Captain's Log 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
The end of the season....'tis here. With the winds cranking over the past week and looking rough for the next few days....I'm done. Oh yeah, and I have two herniated disks I just found out this morning. That's no fun. It's hurting pretty bad and I may be looking at surgery to fix the problem. It couldn't have happened at a better time of the year, I guess. More on this one later.
I'm going to spend some time overlooking my website for changes and I'll be working on my "year-in-review" coming up. What a great year we had. It was a blast and we met some great folks and caught some amazing fish. I hope you all had a blast fishing with us or just keeping tabs on us online.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
THE TUNA ARE STILL IN! I just wanted to remind you all of that. It's so much fun! DON'T FORGET, I HAVE A SHARED CHARTER ON TUESDAY FOR COD/HADDOCK IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
I can't believe it--I'm tired. I'm sore. But there's only a couple of weeks left. Next TUESDAY I HAVE A SHARED COD/HADDOCK CHARTER PLANNED. I NEED THREE PEOPLE. I am putting this trip together for a priest who wants to do a little cod fishing before the winter. So, take a day off and join him for some great fishing. captain@blackrosefishing.com
Sunday, October 14, 2007
We're winding down, thanks in part to the winds and other things. I know that the winds pick up this time of year, making trips either uncomfortable, undoable, or awesome. The fish will bite, so that's not the problem! It's just been the winds--and also the NW winds that are the worst for us. We had three straight cancelations this weekend because of the state of the seas. As of now, WEDNESDAY LOOKS GOOD AND I HAVE IT AVAILABLE! THURSDAY IS LOOKING GREAT AS WELL!!! TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Give me a call at 508-269-1882 if you are up for some fishing.
Looking ahead, I hope that the tuna stick around--I have a few more Angler's Pro Shop trips planned and it's been a blast for me. I mean, next year is going to rock when I can dedicate a whole season to chasing down tuna with the plan of catching them on spinning gear. I'm not talking about LIGHT TACKLE, but rather RIGHT TACKLE! These guys can do it right. Check out their website for more details on the gear that they use. It's expensive in many regards, but it is also amazing. Seeing them hook and land these 70-90 pound tuna in 5 minutes is something to watch. Remember, when the bite is on, it's on!
I've been doing a lot of tuna fishing trips lately, but don't forget about cod and haddock. This is prime season for them and the cod season ends in two weeks, so it's a good time to think about freezer fishing again. If you're flexible, let me know and I'll keep my eye on the weather for you.
THINKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR, I can't wait. I want to ramp up my season with my plan to light-tackle fish for cod and haddock in shallow water in April and May. Everyone fishes on Stelwagen Bank in 80-120 feet of water during those months, but why beat yourself up with heavy gear? I'll have the boat outfitted with light rods and reels that won't lack in power. It'll be amazing fishing with 4-8 oz jigs instead of 16-20 oz jigs!!! You'll have fun and catch fish and won't get worn out doing it.
Monday, October 8, 2007
I don't want to think that the season is winding down, but, the calendar doesn't lie. Three more weeks of cod season, and, it'll start getting cold soon (probably). We have a couple of shared charters planned as listed below, and I'll be running a couple more upon request. I know that it's a little more difficult finding 4 people to go fishing this time of year, so if you just have a couple, drop me a note and I'll get you another couple to fish with. The fishing now is excellent.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
A school of 25 foot basking sharks? You've got to be kidding me. It was awesome out there on the ride home. We had calm seas and 8 huge sharks circling the boat for 10 minutes. I've never seen anything like it.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26--COD AND HADDOCK
It's anniversary time here, number 9 tomorrow. Time flies. Did I mention that Stacey convinced me to quit my job as a financial advisor and get my captain's license? I better think of something more romantic than going to bed after dinner in anticipation of an early fishing trip on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Monday night, perhaps, as I may have Tuesday off before more trips on Wednesday-Sunday again! Fingers crossed for more great weather!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Ok, it's October, but don't tell the fish that. It's been amazing out there. Tuna, cod/haddock, and everything else. I have a new SHARED CHARTER ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, FOR TUNA!!! Everything else filled up. captain@blackrosefishing.com
I know I talk about them in my reports, but if you are really serious about spinning rods/reels for tuna, check out these guys Angler's Pro Shop They have fished with me and landed fish better and faster than anyone else I have ever seen. They do have some very specialized gear, which is why you should check them out. Lots of fun!
Friday, September 20th, 2007
SHARED CHARTERS COMING UP!!!!!!!SAVE THESE DAYS AND GO FISHING WHILE IT'S HOT.
This Sunday, September 23rd---cod and haddock--6:00 am Green Harbor
Thursday, September 27th--cod and haddock--6:00 am Green Harbor.
