Paul Kiefner‟s Saltwater Fishing Adventures · Paul Kiefner‟s Spring 2011 Saltwater Fishing...

Paul Kiefner‟s Spring 2011 Saltwater Fishing Adventures

Paul Kiefner‟s Saltwater Fishing Adventures

Spring Two Thousand Eleven


"I frankly don't make much of a living, but I make a hell of a life" Jack Gartside

Welcome to my Saltwater Fishing Adventures for 2011. I hope you enjoy reading about these trips I‟ve been fortunate enough

to take and I think that after reading these stories you‟ll be inspired to get out on the water. This year was especially

memorable as we were fishing two Fridays a month and almost every weekend. It was exhausting yet rewarding. Some days

the fishing was off the charts and other days we left early because the bite never materialized. Each trip was unique. We

fished in every marine condition imaginable from the dead calm seas of Provincetown to the wind-swept waters of Cape Cod

Bay, and offshore in huge swells at the Hooter six miles south of Martha‟s Vineyard. We saw several species of whales, Great

White sharks, and a Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish) all surprisingly close to the boat and very close to shore. Off Chatham I got

seasick and exorcised it all. I was so useless Bob Robichaud had to pilot the boat back to port. My brother Mark and I got to

fish the incredible inshore waters near Stuart, Florida with Captain John Meskauskas of Stuart Flyfishing. In summary - it

was a great season!

I am grateful for many things in my life. To my brother and sister and friends that fish with me because they add another

dimension of meaningfulness to these trips. To my wife Johanna who is supportive of, and integrated into this fishing lifestyle.

To Parker Marine for engineering and building the best 18-foot center console for rough water fishing and to Yamaha Marine

for a super reliable four stroke outboard. And finally, To Captain John Meskauskas who served as the portal to the amazing

fishery in Stuart, Florida.

Cover Photograph: An Outer Cape Cod Striper that fell to a large soft plastic.

Sunrise over the St. Lucie River in Stuart, Florida


Saltwater covers seventy percent of the earths‟ surface.

Two thousand eleven was a year for learning. I learned that time on the water only increases my desire for more time on the

water. There‟s no denying that the pull of the salt has been a defining force in my life. I accept this as gospel and now it‟s just

a matter of time to see where Johanna and I will live when we retire. It could be Panama, Costa Rica or Florida - it‟s up in the

air. Certainly we‟ll land near great saltwater fishing and in a warmer year round climate. Don‟t get me wrong, New England is

a fantastic part of the country but the long winters get old as I get older.

This year I was reminded of the importance of fishing with friends and recall many details of our trips, some worth forgetting.

My friends taught me a lot which is a challenge for them. They taught me to think differently and to try new fishing methods.

However, I still refuse to fish naked and I am still superstitious about bringing bananas on the boat. Somehow, the vision of

me being naked on my boat and holding a banana just does not warrant further discussion.

I am compelled to thank my most incredible wife. Johanna is unusually supportive of my dedication to saltwater fishing. She

has developed into quite an angler herself, as illustrated throughout this report. She has excellent boating skills and is now quite

comfortable in the varying conditions we fish. Johanna also discovered the best spot in the boat to sit when the weather gets

nasty. One future day, after one of my downward mood swings, she may think, “The hell with it!”, and push me overboard.

Then, at least she‟ll be able to motor back to the launch.

April 14-15, Stuart Florida, the Sailfish Capital of the World

After a winter of record snowfall and lack of sunshine, my brother Mark and I headed to Stuart, Florida to fish for big Crevalle

Jack and whatever else the St. Lucie River system and Atlantic Ocean decided to give us. We flew into Ft. Lauderdale and

proceeded directly to the International Game Fish Association museum which is stunning in its size, diversity and educational

quality. It is a must see if you‟re in the area.

Our guide for this trip was Captain John Meskauskas who is hands-down the best we have ever fished with. He was calm,

focused, coached well and knew where to fish and how to fish. I wanted Mark to experience the power of these fish compared to

the Atlantic salmon he loves to fish for. Mark, now a convert to the saltwater power trio of Cobia, Jacks and Snook plans to

invite me on a trip to Panama to fish the Bayano or Chagres Rivers for Snook.


Mark with a brute Cobia that fell for a Pilchard and torqued his arms.


Different techniques are used to catch different species. Here, we‟ll look at how to catch a Snook versus a Snooki.

The intelligent Snook requires knowledge, skill, and timing to catch. Targeting Snook from a boat is helpful. Snooki, a

completely different species, has questionable intelligence and requires a great pickup line such as: “Excuse me miss, I recognize

you. Didn‟t we go to separate high schools together?” In Florida, Snook are catch and release by law. In contrast, Snooki are

released voluntarily.

