NCCA Fishing Flea Market THIS SATURDAY April 4 in Newbury, MA

This Saturday from 7:00 - 11:00 in the annual Northeast Charterboat Captain Association Flea Market at the Newbury Fire Station in Newbury, MA. There will be all kinds of gear new and used from fresh to salt, The prices are great and there are some really cool raffle prizes.  I will be there all day at my table with a ton of stuff (mostly rods) that were either lightly or never used. Come check it out, buy some stuff cheap, and hang out for a bit!

http://www.northeastcharterboatcaptainsassociation.com/flea-market.html

With the nice weather this weekend, I'm getting under the shrink wrap and reconfiguring my battery sitatuation to handle the new trolling motor apperatus. I'm getting very antsy!

41 more days till the marinas open!

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Chris

88 More Days till the Marina Opens!

So just like most of you I just finished dealing with more snow yet again! Sure makes the time from May 15th till late October all that more special. I'm hitting the wall hard with all this winter stuff and all I can think about is getting back on the Merrimack River and catching stripers!

Despite the weather, I have been using my time indoors this past weekend productively by giving the website a little facelift! I'm really happy with the new layout and design. It is more streamlined and updated than in the past. The mobile app is pretty slick to go along with it, making it much easier to search and contact me. I updated the pic section with pictures from last season along with some oldies, but goodies. As always, if you have Facebook it's best to check out the Manolin Charters Page during the season to look at pictures super up to date fishing reports. The season can be hectic;  it's MUCH easier for me to upload them there: in real time! Please feel free to like our page and follow along with us! 

Another great feature of the website is the ANNOUNCEMENT BAR across the top of the page. Look for special pricing, openings, and updates throughout the season. Next snow storm we get maybe I'll have a discounted price offer if you book that day! It will list any fishing tournaments we may be participating in, last minute openings, and hot bite reports!

As my returning customers know, I am a middle school teacher and this snow is having an affect on my June availability as well. As of now, I am in school until the 25th of June, which means if your looking to book an early morning trip, grab a weekend date EARLY. I get a rush of bookings in early May. You must not forget the mid week afternoon Striper Charter June Specials! That time of year and that time of day is my favorite fishing of the season. Less crowds and hungry stripers! Plus a little discount on your trip! What's also great about these trips is the opportunity for you guys who like tossing plugs around Joppa Flats. I have saved up some personal days as well, but those are very limited. I have availability to take 3 trips during the week between June 1 - June 23 (Have to be in school the last two days! Sorry guys!) 

I'm excited for the upcoming season and once this snow clears, we will be adding two big improvements to the "Mary Jocelyn" - auto pilot and an electric trolling motor. These two additions will make us even more versatile, especially in our live bait trolling and light tackle casting applications.

Stay safe in the snow everyone and just remember spring striper fishing in Newburyport is right around the corner!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Chris 

12/14 - End of 2014 Season Report

Been a long while since I have posted a report up here. The fishing had remained solid since our last report at the end of July. We ran a lot of charters since then, but it was back to football and teaching with some fishing on the weekends. Now we are into the winter doldrums and I am already missing he boat as I look at it's looking lonely wrapped up in the yard. So many things to talk discuss about this past season. The general outlook was that it pretty slow all the way up and down the coast, with the exception of a few weeks of good fishing here and there. However, we made the best of it and did some really cool fishing. The numbers weren't fantastic, but we got onto some really nice stripers this year!

Family Fishing on Manolin Charters

Before I lead on with the report, I want to thank every customer that came out on Manolin Charters this year. In our second year of operation, we surpassed my year 4 goal of charters run! In fact, we had doubled the number of trips from year 1! Many repeat customers and a bunch from word of mouth, with the website gaining a little traction as well. We are very proud of operation and very lucky to have been able to host so many wonderful people from all various demographics. Thank you so much for coming out with us! The business is really about you and your experience. I feel like I have made a bunch of new friends over the past two years, and there is still nothing better than watching a kid nail their first keeper striper!

Now on to the fishing! 

Early Season Stripers are fun on light tackle and fly rods!

