Tagging Bluefin Tuna South of Martha’s Vineyard

In early August, Capt. Mike Hogan, Capt. Shaun Ruge of Riptide Charters and Willy Goldsmith of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science teamed up to conduct research for Willy’s PhD project regarding the post-release survival rate of bluefin tuna caught in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Check out the results of this study HERE!

UPDATED Striped Bass Citizen Science Project | MA Marine Fisheries

Capt. Mike from Salty Cape and Hogy Lures joins founder and CEO of The GotOne App, Luyen Chou, for a day of Striped Bass fishing the coast of souther New England! The goal was to catch striped bass and record data via the GotOne App on catch details to aid in conservation of striped bass here in Massachusetts. With the help of The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Citizen Science Project and the GotOne App, the crew was able to catch, record important data, and release multiple striped bass to aid in the study of Striped Bass conservation.

Project Steps

1. Start Your Timer: Using any form of time recording (phone, stopwatch, smartwatch) start your timer once you hook-up to the fish. Whether you have another angler on the boat, or you do it yourself, now is the time to start your timer!
2. Record the Fight Time: Once you have successfully landed your fish, note the time your first get your hands on the fish. Either take a look down at your time recording device or have your partner indicate the time, this will be your total fight time. NOTE: Keep your timing running even after landing the fish.
3. Assess Fish Condition: Now is the time to look at the details of your catch. Where was your fish hooked? Was it hooked in the upper lip? Was it gut hooked? Was there any blood when landing the fish? All of this is crucial data for the study.
4. Fish Measurement: Get a quick measurement of your catch. It’s important to note that any surface you are placing your fish on to be measure, make sure that it is thoroughly wet to insure there is no harm being done to the slime coating of the fish.
5. Revive and Release: Now is the time to release your fish. If you need to revive it, then take the time to do so. It’s important to note the condition of the fish as it swims off. Was it a strong release? Or was the fish reluctant to swim away at all? Once the fish has left your hands, you can now stop your timer.
6. Record The Data: Now it’s time to record all of this data on to your given data sheet. Fill out the given sheet with all of the data you gathered from the previous 5 steps.

Download The GotOne App

Become a DMF Citizen Scientist

Fishing Block Island | Topwater & Jigging for Big Striped Bass

In this video we join Capt. Ray Jarvis of Salt of the Earth Sportfishing as we steam south towards Block Island in pursuit of large Striped Bass. A mix of throwing large topwater plugs and jigging large plastics resulted in a stellar trip filled with screaming drags, sore arms, and giant Striped Bass! Follow along to get a taste of what Block Island has to offer!

Block Island, a picturesque gem off the coast of Rhode Island, has garnered a reputation as an angler’s paradise with its thriving striped bass fishing scene in recent years. The island’s pristine waters and diverse marine ecosystem have led to an abundant population of large striped bass. This boom in striped bass fishing has not only drawn seasoned fishermen seeking thrilling challenges but also attracted novices eager to partake in the island’s fruitful waters. As the island continues to preserve its natural habitat and support sustainable fishing practices, the striped bass fishing phenomenon on Block Island shows no sign of slowing down, promising an unforgettable experience for years to come!

Book a Charter with Capt. Ray!

How-To: School Tuna Trolling | Simple 4-Rod Spread

Capt. Mike from Salty Cape and @HogyLures loads up his 28′ Contender and steams South of MV in anticipation of cashing in on a hot school Bluefin Tuna bite. With the fish being scattered, he name of the game was deploying a simple 4-rod spread of the Hogy Directional Bird Bars. These bars are ideal for any angler who doesn’t have or doesn’t want to deal with outriggers on their boat.

The area South of MV (Martha’s Vineyard) is a renowned and highly sought-after destination for tuna fishing. With notable spots like “The Claw” and “The Dump,” this region offers exceptional opportunities for targeting both yellowfin and bluefin tuna. Its unique combination underwater plateaus and swift currents creates the perfect habitat for tuna populations, attracting them in large numbers. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream, coupled with the proximity to the continental shelf, contribute to the abundance of baitfish and seasonal tuna migrations. Whether targeting bluefin or yellowfin, anglers can expect a thrilling and rewarding fishing experience in the waters South of MV.