Wednesday, October 3rd---tuna, shark, cod or whatever--it's all great
The cost for these trips is $200/person, plus tip and we'll have a blast.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Run-and-Gun for tuna. It's good headline news. It's exciting as sin to see hundreds of 50-100 pound tuna breaking on the surface for a minute at a time. All the while you're trying to make a cast into the school and hook up. Or, you're just trying to troll your spread in their path. It's awesome. All of the fishing is good now--we had 4 customers put 70+ cod and haddock in the cooler last week. Not that I'm a "meat fisherman", but that's a heck of a day.
Thoughts for next year...I'll be fishing with light tackle in April and May--fishing on Stellwagen Bank in 80-120 feet of water using fluke gear for those who want to do so. It's so much more fun than just using the same-old-same-old for cod and using 16-20 oz jigs or lead weights. In most instances, we can get by with 4-6 oz jigs and have a ton of fun doing so. We were using 8 oz jigs effectively the other day in 300' of water!! Talk about easy on the arms and shoulders! What a fight, too. So, start thinking, (I know I don't like to admit that this year is winding up--it's peaking now, but the calendar doesn't lie--we'll be done at the end of October (I may run a few haddock or tuna trips in November)) about booking early spring, shallow-water cod/haddock trips with us!
Monday, September 11, 2007>
Well, just a second to think back for us all 6 years ago.
And for everything else that matters and doesn't matter, I may ramble a bit. My kids just started school this week--Alex is in kindergarten and Richie is in pre-school. They couldn't be more excited. I really can't wait for winter to spend lots of time with them. It's been a busy, hectic year here. Fishing-wise, amazing. Time is just flying by. Seeing repeat customers is making me smile more and more. We had a few amazing trips this week. I mean amazing. Not just the fishing, but the company, the talking, the laughing, the actual rides themselves. We had one day in which we went out and the seas were flat calm, and then we returned in 6-8 foot chop. Another day we followed some 4' seas out and took a fair 2 1/2 hours to get home (but with a big mako shark!). And, most recently, we cruised out into a moderate swell at a comfortable 18 kts. And it was relaxing because everything about the day seemed right. Great company. No rushing around. Promise. Promise of a great day fishing and a smooth ride home. Another great day.
Apologies to Garrison Keillor for spelling his name wrong all this time. Funny. He never corrected me. Not yet, anyways.
Another mechanical malfunction in my life--the head gasket in my truck went last week. Ouch, but the dealer is covering it under warranty. I'm still out of a vehicle for the meantime, but that's ok. I have plenty to do around the house and the walking is good for me! I haven't had any problems getting to my boat at Taylor Marina in Green Harbor.
Someone asked me once if I would guarantee that they would catch a shark if they wanted to go shark fishing. Well, the wise answer would be "that would be shark catching, not shark fishing." Right? Yes, it would. Now, with a background as a financial advisor, I liked things with guarantees. But, life being what it is, those guarantees cost something. With investments, that 'cost' equalled money. So, I guess that depending on what someone wanted to pay, I figure I could guarantee that they would catch a shark. Why not? My normal trip for shark fishing is $1,000 and I feel as if it is worth every penny. We put on a great show and work hard to get sharks to our boat. Going back to my insurance days, what would the "premium" on a guaranteed shark trip be over and above the $1,000? Just a thought...
SPEAKING OF SHARK FISHING--WE LOVE IT. I MEAN, DREAM ABOUT IT. FOCUS ON IT. IT'S THAT MUCH FUN FOR US. IT'S CONTAGIOUS. SO, IF YOU'RE UP FOR IT, GIVE US A CALL--WE'RE CATCHING LOADS OF SHARKS RIGHT NOW AROUND STELLWAGEN BANK AND WE CAN COMBINE COD/HADDOCK FISHING WITH SOME VERY PRODUCTIVE SHARK FISHING. WE LOVE IT AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL TOO. GIVE CAPT. RICH A CALL AT 508-269-1882. I HAVE GOOD DAYS AVAILABLE-- EVEN
THIS SATURDAY!!!! IT JUST OPENED UP LAST MINUTE. And did I say we're getting some nice cod lately?
Saturday, September 1, 2007 as well
Here is a last minute thought, for those of you who read my website... Not so much a thought as an offer. I PLAN ON FISHING FOR SHARK OR TUNA OR COD/SHARK ON WEDNESDAY. I WILL RUN IT MORE LIKE A 'FISHING WITH THE CAPTAIN VS. A PRIVATE CHARTER OR EVEN A SHARED CHARTER. THE COST WILL BE $200/PERSON AND YOU'LL 'BE ONE OF US' FOR THE DAY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, DROP ME A LINE.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
NO HITTER FOR THE SOX TONIGHT ON CLAY BUCHHOLZ'S 2ND CAREER START! AWESOME GAME.
It's finally September and I think I'll start getting caught up with some seriously delinquent upkeep around my office. That is to say--I'll finally be getting out my DVD's that I have to make for many of my last month+ trips!! I'm sorry to have gotten behind on that little bit of extra, but we got so busy over the past couple of months that my routine became, "wake up, fish, dinner, play with kids, and go to bed". September shouldn't be as busy as August. Just looking at my fishing report page will explain it all! But, if I stay busy until my season is over, I'll be even more happy. I have 5 months this winter to get those DVD's to you all and you can relive your experiences and make them fresh again.
