Tuna

T he bluefin tuna is arguably the most sought after game fish in the world and here in Massachusetts we are fortunate to host some of the most active tuna fishing grounds in the Atlantic. The magnificent fish’s size and laser speeds (45mph) make it the prize fighter of sport fishing. Our average bluefin weight this 2009 season is 210lbs. and often requires everyone onboard to help land it – often a 1 hour test of endurance consisting of sudden chases, revving engines, saltwater spray, and hull smacking excitement. This has been a great season so far and you are likely to go home with an arm full of sashimi tuna steaks.

• Tuna charters leave at 5am from Shipyard Quarters marina in Charlestown. Alternate departure location arrangements can be made.
  
• We fish Stellwagen bank which stretches between Gloucester and Provincetown. It takes about 2 hours to reach the bank. Total time on the water is about 10 hours.
  
• It’s not uncommon to see other marine life such as whales, sharks, and huge ocean sunfish basking on the surface.
  

Striped Bass + Bluefish

S tripers ranging in size from 10 – 20 pounds are common when fishing the outer harbor and coastal banks on Hatunamata. A few 30 pound giants during the season are also typical - maybe you’ll be the lucky one! With decades of experience we’ve learned the trifecta of bluefish and striped bass fishing:

1. Location Location Location! The location of hottest blue and striper fishing spots in Massachusetts coastal waters (Capt. Artie’s GPS coordinates are frequently requested by novice and professional fisherman alike).
   
2. Optimum tidal cycle for each fishing location. Some of the premier fishing spots are shoals that must be fished during just the right tide because they’re not navigable during low tide and lose their appeal to larger stripers.
   
3. The right kind of bait for the location and time of day (what they’re biting that day). We typically troll live bait (pogies, mackerel, and herring) or eel rigs but also jig if that’s what they’re biting. Fly fisherman are welcome.

Striped bass and Bluefish charters are great for the family because they depart later in the morning and there tends to be more time spent catching fish and less time traveling to blue waters.

• Striper charters leave at 8am from Shipyard Quarters marina in Charlestown. Alternate departure location arrangements can be made.
  
• Great half day trip

Flounder

F lounder fishing in spring is the perfect way to start the season. It’s not uncommon to fill a cooler with 2 – 4 pound flounder. We’ve had a lot of success the last few years angling for these time honored New England ground fish on the sandy bottoms off the outer islands. We’ve found that light tackle and a small piece of sea worm gets the best results and keeps the action going.

• Great for a half day trip. You’ll never lose sight of land.
  
• Ideal family fishing trip, usually not much waiting between fish on.
  
• A seafood culinary classic, few fish start in so many recipes.

Family Fishing Trip

W e have a big family ourselves and are a very family friendly fishing charter. We have life preservers for all sizes and Capt. Artie never grows tired of sharing his years of fishing stories and answering the endless stream of questions children always ask on our charters – luckily we know most of the answers by now! Whether you’d like to take the family out to Stellwagen back for Tuna, Cod, and the other deep sea fare or stay near the coast fishing for bass or flounder; we will make the trip a family event to remember for you and your kids.

Instructional Charters

A spiring anglers, new boat owners, or anyone wishing to jump start their ocean fishing knowledge, this is the charter for you. Just tell Capt. Artie you’d like an instructional charter and be prepared to take 30 years worth of notes from the veteran Captain. Here is a sample of what you’ll learn:

• Learn how to catch and maintain bait
• Learn the best fishing spots in the harbor and Stellwagen bank (tuna/shark)
• Learn about all the fishing equipment

The Boat (Hatunamata)

H atunamata is a 26 foot Boston Whaler Outrage that's big enough to keep you dry for the trip to Stellwagen bank but agile enough to maneuver between the striper rich shouls of the outer harbor. With twin 225HP outboards, we don't waste any time speeding to the fishing destination. The boat's unique center console and forward cabin design make it ideal for sportfishing as well as comfort

Whales and Other Marine Life We Often See

S tellwagen bank attracts a lot more than just the two legged fisherman. It is also a popular feeding ground for humpback whales and more. The bank is a popular destination for whale watching boats. Here is some of the marine life we've seen.

• Humpback Whales - These massive mammals are a common sight but never cease to impress.
  
• Sunfish - You can often spot these by their dorsal fin sticking of the water like a sail. Our charter guests have usually never seen one of these huge odd shaped creatures before and find it the most interesting of the marine life they observe.
  
• Dolphin - Now they are impressive fishermen!
  
• Basking shark - These are the second largest shark in the world but are harmless and are sometimes seen near the surface, massive mouth wide open, skimming for plankton and small fish.
  
• Seals and porpoises
  
• Blue sharks
  
• White sharks
  
• Pilot whales
  
• Minke whales