Current Waters

Current Waters: Black Seabass Season

topspinack@gmail.com — Fri, 23 May 2025 00:36:57 GMT

Originally Published May 22, 2025

The charter fishing season has kicked off!

As we get back into our recreational fishing season, it’s a good time to refresh your knowledge of the fishing regulations. This year there have been some changes to the recreational fishing regulations that will be good to know before you go.

This year, Massachusetts has introduced new recreational saltwater fishing regulations, including changes to how striped bass are measured, new size and possession limits for Atlantic bonito and false albacore, and restrictions on shore-based shark fishing. The full list of regulations for each species can be found on the Massachusetts fisheries site . But we’ll look at a few of the regulations that may impact Nantucket anglers a little more than others.

For the striped bass measurement piece, it is more of a clarification on how the fish are measured than an actual change. It’s always been a pinched tail to meet the minimum length. Now, they are specifying how to measure to ensure that this fish is under the maximum length. Basically, it’s pinch the tail for all the measurements and keep the mouth of the fish closed. The slot limit of over 28” and under 31” is still the same.

There have been some pretty significant changes to shore-based fishing for sharks. Restrictions have been put in place on shore-based chumming, casting, and shore-based shark fishing. For those that do it, you will definitely want to read the regulations for the details.

Why these regulations and why this year? Shark fishing from the beach is something that has become more and more popular in recent years and not just on Nantucket. In some areas, people are targeting great white sharks from shore. While the Department of Marine Fisheries (DMF) regulations already prohibit attracting and targeting great white sharks, it has become evident in recent years that these regulations are difficult to enforce and in need of clarification. Fishing for sharks from shore has, in some cases, been in direct conflict with public safety on recreational beaches. Haven’t we all seen Jaws?

DMF is trying to better restrict the targeting of white sharks where they are most commonly found, so they delineated an area where anglers are prohibited from fishing from shore with a baited hook designed for white sharks ( see the regulations for specifics ). The map doesn’t include Nantucket for this, but other regulations apply. DMF is also restricting chumming from sunset to sunrise and no motorized devices for launching bait or chum (for example drones, bait cannons, RC boats). I have yet to see a toy RC boat deliver chum from the shore, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has tried it.

Another restriction that affects us is that recreational fishing for cod is now completely prohibited in our area – a change for this year. This is unfortunate.

Later in the season, you’ll want to be prepared with the new regs for Atlantic Bonito and False Albacore. A minimum size limit of 16 inches and a possession limit of five fish per person are in effect for both species combined. It concerns me that these two species are lumped together. Putting them in the same category when they are two distinct species can have an effect on the individual species – different breeding cycles, behavior, and size of maturity. The state purports that this is being done to limit fishing while they gather more data, but we’ll have to see how this turns out after this year.

You can look at these regulations as a loss or a gain but this could have been a lot worse. Some of the proposals that were on the table were much more impactful to the fishery than what we ended up with. Lots of public comments, letter writing, and meetings happen in the off-season by all those invested in the industry. We captains do more than just fishing.

Fishing report:

We had a great start with the opening of black seabass last week. It’s a refreshing change from how we started the season last year when the black seabass weren’t around much in the spring.

It’s been windy ever since last weekend so we’re really looking forward to getting back at it as soon as things die down. I suspect that when this weather breaks, the boat anglers will find that striper fishing is improving as well. This time of year, I feel like you can catch them with most techniques.

Stripers are finally being caught from the beach which is exciting. I’m sure it will get even better when this weather breaks. For the latest on stripers, keep an eye on the Nantucket Sea Run Opener leaderboard . The Spring Sea Run Opener is Nantucket’s catch-and-release striped bass tournament. This charity tournament is all about getting back outside after a long winter and enjoying the best of what Nantucket has to offer. There are lots of great prizes for the first, the largest, and even the smallest fish. The first was already caught, but there is still room to knock out some of the leaders. Check out all the info on the tournament website and there is still time to join in.