I'll talk a little more tonight--today's trip was a weather-cancellation due to the high winds overnight and all day. Bummer. This fall, weekend's are at a premium and are filling fast. Call us or drop me an email. I am a huge fan of shark fishing. Have I said that before? I'm laughing. It's so amazing to me to always wonder 'how big will the next fish be' or 'when will the mako come into the slick?' You never know. It does take the right crowd of fishermen, though, as 'it is fishing and patience is important--you could end up waiting all day for the sharks to find the slick.' Of course, we did get out there on Thursday, running a shark trip on a friends' boat. We didn't have to wait that long as we had willing customers within 15 minutes of dropping lines in the water. We had a keeper, though smallish thresher attack our mackerel/Mario's squid strip bait and start leaping. It was amazing seeing that tail propel that fish out of the water completely--TWO TIMES!! We then landed a huge blue shark that was all of 250-275 pounds. Great fish and what a battle.
The cod came back big time on Friday as we were fishing east of Stellwagen Bank for a couple of hours after tuna fishing in the morning. Running out there from the tuna grounds in thick fog wasn't great fun, but we didn't pick up another boat on my radar the whole way out. Not many people fishing around there for cod. Too bad!
I'll be getting an email out to as many people as possible this week drumming up business for the rest of the year--I have two months left and I want to try to fill it all in. To make it easier for your business trips, I can easily take credit card now and, since my specialty is the 1-4 person market--you don't have to rally a big crowd to make a great trip on the water with the Black Rose. Give our September tuna fishing a try in the morning and then hit the cod/haddock for freezer afterwards.
Notice the header-bar on my website with the addition of Tormenter Tackle? I have quietly been doing a lot of light-tackle jigging over the past year and I absolutely love it. Whenever you can fish for cod on fluke gear and toss around 6-9 oz jigs, instead of heavy poles and 16-24 oz weights, I get into it. As many of my customers already know, next spring I intend on running trips with this as the sole goal of our cod trips--the fish are predictably in shallow water in April and May, with most fish 80-120' deep. This lets us us gear that makes everyone else shake their heads, BUT WE CATCH THE SAME FISH THEY'RE CATCHING, BUT WE LAUGH ALL DAY WHILE WE DO IT! We only live once so find a way to laugh as much as possible and have fun. It's what we do. Okuma is making a new line of jigging rods and we'll have the boat stocked with some amazing combos. See you soon.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Whoa, great weather all week and today was no exception. The cod, haddock, wolffish, and everything cooperated today. Punctuated by the largest blue shark I have ever seen. Ever. This was 400+ pounds and, if it were edible, I would have loved to have kept it, but...I'm not going to kill it just to weigh it and get our name in a record book. I'll have the video downloaded soon, so keep watching my site. It was amazing! I'm talking state record-sized fish here.
That being said, who wants to go shark fishing on Thursday? Call asap.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Ok, LAST MINUTE SHARK TRIP FOR THIS THURSDAY! THE WEATHER LOOKS PERFECT. CALL 508-269-1882
Another thing that I haven't really spoken of yet, but is important to many...I now take credit cards. This, I have learned, makes it much easier for your expense reports if you are taking customers out there "on the company's dime". It's that easy. Spend 8+ hours one-on-one with your customer having a blast and you will really make an impact. That's more fun than golfing or sitting around a fancy dinner table. Just a thought.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Looking at my sharking photos begs me to ask...who wants to go shark fishing soon? It's an amazing experience and they're in season. That being said, tuna are in on Stellwagen Bank and the fishing is a blast. The cod and haddock are biting nicely as well, so just do it! Thinking about the best shark trip we ever had, in which we brought 20 sharks to the boat, to those customers and anyone else who was thinking about how to top their best trip ever, "you can lose your virginity twice!" It's just as fun the second time! Ha ha ha.
We are looking at our September weekday availability and it looks good for those of you who work for yourselves or can take a floating holiday or personal day. Weekends are tougher, but ask and it may be available. Keep having fun on the water and we'll see you out there.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Blown off the water today. It happens. The forecast last night was for high NW winds, which are the worst for us. It shifted around to the W, but still it's going to be blowing hard today and fishing isn't supposed to be a contact sport! But, the weather forecast for the next four days looks great again. I HAVE AVAILABILITY, NOW, ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, SO TAKE A 'FLOATING' HOLIDAY--LITERALLY!
We've had a great run of tuna this summer. It's been a blast. Almost all of these fish have been greater than 47". And they've all been delicious! The "big fish" have been coming in lately. Big Fish Charters just landed a 1,000 pound fish that took 9 hours to fight!!! Unreal and awesome. Fishing for these fish is a bit different than targeting the school bluefin. It is done using live bluefish for bait and anchoring and waiting. But....
