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Georges Bank Cod
By Captain Andy LoCascio
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Joe, Capt Andy, and Capt Rich |
Helen H |
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Maptech Charts |
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I don’t know when I first
heard of the Helen H. It was many years ago and at the time it was a very
well respected open boat out of Sheepshead Bay, NY. A little over 10 years
ago, they packed up and moved their entire operation to Hyannis, MA. In
the years since, I had seen their ads in print and had visited their booth
at many sportsman shows but never got the chance to sail aboard the boat.
I was always impressed by the tapes they played in their booth that
included anglers positively bailing big cod in and around the famous
Georges Bank. Eventually I got to know Captain Joe Huckemeyer and
convinced him to take Rich and me out on the bank for some late summer
action. We knew we would need the right conditions to take our boat on a
55 mile trip to the edge. This is an amazing piece of structure rising
from depths of 300ft to just a few feet in some areas. Cold nutrient rich
waters from the Labrador Current well-up over the bank and this supports
large concentrations of baitfish.
The filming season had
been going quite well and our luck continued to hold as the seas were calm
when we left the Hyannis Marina in early September. The camera boat had
left a couple of hours earlier and we used the speed of our boat to
rendezvous on the spot just after sunrise. While we were rigging up, the
sonar displayed significant concentrations of bait in just less than 200ft
of water (a great sign). We ran the boat just up-tide of a rocky outcrop
on the bottom and dropped our clam baited rigs to the bottom. As my
sinker bounced the bottom for only the second time, I felt a hit and swung
hard to hook the fish. The rod bowed and then bowed even more sharply as
I doubled up with 20lb cod. My dream had been realized; my first Georges
Bank cod, a double header, and only moments after getting my bait in the
water!
Captain Joe and the folks
from the Helen H have put together a collection of spots that hold enough
fish to satisfy a boat load of fares (up to 40). Rich, Joe, and I got a
chance to fish one such spot all by ourselves. Even though the drifts
were short we each had several chances to hook up every time we went over
the piece of bottom. The bite that followed exceeded even my most
optimistic expectations and we landed too many cod to count. Many of the
fish were in the 20-30lb range. We spent the morning fishing shoulder to
shoulder with Captain Joe Huckemeyer as he shared his insights into this
amazing cod fishery. The action never slowed, our arms grew weary by
noon, and we headed for home after an incredible day of fishing.
When to go
The Georges Bank holds cod
year round. Only on very rare occasions, when the water gets extremely
cold, does the bite slow. The run to the edge of the bank is a least 50
miles and is usually accessible only by larger boats or when the
conditions are just right. When spawning in the late Fall, the cod can be
found a little closer (and shallower) on some of the many wrecks that
litter the bottom. The combination of strong tidal currents and wind can
sometimes create some daunting seas. The water at the bank is usually
quite cool which when combined with warm moist air this frequently creates
dense fog banks. The boats from the Helen H fleet are capable of handling
all but the most extreme conditions.
What to bring
For most anglers, open
boats and charters are the best way to experience this fishery. The right
piece of bottom can make all the difference. Most captains carefully
guard their most productive spots. Rather than take a long ride, burn a
lot of fuel, and spend the day trying to find a good piece of bottom, it
is both easier and usually less expensive to go on an open boat or book a
charter. These captains spend a lot of time in this area and have a very
good handle on where the fish are at certain times during the season.
Their knowledge of the tides and currents is invaluable. Anglers should
bring a cooler and several layers of warm clothes even during the summer
months. Cod fishing can get very messy and the decks need to be washed
down frequently. Deck boots and skins are a must.
Rod and reel
All the boats supply
tackle if you need it. If you bring your own be sure to leave your light
tackle home. Sinkers and diamond jigs weighing from 14-20 ounces are
usually required. Even though the fish are often found in shallower water
during the cold winter months, be prepared to fish some very significant
depths. It is not unusual to be fishing in 200-300ft of water. Reels
with very high gear ratios (fast retrieves) are required. When fishing
baits at these depths the amount of time and effort needed to retrieve and
re-bait a rig must be minimized. Shimano makes Torium 30 reel that has a
very fast 6.2:1 retrieve and more than enough line capacity.
For years many anglers
used long heavy cod sticks to handle the weight, provide enough length to
work their jigs effectively, and much needed hook setting power. Those
days are gone. The new composite (Berkley Fireline) lines and gel spun
lines (Spiderwire stealth) have a thinner diameter and much less water
resistance. The lack of stretch allows the angler to feel every bite and
provides for an excellent hook sets regardless of the depth. Double
headers of 20lb+ fish are not uncommon and 50-80lb test line is needed.
The new Shimano 7’ heavy Tallus rods have more than enough beef to handle
the terminal tackle and fish and provide excellent feel. Anglers who wish
to fish with monofilament lines should use 50lb test. 80lb test has too
much water resistance and any lighter line will have too much stretch.
Terminal Tackle
Aside from an assortment
of large diamond jigs and heavy sinkers, anglers should bring a supply of
7/0 Mustad Ultrapoint Beak Bait hooks both for fishing bait and making teasers.
There is a “two hook only rule” and anglers can use no more than two hooks
at any time except for a diamond jig which can have a hook on both the top
and bottom. The basic rig consists of a 3-4’ length of 80lb Fluorocarbon
leader attached to the main line via a 130lb or 230lb SPRO swivel. The
bait rig has one dropper loop 12 inches above the sinker and a second loop
24 inches above the first. Dropper loops stand out 3-4 inches. The jig
rig has a single dropper loop tied at least 24 inches above the jig. The
dropper loop is passed through the eye of the hook and can be tipped with
scented soft plastic baits. Mister Twister makes a variety of colors and
shapes that can be used to match the bait in the area which includes
mackerel, herring, sand eels, squid, and others.
Presentation
When fishing bait or jigs
it is critical to maintain contact with the bottom. More weight must be
used as the speed of the drift and/or the depth increase. As the rig is
lifted off the bottom and the scope of the line is increased, the angler
must pay out additional line until the rig hits the bottom. This can
usually be done a few times until the water resistance from the amount of
line makes it impossible to get down to the bottom. The rig must be
retrieved and flipped out again just slightly up-current.
The Helen H Fleet
The Helen H Fleet can
accommodate 6 man charters on the Fish Hawk and much larger charter groups
on the Angler. Their big boat the Helen H can accommodate up to 40
anglers. These guys really know where the fish are. You can call them in
advance to reserve a spot and get an idea on how the bite is (it is
usually pretty good). A common misconception is that the commercial
draggers have ruined the fishery. Though it is true that they take a lot
of fish and harm some of the bottom habitat, there are still many pieces
of rough bottom that are not suitable for dragging. Many of these snags
hold bait and fish and the folks from the Helen H fleet know where they
are.
Do it
This is the only
consistent year round fishery in the northeast. The advances in tackle
have made it even more enjoyable. The warmth, comfort, and expertise of
the available boats make this a trip worth experiencing. Make a call and
book a trip, you will not be sorry!
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