SHIP WRECKS: FALL COD FISHING AT IT’S BEST

Now that the summer breezes have changed into the cooling winds of autumn, the return of the cod to inshore waters is truly a welcomed change. Good sized cod have returned and fishermen all over the North Shore are bouncing jigs and drifting bait in search of that elusive "steaker" or whale cod. As the local waters start to cool down from the summer heat, more cod will enter the realm of the small boat territory. Some of the most productive cod waters lie within easy reach of small boats. These fertile waters are comprised of bottom structure that gives the cod a sense of security. Some of the best cod fishing along the North Shore takes place along the many ship wrecks that decorate the bottom.

With the arrival of the LORAN and GPS, fishermen have been able to pinpoint these wrecks with relative ease and increase their daily catch of cod manyfold. No longer are the benefits of the satellite systems restricted to the larger vessels and the commercial fishing boats. Small boat skippers are now realizing the benefits of such devices. Many small boats now rely on the information that LORAN and GPS now provide.

These satellite systems will guide fishermen to the exact spot they are looking for. Fishermen can find wrecks by simply entering a series of numbers called waypoints or LAT and LON numbers. Once the numbers are entered all the fisherman has to do is follow the prompts and they will be right on their target.

Once you arrive at your chosen wreck you can start fishing. Most anglers prefer to use bait as it is less likely to hang up on the wreck. Sea clams are the most popular offering among recreational fishermen. A generous offering of sea clams will generally attract a few good fish. Some fishermen will also use sea worms and squid and report success with each.

Jig fishermen will slowly bounce a jig just off the bottom with great success. A jig that is worked in a relatively fast basis will generally yield good numbers of smaller cod. This is largely because smaller cod are much more willing to chase a fast moving jig. Slowly worked jigs will attract larger cod more often than not. The larger cod are less willing to expend the energy that is required to chase a fast moving jig.

One trick for jig fishing in areas where there is an abundance of structure that is liable to cause hang-ups is to add a strip of bait to the hook of the jig. This will protect the hook so that it is less likely to hang on the bottom. The added bait does not hinder the action of the jig nor does it prevent the hook from penetrating the fish’s mouth upon a strike.

When fishing wrecks, many fishermen like to drift over them while jigging. If drifting over r the wreck make sure you throw over a marker right over the sunken vessel so that it easy to keep track of. I prefer anchoring above the wreck and adjusting the scope of the anchor line so that the boat lies right over the wreck. The scope can be adjusted to allow for any current in the area.

Now that the preliminaries have been covered, let’s look at some of the wrecks that are located within reach of small boats out of Salem and Marblehead. There is a popular wreck among local fishermen that is located just off Nahant. The wreck is the Herbert and she lies relatively close to the posh peninsula. This wreck is most productive during the spring and fall months and is generally most productive for bait fishermen. The Herbert is located at 13960.72 X 25822.02.

The next series of wrecks are located around the Graves. The first wreck is the one that treats fishermen nicely during the fall is the Sweet Sue. She is located in relatively shallow water and produces nicely. But don’t expect to fill the boat with cod. Generally a few good sized fish will be the catch until more fish start to inhabit the wreck which can take place in as little as a few hours. I have fished this wreck and stopped by later in the day during my return trip only to boat a few more cod. The Sweet Sue is located at 13979.20 X 25815.00.

Close to the Sweet Sue is the wreck City of Salisbury. She is located close to the Graves and is a very productive wreck. Although there are some good sized fish that inhabit the wreck, many of the fish that are caught there are scrod cod. These smaller fish are generally more delightful to the pallet and make for unbeatable table fare as baked or stuffed cod fillets. The City of Salisbury is located at 13974.40 X 25808.70.

There is another wreck that is located bu the Graves. She is a fishing boat that has been pretty well flattened. Although not rising much above the bottom it does supply habitat for cod. This flattened fishing boat is located at 13978.50 X 25810.30.

There is a tanker that is located just outside Gloucester. This popular wreck is split into two sections and is quite productive during the spring and fall. Not only do cod hang around this wreck but I have caught cusk and pollock on her. The bow section of this tanker is located at 13819.00 X 25790.00 while the stern section lies a short distance away at 13840.90 X 25802.30.

The last wreck we will look at in this article is the Romance. She is popular among the areas recreational fishermen and carries the reputation of being one of the most productive wrecks around. The Romance is located at 13969.64 X 25813.89.

When the weather permits and before the snow falls, why not try one of these productive wrecks. Who knows, you just might make a limit catch of cod and put enough cod fillets away for a couple of meals or a good and tasty fish chowder. Chowder weather is just around the corner.