The cod and haddock are back, making for a great combo-charter--tuna in the morning followed by cod/haddock after that. (or stripers/blues).
ANOTHER THING ABOUT NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...THE WEATHER MAY BE EXCELLENT FOR SHARK FISHING OFF OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD....HMMM...MAKO STEAKS ANYONE?
Gotta run and do the chores that have been piling up while I've been on the water!
August 12, 2007
I'm back from my wife's 20th HS reunion from Ellenville, NY, but that doesn't mean that we've stopped fishing here! Matt handled all 4 trips this weekend, and did them well. He reminded me that on the last 10 tuna fishing trips that he's run/run with me that he's 10 for 10! I like that. He's taking a day off tomorrow and I'm running this trip--a shared trip that didn't get filled. It's a rarity, but we needed more people on tomorrow's trip. I'm still heading out for tuna, though! I can't wait. I hate not being on the water. I'm addicted.
My new reels and rods should be in this week early--I picked up 5 Okuma Titus Gold 50's, all on matching rods. It'll look amazing and feel right for my boat. I like that and I've had good luck with Okuma reels in the past. I'll just have to spool them with different colored line to tell them apart!
Next Sunday, August 19th, is strangely avaiable. The haddock fishing that Matt had on Saturday was nothing short of tremendous. And 10/10 putting tuna on the boat in Matt's last 10 trips...Combo trips, leaving at 5:00 am and getting back 10-11 hours later is the way to go.
August 8, 2007
HOW ABOUT A LONG WEEKEND? NEXT FRIDAY, AUGUST 17TH, WE'LL HAVE A SHARED COD/HADDOCK CHARTER LEAVING FROM GREEN HARBOR AT 5:00 AM. THE COST FOR THIS TRIP IS $200/PERSON AND IT'S ALMOST FILLED. GIVE US A CALL AND PUT SOME FILLETS IN THE FRIDGE FOR THE WEEKEND!!
August 7, 2007
What a couple of weeks! I was on the water most every day and the fishing is getting better daily. The cod and haddock are back. The haddock moved back into a good groove in water that's not too deep (230-260). We found cod in deeper water more predictably, but fishing around the haddock in shallower water is a good bet as well.
The Tuna fishing has been very good, with fish caught on most trips recently. That's a blast and some great eating fish. Special fish they are. I just put another coat of paint on my boat's deck--the weather isn't looking good for the next couple of days, so I finally have a break and some time for some maintanence. I'll try for a few coats this time in the heat and humidity. That's what the paint needs to cure best.
captain@blackrosefishing.com or call me at 508-269-1882. Think of taking some time off and getting together with some good friends for a time on the water. The whale shows that we've been having are amazing!! Plus, relax a bit, leave the cell phone at home, bring a few drinks, and catch up. And catch some fish for dinner. Great combo.. I gotta run, keep having fun out there!
I'm back! Sorry for the absence online--a little mid-summer vacation!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Well, we spent a week on vacation in Popponesset and had a blast. We're right back in the swing of things. Capt. Matt held the fort well this week, but the weather and a gas-line issue kept him onshore. Ethanol? Who knows, but it's all set now. We found the haddock in deep water again. We hit them nicely in 300' of water east of Stellwagen. We'll be right back in the swing of summer cod fishing, as we hit our old haunts and fish some new holes. It's all good.
Nothing too much to rant about now, I'm selling my rental properties and focusing my brains on the fishing and my family. Being a landlord is getting to be too much and my family is only young once. If you're interested in buying a sweet 2-family house in Avon, give me a call. Did I say that this house is great--an inground, indoor pool off of the living room of the "main" house? Yep, pretty amazing. I loved living there. The rental unit in front of the house has no access to the pool or backyard (there are deer and turkeys in the yard all of the time!) I meet with the realtor tomorrow to come up with a price. Part of my contract with him will be a discount if you contact me via this website, by the way.
Sunday, July 8
Did I say that the tuna were biting? Yesterday, 5 tuna caught. Today, on a 1/2 day, one 58" tuna caught. Great fish! And the sharks...What a day. I HAVE A SHARED TUNA OR SHARK CHARTER FOR THIS THURSDAY. CALL TO HOP ON OR EMAIL ME... captain@blackrosefishing.com
Friday, July 6, 2007
Great, I'm back online. We had another weak signal on my street, keeping me off of the internet. Bummer. And what a weekend we had last weekend! We went to Chatham and nailed three nice tuna to 120 Pounds!!! What a day.
And on Sunday, my customers brought 20 sharks to the boat, including a 250# mako to end the day! It was the best shark trip that I could imagine! Great day. The tuna have been in Cape Cod bay and almost to Plymouth Harbor. We're running trips almost every day now, so give us a call for availabily and to give this tuna fishing a shot. It's a blast.
I have a 1/2 day trip on Sunday afternoon available, last minute. Call me at 508-269-1882 or drop me an email.
