Fishing Report
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July 20, 2010:
Greener Grass, right here

Sometimes you don't have to go far to find fish. The last couple of times out, before I had the boat up on plane, I spotted birds working close to Pine Island, and since I am not one to ignore a good thing I spent the time to get set up and away we went with fish to about 30" just minutes from the dock. The grass is not always greener on the other side. I guess this makes up for the 40 mile days looking for fish... I will take them wherever I can find them. It is July, somedays its easy, others not, there is so much bait in the water that I am very excited about what September may bring. Have a great week and Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

Previous Reports:

July 16, 2010:
Bluebird Days of Summer

Had the opportunity to fish with Tobin and Matt Cammett on a blue sky morning, beautiful, but not usually the best days for Stripers. The advantage of having knowledgeable fisherman on the boat however is that you can always find fish, but it sometimes takes a bit of skill to make them bite. Tobin and Matt were persitant and we ended up with 10 Stripers, the surprise was that we had only a couple of Bluefish hits, the results were some rather short soft baits that were cut off at the hook bend. The fishing remains pretty consistant with cloudy days and early and late tides giving up the largest Stripers. The Bluefish don't care what the weather is, if you find them they will usually bite. Soft baits, Fin S and Storm Shad in the 7" size with jig heads continue to work well, sand eel patterns with green and white or grey the best colors. Have a great week and Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 7, 2010:
The Heat is On

The warming water has slowed the fishing down, making it a challenge some days to find set up on feeding fish. Got to spend a morning with the Carmody boy's, they paired up on a Striper double shortly after sunrise, took a couple of hours to get two more as well as 8 Bluefish, not a bad morning. One of the best parts of this job, besides getting to spend time on the water, is having the opportunity to see parents with their children spending quality time together. The dividends paid on that time is not measurable. Hope you are enjoying the summer. Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 1, 2010:
More Great Days!

Hard to believe that the Fourth of July is right around the corner. Fair weather and lots of bait have opened up the fishing to good days on certain tides for Stripers and some jumbo Bluefish. My fly guys have worked hard with winds and small baits, mostly silverside patterns with soft baits like Storm Shad and Split tails working the best on light tackle, some topwater in the early mornings. Looking forward to the next few days with the prospects of comfortable temperatures and slight winds. Have a Great Fourth of July! Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 19, 2010:
A Perfect Day!

Some days are better than others, but once in a while the sky is blue, the water calm and the temperature mild. Last Saturday was that kind of day with chirping Terns diving in flocks as the Stripers drove bait to the surface. Kris was the top rod with fish to ten pounds; it is always a thrill for me to watch the face of a new fisherperson when he or she hooks their first keeper size fish — surprised and shocked at the strength and tenacity of our salt water beauties. We are seeing a change to smaller baits with sand eels and silverside patterns as well as assorted soft baits being the match that works. Have a great week and Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 16, 2010:
Big Fish!

Big fish are still the norm with this weeks catches consisting of mostly over 30" fish with the biggest ones in the 38" class, great fish on fly or light tackle. Nice weather and the absence of wind has made the fishing quite comfortable. Most of the fish are being caught on some semblance of a sand eel pattern, with split tail and jjig heads as well as storm shad in the 4" size. Lots of fish that are showing are being very selective in the calm waters above the rips, but patience and persistance works every time. Bluefish are starting to become part of the days catch, or should I say that softbaits with no tails left tell me that there are more bluefish around. Have a great week. Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 8, 2010:
Inconsistent - like the weather!

What a week, fog, lightning, torrential rain and more fog. The fishing had the same inconsistency making it a challenge to stay on fish. If the incomming tide was good then the outgoing went flat and the fish did not show, time to move. We loged lots of miles this past week but we also caught some nice Stripers and a few good size Bluefish. The Eastern end of the Sound had fish taking squid patterns with regularity when the bait was present, everywhere else dark brown and olive sand eel patterns about 4" long were the ticket to keeper sized fish. lets hope that this week is a bit quieter on the water, boring weather sounds good right now. Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 1, 2010:
Memorial Day!

