Sunday September25, 2016

Today we had a scheduled full day trip. It’s a amazing the difference a few hours makes on the North Atlantic in late September. The buoy report had 5.5 feet every 5 seconds for a wave report, by the time we got to the fishing grounds it was 4-6 ft with a few around 8 ft every 3-5 seconds, a swell from the East, a wave chop from the Northwest and basically we were in a washing machine.

This did not create ideal conditions for fishing or catching. Most fish caught were small pollock, haddock were almost impossible to keep on the line in these conditions. It was ideal for jigging cod and pollock. We ended up with a few red fish, pollock, and nice cod, but under the conditions, we called the trip early for the safety of the customers and crew, we felt it was the right decision, so we came in early. Safety first.

Saturday September 24, 2016

Today, we had a morning half day charter which got cancelled due to the forecast of heavy seas from the front that moved through overnight.

The afternoon 3/4 day trip was a go thanks to the morning calm. The forecast was nasty, but we were pleasantly surprised by 2-4 ft seas that laid down to 1-2 ft for the ride home. It really turned into a nice afternoon. The fishing was good, we cut fish to the break water with a nice mix of cod and haddock with a few pollock mixed in. We had a person with a double keeper haddock catch which we always find special. We fought something big for about 20 minutes, we suspect it was a blue shark, but we never saw it. Whatever it was, it took a fish close to bottom, and took line out and around the boat, tuna? Blue shark? we’ll never know……Good times.

We have the following trips scheduled for next weekend…………..

Saturday, October 1st, 2016  Half Day Fishing 1pm-5:30pm
Sunday, October 2nd, 2016   3/4 Day Fishing   8am – 2pm

For reservations, please call us at 978 559 1978

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Monday May 30, 2016 All Day Fishing

Full day fishing on Memorial Day with 24 anglers aboard, we headed out the river under cloudy, rainy skies. It did not look like much fun when we left the harbor, a little southerly wind with a light 2 foot chop in heavy rain. But as luck would have it, the wind died out, the rain went away, and the ocean became flat calm. A great day on the ocean, the fish were hungry and we were there to feed them.

Letting the customers write the fish report as they left the boat, “great trip” “lots of fun” “really had a great time” “yeah, we got fish, lots of fish!” The fishing was good in the morning, very good during mid day, and we left the haddock biting at the end. When it was all done, everyone was tired of seeing the elusive cod that hampers our catching ability of keeper haddock, they have almost become dog fish type nuisance. I guess in the end, that is a good thing, sort of.

Catch included mostly cod again, a good number of haddock, better than yesterday, a few more cusk in the mix with a couple more pollock. A 10# cusk stole the pool today, but  not a surprise, as haddock don’t have the density of cusk. Another very good day aboard the Lady Sea.

Next week we have the following trips available………..

Friday, June 3rd, All Day Fishing  7am – 4pm
Saturday, June 4th, All Day Fishing  7am – 4pm
Sunday, June 5th,  3/4 Day Fishing 7am – 1pm
Sunday, June 5th, Half Day Fishing 1:30pm – 6pm

Give us a call at 978 559 1978 to make your reservations soon.

From the Deck of the Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew

We left the dock with a full boat of eager anglers under cloudy skies and a brisk ENE wind. We sailed around the breakwater and pounded into a 3-5 foot sea. A couple miles offshore the fog settled with us with those seas creating a great recipe for sea sickness. By the time we got to the fishing ground, we had visibility of less than a mile, chilly breeze and a cabin full of less than eager anglers, about 1/3 of the patrons fell victim to the dreaded motion of the ocean.

On the way to the fishing grounds we sailed through the first school of tuna pounding the surface that we have seen this year. Fishing was very good for most of the day, after the mid day tide change, the bite somewhat dissipated and became a steady pick. Most fish caught was by far the protected cod species, many of which would be keepers in August, close to 150 cod were caught and released today. Haddock was our second most captured species, roughly 2 shorts for every keeper, I know a couple anglers had between 6-8 keepers, and a few others had 4-6 for those who attempted and stayed at the rail.