The early season started about two weeks later than the previous 3 seasons, which had been abnormally early to begin with. The middle of May we started up river catching micro bass on plugs, plastics, and even on the fly! The past few years we hadn't seen these micros in the spring. These fish were a blast on appropriate light tackle. It's always to spend 2 hours from dock to dock and catch 20 + fish. The amount of smaller fish was incredibly encouraging because this fish were from the record high 2011 YOY class in the Chesapeake Bay (spawning grounds) that safely made their way in our river system. Although it will take a few years for these stripers to become of legal size, the future looks very bright!

If using light tackle, casting lures, fly fishing for non stop action is your thing, please contact my in mid to late May to have a special 3 hrs afternoon schoolie charter at a discounted rate. It's super fun as these fish are hungry and we fish different areas then we do the rest of the season. It's a good way to get into the mindset that fishing season is upon us

First Keeper of 2014 Caught on a Live Mackerel in the Merrimack River

A few weeks later, we started making bait out at the usual early season spots. With that came the bigger bass. We caught our first keepers on 5/24. But as was the pattern that continued all throughout the summer, the changing wind patterns and constant cold fronts made it extremely difficult to pattern and get on these fish. 

June started and we are in generally prime striper month! We had fish around, but the numbers were not like they should be. It seemed like every trip we would have frontal conditions that would shut down the bite for a few days. Everyone was struggling, but we were managing a 6-8 fish a day with 3 or so keepers in the mix. One trip we had 15 keepers and another 8 shorts on top of it. 

Big Day for the guys from Maine - Limited out in 2 drifts!

First 40 inch bass of the year!

At this point in June, it was evident the bigger bass were WAY up river still gorging on the massive amount of herring than came up through the spring. It was a waiting game until the fish dropped back. And when they did it was an epic two days of fishing! Then, another cold front!

Having fun with schoolies just before "Organized Chaos!"

With June in the books, things started picking up a bit more. Mackerel fishing remained outstanding. A complete reverse from 2013 when we had massive amounts of stripers, but were always on the move for mackerel we now could get the macks in a manner of minutes, but had to find something to feed them too. 

As July progressed, the same pattern would emerge: Catch 12 keepers one day, 4 the next, and then struggle to get a bit on the third. Repeat. Super frustrating. On off days I was fishing solo from 5 AM till 7 PM most days trying everything I could think of to get on a quality pile of fish. All that worked paid off in mid July. 

Big 40# bass -- The longest of the season at 52" caught live lining a monster mackerel

Mid July brought some of the most epic bites of big fish I have ever witnessed. Our tactics had to adapt and change with the situation that presented itself. We had some banner days, landed 7 fish over 40 pounds, had one day with 35+ keepers and another 20 or so just short stripers. This saved our season and part of the reason for the lack of reports during this time, as we were being a little sneaky! It really opened my eyes about a few things that just made complete sense and now have another tool in the tool box!

August was August. Some good days, not as hot as July, but action to be had. We did a shark trip, which was sweet as I hadn't sharked much at all this past season, and caught some nice blue dogs and got to see some whales and porpoises while we were out there. 

Football started up for me and I did a few more trips on the weekends. We had two days of catching bluefish on Labor Day weekend, all on top water and trolling! This was fantastic as we barely had any bluefish in 2013. However, this again was short lived as we caught 15 blues one day, then 7, then 4, then 2, then 1. Argh!! I caught them from the mouth to 12 miles south to 8 miles east to off the coast of New Hampshire. Those bastards can swim!

Didn't do much tuna fishing. I think I went once or twice when I had the time. I missed a big bite on Southern Jeffries due to a few weddings I was a part of (Seriously guys, getting married in October during football and prime tuna season? So selfish!) and couldn't get out there. 