Until next tide…

https://nantucketcurrent.com/opinion/current-waters-black-seabass-season

Current Waters: Nantucket Fishing Report With Capt. Carl Bois

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:53:54 GMT

Originally published September 6, 2024

Do you feel that little bit of crisp in the air? I love this time of year. I have always loved the cool mornings and a warm sunny afternoon. We can appreciate the nice days and sleep well in the cooler nights. And yet, the shorter days remind us that the winter blanket is coming…eventually. In the meantime, there is still plenty of fishing.

The striped bass fishing isn’t the “easy” button it has been but it’s still pretty good. It requires a little finesse and smaller presentation, and you might want to think about your leader size. And whenever we have a run of bigger tides, you’ll see it get a little easier. Just keep at it.

It’s the last month of fluke which closes September 23rd. Pick one of these beautiful September days and stock up while you can. They’re out there.

As a reminder, black seabass closed September 3rd, so you can’t keep any more of those. You’ve got to wait until next spring sometime (usually mid-May).

There are definitely some bluefish in some of our striper areas. Which means there will be some big bluefish caught for the tournament for sure. With that said, congratulations to all the winners of the August Blues tournament! What a great tournament for such a good cause. It’s hard to believe this is only the second year of that tournament. It really brings people out and focuses on anglers. We’re already looking forward to year three!

From a Captain’s standpoint, the tuna fishing has been somewhat stressful. We’re having to work for it since they are on the move chasing bait. Every day is different which is what makes it exciting. It’s getting better every week so it looks like we’ll have a good fall for tuna and striped bass. Nantucket has a group of Charter Captains that work together very well. We communicate about the fish and watch each other’s backs. This enables us to stay on the fish and produce. We have a pretty good network here. So the end result is that we’re landing bluefin tuna with our group effort. It’s a big ocean even with a network of people.

In addition to the world-class tuna fishery, fall fishing is when we get to focus on the grand slam of Nantucket Fishing; bluefish, striped bass, false albacore, and bonito. The Nantucket Inshore Classic, which kicks off this weekend, targets that “grand slam” and is a great tournament for tracking the change in the season as we begin to transition to cooler air and then cooler waters. The 19 ^th annual Nantucket Inshore Classic fishing tournament kicks off this weekend Sunday, September 8 ^th, and runs through October 12 ^th . The opening gam for the tournament is Saturday, September 7 ^th at 5 pm at the Nantucket Anglers Club. It’s always a fun time catching up with people after the busy summer and talking fishing. The tournament is hosted by the Nantucket Angler’s Club to raise money for their scholarship fund, but you don’t need to be a member to join in the fishing fun. So go ahead and register, pick up a ruler at one of the local tackle shops, and cast a line. Stripers, albies, and bluefish should all be good for a while. The cooler water and weather events change patterns, but these species will all be around for a bit longer. For those in the tournament, the bonito will be the first to leave our cooler waters, so they should be the first species to target. To compete for the grand totals, you’ll need a bonito on the board! Best of luck to all the anglers in the Inshore Classic! The sun hasn’t set on the fishing. Even as schools start and people leave the island, the warmer maritime climate of second summer keeps the fishing good.

With the change of season, it’s time for us to sign off of Current Waters for now. We’ve had a great summer fishing and just being out on the water. While the fishing is still great and Topspin will still be on the water for a few months yet, the reality of school, high school sports, and the travel involved means it’s time to wrap up the writing for now.

We want to thank all of our clients for a great season. We love all the people that go fishing with us. We love catching up with the customers that have become friends and the friendships that have started. We hear about their kids, and the adventures that they’ve started and get their fishing stories. Tag us on your success. We love fishing stories.

