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I always sucked at catching stripers, even pre-moratorium. I think the first one that I ever caught was like 8 inches long on a Kastmaster fishing for snappers at West Dennis Beach in 1981 or 1982.
I started really fishing for them when Mikey and I moved to the cape in 1995. Caught lots of schoolies, but no keepers (although I watched Mikey hook up with a good one that he lost at Nauset on an eel. I bet he doesn't remember that).
I caught lots of blues, though. Everywhere I went. I was like the bluefish whisperer. I dated a girl that did post-grad work at the Northeastern Research station at Nahant in 1993. I used to go there on the weekends. All bluefish on lures.
The first keeper I caught was in 1997 in Nahant. I didn't know how to find any bait shops, so I drove around until I found a Shaws in Lynn and bought some mackerel at the fish counter for bait. I tried to find my way back to the Northeastern place and forgot how to get there and ended up at Bass Point.
I was so dejected at this point, I just cut the tail off the mackerel and cast off the rocks like 10 feet above the water. I went to go grab a smoke and a beer and handed by buddy the rod (who I think had never been fishing before). Started mumbling that the reel was broken. I turned around and the rod was doubled over. He had no idea that he had a big fish on the line.
That spot did me well for the next 8 years. Had lots of fun there, especially with Mikey.
Always caught a lot of just keepers and most always put them back at that point, because I was too lazy to walk them back to the car.
Lost a couple of good ones there...also had some great run-ins with the local cops out there, as well. They were always hilarious...oh, the stories.
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