Stellwagen Open Boat Recommendations

[Blackfish Doug]

Originally Posted by MohawkJD

Your reply was to my reply of Jigman13's which mentioned wolf fish. The fact that he counted them in his cooler tells me it was a long time ago.

As for cod, I don't see targeting them this year. Last I heard, it'll only be open for a couple of months at the end of the summer, not the best time to find them. With 24" minimum & 1 fish per man, it'll be tough to fill a cooler. If he wants a cod type trip in that area, haddock in May or June with pollack is as close as you can get.

I'm sorry I thought your post was about the original post we both are on the same page about it being not worth it. I really like the fishing we got going on down here. Every year it seems to be getting better & I can't wait until the offshore fishing gets better.

Originally Posted by bowhunter

Anyone ever fish with Captain Ken Roth on the Hailey Elizabeth?

Crazy experience with Capt Ken and Haley Elizabeth (HE). Booked a trip with HE early 2000. We had two boats scheduled. Got up to Mass, weather deteriorated and the trips were cancelled. Six guys could stay another day, six guys unfortunately had to head home. Asked Capt Ken if we stayed another day if he had any openings which he did not. We told him we were going to call around trying to find another charter to salvage the trip and if he came across anyone to please let us know immediately. Well we ended up connecting with Big Mac Charters (BMC), Capt Jim McFarland (RIP). Capt Jim was an absolute gentlemen and great guy! I'd fished with him beforehand on a handful of occasions and had a great trip with fantastic results. Just a real nice guy. After booking with BMC, we called Capt Ken back to let him know so he didn't waste his time looking for a charter and to thank him for his efforts. Well to say he was pissed is the understatement of all time. He was absolutely livid. Still after half a day he didn't have anyone else for us but was livid we found someone ourselves which we told him we'd try doing. To add insult to injury I think BMC was his arch rival. Needless to say the discussion got very nasty. To make matters worse, we were staying at his parents B&B and when we got back to the B&B his parents who were very cordial earlier had laser beams coming from their eyes. We explained our situation, thanked Ken for trying to help us out but told him anyone in our position would've done the same. A solid 10 hours went by before we booked with BMC so it wasn't as if we didn't give Capt. Ken a chance. It was either find someone or make the long trip home. Just the way things worked out.

Well the following morning we got up early for breakfast at the B&B. You could cut the air at the breakfast table, his parents and Capt Ken. were still extremely pissed at us. Had a quick breakfast, thanked them again for their hospitality (lol!) and couldn't get out of there soon enough. Well we got down to the dock where Capt Jim from BMC told us to meet him. When we arrived, Capt Ken was there with the other charter he told us he found. Bear in mind we didn't book that charter as we were already booked with Capt Jim. Here's where it got interesting and disappointing at the same time. Capt Ken meets us at the dock and tells us he called Capt Jim after breakfast, spoke with him and that Capt. Jim agreed to give up our charter for us to go with the guy Capt Ken found for the same price. Believing him we got our stuff and boarded the boat. No more than 10 minutes later, Capt Jim pulls up to the dock and asks us what's going on. Well it ends up Capt Ken lied to us and never had a discussion with Capt Jim. In other words he stole the charter with us in the middle of it. All hell broke loose at the dock with Capt Ken being a complete ******* to Capt Jim. Jim pulled me aside and said basically the most important thing is we have a good experience and he didn't want to see our day / trip ruined. He said he'd agree to refund us our deposit which he did and said since we were already on the boat it was probably best for us to sail with the other guy. You could see he wanted nothing to do with Capt Ken. Really said a lot about Jim McFarland the way he handled the entire situation, I couldn't respect him more for looking out for our best interest realizing it was at his expense and he did nothing wrong. Capt Ken on the other hand, I decided then and there I'd absolutely never sail with him again or anyone else affiliated with his operation. I know the charter business is a cutthroat business but what he did in that situation was absolutely wrong.

So to the person asking about HE, make your own decisions. Someone said he catches fish which we did that day but I'd never set foot on his boat again for ths BS he pulled on that trip.

Dakota

[Capt Sal]

Billfish said it! I wouldn't care if he did catch fish i would never go again and niether will the guys that were with me. By the way we were all captains on that trip and all way older and more experienced then Ken!!When times cahange like now it can make you humble.Back then he thought his shit didn't stink.!

[Relentless Charters]

Hate to come late to this party and we will be running open boats this year and working on a schedule now. Currently we are running a center console and understand that is not what you want. I will also be running the old Big Mac, Capt Jim McFarland's old 35' boat for six pack haddock and pollock, tuna or bass. I will have website updated by next weekend at www.relentlesscharters.com with the additional information. I also work extremely hard at protecting your rights to have open access and reasonable bag limits of fish to make it worth coming to MA. Some of the members on here have fished offshore with me in the past here and feel free to contact me anytime for additional information and I am a sponsor. I can be reached at Relentlesscharters and will answer any questions you may have weather you want to fish with us or not.

Respectfully,

Capt Dave