Current Waters updates will return next spring. But don’t forget to check us out in the meantime if you want to get out on the water. If you want to know what we’re up to, check us out on Instagram or come visit us down on the docks. Fish on!

https://nantucketcurrent.com/opinion/current-waters-nantucket-fishing-report-with-capt-carl-bois

Current Waters - Tuna Time

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 01:21:44 GMT

Originally published July 7, 2023

Striped bass fishing is still holding strong in all the usual spots you enjoy fishing them. Bluefish fishing is still solid in the rips and also scattered about in flat water. Bird activity is a clue to their location. The ones on the flat water seem to be pretty active on topwater. There are still a good variety of bait around which helps keep things local.

We had some mackerel pop up in a rip edge with some stripers the other day. It was a real exciting moment - National Geographic kind of stuff. One of the bass we caught has a mackerel twitching in its mouth that was still alive. We were able to pull it out of its mouth and both were able to swim away!

Fluke is nothing to write home about but there are some out there and people are getting them. They are always worth a little extra time and effort because they taste so damn good.

Black sea bass seem to be hit or miss right now; one day they’re around and the next they’re not.

Tuna Time

It’s here. We had our first tuna charter of the season this week and we kicked it off with success as have other charter boats on island. We have a great fishery and great captains out here on Nantucket. The smaller tuna that you can keep for recreational fishery, sometimes called “football tuna” are great for sharing. Tuna poke, ceviche, sashimi, sushi rolls. We plan on enjoying some of the bounty right now as I’m writing this. Have a tuna steak “walk across the grill’ for a seared outside and raw center to dip in dynamite sauce or light soy sauce. Perfect for a summer BBQ or beach picnic. In recent years, the tuna fishery has been outstanding. If you can get out, it’s a good time to check that off your bucket list.

From fishing and now to boats…Tooling around the mooring fields or walking the docks downtown, people love to comment on boat names. Some named after women (wives, mothers, daughters, and others of unknown origin). Many are silly puns about fishing, booze, or relaxing (Shipface, Vitamin Sea, etc.). There are a few with Latin names for various fish species. On Nantucket we don’t get too many outrageous boat names, but it’s still fun to poke around and see what people have come up with.

Coast Guard rules ban certain words in the naming of boats, even though it may not seem like it sometimes. These are the specific guidelines for boat naming, “The name may not be identical, actually or phonetically, to any word or words used to solicit assistance at sea; may not contain or be phonetically identical to obscene, indecent, or profane language, or to racial or ethnic epithets.”

Naming a boat is like naming a child except that you don’t want to have the same name as anyone else. Since watercrafts are identified by hull number officially, two boats can have the same name, but it’s best to try and avoid it in your home port. Short and sweet is best especially considering putting the name on the hull itself. Traditionally, mariners believed that the right name would bring luck to the sailors for the journey and for the fishing.

In the early 1800s maritime law required that each ship be identified with boards bearing their name. After the War of 1812, many privateers became pirates and the government wanted to protect legitimate ships. The signs with the ship’s name were placed on the ship’s stern and along the quarter panel of the bow– hence the name quarterboards. In later years, with the decline of whaling many of the ship quarterboards were removed and were displayed on island houses, thus beginning the tradition of names on Nantucket homes. Today, people with quarterboards might have a different name for their house and their boat, if they have one.

I’ve been asked more than a few times about how Topspin got its name. As with many things in the maritime tradition, there is superstition about changing a boat name and that it may be bad luck. I wasn’t the first owner of Topspin, so I didn’t pick it, but I did choose to keep it. The original Nantucket owner also inherited the name from the boat when he bought it. Maybe we’re all a little superstitious, but the name sure has been lucky for us.

https://nantucketcurrent.com/news/current-waters-inshore-fishing

Current Waters: Strawberry Moon

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 01:36:08 GMT

Originally published Jun 2, 2023

Fish report: More and more bluefish have been entering our waters. There have even been some in the harbor. Now is a great time to cast a line for bluefish – a sure sign of summer.

There are also lots of really small bait in the harbor. For finicky bass, consider matching the size for your baits. Any local tackle shop will be able to help you there.

