September Combo School Tuna/Bass Trips

We have enjoyed great action for school/medium bluefin at the Figs and Regal Sword. Many combo trips finish the day at Bearses tangling with stripers, bonito and blues. On 9/9 the Kovalcik family caught five school bluefin to 43" before noon. We steamed to bearses and caught four green bonito, three keeper stripers and a bunch of bluefish. A great finale to a great day.
On 9/18 we started trolling at the Figs with the Haynes Management group and immediately got crashed on the green Tuna Train. The fish hit three times but missed the hook. Smart tuna. Shortly after we boated and released a 42" beauty. With the tide running hard to the south we sagged down to a group of humpbacks feeding aggressively at the Regal Sword. Capt. Steve added a naked ballyhoo with Bait Shower Teaser to the mix and we made a pass by the whales. Bang. Tim was on to a bruiser with our lightest standup rod. A half hour later the tug of war ended with a beautiful 64" 140# bluefin hitting the deck. We finished the day at Bearses with five keeper bass, two bonito and bluefish. Mary won the bass derby with a 35" 22# striper. After a quick stop to say hello to the seals on Monomoy we cruised back to Allen Harbor and enjoyed the Sun set on a wonderful day.
This great fishing will continue right thru October.
Capt. Jack

Mary's 35" striper



Tom's 43" schoolie



Tim's 140# medium bluefin

Posted on 21 Sep 2006 by Captain Jack

Summer of 2006

The Maverick has been booked every day with two charters on many days. We lost a couple of days to weather but the days off were a needed rest and an opportunity to work on tackle. The fishing has been great with most trips catching all the bass and blues they could handle. Our largest striper was a 48" 40# bruiser from Stonehorse Shoal.

On a recent stand up tuna trip with my partner Dave on Offshore Pursuits www.offshorepursuits.com we caught four school tuna in an hour with the largest fish around 100#. We were using our Tuna Trains and East Of Chatham squid bars. Black and natural were the preferred colors.

We stll have openings in Sept. for striper and school tuna trips. Last year the tuna bite in Sept. was the best in years and this Fall is shaping up as a repeat performance.

Please take a look at our Summer of 2006 photo gallery. Thanks to all of you for a terrific summer.

Regards,
Capt. Jack

Posted on 23 Aug 2006 by Captain Jack

2005 - A Great Fishing Season

2005 was a fantastic year. We caught tons of stripers and blues early in the season on Tom Shoal at Marthas Vineyard and Bearse Shoal at Monomoy. Most were released for the future. The Maverick won the Allen Harbor 4th of July tournament for the second straight year. The most productive mid to late season action was at Nantucket (Sankaty), Monomoy (High Bank), Chatham (Inlet) and Nauset. The school/medium bluefin tuna bite was the best I have seen in years. We pursued this great gamefish in August and September on Crab Ledge, the "BC" buoy and the Regal Sword. We had many 6-8 hour charters with 10-15 plus tuna up to 90# on stand-up 30's and 50's. The charter was allowed to keep one to three fish based on the Regs at the time of the trip. In October we began Giant Bluefin Tuna fishing and had three beauties in three straight days. 700# plus, 600# plus, and 550#. One of our 2004 catches, 540#, was featured in the On The Water magazine TV show on NESN. The 550# catch in 2005 will be shown on the Offshore magazine TV show featuring Allen Harbor this winter.

Posted on 19 Dec 2005 by Captain Jack

New For 2006

REPOWER
Exciting News! We have repowered the "Maverick" with new Volvo Penta 430HP engines with trolling valves. The benefits to you are:

* Increased speed to 30 knots plus.

* No diesel smoke

* Quieter ride

* Increased range to include the Notheast Canyons.

CANYON TRIPS
We are offering one and two day overnight canyon trips for yellowfin and big eye tuna, albacore, blue and white marlin, mahi mahi, and night swordfish. If you have an interest in this fabulous fishing experience please contact Capt. Jack to plan a customized trip.

TOURNAMENT FISHING
For any of our anglers looking to share the fun and excitement of a big game tournament we are available for the Hyannis Anglers Giant Bluefin or Monster Shark tournaments. In 2005 we caught three giants (700# plus, 600# plus and 550#) in three straight days. This run began the day after the Hyannis tuna tournament ended. We were not entered because we had booked the tournament days for school tuna back in the winter. This year we will reserve those days for the tournaments. If you would like to share this big game experience please contact Capt. Jack for details and costs.

