Canyon traffic jam ?

[JJ2468]

So with the bnew BFT regs. Who is going to switch to mainly canyon fishing?

[amarshall]

I'd be interested to see how many small center consoles start making the run instead of Regal or Crab Ledge.

I've been begging my buddy with a 31 Contender to make the run.

[JJ2468]

We are in a 30' cc and ONLY fish the canyons. We pass right over the BFT and just keep on going. One of my favorite things about going to the canyons is the lack of boats. Took the first trip east of Chatham last year and caught one nice fish and swore we would never go back. So many boats it looked like a Walmart parking lot on a weekend. I just hope things don't get like that. One thing for sure that will become a problem is trolling etiqutte. Seems like guys trolling for BFT will go right next to some and think nothing about. This does not happen in the canyons IMO. Someone will get way to close to some and all hell is going to break lose. Should be interesting.

[backman]

I love day tripping in fast center consoles to the canyons.

It leaves all that nice productive shelf water to those of us who can't go 30 knots.

[JSeas]

I do not think that much will change. The way most of the guys I know and fish with think is that IF the weather is good enough AND the water temp conditions (ie warm water eddy) are correct we ALWAYS choose the canyons over out east.

When the sea conditions are too rough or water temps not right we fish out east and catch a bunch of BFT.

Going to the canyons is a MUCH different trip then running out east. Even though, technically "offshore" when out east, it is not that far of a run to a safe inlet and always plenty of "buddy boats" around and very experienced charter captains close buy if anyone needs help. Canyons.. not so much! Many times fishing all alone, 100+ miles from shore, where weather patterns often change within the day.

I have a 45 Ocean, with all appropriate saftey gear, sat phones, onboard weather systems etc. and I really pick my canyon run days carefully.

Hopefully this change in regulations does not prompt people to push too far and result in tragedy.

J Seas

[JJ2468]

I agree with you 100%. We are a cc but only do overnighters and will never do a day trip. Cruise of 28kts so not crazy fast and we too have so much safety gear it is bordering on crazy. Going thru a bad storm in Hydro's 100 miles from the closet harbor is a lot different than 15 miles from Chatham. I hope we don't see some guy in a 21 Boston Whaler because it looks like a nice day and he thinks his boat is unsinkable.

[Reel Pursuit]

I'm with JSeas. If the weather is right and the temp breaks are there, I and most of my crew would take bluewater over bluefin any day.
I seriously doubt the canyons will turn into a parking lot as a result of the new regs. Although there might be an uptick in boat traffic heading south but it will never reach the proportions of going East or up on the Bank.

Now let's just hope the good bite happens in close this year to prove me wrong.

[MarkP]

My plan all along was to fish the new boat in the canyons, so no big deal...

MarkP

[Parapapam]

The canyons are a fantastic party bar with a very high cover charge. It keeps the riff-raff like me out....

The Sword on a quality 23 foot CC is a reasonable trip... and you don't even need to be that far out to catch. Anywhere south of the Lanes (really the Dump) is way to far for me.

I am glad some of the guys on this thread take me to the exclusive party bars sometimes... Boat Ho at your service...

Mike

[amarshall]

I'm real easy as well. Been dying to throw some gas money to someone for a canyon trip.