Once again the shack nasties caused me to change things up and head out bottom fishing. While not my thing, we do seem to have a knack for it. I made up thae crew late yesterday (Bob Pink, Big Scott Pills, and Split) We headed out of Plymouth at 0730 and headed into 4-6' seas towards our lucky haddock numbers. The big Contender made short work of the big seas and we made a comfortable 35 mph into the head sea.

Once on site we set up and split hung a haddock, a dog, and a sea robin quickly on clams. Jigs only got us a few snagged sea herring. On the way out I marked allot of bait in some shallower water. There were whales and birds in the mix as well. I decided to head back to that location and take a look. This proved to be the move that made the day.

At the new numbers we had loads of life and the sounder lit up top to bottom. Instantly all 4 of us were hooked up on cod and some with doubles. Jigs, clams and teasers were all getting crushed before they could even hit bottom. We fished this area with a 1.5 miles drift and stayed on fish the entire time. The action was the best the guys had ever seen. we had about a 6 or 8 to 1 short to keeper ratio. Thats not a big deal when you landing them 6-8 at a time! All the fish were packed with sandeels and as fat as could be.

Around 1400 we decided to head for home. We had limited out all 4 guys on cod and had one keeper haddock. The ride home was fast with the following sea. At 40 mph it was a quick ride home. Once again the big boat ate up the water so well Bob Pink got to take a nap dispite the seas and the speed we were running.

Final tally for the day a conservative estimate of 250+ fish with 40 solid keepers. The jigs did as well as the clams today. 3 of us fished with Williamson's Benthos Speed Jigs with Fin S and Gulp teasers. Unlike as trip the jigs got bit just as much as the teasers and by larger fish. The water had some big swells but was very fishable. We started in 190 feet and moved shallower. All of the action was in the shallower water.

Overall just a lights out day of cod fishing. While not huge fish, the action was so fast and furious, numerous fish were taken by dropping to the bottom, rod holdering the rod to take a drink and grab a bite and before you could do either, the rod was doubled over! I'm still not a huge fnan of the bottom fishign scene, but with back to back trips like this it is starting to grow on me!
Good Luck,

Capt. Terry Nugent
Riptide Charters
www.riptidecharters.com