So to sum it up:  Not our typical year, in fact probably one of the worst on record in terms of keeper bass. However, let's talk about the positives that happened:

• Bait was fantastic - Mackerel, Herring, Pogies, Sandeels, Whiting, all were in abundance the entire season
• Big Girls Showed Up - The slow fishing led to re-evaluation of the conditions and brought us to some of the most epic fishing I have been apart of for about 6 weeks
• The new boat is the real deal - Loved every minute I spent on it! So much more room for customers and designed perfectly for how I like to fish
• The Life - Seals, whales just of the beach and offshore, dolphins, etc...
• Bluefish made an appearance 
• Micro bass and schoolie stripers - The previous years it seemed I would only get a handful of fish under 28 inches and it had me worried about the future. With the micro bass making a return and the amount of 22 - 26 inch fish was the widest range of distribution I have seen in a while. The numbers were solid from this aspect and should lead to a productive future.
• Being with friends and family all summer long catching fish!

I'll be reporting over the winter announcing our big winner for biggest fish of the year as well as fishing related blogs dealing with the new limits on stripers, a gear guide/review, and some other neat stuff!

Tight Lines, 

Last striper of the year! A 35 inch bass on top water almost exactly where I caught my first of the year!

Capt. Chris

7/22 - Big Fish in the Merrimack River Report!

Striper fishing has been stellar the past two weeks. The quality has been outstanding! Lots of HUMONGOUS stripers around. Since 7/11  (ironically the day after my last Merrimack River fishing report) we have been hammering slobs! In the past 7 trips, we have boated 4 fish over 40 POUNDS! With around 10 - 12 in the 25+ range (over 40 inches). Some days we put a hurting on them (Monday the 14th we got over 35 keepers!), other days it had been a steady pick of 30 - 45 inch bass.  Everyday it seems we are bending rods with schoolies to keep up busy while we wait for Momma. It still going on today as Madison (With a little help from Dad, Lee!) picked up a fatty! Just at 45 inches, but weighed in at 42 Pounds! It was so fat! She didn't even bother to take pictures of her other two keepers.

Madison with her relatively short and stocky 40# striper caught in the Merrimack River on 7/22/14

Earlier in the week, Justin an accomplished fisherman caught his Personal Best at 43 inches and 30 pounds while on a solo charter fishing trip with Manolin Charters out of the Merrimack River

Justin with a Striper caught on Manolin Charters in Merrimack River on 7/14/14

Me with the two biggest from Monday 7/21/14, both cleared 40 inches prepping for Tuesday's fishing charter

My 4th biggest striper ever at 48 pounds, caught out of Newburyport on 7/11/14

I even got in the action a couple days and took home a 48 and 45 pounder, while releasing a bunch more for you guys! Another day I got a 31# and a nice 24 # to go along with plenty of fish over 34"! Not a bad day for a Charter boat Captain on his day off!

Craig's group got in with some action and 3 nice keeper stripers and a bunch of shorts despite the wind cranking on us during their striped bass charter in Newburyport.

Craig's group with 3 nice 30 - 33 inch keepers despite tough conditions to go along with a bunch of schoolies to go along with "Fred" the biggest mackerel I have ever seen

Sorry some of the pics are kind of lame. I have a ton more of other charter trips and of other stripers. There are better ones on my phone and clients phones, but I don't want the spots I am fishing in the background! Once people see which houses/dunes/lobster pots/water towers/alien spacecraft are in the background, they'll litter it up!

Get out here now!!!!!!!!

7/10 Merrimack River Striper Fishing - Up and Down

Sorry for such a long gap in fishing reports. Have been super busy with a lots of time on the water the past couple weeks. Fishing right now has remained consistently inconsistent. We have been getting decent sized keepers and more schoolies than I can remember. Certainly have't been setting the world on fire, but decent fishing none the less. While mackerel fishing remains excellent, the stripers have been on here today gone tomorrow type of pattern; not what you expect to hear from me, but the truth.

The Joubert family with a sweet 35 inch Striper caught trolling live mackerel

Lindsey with a nice Merrimack Striper on Manolin Charters

Friday the 27th, Michelle Joubert's charter led us to some nice fish including a 35 inch striper for her daughter Lindsey! The fishing inside the Merrimack River over the weekend remained consistent with about 5 keepers being the norm. 