I'll hopefully be shark fishing next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday if you are interested. I HAVE TWO OPENINGS FOR A SHARED TUNA OR SHARK CHARTER NEXT WEDNESDAY.
More later, keep having fun out there. Check out the fishing reports for photos!Tuesday, June 26, 2007
WHO WANTS TO FISH FOR BLUEFIN TUNA THIS SATURDAY OFF OF CAPE COD? THE TUNA ARE DOWN THERE NOW AND THEY'RE 100+ POUNDERS. WE'LL LEAVE EARLY 4:30 AND HAVE A BLAST OUT THERE. Give me a call at 508-269-1882. I had a trip scheduled for Saturday, but family circumstances come first for my customers and now that day is available. I can't wait. First hand reporting to me gives this place a full thumbs up!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
FISHING TRIP AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND! SATURDAY, FROM 4:30-10:30 AM FROM GREEN HARBOR I WANT TO TAKE YOU FISHING FOR TUNA OR STRIPERS AT FIRST LIGHT. THIS IS A $600 TRIP FOR 1-4 PEOPLE. THE TUNA ARE IN! SO ARE THE STRIPERS. CALL US AT 508-269-1882 OR SEND US AN EMAIL.
Sunday night, Father's Day, 2007--ONE MORE THING
Weekend opening from Plymouth Harbor for a 6-hour tuna or striper morning trip. We'll be leaving Plymouth Harbor at 4:30 for the morning tuna bite or morning striper bite. Call for details and to make a reservation. Capt. Rich, 508-269-1882
Sunday, Father's Day, 2007
NEW TRIP OFFERING!!!!! 6 HOUR TUNA TRIP!!! $600!!! WE FISH FIRST LIGHT FROM 4:30 AM TO 10:30 AM OR FROM NOON TO 6:00 PM. I like this option! The tuna are out there and this is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of tuna fishing. Call Capt. Rich at 508-269-1882.
Weekends are going fast, but the best fishing is on the weekdays with little boat traffic and the fish are less spooked. That's good for you! Get out there and have fun!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Happy Father's Day tomorrow. The cod fishing was slow today, but constant reports of awesome tuna fishing is getting me at the pier at 4:15 tomorrow to fish with my sister, Teresa Obin, and Matt for some early AM tuna. Huge, mid-teens bluefish reports on the bank as well.
My Father's Day shovel to the back of the head realization epiphemy today. As you may know, I have a 5 year-old daughter and a 3 1/2 year-old son. Giving them a bath tonite, thinking of life, I told them that they'll always be my special boy and girl. Funny, as an adult saying that, you will never forget it. But as a child, you'll forget it most likely....But look the other way when you say those things and remember that a long time ago your parents said the same thing to you--we just forget.
June 11, 2007
Getting better here. The new truck rules, so far. With the weather cooperating, we've been able to get out there on most trips. We had some of the most fun catching scup (porgy) that I can rememeber. They're down in Buzzards Bay thick and large. Very cool. The TUNA ARE IN!!! We saw a school of 200-300 pound fish near the boat the other day and things are looking up. Seeing a 30+ foot basking shark made our day on Saturday. It was enormous! We'll be fishing for stripers soon and that'll make it all exciting.
On the work front, if you'd be able to mate this fall during the weekdays, drop me a line. Matt has one more year of college and it starts up in September, so I'll be looking for help. Key things that I look for: Personality. Adaptability. You have to be smart and able to put the customer first and put yourself in their shoes. And have fun. It's contagious.
In my 'free' time, I've made a great garden for Alexandra in my backyard. She'll be selling veggies soon! She's funny like that. I'm sure that Richie will help out plenty. 30+ tomato plants and 30 zuccini plants and tons of corn. And cucumbers! It'll be fun.
SHARK FISHING STARTS UP SOON. Thinking about fishing, I get calls from women often who aren't necessarily interested in fishing themselves, but would love to watch their special guys fish. That sums up shark fishing and tuna fishing. The day is perfect for that--lots of prep on our part to create a fishing environment wherein you can relax and have fun..until the fish make it crazy! Mid-week is best for this fishing to avoid the crowds out there.
Too bad the Red Sox are on the West coast. Looks like I'll have a bit more time on the computer!
May 31, 2007
Well, hasn't this been a fun few weeks. First, the engine on the boat had to be replaced. Then the new engine had minor issues after two hours. Then my transmission in my truck started going. Knock on wood, my bad luck is behind me. I pick up a new-to-me truck tomorrow and will be on the water this Saturday and Sunday. I can't wait. The fishing should be amazing. My last few trips out there codfishing were quite excellent, with good numbers of cod and haddock coming over on the light tackle. I mean, light! We've been fishing with 4-8 oz jigs and gear that's more common for smallmouths and walleye than for cod and haddock. But, it works and it's fun all day and it's not tiring throwing jigs all day. So we keep doing it!
Credible reports of big sea bass have made it to my desk. That's our quarry this weekend. We'll also be fishing on Sunday for scup(porgy)--that's been a bloodbath, from what I hear. Big, 2+ pound fish as well.
