After a lukewarm start to the Spring fly fishing season on Martha's Vineyard, the air and water temps are warming, and the fishing is now on fire! Water temps have finally reached 60 degrees, and striped bass have quickly filled the Vineyard's local waters. It doesn't get much better than late spring on Martha's Vineyard for the fly angler!
During our guided fly fishing charters this week, we've focused on fishing the rips off Martha's Vineyard, and it's proven to be a massive success! Striped bass are thick, healthy, and hangry! Head Kismet Outfitters guide Abbie Schuster has fished Martha's Vineyard her entire life and can't recall a time when she saw the rips this thick with over-slot stripers.
We're not being hyperbolic when saying hook-ups with big bass were happening on literally every cast nearly as soon as the purple and pink Redcan Squid fly hit the water. The fishing has been so outrageous that there hasn't been a need to change patterns most days. Even though we're not seeing a ton of squid around in the rips, it's clear the stripers feel their presence and are keyed in on calamari. Other flies that are working are Beasts, Hollows, and Semper Squids. Stop by the shop, call us at 774-549-5921, or email stephen@kismetoutfitters.com for the best custom-tied fly box in New England.
RIO's Outbound Short is our favorite fly line for the rips, thanks to its compact head that delivers bulky flies to voracious predators quickly. The Outbound Short is available in several different densities, but the I/S3/S5 is perfect for getting the flies rapidly under the surface chop and into the strike zone of big bass.
A 9wt rod will work just fine, but I prefer a 10wt to handle the wind, bigger flies, and to muscle fish up. With the action this hot, you want your fly back in the water quickly! Thomas & Thomas' brand-new Exocett 88, available in either the 350 or 400 sizes, is the perfect rod for Martha's Vineyard and coastal New England. The Exocett 88 is light, strong, and easy to throw an entire fly line with minimal false casts. Pick one up today, and we assure you you'll notice immediate improvements to your cast in windy conditions.
Shore fishing for stripers is still on the slower side, but we expect it to pick up as the swarm of sand eels, typical of this time of year, starts to appear in the estuaries and along the ocean-side flats. We just need a couple warm days and the shore fishing will be on par with boat.
Good-sized bluefish are being caught from the beaches off Chappy and Oak Bluffs. Still, your best bet is fishing by boat for now. We are booking fast, but we still have some dates available. With fishing this good, I wouldn't wait to pencil in a date for the best striper fishing of the year. Please email info@kismetoutfitters.com to book your charter today. We look forward to seeing everyone this year!