Rounding out the catch was a cusk, a pollock, a handful of dogfish, a sculpin, and our largest wolffish and largest fish of the year, at 20+ lbs, and released alive.

The cusk was a 5 lb pool winner for our trip today caught by one of our regular retired Marines, only appropriate for Memorial Day, Semper Fi!

On the way back to the dock, we had some dolphins jump past our bow, with the seas to our stern, it was a very comfortable ride home. Many were very happy to see the breakwater emerge through the fog.

From the Deck of the Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew

Friday, May 13th, 2016.   What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

We left the dock at high tide with partly sunny skies. It was a great day to be on the ocean, a little wind, a little fog, and a little sun. Sea sickness was not a problem.

We went to a little different place today, a little research mission, but reports were good in this area. It was a slow pick of cod, Pollock, haddock, and redfish before noon. After the tide change, it was very good, haddock, redfish, and cod became somewhat savage. Very few lines got to bottom without a fish………BUT, we also had to deal with dog fish! Everywhere we went, had some doggies. We had to work around them as best we could.

We made many moves today, typical of spring fishing, but when it was all said and done, people seemed happy, 5-8 fish per person, and the crew was still cutting fish
through the breakwater.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 2015

We played host to a ½ day fishing charter, birthday party. It was a beautiful ride to the fishing grounds with the sea on our stern. When we arrived and started looking for fish the wind piped up over 15 knots out of the west and continued to build to 3-5’ choppy sea. It was perfect fishing and catching weather except for those that are not used to it. Really, a typical October day. We caught a bunch of fish, cod and haddock all of which would have been keepers during the summer of 2014. It would have been a ½ day trip to remember, but alas, October 2015, they all had to be released. Also in the catch was a bunch of sub legal Pollock and a whiting. We pounded our way back to Gloucester Harbor, like driving in a car wash, but the guests and crew made the best of it, and thankfully, it was a ½ day trip and a short ride.

That wraps up our 2015 fishing season. This year, despite the new regulations, more people caught fish and took fish home for dinner this year than any of the past 5 seasons. Shortly, the boat will be hauled for the winter, last year we focused on many cosmetic upgrades, this year, we plan to strip and rebuild the engines and some of the mechanical parts of the boat. The rods and reels will be cleaned and rebuilt, with many new rod and reel set ups added to our arsenal.

This year, look for us at the upcoming fishing expos  in Providence, Rhode Island and Boxborough, MA.  We look forward to seeing you there.

New England Fishing & Ourdoor Expo, Boxborough, MA          January 29th -1st, 2016
www.nefishingexpo.com

New England Saltwater Fishing Show, Providence, RI            February 26th – 28th, 2016
www.nesaltwatershow.com

We want to thank all our customers for a memorable year of fishing, charters, and harbor cruises and look forward to another great 2016 season.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

FALL FISHING – September 26th & 27th

Fall weather is upon us, where the air temperature becomes more crisp and the wind more unpredictable. Saturday, we had a ½ day trip scheduled, but the wind never let go as anticipated, so we had to cancel, 20+ knts with 4-6 foot seas is not worth the risk of injury to our customers or our crew.

Sunday we ran a ¾ day private charter. A beautiful day on the water, 100% sunshine, light winds and calm seas. Early in the trip, we had a long 2-3 foot swell, but by the time we arrived at the fishing grounds it was down to less than 2 feet and very comfortable. The fishing and catching was great from start to finish. Cod and haddock ruled the day, we easily would have had our haddock bag limit if it were legal to retain them. We also had a few cod over 15 lbs, which of course we returned to the ocean alive. In terms of fish that we could keep, the first fish on the boat was a pool winning  8 lb cusk and later we got a few red fish. We got to wrestle with a blue shark for a few minutes and we saw a small Minke whale on the ride home, but other than that, quiet on the sea creature front.