I have the freezers stocked with bait for sharks and tuna--it's not too early to book those trips--think mid-week for fewer people to contend with on the water. The stripers have moved in and we'll be fishing Cape Cod Bay for some flats fishing near Barnstable Harbor and Billingsgate Shoals. It's all good right now. See you soon.
May 22 2007
The boat is ready, again, part II. Yep, no more problems with the engine. She's running great. I have a shared charter for cod/haddock this THURSDAY!! and the weather should be amazing. GO FISHING AND CALL US! 508-269-1882. I have room.Matt, myself, and another neighbor stocked up on mackerel today, freezing 300+ perfectly for bait this summer. We'll be ready for tuna and sharks once the waters warm up. Good dates are available, so get a few friends for an amazing time on the water. Big fish!
We got two LAMPREYS ON THE BOAT TODAY!!! This is the first time I've ever seen one. They're by far the most creepy animals I've ever seen. They remind me of those creatures that blew out the captain's quarters of the people in Stephen King's "Dreamcatcher". I picked it up and it immediately latched onto my finger. Frightening.
May 18, 2007
THE BOAT IS READY AGAIN! NOT A FUN WEEK HERE, THAT'S FOR SURE. ALL IS BACK TO NORMAL AND THE FISHING SHOULD BE GREAT! The good news is that I have a new engine again on the Black Rose. Of course, now the weather is giving us fits. If it's not one thing, it's another. Oh well. With all of the postponements, cancelations, and uncertainty, I can let you all know that we're ready to fish! I'm going to ramble a bit now; it's been a while. Matt is finishing up college right now and his exams are through on Monday. I told him to stay there until he's done--no bouncing back and forth. This week gave me some good time with my kids- I'm building a huge garden for my daughter, Alex, who likes selling things on our curb. So, she'll be a gardener for the summer! A friend is getting me an obsolete gill-net as a "fence" for my backyard. I'm going to grow all types of things on that as a privacy screen. It should be amazing. I figure I'll have cucumbers, gourds, tomatoes, morning glories, grapes, and a pile of other things covering it very soon.So, the sea bass are in. The reports of 50+ striped bass days are back. Scup (porgy) are in in great numbers with fish pushing and passing three pounds. I even heard that the mackerel have made their presence known in Plymouth!!! I'm excited about that. Time to fill the freezer with bait. We're all set for our tuna fishing this year. It should be amazing out there. I hope that those 40-50 pounders we had last year are now going to be 70-100 pounds. They grow quickly.
I'm posting my reports on about 7-10 sites right now, trying to get the word out to as many people about our fisheries here. I'm still amazed at the variety of fish that we can target. It's awesome. The fish should be showing up on the flats in Cape Cod Bay very soon, providing us with a striped-bass alternative to wire-line trolling. It's good sport and lots of fun.
As always, I'm making my pitch for shark fishing trips. It's something I think about daily. If you want to see and catch what could be the largest fish of your life, give it a try. If you want to spend some time with friends, clients, prospective business associates--take them shark fishing. You'll catch up and have a blast, and if they hook into a monster...you're a hero. It's a win-win.
Well, thanks to everyone for their patience and drop me a line to get on the water...Capt. Rich
May 11, 2007
BAD NEWS I'm putting a new engine on the Black Rose. It should be on board by early next week. That's never a good thing, but the plus side is that I'll once again have a new engine. It's frustrating and expensive to say the least. Ouch.
But, the fish are in. Reports are that the sea bass have found Buzzards Bay as well. Throw in some huge porgy and the charter fishing on Buzzards Bay should be as good as it gets. I'm still fishing on Stellwagen Bank for cod and haddock in shallow water. Don't forget I trailer my boat and can put you where the fish are, whatever you want to catch.
This was a rough week--my internet was down at the for three days, so I wasn't able to update my site and I was busy with the down boat. Plus, I'm serving two separate tenants eviction notices for non-payment.
And would you believe that all of this happened right after I pulled an unconscious man from a burning car!! Talk about a strange karma situation!!@#% And I threw my back out dragging him away from the fire! That's it for my griping; other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
So I do have some shared charters coming up for you all, if you can't get a whole crew together or if you just want to take a sick day from work. I got news that I have two customers from Bayonne, NJ who are looking for two others for their two-day charter on Sat/Sunday on May 19/20. We'll fish one day offshore for cod and one day inshore for sea bass/scup(porgy). It should be a blast.
May 9, 2007
GOOD NEWS! THE COD AND HADDOCK ARE IN SHALLOW WATER AND THE SCUP(PORGY) ARE IN BUZZARDS BAY THE SEA BASS WILL BE IN IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!!
