Thursday, February 10, 2011

Finding Cape Cod Fishing Guides Online

By Melinda Harrison


The internet makes it easy to plan a trip to this famous island off the coast of Massachusetts known as the Cape. Municipal and state postings offer Cape Cod fishing guides as part of their tourist services, and many businesses have actual professionals who offer instruction, coaching, and fish finding services that are valuable to both beginners and expert fishermen who are unfamiliar with the area.

Cape Cod, or The Cape, was a peninsula until a canal was cut in 1914 which made it an island. It serves as a barrier, shielding much of the coast of Massachusetts. It has fifteen towns that have grown up along the shores of the Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. Checking the official sites posted by chambers of commerce is a good way to learn about the local scene.

On the cape you can fish in freshwater pools or in quiet saltwater on the sheltered side of the island, but the area is known for trophy fish caught over the Billingsgate shoals and for exciting surf fly casting. Striped bass, bluefish, tuna, and shark are some of the biggest fish regularly hunted in the cold waters offshore.

Charter boats offer guided excursions. Knowledgeable captains with years of fish stalking experience also have the latest electronic navigational aids, fish finding equipment, and rods and reels. Often well-known local personalities, the captains pride themselves on giving visitors a wonderful day on the water topped off with trophy fish to show off back home.

There are also sports equipment stores with schools to teach the techniques of saltwater fly casting. Skilled islanders work as instructors and guides to fishing the flats, the surf, or deeper waters. All you have to do is go online and search the topic to find a variety of activities geared to beginners but also of interest to experts who may not know The Cape's particular secrets.

You will need a Massachusetts Saltwater Recreational Fishing Permit - or a saltwater license from Rhode island or Connecticut, which have reciprocity - to participate in the sport. These can be obtained online before you go or at one of the many stores or charter services once you are in town. You can also check to see if guides are certified by the Coast Guard and by reputable names like Orvis, which stresses customer service as well as safety.

The right Cape Cod fishing guides will be either official guides issued by tourism boards and game and fisheries services or actual people who have grown up living on the harsh but beautiful shores of the ocean. Whether you want to do it all yourself from your own or a rented boat or have the help of a trained professional, fishing in this famous area is sure to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Cape Cod fishing guides




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