The Full Moon in May

Striped bass addicts in need of motivation to hit the surf, will be pleased to hear that slots have entered the equation, and I’m not talking about my recent trip to Encore Casino. Fish in the 28-34 inch range have now become a reality across Massachusetts.

For the past week, anglers have been awaiting the arrival of the May Full Moon, with hopes that it would be the factor to draw in that first wave of larger fish into our local waters. Warm weather continued to usher into Southern New England and it seemed like everyday fishermen were reporting an increase in the size and numbers of striped bass.

I had checked my logs from a couple of years ago and noticed that this same moon cycle has produced some incredible action in the surf, on the exact same day(s) that I had planned to venture out this week. I can’t stress how important it is to log all your outings.

These fish migrate and feed depending on a number of variables (wind, tide, moon cycle, barometric pressure, and so forth). By keeping an up-to-date log, you will be able to uncover patterns these fish follow, fine-tuning where they will be on certain days of the year. You’ll quickly notice that the same school of fish with show up in the same location, year after year.

Your odds of catching will dramatically increase…

We rolled into the surf around 4 am. With a light W wind at our back, the weather forecast was calling for a stiff NW breeze by mid-morning. I knew we would only have about a 3-hour window before the wind shifted, shutting down the bite.

Within 20 minutes of our trip, we were finding signs of life. A few bumps reassured us that the fish were nearby. Terns, ospreys, and cormorants cruised the horizon in search of an easy meal. The table was set…

As the sun began to crest the horizon, things instantly lit up. Though the fish weren’t showing on the surface, they were here! The key was to make sure you were keeping contact with the bottom throughout the duration of the retrieve. Small ¾ oz Al Gags were the ticket, it seemed the fish just couldn’t resist. We doubled up on 6 separate occasions and at one point, doubled up 4 casts in a row.

One of many schoolies landed during an early sunrise session

The majority of the fish were in that 20-26 inch range, all covered in sea lice as they continued their migration north. Thankfully we were able to intercept them for a few hours before they continued on their way. Seeing that a couple of these fish were approaching close to slot size, we had a feeling that there had to be some larger fish mixed in with the school.

A few casts later, I connected with a fish that felt heavier than the rest. She hugged the bottom and then abruptly rose to the surface, giving a couple of head shakes before she took off scorching my drag. I went to make a small adjustment to my drag when all of the sudden she shook the hook….

Overcome with defeat, I sent another cast out. It was only seconds before it was engulfed on the drop. A minute or so later, I beached a healthy 30-inch slot fish! The first of the season. As the bite died down by 8 am, we made the call to try one more location.

Preparing a nice slot fish for release

A small backwater, protected from the breeze it was a go-to spot to find ourselves some more fish. As we pulled into the parking lot, we instantly eyed out terns and fish involved in a feeding frenzy on the surface. We sprinted down the beach and on our first casts we were doubled up. After about a half dozen fish each, Joe connected with a fish that once again seemed larger than the rest. She taped out at 30 inches, our second slot fish of the day. It was great to see these fish feeding so aggressively, especially since it would 12 o’clock in the afternoon. A short time later, we called it a day, with a successful trip behind us.

The variety of size classes this spring has been an encouraging sign!

We are seeing some incredible fishing so far this year, especially with how early in the season it is. A variety of size classes continue to filter in and remember to continue to treat these fish with care.

Below are a few helpful tips to make your catch and release efforts easier…

-Crush your barbs

-Fish inline single hooks

-Avoid using a Boga grip

-Keep the fish in the water as much as possible

-Go heavy with your gear to limit stress on the fish

Best of luck on your upcoming outings, and continue Conserving the Species, Seven Stripes at a Time!