Monday, May 25th, 2020- Happy Memorial Day! 

Fish on!

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Wednesday morning we had a great group of fathers who chartered the boat to take their sons out fishing before school starts up again. It was a little bit bumpy on the water, with a steady northeasterly wind. It was manageable though, and the boys handled it well. The fishing was average, catching haddock, cusck and Pollock in 220 ft of water to the east of Gloucester. 

Wednesday afternoons half day trip saw the weather start to lay down, making for a nice afternoon once the sun popped out. With 30 people on board, it was a comfortable trip that produced some decent inshore fishing. There were haddock and cusk to take home, and some beautiful cod fish to admire before they were released safely. 

Don’t forget our small window to keep cod is coming soon. September 15 to September 30th. Write it in your calendar, make a reservation soon.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Saturday morning was a great 3/4 day charter with the folks from Catchlight painting. We had a beautiful morning to be on the ocean. The fishing was mediocre, with just a few dozen landed. However, these guys had an absolute blast aboard the Lady Sea. 

Saturday afternoon was a totally different animal than the morning trip. With a full open boat trip, lots of inexperience and just the right conditions, we destroyed the fish. We were lucky enough to land on a pocket of haddock sitting just 6 miles outside of Gloucester harbor. The bite started right away, and lasted for almost 2 hours. Our afternoon anglers managed to put about 75 keepers in the boat.  With kids, parents and grandparents all catching fish, this trip was a great one. 

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Saturday’s 3/4 day trip was a really nice morning on the water. We had a full 40 people on board, who managed to do a pretty good job fishing. We ended up with a mixed bag of about 60 keepers. From haddock and Pollock to redfish and cusck. With a little breeze, and temperatures in the low 70’s, it was a beautiful trip. 

Saturday afternoon was the 1:30pm to 6pm half day trip. The fishing was a little on the slow side, but the families on the boat had a blast all the same. We caught a couple of dozen keeper fish, but more importantly, the kids on board had a lot of fun experiencing the ocean for their first time.

Sunday’s 7 to 4 trip was a great day. We had 40 anglers on board, and they did an awesome job. Fishing to the southeast of Gloucester, the tide was tough to manage. But, this boat load of people handled it like pros. We avoided any stops where the dogs were overwhelming, and had a great steady day of fishing. With over 160 haddock, 30 or 40 Pollock and a whole mess of redfish, we had a great day. The pool winner was a 16lb pollock. 

Next trip is a 3/4 day on Wednesday. For reservations please call us at
978 559 1978.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Saturday morning we had a 7 to 1 open boat trip. The boat was full, and the weather was beautiful. The fishing wasn’t spectacular, but we managed to put a few dozen keepers on the boat. All in all a decent trip. 

Saturday afternoon was an open boat half day trip. With the wind blowing a little bit out of the south, we chose an area to the due south of Gloucester. The decision wasn’t a bad one. We managed about 30 keepers with just 30 people on the boat. The numbers don’t sound that impressive, but with a bunch of first time anglers and children on board, we consider that a win. We even had a group from the morning trip decide to come out on the second trip with us because they enjoyed it so much. 

Sunday’s all day trip was another full boat aboard the Lady Sea. We had a great mix of first timers and experienced anglers. Action was the word of the day. We caught fish steady all day, and we saw all the different species available to us in our corner of the ocean.  The morning haddock and Pollock bite was decent, but the dogs got a little overwhelming after a while. We also had to battle through the large cod, which were feeding voraciously. The largest of which topped out over 25 lbs. In the afternoon we changed areas to avoid the dogfish. We caught beautiful haddock, as well as a bunch of smaller Pollock and nice redfish. We also saw some big cusk and big Pollock. Awesome day on the water, with a lot of happy customers. 

Don’t forget that our brief window of allowable codfish is quickly approaching. September 15th, through September 30th, will mark the first time in 4 years that we can land cod. If they’re biting like Sunday’s trip, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to go home with a couple of big cod fillets to put in your frying pan.

Call for reservations, we’re expecting it to be s busy time for us.
978 559 1978

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Wednesday’s 3/4 day trip was a light load in all areas. With 16 people on board, we managed to put about 25 keepers on the boat. The weather was great, but the fishing was a little on the slow side. There were fish under the boat all morning, but they were being touchy and playing hard to get. The upside was that we finally got a break from the dogs. We did have 3 8 to 10 pound Pollock come over the rail. 