SOUTHERN TRIP (FT. Lauderdale and Grenada)
We just had a big snowstorm last Fri. and the temp went down to 5 degrees this morning.

I can't wait for spring, wish we were back in Fla. JoAnn and I just returned from a great southern trip. I caught two tough swordfish at night in Ft. Lauderdale with Capt. Cary Hanna of New Lattitude Sportfishing. It's great to see this fishery rebound. For more info click on the SFC logo on the left of this page. We kept the largest (165#) and released the little guy.



In Grenada, JoAnn had a 200# plus blue marlin on for a short time. I saw it come up behind, follow and inhale a smoker off the left rigger. It greyhounded with four beautiful jumps right behind the boat, took a ten second head shaking fit and spit the hook. An hour later she caught, tagged and released a 60# white marlin. JoAnn also had a couple of short strike sailfish knockdowns on ballyhoo. So we saw a "grand slam" but didn't catch it. We fished with Capt.Gary Clifford at True Blue Sportfishing. Gary runs the "Yes Aye" which started life as the tender on the 100' mothership "El Zorro". Grenada is a beautiful island with great bluewater fishing if you are down that way.

Posted on 15 Dec 2005 by Captain Jack

A Winter Wonderland

The view from my deck of the beautiful Wood River during the last blizzard.

However, Spring is on it's way with the stripers right behind. Dependent on water temperatures we will start fishing around the 1st of June.

Charter bookings are going well. If you are going to be visiting the Cape on specific dates please give me a heads up so we can talk about availability.

Thanks,
Capt. Jack

Posted on 19 Feb 2006 by Captain Jack

Capt. Steve

Congratulations are in order for our friend and mate Steve Riley.

Steve received his captains license (Ser. No. 1155982) Masters 50GT, Inland endorsed with OUPV, Near Coastal Waters and commercial assistance towing. Capt. Steve now has a higher ranking than Capt. Jack. If you see me saluting from time to time you will know why. Steve will still clean and package your catch though.

You will now have two licensed captain's on board for your safety and enjoyment.

Posted on 19 Feb 2006 by Captain Jack

Offshore Sport Fishing - Uninvited Guests

One of the favorite baits that Steve and I use for giant tuna fishing is drifting with live bluefish. We stop at Monomoy on the way out and grab four small blues which is about the max for my livewell. After steaming to the grounds about 35 miles southeast of Monomoy, we set up and deploy two bluefish on balloons. One will be set to swim on top and the other weighted to swim around 30 feet. Based upon the drift we will either chum or drop scent in the water.

Guest #1. JoAnn and I were fishing alone a few years back, using the same techniques, and watched the seine boat plane move over one pod of giants after another. As soon as the plane located a good body of fish, smoke would pour from the seine boat as it started steaming. The spotter plane would move away and then circle somewhere else to decoy all the sport boats away from the numbers it had given the seiner on a scrambled private radio channel. We brought in our bluefish, ran to the spot before the seine boat, put out the live blues with scent in the water and saw a few giant tails swim by. Five minutes later we had both balloons disappear and were tight with two giants. Unfortunately, after many rod switches, we only landed one giant tuna but had a great day of sportfishing at the seiners private party.

Guest # 2. Recently, Steve and I were swimming a couple of bluefish early in the morning east of Nantucket and saw a blue shark playing with our balloon. As we only had three bluefish, it could have been a very short day. I told Steve to crank in the bluefish by the blue shark as quickly as possible, and we would make a move. I jumped on the other rod and began reeling in slowly to get the second bait out of the area of the blue. As I reeled in the swimmer about 100 feet from the stern I saw a large object similar to the shape of a small submarine following the bluefish. It swam slowly at the same speed I was reeling. At first I thought it might be one of the small whales we had seen feeding in the area or a basking shark. Lo and behold, when this mamouth was about twenty feet from the boat I realized it was a great white just sizing up a snack. As I retreived the bluefish and pulled it over the gunnel, the great white's head came out of the water right behind the bluefish, turned and swam down the side of the boat. When its tail was at the stern I looked forward and its head was past the middle of the Maverick which is 38' long. Hello! A 17'- 19' great white.

Tightlines,
Capt. Jack, Steve and JoAnn

Posted on 14 Jan 2006 by Captain Jack

Maverick Charters helps boost "Guide for the Gulf" Katrina Relief Fund

The Katrina hurricane relief auction for Gulf Coast fisherman, sponsored by "Sport Fishing" magazine, has raised $40,058 for this non-profit fund. Maverick Charters Ltd. donated a day of sportfishing that had a high bid of $400 for this cause. The trip will sail from beautiful Allen Harbor Marine to fish the fabled rips of Monomoy for stripers and blues.
Happy New Year- wishing you the best in 2006.