Billy with one of a dozen stripers caught on a Merrimack River Charter

Monday morning the 30th, was an epic tide. The bigger fish dropped back from upriver finally and everyone thought it was game on from there. The afternoon tide also provided a good bite for Kevin Donahue's charter with plenty of action. The fish I filleted for the crew were stuffed with adult herring, which was an excellent sign. 

Wednesday,  i had Adam Joffre and his friend Danielle aboard and we fished the turn of the incoming tide and landed a few schoolies and a couple keepers. Danielle had a PIG on her line early in the trip, but in true Merrimack River form, some dude ran her line over! ARGH! 

Danielle smoked them with 4 fish including this keeper. She lost a monster when someone ran over her line!

Tim with a nice 33 inch Striper caught live lining mackerel on Manolin Charters!

The next few days remained pretty decent. I took a few days off the water to readjust during the 4th. Was back at it Sunday with Andy Decola's Half Day Charter in Newburyport where we nailed 11 keepers and a bunch of shorts all through out the tide. Again, it started to look like it was about to open up!

Julia with a 34 inch Striper caught on July 6th in front of Newburyport!

Monday, I went out solo and it had slowed down dramatically since the day before. I landed 4 nice fish in the 33 inch range and lost what was probably going to be the biggest fish of the year to a pulled hook! I couldn't stop this thing! Seriously...

The past 2 trips have been difficult for everybody. I think it may have to do with the full moon. Tuesday, Kevin and his boys came out again and it shut right off. They never gave up and fished hard, had a few non aggressive hits, and got a schoolie or two to the boat.

Wednesday was especially tough. A little more challenging to get bait, but we still loaded up the well. Steve LeBlanc and his crew hung tough and got a couple schoolies and a keeper with a few more bites mixed in. Of course, I forgot to take a pic of the keeper at the docks!

Looking forward to this weekend as we fall off the full moon. Going on the first shark trip of the year on soon. Reports from the tuna guys are that they have been getting some big blue sharks Will report back!

To sum it up, you just have to get out there and fish. It has been unpredictable for sure, but the days we have hit have been excellent and there have been some big fish around!

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Chris

6/25 Weekly Report

Matt and Grandfather Brian with their first ever striper! Caught while drift the mouth of the Merrimack River aboard Manolin Charters!

The past week has been a tough one all the way around. Things were looking good on Thursday 6/19 as we got 5 keepers and plenty of shorts. Then, the wind started to blow hard from the NW shutting down the bite again. Friday and Saturday we landed 3 keepers each trip with a dozen or so shorts mixed in including our first 40 incher of the year. Sunday i explored some areas and caught a few keepers. Monday was tough to find the bigger fish but had some action with a bunch of 26 inch fish including 2 keepers. Tuesday we again had to deal with the wind machine making for very tough conditions and we only got 2 schoolies. Pretty much the same type of action around the fleet as well. 

Nick here with a nice 40 inch Striper caught on Manolin Charters in the Merrimack River

Girls can fish too! Especially Maria here with a nice Keeper Striper caught out of Newburyport, MA 6/21/2014

This weekend is lining up to be beautiful and the water temp finally broke 60 yesterday. I have trips Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday with Saturday and Sunday wide open for anyone who wants to catch some fish on what is shaping up to be a beautiful weekend!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Chris Valaskatgis

6/8 - 6/15 Merrimack River Fishing Report

Here is a brief synopsis of the Merrimack River Fishing Reports the past week.

Johnson with a nice 38" striper caught on a live mackerel on Manolin Charters

Tight on a striper in the Merrimack River!

Sunday 6/8, Manolin Charters welcomed aboard Kyle's group. Great bunch of guys and we got into some fish. Still much slower than we'd like, but we got mackerel pretty easily and then proceeded to get a half dozen fish just under the legal limit. We did manage a keeper sized fish that pulled hook just as I was about to leader him. Great bunch of guys with a lot of laughs and good times. Action was spotty, but we managed a few to make a day out of it. 

View fullsize

A cooler filled with keeper stripers!

