macatac sportsfishing fairhaven, ma

Capt. Todd MacGregor

Licensed Fishing Guide Since 1981Fishing from Fairhaven, MA

(t) 508.992.9189(c) 508.243.8559

(e) [email protected]

http://www.macatacsportfishing.com/

2

www.macatacsportfishing.com

(t) 508.992.9189

(c) 508.243.8559


[email protected]


Pictures From Seasons:2003 - 2016

macatacsportsfishing.com

3

Understanding Fish Biology

All fish, especially larger fish will seek their optimum level of light – most of the time.

Deep when bright - shallow when dark

Deep - cold water - slower metabolism - lessens need to feed

Shallow water in the dark


macatacsportsfishing.com4

Fish are simply easier to catch when in shallow

water (<35’).

This is why night fishing is generally

better.

Below 60’ water is roughly the same

temperature all year.

Shallow water = warmer water – stimulates

metabolism – greater need to feed.


Understanding Fish Biology

40 lb. Striped Bass White Danny 3-3/4 oz.


Daily Migration Of Fish

Fish eat best when moving daily migration and when stimulated by changing conditions like change

of tide, quick change in light conditions like the moon going behind clouds.

Deep to shallow as sun sets.

Shallow to Deep as morning brightens.


Daily Migration Of Fish

If All Of These Variables Come Together You Will Have

B I G T R I P


28 lb. Striped BassBrown Danny Plug


When Will Fish Eat Best ?

During the Spring/Early Summer and Fall Migrations.

During daily movements (2 – 4 per day)A lot of fish around = a lot of competition

Top of the tide to ~ 1 hr. into the tideEnd of tide = last 1 to 1-1/2 hrs

Quick change in light conditions may cause brief

stimulus.


When Will Fish Eat Best ?

Why???Fish’s eyes are adjusting to changing

light conditions.

No matter how great the fishing is, there will usually be a 10-20 minute lull during the gray of

the morning & the gray of the evening.


46 lb. Striped BassBrown Danny PlugCapt. Casey Allen


When Do Fish Eat Poorly?

Find softer water, take a break, or flip eels or small swimming plugs up on the beach for an hour or so.

When the tide is horsing hard

Sometimes they are just turned off, this is when the

plugs really work their magic.

Too much bait around


In the summer months – when the fish are living in an area – they really only

eat hard every 3 or 4 nights.

So… Why does the PLUG work so well ? ? ?

When Do Fish Eat Poorly?


A plug will both imitate bait when the fish are eating (match the hatch theory)

Piss them off when they are turned off – INTIMIDATE! {similar to the way a tube or an Umbrella works

in the day time}AND

Because


?

3 Key questions to Satisfy

The Where? The When? And The How?

Over 35 years of fishing experience tells me that the Where? And the When? Are 90% of the achieved Success2

1The How? is the other 10% and is the difference between 2 fish and 30 – 50 fish as they won’t eat forever.

• You must capitalize when they are ‘on the bite’

3 Gibbs Plugs tip the balance in my & your favor!


Yellow GTS 3Note the weeds on the plug


Where ?

A place that you know should hold some fish. If you know, for a fact, that there are a lot of fish around … Even better.

Structure… Structure... Structure

A Rip: Wind against the tide over structure.• Any structure off beach with 15-30’ of water.

Dilemmas – lobster gear and nights with a lot of weed in the water; Fog at night.


Sometimes they really EAT the plug!!Plug

removed at the dock

after the trip

52 lb. 52 lb. Striped BassStriped Bass


When ?

For Rip fishing: Top of the tide, or bottom of the tide.

Whichever precedes a period where you know you will have wind against the tide. Don’t be

late!

On the moons, especially the bright moon this

year, the tide will start running 15-20 minutes earlier than normal.


When ?

On the Full & New Moons, you will catch the

majority of your fish during the first hour and last 1-1.5 hrs. of the tide.

You will have 1-1.5 hrs. of lull when the tide is

horsing hard.

On the neap tide – you can be a little late if you have to and will be more likely to

pick away at fish throughout the tide.


Daiwa 400 or 450 loaded with 80 lb Dacron backing.

Use a ~20’ 125 lb + leader with 275lb. Berkley Cross Lock snaps – no snap swivels!

Use 90’ of 50 lb. wire with 10’ Dacron spacer and another 50’ of wire.

How ? The Tackle

1

2

3


1 2

3

How ? The Tackle

Use Spro 130 lb. test swivels.1

2Use Soft 6.5’ custom or stock rods with hardened and center supported guides.

3Use 25 Lb. Mono or braid on lighter rod for trolling 2 oz. Danny Plugs on surface at Dawn and Dusk.


How ? The Plugs

An assortment of 3 oz. Gibbs GTS-3 swimmers

3-3/4 oz Danny Deep Divers

Blue; White; Black; Brown, Yellow, Other variations of colors

(Softer Action)

(Digs Hard)

Must have colors:


How ? The Plugs

Hooks: 3X Mustad 6/0 on Front, 3X Mustad 5/0 Center and rear. The Single hooks on the

Danny’s Tail is also good.

