back often and enjoy! As Director of Sales and Marketing for NorthCoast Boats it is my honor to lead off our new blog with a tasty recipe that is close to my heart.

There are some smoky times happening here at Weatherby’s Smoke House. White swirls of deliciousness mixed with overtones of fresh spices and brown sugar tease the nose and peak any downwind, or nearby, Carnivore’s interest. As smoke billows from the edges of the old Smoker doors it would stir memories of my first experiences with smoked fish. There were a couple of friends who annually fished the Albie bite with me and they would consistently bring a compliment of tasty treats with them. I was very quick to kick the old bag of musty muffins from Dunkin Donuts under the gunnel in shame. The highlight was fresh smoked Salmon from one of the client’s Alaskan smokehouse combined with freshly picked local Apples from the other’s orchard. This combined with a bit of chill in the air and the world was right.  Freshly brewed Kona Coffee and an offshore whiff of a wood stove and I long for a warm fire. The weather has been tough, but we know it would give us a shot at some point soon. Meanwhile there is nothing better to fill the time than eating freshly smoked anything. Note: Heavy weather and delay of long awaited fishing adventures can put you in a mood. Best solution, smoke something tasty.

Anytime is the ideal time for fireside relaxation and smoking fish, but anytime you can stage a Summer Smoke Fest- very exciting. This year I have nailed it. Surely first place material in a County Fair, if we had one, and worthy of posting as the first NorthCoast Boat’s Recipe. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

Day 1. First go out catch your Bluefish. Size matters and I recommend an eight to ten pound fish. The key to this is to have first successfully plied the waters fly fishing for Striped Bass, using a fly you tied specifically for this event. This spiritual effort, whether at first light or in the middle of the day, is a gateway to the soon to be enjoyed tasty smoked treats. Bleed the Bluefish immediately and prep the fillets- leaving the skin on.

Ideally your confidence level is such that your specially made brine is ready and waiting for you when you return home, ensuring a fresh catch to Brine world record. The Brine is a very personal experience and having to start somewhere, I searched online for basic guidelines to culinary success and would like to thank them all for their hints in the right direction. That said, once you have seen my efforts below, do the rewarding thing and toss it. Develop your own. Consider this your reference point- and only a start.

Fill your large blender with:

1. About 2 Quarts of water from fresh springs in Montana, (or filtered refrigerator water will do).
2. 2 fists of Brown Sugar
3. 2 more of Sea Salt
4. 1/2 a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce
5. 1/2 a bottle of Soy Sauce
6. Pour in some Maple syrup
7. A big pile of Peppercorns
8. A bundle of Cilantro and Basil from the garden
9. 3 Garlic cloves
10. Golf ball size lump of Chili powder
11. 2 Dried Cayenne peppers that make your eyes burn
12. 1/4 bottle of Cholula’s hot sauce (in case your peppers need more heat)
13. Zest with lemon peels- cool term for grate

Cover and blend until the soupy mix looks awesome and pour over the fillets in a pan being sure to cover them completely. Leave overnight in the fridge, if possible, unless your too excited then you might have to get by with at least a few hours of the soak.

Day 2. When you’re getting ready to smoke, take the fillets onto the kitchen counter to warm for a while before the action begins and dry with paper towels. Skip the cloth as it smells fishy forever. Kind of like the first Bluefish Artwork I did in the eighties where you paint a fish and role it onto canvas. Stunk so badly I had to throw it out leaving me to believe there must be more to that kind of art.

The Smoker has some cool tricks to the mix. Timing is everything. Light a pile of about six pounds of coals, well soaked with fuel, and allow this to burn until ash covered. While waiting soak half a bag of Mesquite wood chips in water. Once the coals are ready toss handfuls of chips onto them and place the pan of already very hot water above it, if your smoker has this and it likely does. Quickly place the clean grates on their supports and lay the now warm and dry fillets onto them. Now shut the lid, and don’t peek, for at least six hours. (Cigars are helpful here as they round out this manly experience). You could even go fishing again, provided you’re not worried about your house burning down, or go shoot some sporting clays. DO NOT PEEK.

Like fresh baked bread, or pie, or sushi on the boat, once you remove the lid your mouth will water and your nostrils will fill with what should be an extremely rewarding smell of your freshly caught and smoked Bluefish. Please let me know if you find great satisfaction in this fresh catch to plate experience. – Capt. Gregg Weatherby