Current Waters: September Fishing Off Nantucket
Capt. Carl Bois •
There are still plenty of big bluefish around. Which is great because the striper fishing has been tough! You’re going to have to work for them. Hopefully, that will change soon if we get some weather to mix things up.
Bontio and albies are available by boat or beach. Find them at the rip edges and peninsulas like Great Point, Smith’s Point, or the Bonito Bar. We have been seeing them pop up in the channel and in and around the jetties at times as well.
Fluke has been our go-to right now. And they are delicious, so it’s great to have that fishery available. Fluke fishery closes on September 29th, so there is still time!
Remember that Black Seabass closed as of Thursday (Sept. 7th), so you are not allowed to keep any black sea bass now.
There appears to be a pretty awesome white marlin fishery south of Nantucket right now. If you can get out there and get into them, they can be a lot of fun. White marlin are the smallest of the world’s marlin species, but that doesn’t mean they don’t fight on the line. Known for their speed and agility, white marlins have long, slender bodies and a pointed bill, or “rostrum”, which they use to slash through schools of small fish, their primary prey. Longtime Nantucket fisherman Captain Scott Riddle runs a private boat, the Drummerhoff, and got into them recently. Some people say that this is the best the white marlin fishery has been in 30 years.
The inshore classic is in full swing. There is still time to sign up and participate in this five-week tournament. It’s especially great for kids to get involved and there are lots of prizes.
This weekend also marks the 14th year for the Bluefin Blast fishing tournament celebrating the bluefin tuna fishery. The goal of this tournament is to “give fishermen a professional and fun tournament for anglers and guests alike.” Tournament Director, Jonas Baker, puts on this tournament. It is all his effort – he IS the tournament.
The SOLD OUT tournament this year will be held on Sunday, September 10th. This tournament is trolling-only and is primarily a catch-and-release tournament. Since it’s the number of fish that count, anglers take photos and release.
First place goes to the boat that catches the most fish during the angling time on Sunday. Yes, there is a cash prize, but really it’s all about the bragging rights and stories. You know every fisherman loves to tell a good story. For those who choose to weigh in a fish, you’ll likely catch them at the weigh station between 4:30 and 6 p.m. (majority on the earlier side) on Sunday. The weigh station is by the Nantucket Angler’s Club.
We look forward to fishing in this tournament every year. Lots of great anglers and fun competition. There will be some familiar boats from our local waters. The tournament also brings in boats from around the region, so it’s also a chance to check out some great fishing boats in the Nantucket Boat Basin. Good luck to all the anglers!
We hope you all enjoy what looks to be a great weekend out on the water!