Mark with a tough St. Lucie River Jack.

Mark was most impressed with the Jacks.


On the first day of fishing the beach front we caught Jacks and Mark got a nice Cobia. We were sight fishing and John was

expert at seeing fish from a distance. I can‟t see jack. Our second day of fishing in Stuart was in the St. Lucie River because it

was too windy on the ocean front. Using a cast net, Captain John caught Pilchards and dumped them into the live well. John

took us to several places where we would cast the live Pilchards close to bridge abutments and docks. Mark and I quickly

showed John how expert we were at killing Pilchards as we flipped them into concrete walls instead of the water. John said,

“They are hardy, but not that hardy.” Any illusions I had about being an accurate caster were just that. Despite John‟s

patience and excellent coaching I kept killing Pilchards. Cannot imagine what he was thinking - but it‟s not a topic of further

discussion.

Snook are very powerful, more so that any Striper or Atlantic salmon. I hooked a Snook near a dock that stripped and then

wrapped the line so fast it left me dumbfounded; not an uncommon feeling. Mark thought that the Jacks were amazing fighters

and I share that opinion. Jacks attack ferociously - I could fish for them all day and not get bored. Stuart is a great place to

fish with easy access to a variety of fishing, and living there would provide enormous fishing opportunities. Mark thought

Stuart was the nicest town he‟d been to in Florida but admitted that his experience was influenced by the great fishing. So

Mark, please tell me, “What else is there?”

Since Mark so enjoyed catching Snook I need to tell

him about the monster Snook in the Bayano and

Chagres River systems in eastern Panama. Once he is

educated I know he‟ll invite me on a trip. This is a

topic that warrants further, serious discussion.


Mr. Jack Badass smoking a soft plastic!


May 26-27, Outer Cape Cod, Massachusetts

It wasn‟t too long after the Florida trip that I prepared my Parker for the Striped Bass season which was soon approaching.

Most of our fishing would be focused on the Outer Cape from Wood End Light out to Race Point Light and around the point

into the ocean front just off the beach. This is a very prolific fishery this time of year. The fishing is excellent due to the large

amount of bait and the dramatic changes in the bottom topography which attracts and concentrates baitfish and predators up

the food chain.

For years I‟ve had a difficult time catching really large stripers on artificial lures. I‟ve also had difficulty with the concept of

casting twelve inch soft plastic lures with a spinning rod. I generally do not like using the heavier rods necessary for producing

an accurate cast. But after hearing many success stories about large Stripers being caught on oversize soft plastics I decided to

give it a shot.

My stepson Nate, on leave from the Navy, joined me for two days of Outer Cape bass fishing neither of us will soon forget. We

launched at Pamet River in Truro on May 26th at first light and made the 12 mile run over to Race Point across a horseshoe

shaped section of Cape Cod Bay. This is always a gorgeous ride as the sun rises over the sand dunes. The bay can be glassy

smooth early in the morning and the reflected colors mix beautifully as only the best water colorists can recreate.


In preparation for this trip I had rigged two rods with 12-inch Got Stryper soft plastics. One was unweighted and one had a 2

ounce jighead for getting down deeper to larger fish. My mission was to see just how effective these big plastics would be on big

bass. Got Stryper soft plastics were designed and are made in Massachusetts. They are extremely effective on Outer Cape

Stripers as they mimic the Striper‟s primary forage which is sand eels. Race Point often has massive, cloudlike, schools of sand

eels. In 2010 we caught a lot of nice bass on smaller Got Strypers and now it was time to put the „Monsta‟ plastics to the test.

The other advantage to using big plastics is that they can be cast greater distances. And distance is the key to getting to actively

feeding fish because getting too close spooks them.

As luck would have it we were the only boat at Race Point to greet the diving birds and feeding bass. It was the typical chaos

of trying to stabilize ourselves so as to time our casts with the boat pitching in the rip. We were into bass immediately - and it

was nonstop. Nate kept exclaiming how great the fishing was. “I can‟t believe this! This is insane!” The action was so fast

we only took a few photographs.

For once, I had to agree with him.

The fishing got even better.

I grabbed a rod with a huge unweighted Got Stryper and heaved it into Striper central. I worked the bait erratically just below

the surface and, I could feel the fish hitting it, but it was to be too big for them to swallow. Then, suddenly it was smashed like

a splitting wedge and the rod was under siege. Now here was a fish that made me a believer in using big plastics!


Everyone has their favorite lures. Some folks swear by RonZ soft plastics. Believe me they work. Look at this bass taken on a

weighted RonZ.

Bill Hurley of Northampton, Massachusetts makes a diverse line of soft plastics known as Bill Hurley sand eels which are also

an excellent lure. He actually mixes sand eel oil into the plastic which creates a scent trail. I prefer them over the RonZ as they

are less expensive but very high quality.