This week is looking a little suspect as we expect a pretty good blow in the middle of the week possibly extending to the early part of the weekend, but it is fall, and the weather can be unpredictable.

We will be running a 3/4 day on Saturday from 8am – 2 pm, and the Half day on Sunday from
12pm – 4:30 pm, weather permitting. 

Please call 978 559 1978 to make your reservations.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Thursday August 13, 2015 Repeat.

The weather could not have been more ideal, cool morning, low humidity, light variable wind and clear skies. Today was a full day trip, many of our regulars were aboard once again.

The fishing and catching was great all day. Easily obtaining our haddock limit, a couple pollock and cusk rounded out the catch. It took the crew all the way to the breakwater to cut fish. Our most seasoned angler, Gene, Semper Fi ! took pool honors for the second Thursday in a row, this time with a cusk. I did not get a weight on it.  The blue sharks are here and a little annoying, but exciting too, right Tommy? Lucky you didn’t break your rod, the same one that was handed down to you and you threw over board a couple trips ago and was fortunate to recover.  

One unique sighting today was a large sea turtle swimming on the surface. Too bad summer is winding down, the fishing and catching has been so good this year.

This weekend we have the following trips available….

Saturday – 3/4 Day Fishing from 7am – 1pm

Saturday – Half Day Fishing 1:30pm-6pm

Check out our schedule for next week on our website at gloucesterfleet.com

From the Deck of the Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew

Thursday, August 6th, 2015 All Day Fishing

Today was our first trip since returning from a week in Rockland, ME tendering for the USS Tortuga at the Maine Lobster Fest.

The weather could not have been more ideal, cool morning, low humidity, light westerly wind and clear skies. Not exactly an ideal recipe for catching fish, but the fish missed as they were ready and waiting to bite.

Today was a full day trip, many of our regulars were aboard, telling stories of what they did while we were away and how happy they were that we were back to fishing! These people enjoy fishing and will fish other boats when we are unavailable, but keep coming back to the Lady Sea, which a compliment to the experience we provide and we appreciate their loyalty.

The fishing and catching was great all day long. Haddock were the rule of the day, a couple pollock and cusk rounded out the catch. It took the crew all the way to the breakwater to cut fish. Our most seasoned angler, Gene, took pool honors with a pollock, I did not get a weight on it. Too bad cod don’t count this year, huh Mark? Mark’s cod would have been the winner. The blue sharks are here and a little annoying, but exciting too.

 HA, take a look at this picture, puts the Lady Sea in perspective………..

We have a busy schedule coming up with charters and open boat trips. Keep in mind, only a little over 3 weeks until the haddock season closes. With the number of pollock, cusk, red’s, hake, mackerel, and whiting around, we intend to offer trips into September and beyond if possible.

We have the following open boat trips scheduled:………………

Wednesday, August 12th – 3/4 Day Fishing 8am – 2pm
Thursday, August 13th – All Day Fishing 7am – 4pm
Saturday, August 15th – 3/4 Day Fishing 7am – 1pm
Saturday, August 15th, Half Day Fishing 1:30pm-6pm

Please call us at 978 559 1978 to make your reservation.

From the Deck of the Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew

Thursday, July 9
Half Day Trip

Mid week, the Half Day trip was very good. Seem to be quite a bit of action around the boat. For a half day trip, we got about 30 keepers and many throw backs. Seemed to be some new juvenile cod in the area that we have been fishing so we will start looking at some of our other in shore spots to avoid these fish.

Friday, July 10
All Day Trip

The rain cleared just as we threw the lines, with a light crowd of 19 anglers, we headed for the full day trip. About a half mile off the break water we had our first whale sighting of the weekend. We got to the fishing grounds and a big seal was swimming close by, not long after that, an ocean sunfish swam around the stern, and by days end, we had our first blue shark sighting of the year. We caught our haddock bag limit by noon, we found some nice size cusk and pollock to round out the catch. A 10 lb pollock took the pool over a 9.5 lb cusk. The dog fish have arrived, but have not been too bad yet.