Striper fishing is continuing so strong. Just a reminder that with the new striper regulations, the fish has to be “28 inches to less than 31” and does not include 31 inchers. We’re still able to catch within that range so keepers are being caught.

Black sea bass has been a little slow the past couple of days. Maybe the easterly winds have stirred things up.

Weather for the weekend is predicted to be windy, so maybe today (Friday) after work or on your lunch break you try and get your fix in. Hopefully we actually get some rain out of this weather too! We sure could use it.

All through May we mentioned the Spring Sea Run Opener Tournament. The tournament ended May 31 and team “Go Bucktails” took home the win with a total of 101.75''. To see all the final results check out the final leaderboard . If you’re feeling inspired, mark it in your calendar to join the fun for next year’s tournament. The awards ceremony is later this weekend, so we don’t yet know the non-profit beneficiary, but it’s sure to be a worthy one!

The full moon in June is known as the Strawberry Moon. Our full moon is coming up on June 3. Some people swear by fishing during full moon when the tides are high. I think that June is good for many fish, especially with all the bait we’re seeing in the harbor. But if talking about the strawberry moon gives you an excuse to leave the house to go fishing, well then it’s as good an excuse as any.

Apparently “Strawberry Moon” was coined because it coincides with the strawberry harvest time. That’s true in my own garden. Really, it’s a celebration of the spring/early summer harvest. With bountiful stripers, black sea bass, and now bluefish, there is certainly a harvest to celebrate.

The horseshoe crabs sure have been liking the waxing moon lately. Reports are that recent surveys by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Maria Mitchell Association have had hundreds of crabs at their survey spots. Lat year, I talked about these ancient crabs in more detail. But just know that you can go to any calm shoreline – think Madaket harbor, Monomoy or Polpis, and check out the piles of Horseshoe crabs that come to shore for breeding season. The crabs also brig in lots of bird life. Lots to look at and enjoy at the water’s edge.

Remember when you’re fishing to take a moment, pick your head up, and look around. It’s not just about the fish. Remember these moments and store them away for this coming winter when you really need them.

https://nantucketcurrent.com/news/current-waters-strawberry-moon

Current Waters: Early Season Stripers

Thu, 11 May 2023 01:40:51 GMT

Originally published May 11, 2023

Current Waters is back for the 2023 season and the island is already humming with fishing anticipation. It’s that exciting time of year when there is a bit of a buzz as things start to get going. Now is the time to take a walk down to the docks and you can just feel the hope of late spring. Boats are going in and getting ready for things to start. From what we’ve seen so far, we’ve got another great fishing season at our doorstep.

Capt. Carl Bois

The charter boats may not be taking clients out just yet, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fish to be caught. The striped bass are already in with the first striper caught on May 3rd and the first keeper shortly after. It’s an optimistic start to the striper season. The mild winter and early spring temperatures seems to have jump started things. Hopefully that doesn’t mean the stripers leave earlier, but that remains to be seen. Let’s just be thankful for the fish at hand. Right now stripers can be found in the harbor, on the south shore, the north shore, and the west end of the island. A few mackerel were recently caught in the harbor. Many of the dedicated anglers who have been hitting the beach at dawn and dusk have been rewarded. Sometimes it’s with a fish, but more often it’s the peace and quiet of early season.

Really, at the beginning of the season, any species is a good reason to cast a line. Sometimes it’s the perfect excuse to be out early morning or late evening. You may be looking for a bite, but you get to witness the water’s edge in spring. The morning birdsong, a sunset from the beach. You may see a horseshow crab or 100 as their mating season begins. It’s all just part of the early summer show.

