The Hook-Up! Blog

“Windows to the Wild” TV show.

Captain Eric Stewart — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:53:40 +0000

http://video.nhptv.org/video/2188841776

Check out this link to a TV show we filmed last June. “Windows to the Wild” airs on NH public television. I am very pleased with the results. It is always a gamble when you take reporters out on the boat but they were a great group of people and they kept an open mind. Great job by my crew Corey and Chris.

TUNA SEMINAR Jan. 26th 7pm Hyannis Anglers Club

Captain Eric Stewart — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:35:39 +0000

Capt.Eric Stewart – January 26th at 7pm
Eric Stewart is the premier Bluefin Tuna charter boat captain/owner fishing off Chatham.
Held at the Hyannis Anglers Club, Ocean St. Hyannis MA.
“Tuna Trolling East of Chatham ” Tips and techniques to get you on the fish and them in the boat. Come and share an evening with Capt. Eric Stewart of “The Hook-Up!” Bait and Tackle and “Tammy Rose” Sportfishing. Capt. Eric will be presenting on tuna trolling techniques th…at he utilizes out east on his charter boat’s the “Tammy Rose” and “Tuna Fever”. Capt. Eric specializes in charters for bluefin tuna and his operation is the only full-time bluefin tuna charter service on the Cape . Bluefin Tuna is all he does. Capt. Eric will give you an up close and personal view from his bridge and will offer up some great pointers on spreads, equipment, tuna tagging, and regulations. Check out www.thehookupcapecod.com See you all on Jan. 26th at 7pm. Call 774-238-8383 for reservations. It’s free but space is limited. Come on down to the club, grab a cold drink, and lets talk tuna!!!!!

I would like to…

Captain Eric Stewart — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:45:29 +0000

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season. Lets hope the new year will bring tight lines and full limts to you and yours. From all of us at “The Hook-Up!”

11th Annual H…

Captain Eric Stewart — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:12:24 +0000

11th Annual Holiday Open House and Sale at The Hook-Up! Bait & Tackle Shop!

Happy Holidays to you and yours,

This Saturday the 17th we will be holding our 11th Annual Holiday Open House and Sale. We will have great food and holiday cheer so please swing on by and grab your fishing partner something for under the tree. Almost everything will be on sale for this one day so make sure you come by and check it out. Get them that special lure or rod and reel combo or see one of the crew and we can help you select the right gift for that special fisherperson in your life. How about tickets to the “BIG GAME BASH” or even booking that tuna trip that your loved ones have always wanted to take? We can make it happen. Gifts certificates are also available for the store and the charters. We will be open 9 to 5 and we will also be open Christmas Eve until 4 pm for your last minute gifts. Happy Holidays from the crew and I.

Sincerely,

Capt. Eric Stewart

The Hook-Up! Bait & Tackle Shop

Open House and Sale Sat.the 19th

Captain Eric Stewart — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:24:35 +0000

Hey everyone,
Just a quick reminder that we will be holding our 4th Annual Captains’ Meeting and Customer Appreciation Day and end of Season Sale this Saturday the 19th from 9 to 5. We will have some awesome food and “drink” and we will have some world class barbeque from “Dr. Frank’n Swine” Professional Barbeque team serving some of the best pulled pork you will ever taste. He will be here from 12-2 pm serving lunch. When it’s gone it’s gone so come early. We will have all production stand-up rods on sale for 20-30% off, All tools and knives will be 15% off, All Offshore Canyon Lures will be 25% off, All Cape Cod Jig-it-eels will be 15% off, All bulk shell squid will be 20% off, and all bulk line will be 20% off. We will also have some other special sales that we will announce on the day of the event too. Looking to upgrade your rods and reels for next season? Now is the time to put that package together during the off season months. We will also have some entertain as a fine Scottish Lass will be playing the bag pipes. Fun for everyone so do not miss out. This is our way of saying thank you to you, our customers, for a great season so grab your fishing buddies and swing on down to “The Hook-Up!” Bait and Tackle located at 85 Rt.6-A in Orleans, Ma. I hope to see you all there. Capt. Eric and crew

Charters are done for 2011.

Captain Eric Stewart — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:43:11 +0000

Well with the forecast for the rest of the week looking bad after tomorrow, and numerious other commitments the 2011 fishing season is done for Team Hook-Up! I will be moving the Tammy Rose tomorrow and start the job of putting all the boats away for the winter. It was a great year and we ended on a high note for sure!!! Keep Sat. Nov. 19th open as that will be are 4th Annual Captains Meeting and Fall sale. More to come on this soon. Thanks again for all of the charters and I hope to see you next season. Capt. Eric

Great weekend!!