Posted on 01 Jan 2006 by Captain Jack

Allen Harbor Charter Fleet

We have experienced a lot of wind the past couple of weeks. Despite the conditions stripers and blues have been red hot. Many trips were 50+ fish with many in the 40" to 43" class. Umbrella rigs, jigs and Tony Aceta spoons with pork rind were the ticket. The bass should reach the shoals off Monomoy this week and shorten the ride. Capt. Steve has five trips in a row starting today and we will keep you up to date.

The school tuna have shown up east of Chatham and if this season is anything like last we are all going to experience some great fishing.

Stay tuned,
Capt. Jack

Posted on 23 Jun 2006 by Captain Jack

What To Bring On A Cape Cod Charter

To make your trip more enjoyable we suggest that you include the following items when planning your fishing charter:

A cooler for your catch which can be left in your car or truck until we return to Allen Harbor. We will fillet, bag and ice any fish the party would like to keep for the table as well as suggest new recipes for you to try.

We have a variety of sunscreens on board but most folks prefer their own brand.

A camera is a must. Water resistant if possible.

Sunglasses should be polarized and UV resistant for the most protection and glare reduction.

A hat will also provide a great deal of sun protection.

Please bring a maximum of two coolers on board with your lunch, snacks and any beverages. Beer is fine in moderation but hard liquor is not allowed for your safety. We have water and ice on board.

No black-soled shoes are allowed as they permeate the white deck and require an hour of scrubbing with special compounds to remove.

Rain gear depending on the weather forecast as well as a jacket or sweatshirt. It is usually ten degrees cooler on the ocean than the mainland.

You should also bring any medications that are prescribed for a member of the party. Also, if anyone is prone to motion sickness you should purchase in advance and follow the manufacturers instructions. We are not allowed to
dispense any medication while at sea.

If there are any special requirements or concerns you should contact the Captain in advance so they can be accomodated.

Tightlines,
Capt. Jack
 

Posted on 19 Jun 2006 by Captain Jack

European Union Destroying Bluefin Tuna Stocks

The World Wildlife Fund provided the following report. It is very disturbing because North American fishermen have reduced quotas and attempted to rebuild this resource for years. Daily quotas and size limits were designed to enhance reproduction of mature fish. It has been proven with archival tags that many of our Northeast bluefin reproduce in the Mediterranean. The Europeans catch and keep any and all bluefin with the few regulations ignored and not enforced in many countries. All of us including the bluefin have and will continue to suffer from this devestation. This is their report.

Mediterranean bluefin tuna near collapse
Download

ATRT report 2005 [pdf, 8.48 MB]
TUNA FARMING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN [pdf, 561 KB]




Current levels of fishing are 2.5 times higher than the bluefin tuna populations can sustain.
© WWF/Carlos G. Vallecillo

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At stake is not only the survival of the bluefin tuna, but also the livelihood of thousands of fishermen and their families in Europe.
© WWF-Canon / Hélène Petit



Bluefin tuna, Tsujiki fish market, Tokyo, Japan.
© WWF-Canon / Michael SUTTON



18 May 2006

Rome, Italy – At the start of the commercial fishing season of the bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean, traditional tuna-trap fishermen in southern Spain are facing an unprecedented crisis. Catches are down by a staggering 80 per cent at this time last year, according to the Tuna Trap Producers Association (OPP51). WWF is alarmed that the entire Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery is now bordering on collapse.

“Six hundred families dependent on the tuna trap fishery are on the verge of ruin in southern Spain, like hundreds more across the Mediterranean,” said Marta Crespo, Director General of OPP51. “Humanity is losing a magnificent species as well as over 3,000 years of history. What is the EU waiting for?”

Tuna farming – the fattening of wild bluefin tuna in cages – is driven mainly by the Japanese market demand for sushi. This has dramatically increased the amount of bluefin tuna caught from an already overexploited stock in the Mediterranean by a growing industrial fleet. Increasing farming capacity in turn urges industrial fleets to catch even more tuna, regardless of the fact that population levels are very low. Industrial fishermen will go to any lengths to increase catch size, sometimes including illegal activity.

WWF fears that EU fleets will again this year contravene international fishing regulations in the Mediterranean.

