ALBIE MADNESS September 11, 2007 - Anglers prone to engage in albie madness are certainly in their glory. They certainly took their sweet time getting here but boat angler are sure to encounter numerous blitzes of false albacore while canvassing the Vineyard Sound area of Cape Cod. Numerous reports have these critters readily available from Menemsha to Edgartown, often within a double-hawl of the coastline. Fly-fishermen can expect to boat 8-12lb. specimens with an occasional 15lber in the mix. When things are not quite up to snuff there are still numerous populations of bluefish and striped bass that are destined to go ignored once the hard tails infiltrate the area. I just chatted briefly with Hank Benjamin of Falmouth and he pitched the comment "the fishing has been just great." He has had no problem locating both false albacore and bonito within a stones throw of Green Pond. The same holds true with the Buzzards Bay area. TU chapter president, Paul Bakstran reports that a close friend witnessed two other boats within close proximity fast onto hard tails as he skillfully boated his albie. The key to successfully pursuing false albacore or Atlantic bonito for that matter has always been "matching the hatch." While immature menhaden, sand eels, silversides and macs have been abundant, size, profile and color are certainly considerations. Both species can show incredible selectivity once they are honed into forage so it's best to inventory a decent selection of flies. Larger profile flies such as Bush Pigs and Frosty Broadside's tied from the popular DNA materials are consistent fish takers once menhaden are located. Sparse Clouser's, Bon Bon Baitfish and mature sand eel patterns should also be considered necessities. Anglers residing in our states to the south would also consider a gold bay anchovy pattern a requirement. BAY BLITZES Good fishing and safe
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