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| Graceful Drifter on the Westport River |
I first met Jim Turner when we were both working as Marine Biology instructors at the Bournedale Outdoor Education Center in Plymouth Massachusetts. I was impressed with Jim’s ability to integrate his own real life experiences from a lifetime of boating, clamming and fishing on the south coast with the marine science lessons being presented to his students. Today, Jim applies his years of experience to running fishing charters out of Westport Harbor. (See Westport Point Fishing Charters on Facebook)
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| Captain Jim Turner with a nice Fluke |
I’ve had the privilege of accompanying Jim on many fishing trips. The Westport area offers tremendous fishing opportunities due to it’s natural attributes. The Westport River is relatively clean with healthy populations of shellfish, and forage fish. Both rocky shoal areas and sandy stretches are found just outside the mouth of the river. More outstanding fishing spots are nearby and include: Gooseberry Island, Hens & Chickens, Pine Tree Grounds, and a bit further offshore, Browns Ledge.
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| A Striped Bass caught while trolling in early May |
The fishing season begins here as elsewhere at the end of April with the arrival of large schools of small Striped Bass or “Schoolies”. Within a couple of weeks larger keeper sized Stripers appear. However once the legal seasons for Black Sea Bass and Fluke
open up, that’s when the real fun begins. The Westport area provides some of the best Black Sea Bass action in New England. Big sea bass 20 inches or more are not at all uncommon during the month of May and into early June. We also manage to catch some impressive size Fluke and Scup at this time of year. Jim and I experienced one crazy day this past June when the Sea Bass were stacked thick from top to bottom over a rocky area in 20-30 feet of water. Jim used a squid baited bottom rig and I used a Bucktail Jig tipped with a strip of Mackerel. Not that it really mattered because at the height of the madness the fish were even hitting bare hooks. We each caught our limit of big 17 - 20 inch sea bass plus a couple of Fluke, 19 & 24 inches. We must have released over 70 fish that day!
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| Black Sea Bass |
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| Fluke |
As the water gets warmer in the summer we have to work a bit harder to find Black Sea Bass & Fluke. Fortunately great fish habitat is nearby in 50-60 feet of water. By late summer we are finding fish at 70-100 ft. Bluefish will also make a appearance about this time of year. They add nice bit variety and a whole lot of fun action to a fishing trip.
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| Bluefish and Black Sea Bass |
Just around the time that the Black Sea Bass season closes, (this year in Massachusetts the season closed on September 12th) Captain Jim begins to target another popular bottom fish, Tautog. Numerous rock piles in the waters off Westport provide great habitat for the crab munching Tautog. Last year’s Tautog fishing was fantastic during October and November. This year’s season has been off to a good start with Westport giving up quality fish in mid September. We are also finding more Grey Triggerfish this year, possibly due to the very hot summer we just had.
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| Grey Triggerfish |
The Westport River Area is a little bit out of the way for most people to drive to but it’s well worth the trip. Captain Jim is currently taking reservations for full day and half day charters targeting Tautog in October. I also recommend making reservations early to get in on some great Black Sea Bass fishing next Spring.
Black Sea Bass - Peak Season: May-June, September. Best Methods: 1) Hi-Lo Rig baited with Squid, Clam, Baitfish Strips and or Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet (red or chartreuse). 2) Bucktail Jig with a 4/0 Octopus or Circle hook tied one foot above the jig. Bait jig and hook with Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet plus squid or baitfish strip.
Fluke - Peak Season: May-June, September. Best Methods: 1) Spinner Rig baited with Squid, Baitfish Strips and or Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet (red, white or chartreuse). 2) Bucktail Jig with a 4/0 Kahale hook tied one foot above the jig. Bait jig and hook with Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet plus squid or baitfish strip.
For more information on this blog about fishing in Westport see: Westport Fluke and Sea Bass and Westport Tautog Sunday October 22, 2017