Even with the first stripers already caught, there is still time to register for Nantucket’s Sea Run Opener; a spring catch and release fishing tournament which celebrates the striper migration. As their website says, “This tournament is all about getting back outside and enjoying the best of what Nantucket has to offer while raising money for a local nonprofit organization.” Now in its eighth season, the Sea Run Opener offers tons of prizes with money raised going to the island non-profit of the winner’s choice. It’s only $25 to register and free for anglers under 18. Tournament Director Rafael Osona started the tournament as a way to bring anglers together and was inspired by the excitement surrounding the annual northbound migration of the striped bass. The tournament goes through June 1 so there is still time to join in the fun. You can register and read all the rules here .

The stripers may be on people’s minds, but don’t forget that black sea bass opens May 20 ^th ; delicious table fare and a great early-season fishery. It’s important to know what you’re allowed to keep. The regulations currently state the minimum size is 16.5 inches and the number of fish per angler is a limit of 4. Note that black sea bass are measured from the tip of the snout or jaw (mouth closed) to the farthest extremity of the tail, not including the tail filament.

It’s always a good rule of thumb at the start of each fishing season to check the regulations before heading out. The Massachusetts recreational fishing regulations can be found here (updated May 6 ^th ). New data and management targets mean some things change over the winter. You may have heard about the recent change in striper keeper size just instituted. On May 2, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Striped Bass Management Board voted to take emergency action to “support stock rebuilding” for stripers. The new regulations set up a slot limit of 28 to 31 inches for striped bass along the Atlantic coastline.

The slot size reduction won’t go into effect until July 2 after due process. People are being asked to do so voluntarily for now, but the process takes a bit longer. I’m a little worried that these new limits could end up doing more harm than good. I’m afraid that there will be a lot more catch and release fish landed in order for anglers to get to that target striper-keeper size, putting more pressure on the fishery. For the fishery’s sake, let’s all practice good catch and release techniques. The state is telling us that the catch and release mortality rate is 9 percent. Let’s do a better job than that and prove them wrong. Here are a few things to keep in mind that can make a big difference. Treble hooks are a thing of the past, please use in-line single hooks. Use appropriate size gear so the fish can be landed in a reasonable amount of time. We don’t want to tire them out any more than they already are. If you want a picture of your catch, be prepared with your phone or camera and make it quick, returning the fish to the water as soon as possible. Dragging a fish down the beach in the sand isn’t helpful either. The more thoughtful we are about getting those fish back in the water as soon as possible, the better the health of our fishery.

From a charter perspective, the boats are getting in the water and ready for clients. The spring season not only brings in the fish, but the flush of people as well. We’re catching up with repeat clients that have become friends over the years and we’re making plans for some summer fun. The Town Pier repairs over the winter are almost complete, the town has been spiffed up, and every tide brings more bait and life. It’s really just an amazing time of year on island. The spring ocean is like a powder day in a ski town. There is a certain vibe, a buzz in the air. We hope you can get out to enjoy it. And we’ll see you on the water.

https://nantucketcurrent.com/news/current-waters-early-season-stripers

Current Waters: Fishing Still Going Strong

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 22:46:43 GMT

Current Waters: Fishing still going strong

Capt. Carl Bois • Sep 23, 2022

We had an exciting last couple of days of fishing inshore. We saw whales and tuna feasting on bait all while inshore fishing for bass and fluke. We even caught a HUGE sea robin, which was fun. The two kids on one of my charters had never seen whales before, so that was an extra treat. We even had a visitor when a ruby-crowned kinglet landed on our stern. The little bird, likely migrating south for the winter, took a rest on Topspin. It hopped around a bit and ended up perching on one of the rods.

Lots of terrestrial songbirds migrate over open water, so finding a boat to land on is like a “port in a storm.” It stuck around for a little while before heading off again chasing after a moth. I hope it made it to land before intersecting with Fiona.

The striped bass fishing has been outstanding. The bluefish remain solid. False albacore are still around with plenty of action. The fishing should remain strong as bait fish start making their way south. Tuna fishing is also still going strong and probably will for a little bit.

And there’s still time left to get on the board for the Nantucket Inshore Classic. And with the fishing the way it’s been, you have no excuse!

Just a reminder, the last day of fluke fishing is September 29th.

