06-11-2002, 12:35 AM
STELLWAGEN BANK,MA- Cod Fishing June 8, 2002<br><br>Cod fishing on the shoals has been an early bite with the best fishing usually over by 8:00 am. Three groups experienced the early morning bite on Saturday-- Joe Servidio from Union Beach, NJ, Paul Dumond from Highland Mills, NY and Ted Czyerzerski from Norwich, CT. Whales and birds gave evidence to the feeding foray in the 100ft shoal-water. Sandeels were the attraction and the target for the medium cod and pollock. <br><br>On Sunday, Gary Kjelgaard’s group from Eagle Bridge, NY opted to leave and hour early, departing at 4:00, at Capt. Al’s suggestion. The group had one of the best trips of the season, jigging 40 cod and 40 pollock on the shoals before the fishing slowed. Then moving to the deep-water to the east—270 ft, they finished catching the limit of medium cod to 15 pounds as well as adding a few more pollock to the larder. By 9:30 the boxes were full and the anglers tired. <br><br>Bass fishing continues to get better and better as the season progresses. The weekend’s passing low and resulting wind made fly casting difficult. Nevertheless, two groups toughed out the conditions Saturday in Boston harbor. Tom Keer’s epoxy-head herring pattern with a Ray’s fly dropper proved to be the best producer while pearl shad rubber-baits and pearl-color slug-gos worked well on light-spinning gear. Sunday’s group Tom Freda from Hingham, MA had good fishing in the inner-harbor at first light and finished the day on the flats in Quincy Bay casting to surface feeding bass. 20-27 inch bass were the most common. One keeper of 30 inches took the surface presentation. Cold air and water temps definitely put the fish down. <br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com<br><br><br><br><br><br>Capt. Mike Bartlett<br>B-Fast Charters<br>www.bfastcharters.com