All else here is going well. It's been so much fun using the light tackle to catch cod in 100' of water. What a difference vs. using the traditional cod gear. I'll be stocking up with Okuma Titus T-10's for my light tackle cod and sea bass gear. It's perfect for what I do. It has the backbone to handle a big fish, but it's light enough to use for tossing jigs all day./p>
I have some shared charters coming up:
Tuesday, May 15-----SEA BASS
Wednesday, May 16---Captain's Choice--sea bass or cod/haddock
Saturday, June 16---Captain's Choice
The cost for these trips is $200/person and they will fill up soon. With the scup(porgy) in Buzzards Bay and the sea bass following, this should be awesome action!! Have fun out there!
April 20th, 2007
TUNA PROPOSAL...IT COULD BE A GREAT, FUN YEAR FOR SCHOOL BLUEFIN TUNA. That is to say, if we are allowed to keep 1 fish/day 27-47 inches and 2 fish/day 47-73 inches, I intend on running a lot of combination charters this summer. Starting in early August, when the tuna come into our waters, I think that the trip of trips will see us leaving the marina at 5:00 am and tuna fishing the morning bite. We can then head a bit further offshore and catch cod/haddock for the rest of the day. We have plenty of time to get great experiences in for both of these great fisheries. This is a longer day, but the cost of the combination trip will still be $1,000. This is a lot of fishing and great fun for amazing fishes!!!
DON'T FORGET THAT WE HAVE A SHARED CHARTER FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 29TH, FOR COD/HADDOCK. THE COST IS $200/PERSON.
If you are up for fishing, give us a call at 508-269-1882 or send us an email captain@blackrosefishing.com
Don't forget that I have some shared charter dates coming up:
April 17, 2007
We're in the middle of one of the worst storms we've had here in a while. The wind has been howling every night and all day. And it's cold. The seas are pushing 20' and it's choppy. Great for fishing! We'll, it'll be nice soon. It's so bad I can't even get yardwork done--it just accumulates. My stockade fence blew over in three sections last night. Just another project.
The fishing out there, from my view and the word of other captains that I know, is that the fishing is getting better by the day. The fish have moved into the shallows and can be caught my "squidding"--dropping a jig to the bottom and reeling up 10 cranks or so, then dropping it back down. I'll have a couple/few fluke rods onboard to play with, in addition to my usual cod rods. The fish are in 120' of water, now, from what the other captains tell me.
I have a rare Sunday shared charter for April 29th that has room if you are interested. We're getting ready here for a great spring and summer. I hope that the good weather comes soon....
April 12, 2007
Windy. Rainy. 10+ foot seas. Thunder and lightning. Hail. And Snow. What a good looking week ahead for us. I'll be onshore all weekend and into next week doing yardwork, I guess. We did manage to get out there yesterday (see fishing reports section). Tough ride in the morning, but great after noon.
The season is looking good all around here. I'll be seeing many repeat customers this year and I hope to make new friends. So far, the boat is running great(as I would expect) and the new paint job is looking better and better each trip. I like it a lot. You'll never slip and you'll never see any blood! (no guarantees, though!)
April 4, 2007
I have some shared charters on the horizon that have some spots:
Sunday, April 29
Sunday, May 6
Monday, May 7
These trips are a great way to get some great personal service without having to charter a whole boat. If you are interested, please give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you. The two trips in early May--we may fsih inshore for seabass/fluke/porgy on one of those days-that is the plan. It could be a great way for you to mix it up and fish two days- one for cod and one inshore on light tackle.
April 1, 2007
Ok, short story. We hit them hard today. Just three of us, fishing for the freezer. We limited out on cod and got a pile of haddock. Nothing too big, but a great day on the water with great weather. We found two of the largest redfish I've ever seen. Awesome.
Great fish fry tonight, finally. I'm embarassed by the amount of crappy fish sticks I ate this winter with my kids. Now for the real stuff. It ruled. Check out the fishing reports.
March 30, 2007
I'm not even sure how long this has been happening. That is, some emails do come through, so I never suspected a problem. I think that a lot of "RE" and "FW" emails got considered "spam" and got blocked out.
My apologies to anyone who has tried to get in touch with me and thought that I was inconsiderate or was ignoring them. I'm sick to my stomach now. This is an awful feeling. I will have this problem fixed ASAP, and I hope that I can sort through all of the emails that were blocked to find the "real" ones.
March 27, 2007
Here we are! The boat is done. The seating is in place. The rods are done at Bucko's. I have my two Newell reels back in shape. I'm ready to fish. Over the winter I turned my garage into a tackle workshop! Check it out. I like it. I made 400 jigs and teasers, using feathers and hair. I made 15 spreader bars for tuna. I finished making 3 sets of bowling pin teasers to bring up the tuna. I made enough sinkers for an army. I've got a dozen coats of Polycril on the inside seating.
I'm itching badly to go fishing and get the season started with you all. I've gone over all of my previous trips and have found some great patterns that I want to explore more this year. I've had some great feedback from my customers and I look forward to seeing them again this year.
And new customers...I hope to see many new faces this year. My goal is to fill my season so much that a second boat becomes necessary (or at least a bigger boat!) I've settled in nicely on the 1-4 person charter niche (although I still will take 5 or 6 customers if desired).