It’ll be interesting to see what this weather does to mix things up, but I don’t expect much change given the southwest and westerly winds. Nothing out of the east or north to cool things down.

The heat and dryness of the summer seems like a distant memory. However, the marine heat wave associated with those warmer air temperatures is still having an effect. With these southwest winds and warm rain, the warm trends continue.

Waters in our region are among the fastest warming globally. Because water takes longer to cool down than air temperatures, the increase in ocean temperature also means that our warm water season will last longer into the fall. As we adapt to life with climate change, one thing we can look forward to is an extended fall fishing season.

As most of you know, temperature is a primary factor for when certain species of fish will migrate in or away from our area. Whether a species comes to the nearshore, or stays out depends on their specific requirements for water temperature as well as the preferences of their food sources. How will the recreational fishery change with warming waters?

Some species are moving further north, tracking cooler inland waters. Some go deeper.

Think of the summer and the number of hammerhead sharks that have made more regular appearances. Other species, like warm-water Cobia, may be headed our way with climate change. There’s a lot to learn and observe. Changing ocean currents, tidal effects, and movement of baitfish are all compounding factors. There’s always something new to learn from the water.

All of this warm water is also making hurricane season a little more intense. These warmer waters could help Hurricane Fiona maintain its tropical nature and intensity for longer (and further north) than if the marine heatwave were not there. Hopefully she’ll calm down soon enough.

Stay safe out there especially the next couple of days. Lets all weather the storm and then get out to see what’s new.

Bluefin Blast

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 20:06:16 GMT

Bluefin Blast

Wind, wind, wind. Three days of northeast winds are really going to shuffle the deck. Any fishing reports we give now will be old by the time you read them. But I predict that this northeast wind will give our fishery a good shot of life: shuffle the deck.

What a great time of year to be an angler. Great weather (for the most part), fewer people around and lots of fish. And the tournaments available to us add a little competitive fun.

The Inshore Classic, run by the Nantucket Angler’s Club, is off to a great start. It’s especially great to see the junior division taking off. Keep an eye out for weekly standings and leaderboards here . If you sign up for the tournament, which benefits the Angler’s Club scholarship fund, you’ll get weekly emails with the standings.

Stripers, albies, and bluefish should all be good for a while. The cooler water and weather events change patterns, but these species will all be around for a bit longer. For those in the tournament, the bonito will be the first to leave our waters, so they should be the first target species. To compete for the grand totals, you’ll need a bonito on the board!

We’ve had lots of bluefin tuna around and they should remain so for a time. Topspin has had the opportunity to go to the tuna grounds more lately. This moon should bring another flush of small fish in bringing in more rec size fish adding to our tuna biomass. This action should also set us up for the Bluefin Blast Tournament this weekend.

The Bluefin Blast is a tournament that celebrates the bluefin tuna fishery. Now in its 13th year, the goal is to “give fisherman a professional and fun tournament for anglers and guests alike.” Tournament Director Jonas Baker puts on this tournament. It is all his effort – he IS the tournament. There is also a big list of sponsors which give out swag to the captains and donate door prizes.

The tournament this year will be held on Sunday, September 11th, a change from previous years which was a 2-day tournament. This tournament is trolling-only and is primarily a catch-and-release tournament. Since it’s the number of fish that count, anglers take photos and release.

Lines are in at 6 a.m. and lines out at 3 p.m. For those who choose to weigh in a fish, you’ll likely catch them at the weigh station between 4:30 and 6 p.m. (majority on the earlier side) on Sunday. The weigh station is by the Nantucket Angler’s Club.

First place goes to the boat that catches the most fish during the angling time Sunday. Yes, there is a cash prize, but really it’s all about the bragging rights. And the stories. You know every fisherman loves to tell a good story.

We look forward to fishing this tournament every year. Lots of great anglers and fun competition. There will be some familiar boats from our local waters. The tournament also brings in boats from around the region, so it’s also a chance to check out some great fishing boats in the Nantucket Boat Basin.

