BFT'S IN THE MIX

July 11, 2007 - After my most recent early morning session (4AM-8AM) I retired to the beachfront, intent on spending some quality time with my lovely wife Kathy, who is coincidently also an early riser. The intense July sun, and tide situation, had prematurely ended any further fishing opportunity as I had gone fishless for over an hour after a highly successful dawn. As mid-morning approached a small cadre of people now invaded the adjacent real estate intent on grabbing a few rays and hashing over the previous day's events. They were in earshot and obviously enjoying a few weeks of R&R that involved golf, fishing and just plain vegging-out.

I would learn that they were conventional anglers that had guided out on the previous day, someplace in Nantucket Sound. While most of the banter was restrained they became more animated when the conversation tilted to their fishing exploits. It seems they were treated to some pretty fair angling as I could only grad bits and pieces of the exchange. All in all they had caught "plenty of bluefish, a few nice stripers, and a blue fin tuna measuring 48 inches in length."

Catches similar to this will become more commonplace as we enter the middle of the month. There are enough tuna fish occupying both Cape Cod Bay and the south side to target the species. We are in the midst of what promises to be a long and prosperous season with respect to hard tails.

INDUSTRY NEWS
From Tackle Trade News… "RIO products just received the award for gaining the most World records in the fly tippet category from the International Game fish Association (IGFA). The annual award reinforces the reliability of RIO's leader and tippet materials.

RIO offers two different materials. RIOMax and RIO's Hard Saltwater nylon, to overcome every likely fishing situation for the fly fisherman.

In the 12 months between October 1st, 2005 and September 30th, 2006, RIO's tippet material broke 37 world records, putting RIO as number one. The award betters the runner-up award received by RIO for the last three years in the same category."

BLUEFISH
Is it me or does there seem to be an inordinate number of bluefish residing in Massachusetts's waters? Most individuals I have been witnessing fall into the 8-12lb category and have long since abandoned their "racer" status. While some anglers shun the species I have always welcomed their status as exceptional fly rod game fish providing thrilling and sometime acrobatic sport particularly in shallow water.

Good fishing and safe wading,
JB