Fishing the Fifty
My Quest to Fish All 50 States
Massachusetts
Every time I mentioned not having fished Massachusetts while discussing my state quest, the response was the same: fish for tuna. This was true before that TV show about tuna fishing came out, and it was especially true afterward. However, as usual, I wanted light tackle, near-shore action that would provide me with more fishing time and less boat-riding time. I picked Lou Biondo (patriotwavecharters.com) because of his big fish pictures and his proven success as a tournament winner. Additionally, working as a commercial fisherman part-time means it is not in Lou’s DNA simply to take you for a boat ride; he wants to find fish.
We fished out of Gloucester on one of its hottest days of the year (96 degrees, a record for that day). I started by jigging for Atlantic mackerel and pollock for bait, which I enjoyed quite a bit. The striper fishing was slow, so Lou’s unflagging desire to find fish came in very handy. I caught two stripers (28 and 37 inches) and had such a good time talking to Lou that I barely even noticed the slow bite.
Massachusetts welcomes you
Calm day on the water
Jigging for pollock
My first Massachusetts fish, a 28-inch striper
37-inch striper