Memorial Day, the day we honor our fallen heroes, the start of Summer in New England, and the start of the fishing season. The fish and birds have also recognized the time by showing up in good numbers and size. The first charters of the year were on the slow side but this last week the fishing kicked up a few notches with lots of fish in the 30" plus sizes, they are long and thin at this time but will start getting shoulders soon. Each day out we have tagged a few fish over 15#s on sand eel and squid patterns. Lots of bird activity at the race and points East, and hungry fish on both tides. June is a great time of the year, wish there were more than seven days each week! Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

October 26, 2009:
Until Next Season...

This was a season to remember, it started wiith Stripers at Watch Hill and hasn't slowed down all year. The Stripers were plentiful, with more keeper sized fish caught than in the past few years, the largest a 29# beauty on light tackle by Adam Dorey. We had several Grand Slams during the late season and witnessed more Albies in our waters than I can remember. October's winds were the cause of more cancellations than we have had in a long time. The flip side of that is that the days out produced record numbers of False Albacore into double digit weights. This past week fishing was slow along the Connecticut coast with water temps dropping and bait heading south; we found fish at the Sluiceway and Gardners, lots of Bluefish in the 8 to 10# size that smashed poppers on the surface and tore appart flies that dared to hook them, savage amusement at its best. Looking forward to the return of the big bass chasing herring at Montauk over the next few weeks. Those days are always a great way to end the season. My thanks to those who shared days on the water with me this season, I look forward to seeing you all in the future. Have a good and safe Winter.

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

October 13, 2009:
Raining Rewards

For those who take the chance and venture out with the predictions of wind and rain, they are usually rewarded with great fishing and fewer boats. That was the tell of the tale last weekend; the days started with some wind and the threat of rain, which did not materialize. What we found were Albies that were anxious to take hardware and flies, Deadly Dicks, smalll silverside imitations and anchovie patterns were best. We saw terns picking up butterfish but did not try to use matching patterns, the longer baits were working fine. Our fish came from the Sluiceway, Little Gull and Race Point. Matt Budge managed a Grand slam with Albies, Bluefish and Stripers, his brother John landed several Albies and Bluefish. Sunday brought afternoon winds and higher seas, but not before landing a nice bunch of Albies and a couple of bass. There are some very large Albies out there, I know of one weighed over 14 lbs. On my Saturday charter Matt had a fish on for 12 minutes that we saw fly by a couple of times, it pulled free leaving us with open mouths, it was a huge Albie. Hope the weather give us a repreive next week. I have openings for those of you that want some good late season action. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

October 6, 2009:
October's Brilliance

October's brilliance this year has a rival in the desires of fisherman, False Albacore.... Its been a long time since we have seen the numbers, size and willingness to hit that we have this season. The fishing has been unreal, if you can get to the Race, Watch Hill, Orient Point or the Sluiceway you will find fish and they will bite. The exception to this has been the large schools of fish on the south side of Fisher'e were they are selective and tough to get in the slow moving water. the flies of choice have changed to small anchovie and silver side patterns with small deceivers or albie whore's also working well. For hardware slingers the Deadly Dick and Cabela's small minnow imitation have been great. We found bluefish mixed in with the Albies and caught one for every Albie hooked. Haven't spent any time fishing for Stripers, everyone wants to catch Albies. The only problem with the abundace of these great fish is that it draws crazy people from all over the East Coast to chase them. We need to give a course on the correct way to approach a school of fish so that everyone gets chances at catching them, the run and gunners are a royal pain in the you know what. They just don't get the right way to do things......... About five weeks of fishing left, lets hope that the winds of October hold up for more days on the water. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

September 22, 2009:
Days growing short...

Despite the cool mornings, the days have been 10's, with sunshine, cool breezes, and hungry fish. The Albies are still around from the Gulls to Watch Hill, the challenge has been getting to the fish, setting up, and hoping that another boat doesn't cut you off before you drift into the fish. The albies were more selective this week, probably because they have breen pounded so hard the past three weeks. We had luck fishing small anchovie and silverside patterns such as epoxy and albie whore patterns in 2" sizes. Bluefish have not slowed down their onslought of the bait schools, and stripers are picking up with some days much better than others. The dilema is: do we fish bigger patterns for Bass or stick to the small stuff and target Albies, such problems..... This time of the year I wish that there were 10 days in a week so the season would slow down. Better get out there, time is getting short. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