Also good to have Blue, White and Brown 2 oz.

Deep Divers.


How ? The Technique

Troll as slow as you can to maintain steerage into the tide and stay on the

edge of the rip – the edge of the structure, while

stemming the tide.

Speed up as tide increases in velocity to maintain position … and… let some more

line out.


How ? The Technique

Increase speed in situation where you have to intimidate. This is generally when the fish is poor and this also helps you cover more ground.

Don’t go too fast or the plugs will roll over and will not swim.

You want the tip of the rod vibrating on a fairly steady motion.


How ? The Technique

Fish will sometimes hammer the plug, but …

More often than not, they will tap or bang the plug. Sometimes 2, 3, 4, 6? Times. {This is most likely not the same fish}

Drop the plug to the fish – point the rod at the fish quickly.


How ? The Technique

Keep pressure on and kill the fish quickly with short pumps

and no slack.

Turn the handle fast and drop the tip very slowly. Don’t let him rest.

Setting hooks will cause you to drop Big Fish close to the Boat

after a long fight.

Why? … The fish is not hooked deep enough and there is less stretch and water resistance.


How ? The Technique

DO NOT SET HOOKS!

Drop the plug to the fish. Let the fish hook him(her)self. The hooks get into the fish when they are running.

Do not use too much drag.

Let the fish run with the plug for a few seconds before bringing the rod to 45 degrees.

Turn the fish’s head as soon as he first stops.


How ? The Technique

Setting hooks also cause tackle failures.

Such as straightened hooks, broken swivels, overtightened wire knots, and opened snaps.



Captain Captain Todd Todd MacMacBrown Brown Gibbs Gibbs GTS-3GTS-3

32

Which Color Do I Use ?

90% of the time, this rule applies: The lighter the night, the lighter the bait. The darker the night, the darker the bait.

Exception 1: when there is a lot of Squid around, white plugs will work even on dark nights.

Exception 2: when the water is either roiled or water clarity is reduced (late July, Aug, Sept), darker plugs will prevail; except at dusk and dawn.

%


Which Color Do I Use ?

Dusk to dark (45min- 1 hr.) and dawn to Sunrise

Always keep at least 1 White Danny in the

water.

Also use yellow and brown/white.


White Danny & Brown Gibbs or

Danny Plug in the Spring

Yellow Gibbs, White Danny, Brown or Blue

Danny or Gibbs GTS3 in Summer

White Plugs prevail in the presence of squid,

especially in bright conditions

Dawn / Dusk / Bright Night Suggested Starting Combos


Black & Silver and All Black plugs prevail in the presence of small tautog, sea robins & sea bass, regardless of bright or dark

night.

Dawn / Dusk / Bright Night Suggested Starting Combos


Dark Nights

Blue, Black & Silver, Brown or all Black plugs.

TIP

Pick whichever color plugs that look silvery-

gray when held up to the horizon.

This trick only works on dark nights.


Best Plug EverBest Plug EverConsistent producer Consistent producer over the last 40 yearsover the last 40 years


Just a Few More Pictures From Seasons:

2003 - 2016macatacsportsfishing.com

39

Pogy Gibbs GTS-3Pogy Gibbs GTS-3Moonlight 12:50 AMMoonlight 12:50 AM

Black/Silver & White Danny’s

10 Bass: 10 Bass: 36 - 48 lbs.36 - 48 lbs.450 lb. trip450 lb. trip

50 lb. Striped Bass


16 - 34 lbs.: All Plugs Largest fish: 44 lbs.Largest fish: 44 lbs.macatacsportsfishing.com41

Captain Todd 29 fish

All on plugs42

Todd (right)Todd (right)Blue Gibb’s are the bestBlue Gibb’s are the best

60 lb. fish: June 9, 198660 lb. fish: June 9, 1986


Black Danny Plug

Black Danny’s Black Danny’s


Danny Plugs


Brown Danny Plugs43 & 58 lb.


More Plug Fishing Tips

Don’t adjust the diving plane, adjust the wire.

Always use swivels between wire & leader or

backing.

Why? • You can hear them at night. • You can’t hear an Albright knot.


Gaffing technique. • Go over the fish. • Keep open hand on leader. • Do not boat over the transom!

Keep rod in upright holder when working with plugs or

unhooking fish.

Hold plug up to the horizon to check for weed. • Use lights only as last resort.

More Plug Fishing Tips


Mac Atac: Is A Rugby Play



Licensed Fishing Guide Since 1981Fishing from Fairhaven, MA

(t) 508.992.9189(c) 508.243.8559

(e) [email protected]


2

www.macatacsportfishing.com

(t) 508.992.9189

(c) 508.243.8559


[email protected]


macatac sportsfishing fairhaven, ma

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