drift fishing joppa flats

Drift Fishing Joppa FlatsDrift Fishing Joppa Flats

withwithDan LeBlancDan LeBlanc

Newburyport, MA

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsAbout me…About me…

90% of my fishing season is for 90% of my fishing season is for striped bassstriped bassI started drift fishing Joppa Flats in 1996I started drift fishing Joppa Flats in 1996Commercial Hook & Line Fisherman Commercial Hook & Line Fisherman since 1998 (off and on)since 1998 (off and on)

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsWe fish from early June We fish from early June

until late Octoberuntil late October

We fish…We fish…100% with live eel100% with live eel100% of the time we drift 100% of the time we drift 99.5% at night99.5% at night

Why you ask?Why you ask?Bob’s 43 incherBob’s 43 incher

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsWhy Nights?...Why Nights?...

Stripers migrate into Stripers migrate into the shallows at nightthe shallows at night

Stripers feed more Stripers feed more aggressively at nightaggressively at night

Fishing and boating Fishing and boating pressure is greatly pressure is greatly reduced at nightreduced at night

Twin 38’sTwin 38’s

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsWhy Drift?...Why Drift?...

Fish Swim, didn’t Fish Swim, didn’t you know that?you know that?

Drift fishing allows Drift fishing allows us to cover more us to cover more groundground

Drifting will out Drifting will out produce boats at produce boats at anchor 10:1 anchor 10:1 MINIMUM !!MINIMUM !! 36” & 38” Joppa 36” & 38” Joppa

FishFish

Joppa FlatsJoppa Flats

Stripers Stripers LOVELOVE eels !! eels !!

One of my secret stashes …One of my secret stashes …

Joppa FlatsJoppa Flats

Rigging eels…Rigging eels…

Move very slowwwly !!Move very slowwwly !!Hook them as close to the Hook them as close to the

nose as feasiblenose as feasiblePut them in the water as Put them in the water as

soon as they’re riggedsoon as they’re rigged30lb leader, 4/0 30lb leader, 4/0

Gamagatsu Octopus Gamagatsu Octopus HooksHooks

Ice Ice 38 38 lbslbs

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsMy boat… My boat… “Ruff Stuff”“Ruff Stuff”

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsThe truth about Striped The truth about Striped

Bass…Bass…

Stripers are not generally Stripers are not generally leader shyleader shy

Stripers don’t fear boat Stripers don’t fear boat lightslights

Stripers react to noiseStripers react to noiseStripers are opportunistic & Stripers are opportunistic &

habitual feeding habitual feeding machinesmachines 2006 Striper 2006 Striper

Tournament Tournament & a very happy crew !& a very happy crew !

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsSuccessful night fishing Successful night fishing

begins with…begins with…

Daytime scouting at low Daytime scouting at low tidetide

Boating navigation skills Boating navigation skills and instrumentationand instrumentation

Familiarity with land Familiarity with land lightslights

A maintained boatA maintained boat Joppa Flats from the satelliteJoppa Flats from the satellite

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsAccess areasAccess areas

BoatBoat

ShoreShorelocations tolocations totry…try…

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsDrift Fishing…Drift Fishing…

Looking for sand & Looking for sand & structurestructure

Reading the waterReading the waterListen for popping Listen for popping

sounds, birds, etc.sounds, birds, etc.If there’s no actionIf there’s no action

MOVE !!MOVE !! Tom’s first keeper - 36lbs


Become familiar withBecome familiar withBuoy lightsBuoy lightsLandmarksLandmarksStreetlights Streetlights and buildingsand buildings

Another big fish !!


Water depths range Water depths range from 7 ft to less from 7 ft to less than 1 ft than 1 ft

You will hit bottom !!You will hit bottom !!Vary the speedsVary the speedsPlay it safe if you’re Play it safe if you’re

not surenot sure Hum’s big fish !!


Fishing the flats is Fishing the flats is always a race against always a race against time & tidetime & tide

Play the windsPlay the windsMake note of holes, Make note of holes,

grass, moorings, grass, moorings, inlets, contours, etc.inlets, contours, etc.

Water temperaturesWater temperatures Young’s first striper

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsGear…Gear…

6 -7 foot rod, medium 6 -7 foot rod, medium actionaction

12 – 15 lb test line12 – 15 lb test line30 lb mono shock leader30 lb mono shock leaderGamagatsu baby !! 4/0Gamagatsu baby !! 4/0Penn 5500/4500 or equiv.Penn 5500/4500 or equiv.Large netLarge netSmall FlashlightsSmall Flashlights Hum & Andy with 3

beauties

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsBoat Drift Techniques…Boat Drift Techniques… Position the boat to move Position the boat to move

with the current with the current Electric motor to maintain Electric motor to maintain

directiondirectionBow fisherman casts to 1 Bow fisherman casts to 1

and 11 O’Clockand 11 O’ClockStern trolls 1 or 2 lines Stern trolls 1 or 2 lines

while casting to either while casting to either sideside

Slow retrieve, pickup at 4 Slow retrieve, pickup at 4 and 8 O’Clockand 8 O’Clock

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsUseful Tools…Useful Tools…

GPS with tracking onGPS with tracking onVHF RadioVHF RadioCell phoneCell phonePliers/snips, knifes Pliers/snips, knifes

and hookoutsand hookoutsSnacks & WaterSnacks & Water

Bad picture… Nice Fish !!

Joppa FlatsJoppa FlatsNever stop learning…Never stop learning…

Fish with other people or hire Fish with other people or hire charters to learn!charters to learn!

Log your fishing trips!Log your fishing trips!If others are catching and you’re If others are catching and you’re

not, try something new!not, try something new!Information sourcesInformation sources

Twitter: @surflandTwitter: @surflandwww.NewEnglandFishing.netwww.NewEnglandFishing.netOn the Water Magazine and On the Water Magazine and their online reportstheir online reportsThe Fisherman magazineThe Fisherman magazineEtc, Etc, EtcEtc, Etc, Etc

And And ABOVE ALLABOVE ALL visit local bait visit local bait shops and get to know them!shops and get to know them!

Questions ??

Drift Fishing Joppa Flats

drift fishing joppa flats

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