Fishing for false albacore on Cape Cod. Nuthin bettah’.
This weekend a few of us went to Cape Cod to fish for false albacore — and albacore we did find. The weather went from downright plague-like to beautiful, but the chew stayed fairly strong. Here’s some photos from the weekend.
Friday: Choppy for the Chew
Brutally rainy. Those of us who were wearing Gore Tex regretted it; our jackets and failed completely. Water ran down my legs into my XtraTuf boots until I was squishing around the boat, standing in a few inches of water in my own boots. And yet — often snotty weather is albie weather. With eyes so big, weather works to the fisherman’s advantage: between waves and poor light, they can’t tell the real deal from a fake. We found feeding fish in the snot, and had a great day.
The photo that perhaps best sums up the conditions of the day.
Saturday: Forecast for bright, clear, and fish all day
Dawn broke on Saturday clear and bright. The chop was down but the bite was heavy. We found fish all day long — a bit picky in the middle of the day, but the action picked back up as the afternoon wore on.
Falsies by dawn’s early light.
Gawd I love this rig. Sage Salt and a Hatch Finatic 9.
We just love these fish!
Is there a more beautiful fish?
With Martha’s Vineyard in the light of the rising sun. Does it get any better?
This one seems fairly self explanatory.
I find the extra 15 lbs really helps me fight the fish better.
Fishing can be hard work. Athletes need to rest. Proper like.
Always good to have some fly company!
Don Laruffa Jr., everyone. What a guy!
Evening Antics
For those on spinning gear, the albie snax is enough to drive anyone batty — fisherman and albie.
My first feeble attempt at a schoolie fly. A lot of work to do on this!
Tying some flies the night before.
Well stocked for hydration!
Photos contributed by Barry Woods, Andy Sparks, and Don Laruffa Jr. Oh — and me, Ben Carmichael.