Macatac SportsFishing Fairhaven, MA

Capt. Todd MacGregor
Licensed Fishing Guide Since 1981
Fishing from Fairhaven, MA
(t) 508.992.9189
(c) 508.243.8559
(e) macatacsportfishing@gmail.com
www.macatacsportfishing.com

2
www.macatacsportfishing.com
(t) 508.992.9189
(c) 508.243.8559
Capt. Todd MacGregor
macatac.sportfishing@gmail.com

Pictures From Seasons:
2003 - 2016
macatacsportsfishing.com
3

Understanding Fish Biology
All fish, especially larger fish will seek their
optimum level of light – most of the time.
Deep when bright -
shallow when dark
Deep - cold water -
slower metabolism -
lessens need to feed
Shallow water in the dark
4

Fish are simply easier to
catch when in shallow
water (<35’).
This is why night
fishing is generally
better.
Below 60’ water is
roughly the same
temperature all year.
Shallow water = warmer
water – stimulates
metabolism – greater
need to feed.
5
Understanding Fish Biology

40 lb. Striped Bass
White Danny 3-3/4 oz.
6

Daily Migration Of Fish
Fish eat best when moving
daily migration and when stimulated
by changing conditions like change
of tide, quick change in light conditions
like the moon going behind clouds.
Deep to shallow as
sun sets.
Shallow to Deep as
morning brightens.
7

Daily Migration Of Fish
If All Of These Variables Come Together You Will Have
B I G
T R I P
8

28 lb. Striped Bass
Brown Danny Plug
9

When Will Fish Eat Best ?
During the Spring/Early Summer
and Fall Migrations.
During daily movements (2 – 4 per day)
A lot of fish around = a lot of competition
Top of the tide to ~ 1 hr. into the tide
End of tide = last 1 to 1-1/2 hrs
Quick change in light
conditions may cause brief
stimulus.
macatacsportsfishing.com10

When Will Fish Eat Best ?
Why???
Fish’s eyes are adjusting to changing
light conditions.
No matter how great the fishing is, there will
usually be a 10-20 minute lull during the gray of
the morning & the gray of the evening.

46 lb. Striped Bass
Brown Danny Plug
Capt. Casey Allen

When Do Fish Eat Poorly?
Find softer water, take a
break, or flip eels or small
swimming plugs up on the
beach for an hour or so.
When the tide
is horsing hard
Sometimes they are just
turned off, this is when the
plugs really work their magic.
Too much
bait around

In the summer months –
when the fish are living in
an area – they really only
eat hard every 3 or 4
nights.
So… Why does the PLUG work so well ? ? ?
When Do Fish Eat Poorly?

A plug will both imitate bait when the
fish are eating (match the
hatch theory)
Piss them off when they are turned
off – INTIMIDATE! {similar to the
way a tube or an Umbrella works
in the day time}
AND
Because

?
3 Key questions to Satisfy
The Where? The When? And The How?
Over 35 years of fishing experience tells me that the Where?
And the When? Are 90% of the achieved Success2
1
The How? is the other 10% and is the difference between 2 fish
and 30 – 50 fish as they won’t eat forever.
• You must capitalize when they are ‘on the bite’
3 Gibbs Plugs tip the balance in my & your favor!

Yellow GTS 3
Note the weeds
on the plug

Where ?
A place that you know should hold some fish. If you know, for a fact, that
there are a lot of fish around … Even better.
Structure… Structure... Structure
A Rip: Wind against the tide over structure.
• Any structure off beach with 15-30’ of water.
Dilemmas – lobster gear and nights with a lot of weed in the water;
Fog at night.

Sometimes they really EAT the plug!!
Plug
removed
at the dock
after the trip
52 lb.52 lb.
Striped BassStriped Bass

When ?
For Rip fishing: Top of the tide,
or bottom of the tide.
Whichever precedes a period
where you know you will have
wind against the tide. Don’t be
late!
On the moons, especially
the bright moon this
year, the tide will start
running 15-20 minutes
earlier than normal.

When ?
On the Full & New
Moons, you will catch the
majority of your fish
during the first hour and
last 1-1.5 hrs. of the tide.
You will have 1-1.5 hrs. of
lull when the tide is
horsing hard.
On the neap tide – you can
be a little late if you have to
and will be more likely to
pick away at fish throughout
the tide.

Daiwa 400 or 450 loaded with 80 lb Dacron backing.
Use a ~20’ 125 lb + leader with 275lb. Berkley Cross Lock snaps – no snap swivels!
Use 90’ of 50 lb. wire with 10’ Dacron spacer and another 50’ of wire.
How ? The Tackle
1
2
3

1 2
3
How ? The Tackle
Use Spro 130 lb. test swivels.1
2
Use Soft 6.5’ custom or stock rods with hardened
and center supported guides.
3
Use 25 Lb. Mono or braid on lighter rod for trolling
2 oz. Danny Plugs on surface at Dawn and Dusk.