Outer Cape June 10, 2011

There are some things in life I never forget, and with fishing the smallest mistakes really stick with me as I‟ll explain later.

Matt Boutin and Bernie Sacco are two electrical engineers that I know from work and I invited them to go fishing on one of

our off Fridays. They agreed and at once I knew they were gluttons for punishment. But they were excited – and who am I to

talk anyone out of a fishing trip? Even I‟m not that crazy.

My routine involves leaving the house at two o‟clock in the morning and driving to Truro, fishing for eight hours then driving

home the same day. They arrived on time and before you know it we were on the cape and on the water. Like always, it was

beautiful. The previous week had primed me with high hopes for great fishing.

As it turned out, the fishing was not as good as it had been with my stepson. The fish were smaller and harder to locate, but

not for the lack of trying. I have run as much as 80 miles in a day looking for bass and this day was no different. Matt and

Bernie are quite spirited and spent the entire day on the water in amazement. They caught enough fish to take home which

pleased them immensely. I like having people on my boat who are in good shape, aware of the environment and have a sense of

balance - like Matt and Bernie. They were right at home. It was too bad we did not have a big storm to round out the fun!

Did it storm, I don‟t recall?

What do you know about tying knots? All you need to know is that if for one instant you think you tied a knot too fast or

incorrectly, you did. I mean I did – twice – and it resulted in Matt losing two big Stripers to failed uni-to-uni knots. I did not

use enough turns. I remember tying those knots. What did I learn? That‟s simple. I have to invite Matt again next year.


The doctor is in – therapy that is!

Matt Boutin

getting bent on the

Outer Cape!

Matt Boutin getting bent on the Outer Cape!

Doctor Bernie Sacco

enjoying his therapy session!


Outer Cape June 18 – 24, 2011

Every year we take a weeklong trip to the Outer Cape around mid June, the peak of the spring migration. We rent a cottage in

Truro overlooking Cape Cod Bay. It is ten minutes from the boat launch so we sleep in a bit before heading out.

This year my brother, Mark fished for four days and then Bob Robichaud came down for two days. Our first day out on the

ocean side was in typically rough seas which is what these bass love. Johanna culled this bass from a small, fast-moving school

that required a very accurate cast.

The majority of our fish are caught on 7 foot fast action Shimano Scimitar graphite rods that are very light. We use Shimano

Spheros 4000 series reels with 30# Power Pro braid and a 2 foot fluorocarbon leader attached with a uni -to -uni knot. Our

style of fishing requires a lot of casting so light equipment is the right answer.

Johanna the Happy Angler properly cradling a bruiser bass that fell for her magic!


Mark with another Race Point beast.

The bass before this broke his Chinese fly rod!


During the second half of the trip Bob Robichaud fished with us. Bob is a very good fisherman and loves to fish more than anyone I know. He is very stable emotionally which helps to balance out my moodiness.

Birds working a school of baitfish driven to the surface by feeding fish


Late one day a storm moved in and every boat left - what were they thinking? Bluefish went ballistic on bait and birds were

diving like doped Kamikazes. It was raining and blowing hellaciously - the worse it got the better the fishing got. The run

back to Pamet Harbor was, shall I say - not fun. Johanna and Bob were sitting behind the cooler seat in the sweet spot facing

the stern. Sheets of windblown rain were coming from all directions as the hull kept crashing through the five foot waves. I

could barely see - so what‟s new? Beautiful – do it again in a heartbeat for that type of action.

Our final day was as good as it gets. Bass were stacked up along Herring Cove Beach on the bay side. A dozen or so boats were

working a big school one-quarter mile below Wood End Light. Too many boats so I ran the Parker to the lighthouse where the

water dropped from thirty to eighty feet. The sonar screen was covered with fish at this drop off. No boats around. Shut the

motor down and had two big bass on instantly. Happened real fast. Jo‟s bass ran under a trim tab and cut her off like Verizon.

Bob switched to an amber colored Hogy and on the first cast got hammered by his biggest striper yet, a 40-inch beauty. Another

boat saw us catching fish and raced over too quickly. The bite shut down. We sat there for a few minutes and the other boat

left. Still fish all over the sonar. After the other boat was 100 yards away the surface exploded with bass like a dream come

true. Hell, I don‟t even remember what went down after that!

Bob’s Bass taken at Wood End Light


The End

Jo’s Blue Crush

Outer Cape Blues tear it up!

They’ll crash a top water

offering continuously until

hooked!

Paul Kiefner‟s Saltwater Fishing Adventures · Paul Kiefner‟s Spring 2011 Saltwater Fishing...

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