Saturday 6/14 the Merrimack River Fishing finally turned on! I had an afternoon charter to catch the tide and it did not disappoint our crew of seasoned Maine commercial lobster fishermen. The river was very wild, but the fishing was spectacular as we landed 15 keepers, a half dozen shorts, and a few misses. By far the best trip to date! Sunday afternoon from information I have gather thus far was also fantastic! Next weekend is setting up to be incredible with the AM outgoing tide. I have charter trips booked on Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. I have been trying to fill out the Sunday the 22nd and its going to be an awesome tide! Somebody please book this now!!!

The Maine Crew with 8 of the 15 Keepers!

Sunday 6/15 - Tough conditions with a stiff NW blow. We did well on the bait, but had to work for them. After some time, we managed 40 or so and were on our way. We picked two keepers on a double hook up by daughter Jessie and dad Steve on Father's Day! We tried a few more drifts but the tide was slacking and the traffic and wind made it difficult. After checking out some other drifts, I went to troll the beach front under some working birds. Fish were there, but man it was tough to stay tight! We came tight and dropped 5 fish in a row out there. Don't know why, each fish was fought for around 30 seconds before the hook just seemed to pop. No fault to the anglers. I'm going to stick with treble hooks from now on on the troll. 

Jessie and her dad Steve with a nice pair of keepers on a double hook up on Father's day

All in all, the fish are hear with the outgoing tide being your best bet (Again, Sunday June 22nd is setting up to be spectacular). There are fish on the incoming, but you really have to convert opportunities to put fish in the box.

Starting Thursday June 19th I will be on the water full time until late August so if you are around during the week or weekends give us a call and let us take you out on your own private fishing charter for striped bass out of Newburyport, MA.

Tight Lines, 

Capt. Chris

6/6 and 6/7 - Mark and Jeremy Return

Two day report here....

Dan with a pair of Keepah's!

Stripers are in for sure but have been moving around the past couple days. Not the early June fishing we have been accustomed too, but pretty decent never the less. Mackerel continue to be very reliable in big numbers and good sizes as well. Still waiting for the day when everything goes Ape S***,  which can be at any moment now. 

24 5 -6 Inch Whiting in a 30" Bass' Stomach!

Friday was a decent day drifting the mouth. We managed a few keepers all around the 30 inch mark along with a half dozen schoolies. It wasn't crazy action, but a fish or two each drift. Fishing reports from guys around the fleet were pretty solid and had me itching for my for the first charter of the year. What was amazing was what I found in the bass' stomach when I cut them open: one bass had 24 juvenile whiting in his gut which means he came in from offshore! 

Jeremy's Sweet 18# Striper Caught on a Live Mackerel in the Merrimack River

Today (Saturday) was a bit of a different story. Had repeat customers Mark and Jeremy out who brought along their buddies Jerome and Garret. We started off the day getting the macs pretty good and out to the mouth for some stripers.

Jerome with a schoolie to start us off. 

Mark's Keeper!

Yesterday, I figured out you just had to grind and pound out drift after drift to get the fish. Jerome started us off with the first two fish of the day that we just a tad under the keeper mark. Then, after another schoolie or two, Jeremy landed the first keeper! After grinding out some more drifts, Jeremy came tight again to a fat 38 inch fish! A real beauty that put up a fantastic fight. Another couple drifts, Mark finally gets on board with a schoolie followed by another nice keeper! Not to be outdone, on the last drift Garrett thought he had a fish, but ended up being a ball of weeds; but with a line attached! I handlined about 100 yards of braid back into the boat and up came a 25 inch striper! We got him unhooked and saved his life!

Reports from the fleet and radio chatter were abysmal. For the number of boats fishing the Merrimac River today, I didn't see many bent rods. After talking around, our group were the studs of the day. When fishing isn't hot and heavy, I have to give credit to these guys for their ability to hook and land nearly every bite they got! 

Thanks guys for coming on Manolin Charters. Had a bunch of laughs, caught some fish, and enjoy the first real beautiful day on the water.

Back at it tomorrow!

Capt. Chris Valaskatgis