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Fishing with Maggie:
Are You Lookin' For a Fight?

Then deep-sea fishing is for you! Saltwater fishing in August is just as good as in July, actually, better. The fish are well fed and make for a bigger catch. Closer to shore, striped bass (stripers) are abundant along the coast and in the canal and bluefish are bigger and hungrier than ever. Fluke have made their way from the south coast to the north coast from Wellfleet Harbor to Provincetown. Stripers, bluefish and fluke all have one thing in common: a taste for sand eels and sand eels love the rips and bars along the entire Cape Cod coastline. Add bonito and false Albacore (abundant off Monomoy and the islands) and you've got challenging fishing up and down the Cape.

The mighty bluefin tuna is still out there beckoning to the fighter in every fisherman. Commercial and deep-sea recreational charters leave port everyday with hopes of landing this beast among fish.

August is a great time to challenge some of the other pelagic (living in open seas, not adjacent to land or inland) species that rival the shear power and prowess of the bluefin tuna: white marlin, swordfish, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo and shark (mako, thresher and blue to name a few).

White marlins are billfish, similar to swordfish. Both possess an elongated snout that forms a sword or spear. Unlike swordfish, marlins have teeth. White marlins can reach up to ten feet and weights of 180 lbs. Marlins swim near the surface of open waters and feed on squid and an assortment of fish including herring. Swordfish can reach lengths of fifteen feet and weights of 180 lbs. Swordfish swim near the surface of the sea and to depths of 33 fathoms. They feed on crustaceans, squid and mackerel among other fish.

Mahi mahi are recognizable by their iridescent colors, sharply tapered body and blunt, vertical head (males). This aerobatic fish is often seen leaping clear out of the water. They can grow to six and a half feet in length and over eighty pounds. Mahi mahi can reach speeds of 50 knots making for a great hunt. The wahoo is a long slender fish with dark vertical bands on its side. They grow to lengths of six feet and weights of 149 lbs. Wahoos are powerful, speedy fish with voracious appetites and are considered a formidable opponent by fishermen. They feed on squid and small fish.

These big boys (and girls) feed off of Southern Cape Cod (Falmouth) and the islands during the late summer months. What better time for the 12th Annual Falmouth Offshore Grand Prix held August 16th-18th. Last year's tournament was an overwhelming success between the money donated to local charities and the great fishing. One hundred eighty-two eligible fish were weighed in or released bringing about a new Grand Prix record. Senior, Ed Fish (ironic isn't it?) caught the largest fish, a 77.6 lb yellowfin tuna. Two white marlins were officially released and tuna and mahi mahi were plentiful. This year prizes are awarded to the top three boats, captains, males, females, juniors and seniors.

Several of these fish (excluding swordfish, mahi mahi and tuna) are not eaten. All are either over fished or in danger of being over fished. For this reason, many restaurants are taking swordfish and others off their menu. Big game fishing is strictly regulated by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Daily quotes and size restrictions are in place for these fish. Unlike the others, a permit is required to catch bluefin tuna. Contact the NMFS at 1-800-USA-TUNA for more information.

Although big game fishing can be an exhilarating experience, it can be dangerous to the novice fisherman. The appropriate equipment, bait and boat should be employed during any deep-sea endeavor. Catching one of these giants is an ultimate experience for any angler: something to be remembered for a lifetime!