Thursday was a private charter 3/4 day. With only 9 guys on board, we landed about 35 keeper haddock and a bunch of nice whiting. One of the whiting was possibly the largest we’ve ever seen, at 27 inches long and between 5 and 6 pounds. The only down side of the trip was the 25 kts of northeast wind, and 5 ft seas. The guys handled it well, choosing to stick it out and fish on. 

For reservations please call us at 978 559 1978.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Saturday we had a private charter from 8 to 5. The weather was very cooperative, with just a slight breeze and a sunny, warm sky all day. With 40 anglers on board, we managed approximately 160 keepers throughout the day. However, it was a little bit of a battle. The dogfish have officially moved in all over the place. Although they’re here, the fishing is still pretty good, it just takes getting to the bottom quickly and making sure that you stay really tight down there. 

Sunday’s trip was an open boat all day trip, that was full at 40 people. The day proved to be very much the same as the day before, with those who knew how to stay tight to the bottom doing very well. We had about 140 keepers for the day, with more than half of those caught by 12 people. It’s a tricky game, trying to avoid the dogs and catch the desired fish. The most effective anglers tend to fish just 1 hook, while keeping there sinkers basically touching the bottom. It can be risky keeping your weight that tight to the bottom, they get caught and broken off sometimes. However it is a good trade off when you see the difference in production compared to those fishing higher up in the water column. 

Remember………. the official regulations have been solidified for the rest of the season. 15 haddock per person, with no closure until March. As well as 1 codfish per person from September 15 to September 30th. Because of these changes, the last 2 weeks in September will be very popular, book your trip soon. Also, we will be fishing right through to November this season, weather permitting. With plenty of haddock around and the Pollock showing up, it should make for a great fall.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

This Sunday’s all day trip was bittersweet. First off, the weather did not cooperate for the first half of the day. With a 4 foot sea coming out of the northeast, it was a rough ride out in the morning. Because of the seas, we decided to only go out about 13 miles, instead of the 19 to 22 that we’ve been doing lately. 

The decision paid dividends though, as we managed to put a solid 190 keepers or better on the boat. We had 37 passengers on board, and only about 30 fished effectively. 

Unfortunately, we had our first real all day battle with the dogfish. But as in other years past, it seems we have to fish through the dogs to get the quality haddock we’re looking for. 

The weather in the morning was about as rough as we are willing to take people out in. The only reason we continued on with the day, was the prospect that it was going to continually improve as the day passed.  Thankfully the weather people got it right.

In other news, the official regulations have been solidified for the rest of the season. 15 haddock per person, with no closure until March. As well as 1 codfish per person from September 15 to September 30th. Because of these changes, the last 2 weeks in September will be very popular, book your trip soon. Also, we will be fishing right through to November this season, weather permitting. With plenty of haddock around and the Pollock showing up, it should make for a great fall.

For reservations please call 978 559 1978.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Saturday’s 3/4 day trip was another good one. With 25 anglers on the boat, we managed to put around 60 keeper haddock on the boat with a few Pollock and cusk mixed in. Although it was super hot on land, a steady southerly wind kept the heat at bay, making it a beautiful time to be fishing off of Gloucester. Everyone on the boat went home with fish they caught, including the young kids. Unfortunately, we saw a dozen or so dogfish for the first time inshore this season. However they didn’t put a damper on the day.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW

Thursday’s half day trip was a beautiful day on the water. Awesome 4th, with some awesome customers. The conditions were perfect, and the fish cooperated pretty well. We only had 26 customers on board, but we managed 30 keeper haddock and a bunch of throwbacks. For half day fishing, that’s pretty productive.  

Friday’s all day trip was another light load on passengers, only 25 on board. We’re in a great weather pattern right now, the day was beautiful. Bait fishing was the most effective means, and right on the first stop we did damage. The bite was so heavy that we put well over 100 keepers in the boat in the first hour, fishing in 200 ft of water. Sadly the bite lasted 1 1/2 hours, then slowed down significantly. Throughout the rest of the day we made 3 more stops, continuing to pick at a decent pace. A cusk won the pool, and we ended up with around 120 keeper haddock. Not too shabby for 25 people. 

For reservations please call 978 559 1978.

FROM THE DECK OF THE LADY SEA
CAPTAIN MIKE & CREW