See you all out there soon!
March 22, 2007
We're almost there! If the wind would stop blowing, we'd be fishing just about now! I can't wait. The boat came out excellent. Matt and myself rebuilt the seating yesterday and it's lower and rock-solid. I hope that the new paint holds up. I have three photos here-before, 1st coat, and second coat.
As for fishing for cod and haddock, there is some great news that the haddock bite on Stellwagen has been excellent. I can't wait to get out there. If you are itching for some early-season fish for the freezer, call to make your plans now! Capt. Rich, 508-269-1882 or email me at captain@blackrosefishing.com
March 13, 2007
Admit it, you were thinking of fishing all day today, right? Me too. It was amazing out there today. I am finishing up with all of my winter projects. My garage IS a tackle store now. I have more tackle than most stores. It looks great. I painted the boat this weekend and it looks impressive. If the Grizzly Grip lives up to its claims, the boat will be bulletproof. Ok, it'll be tough and you won't see any blood on the floor. I like it.
If you are up for getting out there soon, give me a shout--we'll be running trips starting on April 1. I can't wait. See you soon.
March 9, 2007
Finally, the boat is ready to be painted. Special thanks to Denzil D'Souza at D'Souza Automotive in Plymouth for letting me use his garage this weekend. Denzil can be reached at 508-746-7557 and can do all of your automotive and body work. Denzil has worked on my cars since I have moved to Plymouth and has worked on the Merrick's cars forever. I trust him.
I look forward to getting the painting done--the tease of warm weather will get me out there soon fishing for haddock. If you are ready to shake off the winter, think about April codfishing. Those fish haven't seen many hooks since October 31!!!! They'll be ready.
March 3, 2007, later on
I should make mention that PORGY FISHING in May and June is something else in Buzzards Bay. I have said many times that May is great for sea bass fishing charters in Buzzards Bay, but where is my head when I don't mention the porgy fishing charters that I run!!!! I mean, for one, you can keep 60 PORGY PER PERSON!! during May and June in Massachusetts. These fish get big, too. Last year we caught many 2 pound fish and there were times that we couldn't get our lines to the bottom quick enough. It's a blast for everyone. I just thought that I would mention that. Good night!
March 3, 2007, early Evening
Well, we're down to one month of waiting for my season to start. I can't wait. I have my boat back from Atlantic Boats and I spent all day today powerwashing it to get it ready to be painted. I ordered 4 gallons of Grizzly Grip Truck Liner Paint to paint the entire cockpit, cabin, and head. It should be a great finish for the Black Rose. I am going with a wine-red color. It will hide any blood that happens to get scattered around the boat from time to time. I tried hard to keep the white clean, but, alas, it was too difficult. Plus, my swingback chairs scraped the gel coat off pretty good in a few areas.
It's going to look great. I hope that you all like the new website. It was a lot of work. Special thanks to Matt's brother, Chris, for doing the computer work behind the upgrades. And I always thought that Princeton was second-tier! I had to get that in there.
So, I'll have the boat's interior painted and ready next Monday. After that, I will completely rebuilt the seating inside the cabin. I took your recommendations and will be lowering the height of the passenger bench and adding two more grabrails. I'll also be adding extra cushions all around it and will be getting a bean bag--I think that'll be the most comfortable seat on the bench.
Reservations are coming along good this year. There are still plenty of weekday openings and a good deal of weekend dates. If you are thinking of consecutive dates (which are very popular to allow a day of fishing offshore for cod/haddock and inshore for seabass/fluke/stripers/blues/porgy), try thinking of weekday dates or making the weekend a long weekend. By planning to fish two days, we choose to fish offshore on the calmer day. It's more fun that way.
Well, I'm going to relax a bit. Unwind. I'm still a bit rattled from last week--I went to my rental property that I was renovating--both units were vacant--and found that it had been broken into and all of my tools were either missing or packed up in the hallway. Walking into the apartment, I found the intruder fallen asleep in the living room!! Luckily, I was in a great mood and hadn't seen all of the damage to 4 doors. And luckily it was a Sunday morning. Right move/wrong move--I hollered at him to get out of the apartment and called the police. A confrontation with a drug addict, turning violent, isn't worth it for $1,000. Of course, that's my deductible.
I can't wait to go fishing. I have 15 reels at Bucko's Bait and Tackle in Fall River getting annual tune-up. Drop me a note and let's go fishing! captain@blackrosefishing.com
Thanks again for fishing with us and thank you for reading this far! With regard to the website, I’m always open for suggestions on how to make it better. I see it from my perspective, which used to be your perspective, but I’m outdated, I know. So, if you have any ideas on things you’d like to see on the site, drop me a note and I’ll work on it! Thank you all for a great year and I hope to meet some great new people next year and to rekindle our amazing relationships with my repeat customers!
Sincerely,
Capt. Rich Antonino, family, and crew