Saturday, July 11
3/4 & Half Day Trips

The 3/4 day trip from 7am -1pm, had a very pleasant day of fishing. The fishing was good from start to finish. The day grounds gave us a variety of haddock, pollock, red fish, and cusk.  We also caught some mackerel as well. It’s a great trip for people that don’t want to give up an entire day. A couple dog fish(sand sharks) were caught which is always a hit with the younger generation, not so for the crew.

The afternoon Half Day day trip was a little slower, probably due to the calm weather. There were still plenty of fish on the sounding machine, but the bite was definitely off. I knew that when I saw a foul hook haddock on a bait rig come over the rail. Still another great day on the water.

Sunday July 12
Private Charter – All Day Fishing

Sunday, Funday….We have a number of private charters each year that we really look forward to hosting. Today was one of those events where the people who rent our services include us in their fun. The weather was perfect, the cigars were tremendous, and the fishing was great. A 2 stop day on a full day trip is very rare, but the fish kept coming over the rail. It was a large group and it was tough to keep track of each fish, but we did have a nice variety, mostly haddock by the end of the day.

Our schedule for this coming week is:

Tuesday, July 14th – All Day

Friday, July 17th – All Day

Sunday, July 19th – All Day

Give us a call at 978 559 1978 to make your reservations soon.

From the Deck of the M/V Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew

Friday, June 26th, 2015
All Day Fishing  7am – 4pm

Excellent day of fishing. Today we had a full day open boat trip to Tillies. The fishing and catching was great from start to finish. Most fish caught were haddock in the 3-5 lb range with a couple larger ones in the mix. Cod were plentiful as well, all released back to the ocean alive. We caught our largest fish of the year, a 21 lb ‘steaker’ cod which of course was returned to it’s home unharmed. Some of our regular anglers said today was the best day of fishing they have had in many years. Then there our poster boy of good luck, Tommy. He recently acquired his father’s rod and reel, a hand me down as his father upgraded. The rod and reel were gently used but in great condition. This was Tommy’s maiden voyage with his new toy, well, Tommy fumbled it right over the rail to a watery grave, or so we thought as a little while later, another angler caught his rod in the ocean floor and brought it back to the surface. Tommy, it’s better to be lucky than good! And you will never hear the end of it from the crew or your father!

Saturday, June 27th, 2015
3/4 Day Fishing 7am – 1pm

Is it shark week? On the 3/4 day grounds, the dog fish have arrived chasing haddock up from the depths, tangling lines, and just being a nuisance. Working around the dog’s we had a very good morning trip with a wide variety of fish and many obtaining their haddock limits. A variety of pollock, cusk, and redfish rounded out the catch, with a 9 lb cusk beating a 7 lb cusk for pool honors. We had an ocean sunfish, Mola Mola, visit us on our first stop. A very productive trip in beautiful weather.

Saturday, June 27th, 2015
Half Day Fishing 1:30pm – 6pm

The afternoon half day trip was a bachelor party charter. These are usually fun trips with or without the fish. The fish cooperated, the dog fish have not found the in shore grounds and we had constant action for the entire trip. The majority of the fish caught were cod,  which were gently returned alive. We also got a mix bag of haddock, cusk, mackerel, and pollock.

This week, we put the fishing gear away and work as the shuttle service for the proud men and women of the USS Tortuga for the Fourth of July celebrations in Bristol, RI.  If you have time, there will also be a tour of the ship opened to the public.  Check with Rhode Island’s Chamber of Commerce for the exact time.

 Have a safe and happy 4th of July.  Our next fishing trip is scheduled for………………

July 9th, Half Day   1:30pm – 6pm
July 10th,  All Day  7am – 4pm
July 11th,  3/4 Day 7am – 1pm
July 11th, Half Day  1:30 pm – 6pm

From the Deck of the M/V Lady Sea
Captain Mike & Crew