Approach

1. On this given day the fish were scattered over a size-able area. That means the name of the game was to deploy a trolling spread to cover the maximum amount of water. Other than periodic piles of bait, their wasn’t much action on the fish finder.
2. Running a search pattern is extremely beneficial when fish are scattered. This not only allows you to cover a larger area of water quicker, but also singles out which part of the area has the highest concentration of fish.
3. On this trip the water was very weedy. When fishing weedy waters it is crucial to frequently check your bars and take off any weeds. This will greatly improve your odds of hooking up and we found the more we were checking our bars for weeds, the more we were hooking up.

Technique

1. A 4-rod spread was all the was needed today. Personally, I’m not a fan of fishing more than 4 rods when trolling. I like to keep things as simple as possible, and with the use of the Hogy Directional Bird Bars, I am able to still cover a vast area of water with only 4 rods.
2. De-weeding was the key to getting bit. There was a lot of weed and making sure we were trolling clean bars was the ticket to getting bit.
3. Teasing fish played a big roll in todays game plan. Conditions were greasy calm and the surging og the bars seemed to entice the fish just enough to hit them.

Outfit

We were prepared for jigging and popping today. That being said, my conventional outfits switch hit as light-tackle trolling outfits too.

1. Rod: Hogy Hybrid Conventional Rod
2. Reel: Avet LX 6/3 2-Speed
3. Line: 80lb Braid
4. Leader: 1oolb Fluorocarbon
5. Lure: Hogy Directional Bird Bars

Tips

1. Surging bars can create a “FOMO” factor. You’d be surprised by how many fish are swimming up to your bars and not hitting them. Implementing the surge and drop technique, and you will often facilitate a reaction strike out of following fish.
2. Check for weeds! I can explain how important this was for us today. I understand constantly reeling in your bars and letting them back out is tedious, but this was the determining factor in getting bites.
3. Create a search pattern. This will allow you to strategically cover a a larger area of water and give you a better chance of vectoring in on a concentration of fish.

How-To: No Bait Fluke Fishing

Capt. Mike of Hogy Lures and Salty Cape walks through how to target Fluke in Nantucket Sound with no bait! With the help of the Hogy Jig-Biki Rigs, Capt. Mike is able to target a magnitude of groundfish species with no bait!

In this simple how to video, you will learn everything you need to know to get out and catch some Fluke. From making a series of long drifts and locating fish, all the way down to the exact outfit being used, Capt. Mike leaves no stone unturned in this how to video. Enjoy!

Approach

1. Idle around looking for piles of bait on the bottom. More often than not, you won’t necessarily mark fluke on your fish finder. Instead piles of bait sitting close to the bottom are a tell tail sign that there are some fluke sitting on the bottom below.
2. Make long drifts over areas that are concentrating the most bait. This will allow for maximum coverage of a general area and can really aid in locating patches of bottom that are holding the most amount of fluke.
3. Utilize the lightest weight jig you can get away with to hold bottom. You don’t want to heavy of a jig that you’re spooking anything on the bottom, and you don’t want to light of a jig that you are having trouble holding bottom. In this scenario, we found the 6.5oz Hogy Sand Eel Jig to be the ideal weight.

Technique

1. Slow drifts and covering lots of water was the key to success in catching a limit of fluke.

2. Lightweight rod and reel outfits offer the most comfort while jigging for extended periods of time.

3. Light weight braided line will allow a much faster sink rate with your jigging presentation.

Outfit

• Rod: Hogy 5′ 6″ Hybrid Trolling Rod
  
• Reel: Avet LX 6/3
  
• Line: 60lb Braid
• Leader: 60lb Fluoro
• Lure: Hogy 6.5oz Sand Eel Jig
• Teaser: Hogy 3/0 Jig Biki Crystal Teaser