The latest figures on tuna farming capacity officially reported to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) — the most important body for the regulation of the bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean — show an increase of 8,500 tonnes with respect to two months ago, resulting in a total authorised farming capacity of 51,012 tonnes.

It is shocking that ICCAT, having previously established a total allowable catch of the bluefin tuna stock of 32,000 tonnes, is authorising such an inflated farming capacity, which cannot be matched with catch size. This is clearly encouraging 20,000 tonnes of bluefin tuna to be illegally caught.

The EU plays a major role in the ICCAT and , as such, must take the initiative to drive forward effective recovery and management measures. WWF’s top requests include extending the seasonal closure for industrial tuna fishing in the Mediterranean, and improving regulation. It is now or never to save the bluefin tuna – this year is the defining moment for the species’ survival.

“One of the most important fisheries in the world is showing strong signs of collapse. Given its responsibility in this fishery, the EU has to take the lead at ICCAT in conservation and management measures,” said Sergi Tudela, Fisheries Officer at the WWF Mediterranean Programme Office.

“If an urgent recovery plan is not approved this year, including tighter quotas, it is highly likely that this fishery will disappear entirely in the very near future.”

For further information:
Gemma Parkes, Communications Officer
WWF Mediterranean Programme
Tel: +39 6 844 97 224
Email: gparkes@wwfmedpo.org




Page last updated: May 18, 2006. © All photos/graphics remain the copyright of WWF





 

Posted on 26 May 2006 by Captain Jack

Offshore Pursuits

I am pleased to tell all my friends that I am a partner in Offshore Pursuits.

This site is a great source of saltwater fishing information. reports and tackle.
www.offshorepursuits.com is a great resource for East Coast offshore anglers to post fishing reports and participate in our forum.

You will have the ability to share your ideas and techniques with top captains from Maine to Florida. From stripers to swordfish.

Thanks for your support and look forward to fishing with you, family and friends.

Capt. Jack

Posted on 01 May 2006 by Captain Jack

Spring Has Arrived!

Blossoms are on the trees. Spring is in the air. My Flycatchers are back and nesting.

Herring are moving up the rivers. Stripers are right behind.

Let the season begin. Our Striped Bass fishing will start at Martha's Vineyard in June, move to Monomoy in July, and spread to Nantucket and Chatham in August.

What a wonderful time to share life with family and friends.

We hope to share it with you. Give us a call.

Thanks,
Capt. Jack

Posted on 12 Apr 2006 by Captain Jack

Spring Fishing in the Fog

It is Memorial Day weekend and the Maverick is departing Harwich Port for Tom Shoal off of Martha's Vineyard in a blind fog.

Captain Jack, has a group of great guys on board all looking to enjoy a day of fishing for stripers and blues. The Maverick's course will take them over Horseshoe Shoal, the proposed site of Cape Wind, and bring them to an area off Chappaquiddick that produces very well in the early season.

Charter boats like the Maverick can't fish Monomoy, which is much closer, as the stripers have not gotten that far north in their migration.

As the Maverick crosses the sound there are a number of targets ahead on the radar screen. From experience the target size and speed indicates two of the ferries from Hyannis to Nantucket. One departing, one returning.

There are also other small boat traffic on the radar. Maverick's party wonders why he is not chatting with them. But, that is his mate's job as Cap't Jack has his head buried in the radar adjusting speed and course to avoid these targets.

Thankfully, none of the boats have to dodge the proposed generator and 130 turbines projected for this area. On a day like today they all have their hands full in this blanketing fog without the need for more hazards to navigation. Not to mention the additional time it would take to avoid that proposed minefield.

Once at the Vineyard they mix in with the fleet of charter boats which could only be seen on radar even though they were just a few hundred feet away.

They set the lines in and the fishing is superb. Each angler keeps a striper for dinner and the other 34 keepers are released for another day.

Massachusetts law allows two fish per angler but these guys are true sportsmen and conservationists. The large majority of charter boats release most or all of their catch keeping only what the party can use for dinner.

Now the guys can sit back with a beer and reminisce about the great day of sport fishing they enjoyed. The fog never does lift. So, the Maverick rides home in the Chatham Sunshine, the locals term for fog.

Captain Jack says "If charters canceled all trips due to fog they would hardly ever leave the dock and the good folks would not have the opportunity to experience the thrill of a lifetime. The recreational and fishing community doesn't need any more obstacles and safety hazards than Mother Nature already provides" And adds "Please help us find a land based or deep water location for any proposed wind farm."

Posted on 06 Mar 2006 by Captain Jack