September 16, 2009:
Transitions

This has been a transition week with a slow down of the unbeleivable Albie action of the past two weeks. This week catching them required more seaching, more stealth and more selective feeding by the fish. The Bluefish are everywhere and most of them are in the 2# class with larger fish in the mix. Managed one Bonito on a soft bait while catching one bluefish after another im the Race. Striper fishing is hit or miss unless you spend the time to looking for them; one of our anglers Adam Dorey had a good morning on Monday with a 29# Striper caught on light tackle at Watch Hill, he did a GREAT job and was rewarded with a picture to remember. Time is short and the days left to fish are dwindling away; the fishing time ahead is the best of the season, so enjoy. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

September 9, 2009:
Albies Aplenty

Well, the early arrival of Albies is no longer news, but the sizeable numbers of them and the increase in the size of the fish we are catching is worthy of news. Can't remember catching so many of these speedsters this early, but who is complaining. There are good numbers of fish from Plum Island, the Gulls, the Race and into Watch Hill and east. Pick a spot use a SMALL, I repeat, SMALL pattern that resembles juvie bunker or anchovie and you will be rewarded with the greatest fish in the Northeast. If you haven't been graced with a day in pursuit of them you are missing sheer joy, there is nothing like the blistering run of a false albacore, to say nothing of the beauty of the fish. For those that do not have the fly rod skill going for them you can still hook up by using one of two methods, tie an 18" piece of fluorocarbon on to the hook of the smallest castmaster or other hardware and add a small fly. You can also use a water bobber and do the same thing, cast into the fish, reel in slow and hang on, they give a good account for themselves if the tackle is not too heavy. I wish you all screaming reels! Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

September 1, 2009:
The Fall Blitz

The Fall Blitz has started early, we can only hope that it continues for many weeks to come. This last week has been a guide's dream: Bluefish in good numbers, Stripers that take on the surface in the middle of the day and now the first Albie of the year on the Tiderunner on August 31st, it doesn't get any bettter than the fishing is right now. The last two trips out required no long days looking for fish, or spending the day moving from spot to distant spot on the quest for fish. In typical fall fashion catching fish has only required reading the tide, going to a productive spot and settling in to catching fish throughout the tide. Spent an afternoon with our dearest friends the Niermans who are visiting us from Missouri; when you have friends for four decades they gain family status and are no longer guests. Needless to say I was elated when Wendel managed a Grand Slam with a couple of Stripers, half a dozen Bluefish and an Albie to end the day. Kris and Norma also teamed up on bluefish to keep me working to release fish. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

August 25, 2009:
Rule of Threes

The challenge of fishing in salt water can be summed up by my rule of threes: one day fishing is ok, but you have to work hard all day for a few fish, the next day is a good day with fish that are in the predictable locations and are actually feeding, day three is crazy with birds and fish everywhere... that day you have to work NOT to catch fish. This past week with fog so thick in the morning that a ride to Watch Hill on instruments took and hour, and we still had a challenge trying to locate fish, after a couple of bass on the surface we moved over to the Race to catch the outgoing tide. Bass were feeding on the small bait drifting under jellyfish and hammered poppers and sliders as they feed all over the surface. Ed, my topwater guy, managed at least 20 fish before the fog lifted, presenting a school of bluefish a couple of hundred yards away, ended the day with a couple of bluefish. The next day the fish were in the same spot with a lot more boats on them on a bright sunny morning. We managed five nice Stripers and a bunch of bluefish before the tide came full and we ran out of time. Fishing is getting better each week, lets hope it continues. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

August 21, 2009:
August Puzzle Pieces

If your desire is to catch Stripers the name of the game now is EARLY; first light and again at the end of the day are the best times to find our striped friends. The Bluefish continue to be fairly predictable with some good fish mixed in with the 2# and 3# fish that are schooling. If this storm that is heading up the coast doesn't do to much damage to the waters we should start to see more Bonito in the near future. Lots of bait in the ponds and breachways; looks like things are shaping up to be a good fall season, let's hope the weather is kind. Spent a day on a Berkshire stream with good friend and guide Jim Dowd, he fishes the Deerfield and many other rivers in his area a true western styled float trip. We hiked down a stream for over a mike and fished a crystal clear, cool mountain stream with 2weights and dry flies. Each pool contained several native, wild brookies that attacked the drys like bluefish on poppers. Well guys its time to think about what comes next and that is Albies, do I need to say more? Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

