The Gulf of Maine cod season opens on Wednesday April 1^st (no this is not an April Fool). Speaking with numerous commercial rod and reel fishermen again this week has confirmed a huge mass of cod are on the bank just waiting to grab your offerings. They have been telling me that most all their trips they are able to take their 400lbs of cod within 4 hours of fishing. This is a hook and line fishery so that is some fast action for sure!

Many of you have taken advantage of my offer of a $50 discount on any charter you book for the entire 2009 season including tuna trips in the fall. Thank you so much! For everyone else,  you still have a couple days to get in on the deal. I will be ground fishing throughout the year and some of the best cod fishing we had last year was in July and August. Tuna should show mid June and we will be chasing them  until they leave in late October…If you haven’t caught a tuna on light tackle…you haven’t fished!

Speaking of tuna I have been reading reports of guys who have headed down to North Carolina the last couple weeks to get in on a great small blue fin tuna bite. These fish are called “small” but in actuality are pushing the 200lb+ mark. Jigging reels’ drags are burning up and lines are breaking as the anglers are finding how tough these fish are on even the best tackle money can buy.   If you have a weakness in your gear these fish will find and exploit it.  The good news is these are the same fish that will be here in June…the bad news is they will be even bigger, wiser and meaner.

I am going to a tuna fishing seminar next weekend and speak with some top gun tuna guides and decide on a couple new jig rod/reel setups to get ready for these fish. I have an idea on what I want to do but I want to see some of this gear in person and talk with some other professionals on what they are seeing/doing on the offshore canyons. I always enjoy speaking with other charter captains and fisherman as there is always something new to learn.

Finally, I know a lot of you are charter boat captains and individuals with boats  who read these reports. Thank you for doing so and I hope you all have a great season opener and full totes on all your trips this year. Now shut down the computer and get out there and STICK EM!

Tight Lines,