Fishing Block Island has been on my bucket list for some time now. Last fall, I decided that 2011 was the year! I started off by doing my research. I quickly became overwhelmed by the size of the island and the number of fishy spots. Hence, I enlisted a highly recommended surf guide: DJ Muller.
On the ferry from Galilee to Old Harbor, we developed a plan for our two night commando fishing trip. When we arrived, we dropped off our gear at the Twin Maples and went to a local pub for some seriously good food and beer. A man cannot fish on an empty stomach. ;-).
With our bellies full and smiles on our faces, we went to do some recognizance. Several of the roads we took were not paved. A truck with 4 x 4 drive train is an absolute must! DJ maneuvered the “roads” with ease. If I was driving, my truck would have gone back on the ferry with some missing parts or worse.
At each hot spot, DJ pointed out the fishy’est rocks. He also explained how to mount the rocks; how to select secondary and tertiary rocks as the tide and wind changed; and how to safely land a fish while standing on a slippery rock with oncoming waves. Scouting during the day light hours with polarized sunglasses and a digital camera made our trips at night safe and successful. Everything looks different under night’s darkness!
Before we headed out, I made my final plug selections. I packed my plug bags with swimmers and needlefish in several colors, sizes, and profiles. Both type of plugs produced. The most productive swimmer was the Lemire’s Plugworks prowler (black, 2.5 oz, 6.75 inches long); it even out-fished my mojo plug (a yellow/white Danny). The Striper-Maine-iac Needlefish (Black, 2.0 oz, 7.5 inches long) also seduced several striped bass.
The next day, I meet up with Al Lemire from Lemire’s Plugworks. He recommend his Junior Needlefish (black cherry, 2.0 oz, 8.0 inches long). He was soooo right! That night, this plug landed 60% of my fish, including two keepers over 10 lbs. The other plug that performed equally well was the Surf Asylum Flat-Glide needlefish (blue / silver, 2.6 oz, 8.5 inches long). Unfortunately, I lost it during a cast when my 50 lb PowerPro braided line got caught under my ZeeBaas’ drag knob. I nearly cried. From that manly moment forward, I decided that I will not got out again with just one Flat-Glide. I have four new ones on order. 😉
Fishing with DJ Muller allowed me to focus on my fishing and apply my newly learned knowledge without fretting about logistics like parking, directions, and roaming deer. If you want to fish Moauntauk, Block Island, Cuttyhunk, or Matha’s Vineyard, reduce your learning curve, and take your fishing to the next level, then contact DJ Muller. He will help you develop your skill set by giving you clear and actionable instruction. But, then it’s all up to you to mount that rock with seaweed dread-locks and take your game up a level. No hand-holding. Experience preceded with instruction is the best teacher.