August 12, 2009:
August Puzzle Pieces

The parts of the puzzle are indeed coming together as we enter the month of August. Bluefish as well as Stripers continue to be the daily mixed catch with Bonito now being caught to the east. Its just a matter of time before Bonito will become part of the daily search here. Had a great evening charter with some nice folks rrom Ontario who were visiting friends in the area. As usual, Jackie started off the trip by hooking up to a Striper near Race Rock and was soon followed up by her son Reed who hooked and fought a good Bluefish that cut him off at the boat. We moved to the Gulls and found a large school of Bluefish that were feeding on the outgoing tide; they liked our bunker and sand eel imitations. For a couple of hours we managed a fish about every other drift for a total of a couple of bass and around 8 bluefish. The sunset was spectacular; the perfect ending to an evening with nice people. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

August 8, 2009:
Cabela Outfitters Day Out

What a pleasure it is to fish with fly guys that can cast on the deck of a pitching boat. Last Saturday we ran to Watch Hill at first light to catch the end of the incoming tide, I had two of Cabela's fly shop outfitters, Jon and Gordon on board; both very knowledgeable fly fisherman and both eager to catch fish.. After a couple drifts we settled to one of my favorite spots at Watch Hill and began to hook up, the first fish was a hard fighting Bluefish that cut off before landing, for the next couple of hours the action was pretty steady with two doubles on Stripers, talk about makng a guide feel good. On the turn of the tide we managed a couple more Stripers and one hot running Bluefish that had us thinking Bonito, but it was not. The hot flies were a small mushbouth and green and white deceivers, we had no luck fishing large herring flies, and settled down to all small flies. No birds and very few breakng fish, we fished structure blind and managed a dozen fish for the day. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 28, 2009:
Fog, rain, sunshine, rain, fog...

Fog, rain, sunshine, rain, fog and, no, not the weather for the week, just one day on the water! The fishing has been inconsistant as well, with fish showing one minute then vanishing not to be seen again on that particular tide. If you are willing to spend the time there are good fish to be caught by hitting a number of spots. The tale of one trip this week sums up the July experience. I took the ride to Watch Hill in the morning, no fish showing, then fished Napatree and the rips for three Stripers and one Bluefish, moved to the outside of Fishers, hooked and lost one very large bass shy of the net on a 4" baby bunker imitation — it was the kind of fish that gives you "the one that got away" bragging rights. Finished the tide on the west end of Fishers with another three bass with one a 29" keeper size bass that made the day. If you enjoy being on the water and don't mind putting in the time there are still fish to be caught during the slow times. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 21, 2009:
Summer's On!

Hit or miss has been the mode for the past week, one day the fish are visible and feeding, the next the water seems almost sterile with the absence of birds and fish on the surface. Stripers have definitely moved into summer mode, so a little more effort is needed to hook up. Reports of the tiny shrimp hatches that frustrate so many anglers have started this week in the Watch Hill area; catching the Stripers slurping them necessitates using a very small dead drifted tan to grey fly in a size 8. It can be frustrating but when you get the rhythm it can be very successful. Bluefish on the top first thing in the morning at the mouth of the Thames and also in the Race near the Middle, they are not particularly picky but sometimes hard to stay on as they chase the bait. They are feeding on small bunker and sand eels, watch the terns to see the size of the bait they are picking off the surface. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 14, 2009:
Bluefish Blitz!

The summer bluefish blitz is underway. For some the Bluefish is not as desireable a target as our beloved Striper. I for one do not feel that way; and despite the fact that every trip has Striper as the main goal, I relish the tenacity and speed of the Bluefish. Few fish can get you into your backing as quickly as a Bluefish and give you the impression that you have a fish on that is twice the actual size of the fish you land. The Race and Gardner's Bay have their fair share of Blues at the moment, and despite the fact that nothing could entice them to bite last Friday, this week they are ravenous so use a trace of wire or say goodby to flies and hardware. If you happen to be in the area of Cabela's in East Harford on Saturday the 14th I am hosting a seminar on "Matching the Hatch - A year on the Sound" at 11:00 am. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

July 7, 2009:
Is It Raining?