How ? The Plugs
An assortment of 3 oz. Gibbs GTS-3 swimmers
3-3/4 oz Danny Deep Divers
Blue; White; Black; Brown, Yellow, Other variations of colors
(Softer Action)
(Digs Hard)
Must have colors:

How ? The Plugs
Hooks: 3X Mustad 6/0 on
Front, 3X Mustad 5/0
Center and rear. The
Single hooks on the
Danny’s Tail is also good.
Also good to have Blue,
White and Brown 2 oz.
Deep Divers.

How ? The Technique
Troll as slow as you can
to maintain steerage into
the tide and stay on the
edge of the rip – the edge
of the structure, while
stemming the tide.
Speed up as tide
increases in velocity to
maintain position …
and… let some more
line out.

How ? The Technique
Increase speed in situation where you have to intimidate.
This is generally when the fish is poor and this also helps
you cover more ground.
Don’t go too fast or the plugs will roll over and will
not swim.
You want the tip of the rod vibrating on a fairly steady motion.

How ? The Technique
Fish will sometimes hammer the plug, but …
More often than not, they will tap or bang the plug. Sometimes 2,
3, 4, 6? Times.
{This is most likely not the same fish}
Drop the plug to the fish – point the rod at the fish quickly.

How ? The Technique
Keep pressure on and kill the
fish quickly with short pumps
and no slack.
Turn the handle fast and drop
the tip very slowly.
Don’t let him rest.
Setting hooks will cause you to
drop Big Fish close to the Boat
after a long fight.
Why? … The fish is not hooked
deep enough and there is less
stretch and water resistance.

How ? The Technique
DO NOT SET HOOKS!
Drop the plug to the fish. Let the fish hook
him(her)self. The hooks get into the fish when
they are running.
Do not use too much drag.
Let the fish run with the plug for a few seconds
before bringing the rod to 45 degrees.
Turn the fish’s head as soon as
he first stops.

How ? The Technique
Setting hooks also cause tackle failures.
Such as straightened hooks, broken swivels, over
tightened wire knots, and opened snaps.

CaptainCaptain
ToddTodd
MacMac
BrownBrown
GibbsGibbs
GTS-3GTS-3
32

Which Color Do I Use ?
90% of the time, this rule applies:
The lighter the night, the lighter the bait.
The darker the night, the darker the bait.
Exception 1: when there is a lot of Squid around, white plugs will work
even on dark nights.
Exception 2: when the water is either
roiled or water clarity is reduced (late
July, Aug, Sept), darker plugs will prevail;
except at dusk and dawn.
%

Which Color Do I Use ?
Dusk to dark (45min- 1 hr.) and dawn to Sunrise
Always keep at least 1
White Danny in the
water.
Also use yellow and
brown/white.

White Danny &
Brown Gibbs or
Danny Plug in the
Spring
Yellow Gibbs, White
Danny, Brown or Blue
Danny or Gibbs GTS3 in
Summer
White Plugs prevail in
the presence of squid,
especially in bright
conditions
Dawn / Dusk / Bright Night Suggested Starting Combos

Black & Silver and All Black plugs prevail in the presence of
small tautog, sea robins & sea bass, regardless of bright or dark
night.
Dawn / Dusk / Bright Night Suggested Starting Combos

Dark Nights
Blue, Black & Silver, Brown or all Black plugs.
TIP
Pick whichever color
plugs that look silvery-
gray when held up to the
horizon.
This trick only works on
dark nights.

Best Plug EverBest Plug Ever
Consistent producerConsistent producer
over the last 40 yearsover the last 40 years

Just a Few More
Pictures From Seasons:
2003 - 2016
39

Pogy Gibbs GTS-3Pogy Gibbs GTS-3
Moonlight 12:50 AMMoonlight 12:50 AM
Black/Silver &
White Danny’s
10 Bass:10 Bass:
36 - 48 lbs.36 - 48 lbs.
450 lb. trip450 lb. trip
50 lb.
Striped Bass

16 - 34 lbs.: All PlugsLargest fish: 44 lbs.Largest fish: 44 lbs. macatacsportsfishing.com41

Captain
Todd
29 fish
All on plugs4
2
Todd (right)Todd (right)
Blue Gibb’s are the bestBlue Gibb’s are the best
60 lb. fish: June 9, 198660 lb. fish: June 9, 1986

Black Danny Plug
Black Danny’sBlack Danny’s

Danny Plugs

Brown Danny Plugs
43 & 58 lb.

More Plug Fishing Tips
Don’t adjust the diving
plane, adjust the wire.
Always use swivels
between wire & leader or
backing.
Why?
• You can hear them at night.
• You can’t hear an Albright knot.

Gaffing technique.
• Go over the fish.
• Keep open hand on leader.
• Do not boat over the transom!
Keep rod in upright holder
when working with plugs or
unhooking fish.
Hold plug up to the horizon to check
for weed.
• Use lights only as last resort.
More Plug Fishing Tips

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