I expect we’ll see a lot of tuna caught this year, but it’ll be quite a challenge to surpass the record-breaking year for 2021. Hopefully you’ll see me Sunday afternoon at the scale with a Big Fish.

We hope you all enjoy what looks to be a great weekend out on the water!

Captain Carl Bois is the owner and operator of Topspin Fishi ng Charte rs booking now for the season.

Originally published in Current Waters at

Current Waters: Stripers Galore

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 01:26:48 GMT

Originally published June 9, 2022

There are fish EVERYWHERE. All depths, all types of water, boat or beach. Any fishing style. And the reason? Bait, bait and more bait. Sand eels, squid, bunker, and a pile of small scup (which is like candy for stripers and bluefish) are all helping to keep the fish around for a while.

Squid in particular are most abundant in Nantucket Sound right now. Like many of our summer sea creatures, squid are a migratory species that come to our waters every spring to spawn. They live offshore in deeper cooler water during the winter. Large groups of squid aggregate both south and north of the island each summer. Female squid lay hundreds of eggs in capsules that they attempt to attach to the sea floor, but these often come loose and wash ashore. Right now and into July is when you may see squid egg masses wash up on the beach or “squid mops” as they are usually called. Let us know if you see any!

If you want to get into the fishing spirit, a tournament is a great way to motivate throwing a line or two in the water. The Nantucket Hockey Foundation is hosting its first annual fishing tournament open to all anglers. It’s perfect timing for a tournament with all the action we’ve been seeing. Multiple species, from boat or beach (inshore only). The tournament runs June 13-19th for individuals or teams of three. Register at nantuckethockeyfnd@gmail.com. Prizes go to the top three spots. Check out the sponsors and those that have taken the time to put it together. It’s for a good cause which is always a decent excuse to get on the water. The tournament is strictly catch and release helping ensure more fish available for future excursions.

This is a good reminder for how best to accomplish a good, quick catch and release. To help keep a strong fishery, we want to use best practices for tackle, gear, and timing. Switching your treble hooks to in-line hooks and bending the barbs minimizes impact on a fish. You can get help and advice on this at any of your favorite Nantucket tackle shops. If you want to take a photo – be ready with your phone/camera so that the fish can go back in the water to swim another day. Hold the fish up quickly, holding the underside for support. The faster this happens, the sooner the fish can be returned to the water.

This Sunday, June 12th, the Nantucket Shellfish Association is hosting Oysterfest . Join the Nantucket Shellfish Association, Nantucket Land Council, and Cisco Brewers from noon to 4pm for a fun day tasting Nantucket's finest oysters. This is a chance to taste oysters from multiple Nantucket farmers. Cocktails, oysters, live music, a shucking contest – all in the name of a good cause: to preserve and protect Nantucket’s harbors, water quality, and shellfish resources. See you at the raw bar!

https://nantucketcurrent.com/sports/current-waters-stripers-galore

From The Boat Or The Beach, Fishing Is On Fire Right Now

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 19:52:52 GMT

From The Boat Or The Beach, Fishing Is On Fire Right Now

Fishing is on fire right now from boat or beach. The bluefish are in and the bigger stripers are arriving. Right now, you can try anything from jerk baits to top water. South shore has been solid from the beach, but as the big fish move in, the harbor is a great place to throw a line.

Striped bass like water temperatures between 55° F and 68° F. To stay within this temperature range, most striped bass migrate and move around throughout the season. According to the NOAA weather buoy at the Steamship dock, the harbor water temperature is 63.7° F right now. So now is the time.

If you haven’t been fishing, you should be ashamed of yourself. All kidding aside, just get out there.