It has been an interesting week, with fog, wind and at times some very exciting lightning. I can count the days each season that we head back to the dock early, but this week with heavy rain and flashes of light on the horizon we ran back to the dock using instruments as the visiblity was nearly O! The other side of the story is that the fishing while not as consistant as in the past few weeks, still manages to yield our share of bass and now Bluefish on most trips. The Rhode Island shore and Watch Hill rips have accounted for most of the bass while the Race and Fishers have come alive with bluefish in the 3# or 8# size. Nice fish on light tackle or fly gear. Baby Bunker and squid flies as well as soft baits on spinning gear both work well. Looking forward to some sunny days. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 29, 2009:
More Great Fishing!

Steady is the word that describes the fishing this past week. Each trip turned out good, usually starting with cool overcast days that turned into partially sunny comfortable afternoons. The fishing has reflected the weather starting slow and ending up with a tally of decent fish. The Bluefish are more prevalent on the rips this week and keying on the squid and baby bunker. A couple of the Stripers hooked turned into Bluefish on the way to the boat. Striper fishing has remained consistant with still better than average size fish; more fish over 28" than in the past couple of years. We managed a couple of fish on each of the rips we fished with no obvious blitzes like we have found the past few weeks. Watch Hill and the Nappatree area have been good as well as the Race, beat time there at the end of the incomming tide. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 25, 2009:
More Great Fishing!

Despite the fog, threats of thunderstorms and in gereral early Spring like conditions, the fishing is good. One day last week while being raised up on rather large rollers we hooked fish on squid and sand eel imitations. Two days later after a ride out on GPS, just a little bit of fog, we found Stripers at Race rock that took anything that was put in the right spot. We have also seen bluefish on the surface at the end of the tide in the Race with lots of Terns and Gulls. One Bluefish coughed up 3" squid and 2" baby bunker, I guess thats why the terns were there. Our picture of the week is of Matt and Lori with their first ever Stripers, what a way to start. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 15, 2009:
Did You Say Squid?

This has been an interesting Spring! Fishing continues to be consistant when you can get out between the rain, thunder and wind. Stripers and Bluefish are in the Race and Bartletts Reef, we caught fish on Jiggiies and small deceivers. The best fishing so far has been Watch Hill where a combination of the right tide and weather that you can stand up in has consistantly produced the best bass on squid flies. We should have a couple more weeks of squid before the fish start on the small bunker. Wilderness point has not been very consistant but gives up some nice fish over 30" if you hit it right. Hoping for some more consistant weather patterns to help settle the fish. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 9, 2009:
Squid Hounds

The sand eel schools of the past two weeks seemd to get lost this week making it tougher to find fish. We managed several schoolies behind Napatree while waiting for the tide to turn at Watch Hill, the eager fish took small jiggies fished on intermidiate lives and made good accounts for themselves on light rods. The outgoing tide has been the saving grace on the rips, small pods of squid leaping out of the water as stripers slam them leaving brown clouds of ink drifting in the current where a squid was moments before. Squid flies to 7" in tan and light brown worked fished on depth charge lines of 350 to 500 grains. Most of the fish are in the 7# class with fish to 17#s on Monday. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198

June 3, 2009:

It didn't seem to matter this week where you fished or how you fished; if you spent time on the water you managed to catch Stripers and Bluefish. It seems early to be catching Bluefish but who am I to complain, some days they are a bleasing. Good size fish are being caught at all the usual places, Bartlets Reef, the Race, which has produced for the jiggers, the wire buys and even light tackle on the surface for Bluefish at the end of each tide. Watch Hill has a solid run of bass iinto the 30" plus sizes, the word there is a mix of squid and sand eels. Caught a 24" bass at Race Rock that was tagged with a Literal Society tag, the report that came back was that the fish had been tagged in March in the Hudson River. Nature sure is remarkable. Have a great week!

Tight Lines to all,

Capt. Mike

Tiderunnercharter
www.tiderunnercharter.com
1-413-427-1198