But we’re not all about fishing. Being out on the water exposes you to all kinds of marine life. You never know what you’re going to see or what’s going to happen. Take, for example, the excitement of the past week’s great white shark sightings. None of those anglers hopped on a boat with the intention of seeing a shark. Just lucky, I guess. Seals, whale carcasses, pelagic birds, and more. And then there was the 14,000 pound shoal buoy recovery via the Army National Guard helicopter!

The long and short of it is, you don’t have to have the best equipment or fanciest gear. Just show up and get out there.

Have you ever walked around the boats along the docks of Nantucket and just really wanted to reach out and touch one? Well, this Saturday is your lucky day!

This Saturday is Touch-a-Boat day with the Nantucket Boat Basin. This free event runs from 10am to 1pm Saturday June 4th at Swain’s wharf. Touch-a-Boat day is part of the Massachusetts Kids Boating Day which began in 2017 and the Nantucket Boat Basin and been hosting our local event ever since. According to the state website , ”Over 70% of adult boaters started boating when they were kids.“ With our rich maritime history, it’s important to teach the next generation to love the water and learn safe boating. We will all benefit.

During this weekend’s event, families will have the chance to meet and greet local fishermen, multiple types of boats, and enjoy some refreshments. There will be commercial boats, charter and recreational boats, and even divers for part of the day. Check out the gear, ask questions, and learn about Nantucket boat life. Free and open to all!

One of the most popular activities to do by boat is to fish. In case you needed an excuse to get out there with a rod, to coincide with Kids Boating Day is Kids fishing day. There aren’t any special events on Nantucket to celebrate this state event, but you can go out and make a memory to honor the day yourself.

Captain Carl Bois is the owner and operator of Topspin Fishi ng Charte rs booking now for the season.

Originally published in Current Waters at

Black Sea Bass On Deck

Thu, 19 May 2022 21:18:22 GMT

Black Sea Bass On Deck

Join us each week as we take you in, out and around Nantucket waterways. I may make my living on the water, but we want this column to be more than fishing. We’re going to explore all that Nantucket waters have to offer throughout the season. Fishing, of course, but also various boating and water activities, newsworthy sightings, and some natural history info thrown in for good measure.

This May sure has started out like a wet blanket. The weather hasn’t been conducive to many on-the-water activities lately. However, if you’re down at the docks you’ll start to notice boats back in the water, moorings being set, and the dinghy docks back in place.

The excitement right now is all in the anticipation of what’s to come. Who will land the first keeper striper and when? There’s something about that first fish of the year. It’s almost spiritual. With the full moon passing and large tides we should have a good push of striped bass coming in to our local waters soon. It’s getting better and better every day. Take the time when you can and get out there. You can’t catch them from the couch.

While we wait for striper season to really get going, black sea bass are the first table fare we can really go for. The season opens Saturday, May 21 and the limits are 4 per angler. Black sea bass are bottom feeders. Some have already been caught around the wrecks and various structure (and thrown back of course). Fluke also opens May 21, but it takes them a little while longer to come in to our area.

Black sea bass mark the start of our charter season and we can’t wait to get back out on the water.

They are a highly migratory fish and have become one of the prime marine examples of climate change in our region as their range moves further north. The black sea bass winter in deep water off the Atlantic coast. They move north and inland in the spring, typically mid-May. They tend to like structure or rocky bottoms.

Another “fun fact” about black sea bass; they are protogynous hermaphrodites, most starting life as females and changing into males at maturity.

One of the best table fare, black sea bass meat is lean, white flesh with a moderately firm texture and a delicate flavor. It’s pretty versatile in terms of cooking methods. We like to broil or roast is with light seasoning and lemon. There is nothing better than serving up the first catch of the season. And that, not the crappy weather, is the true start of spring.

Remember, as we start the 2022 fishing season, check out the state recre ational r egulations . Things change over the winter and you never want to be the one with too large or too many fish. This will hopefully leave a future fishery for everyone.

Captain Carl Bois is the owner and operator of Topspin Fishi ng Charte rs booking now for the season.

Originally published in Current Waters at

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Black Sea Bass On Deck

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