Captain Eric Stewart — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:11:15 +0000

Well after the beginning of the week and that epic fishing we had and the fact that the wind had blown hard for two days, I left the dock on Friday wondering if the fish would still be where we left them. We got on location before sun up and saw nothing. No whales, no life, no bait, oh boy!!! We had a fleet of around 12 or 15 boats and many of them started to go south. I kept pounding the numbers but nothing happend on the slack. My buddy Capt. Eddie on the “Reel Attidude” was the one to hook up first and he was 12 miles to my south. I reeled in and made the run mid morning. When I got there we found the whales and the bait and the fish. The only problem was I couldn’t get a bite!?!?!? I just felt like I could never get on the fish. I was chasing the bite the whole day. I stayed late and finally got rewarded with a bite at 1:30 and we had a nice slot fish on the deck. I should have left an hour ago but I just couldn’t give up. Much to my mates dismay I jumped back up on the bridge and swung the “Tammy Rose” around and told him to set the spread again. It only took us about 5 mins when a fish expolded on the big black Hawk bar and started dumping line. We spent the next 20 mins and got the fish on the deck and measured him at 70 inches and out the door it went with a tag. I turned the boat for home and we hit the dock at around 5 pm. LOOOOng day. Now I knew where to go tomorrow.
Saturday we headed back to the numbers and had an awesome ride out, once we cleared the sound which was a real mess. I had a father and his 11 year old son onboard so I was hoping to get them some action. I really didn’t want to troll for 7 hours to get our first bite. We pulled in and got three rods out and we were on. Nick fought the fish out of the rod holder and in about 15 mins. we had a fat 58incher on the deck. Dinner was served. We got the spread out and had fish up and we missed him. We spent another hour or so and had a few other bites and we finally went tight and Dad got in the harness and we had a clean tag and release on a 57 incher. The morning bite slowed and Dad said they had enough so we headed in. As we were leaving the bite went off and my brother caught three fish in about 35 mins. We ended up 2 for 5 and I was excited about Sunday’s trip. There were some legal fish caught on the troll as well.
I called my Sunday’s charter and told them to be at the dock for 3:30 as we had a long ride out. After yesterday’s morning bite I really wanted to be there early. We pulled in and set the spread and had a fish up on the long rigger. Then we had fish up on 4 rigs at once and we doubled!!!! Nice way to start the morning! We then spent the next hour trying to set the spread and we couldn’t get more than 3 rods out before we went tight!!! Brother Matt called me on the radio and he asked if he should make the long run. I said YES!!! Get here now!!! We ended up going 7 for 12 but my mate said we had more bites then that. I know we pulled a few hooks and broke one off but it was all happening so fast!?!?! Tough problem to have. Matt went 3 for 3 and took off early. There were some nice legal fish caught too, so when the rod goes off you never know what size it will be. Fish were caught from 26 inches to 80 inches and all sizes in between. Back out there in the morning. It’s been a great October!! Capt. Eric

The bite is on again. 14 for 16!!!

Captain Eric Stewart — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:22:21 +0000

We had another great bite yesterday and went 14 fish for 16 hook-ups. We had three sets of doubles and you couldn’t get the spread out for over two hours. I lost count of how many other bites we had too. It was nonstop, wide open, and crazy for hours!!! Will be back out there and on it again as soon as the wind stops blowing. We do have some openings this Holiday weekend so please give the shop a call as the weather looks good and the fish, well, uhh, are BITING!!!! 508-240-0778 if you want to go fishing with us. Good luck. Capt. Eric

Epic Tuna Bite!! 16 fish for 17 bites!!!

Captain Eric Stewart — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:16:48 +0000

I am soooo tired but just a quick report. We had one of the best tuna bites that I can remember in a long time today. We went[B] 16[/B] bluefin’s to the boat for 17 hook-ups and had another 6 or 8 bites. Just epic!!! We measured fish on the deck from 46 inches to 71 inches and all sizes in between. The fish we missed was a true giant in the 350 to 400 pound range and dumped our Okuma 80WII well into the backing and had us out over 400 yds and straightened and bent the 10 hook. UGH!!!! Just an awesome fish that everyone on the boat saw eat the left short rigger becuase he came at it twice and old Cappy Eric was yelling so loud from the flybridge that everyone was looking when he came back and ate it the second time!!!! Just a nice big fish. We fought fish for 4 hours today and could hardly get the spread out!! It was wide open and fish all over the place. I am back out there agian in the morning and then it looks like bad weather and then back out on Friday. The bite is on and I have some openings for this weekend. Call the shop at 508-240-0778 if you want in on this because it just doesn’t get any better then that for action!!!! Check out our Facebook page for pictures and videoes. More to follow later. Capt. Eric

East of Chatham Sunday.

Captain Eric Stewart — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:31:15 +0000

Fished outside of Chatham yesterday in “Tuna Fever” in that wonderful NE wind. Not bad early on but really started to kick up by mid day. Started trolling in 90 ft of water up off of Nauset Beach. Had a fish come up and bite the short right rigger, Red Iguana splash bar, snap it out of the clip and take some drag and then pulled the hook. I got on the rod and he came back again but missed. Trolled around for a few more hours and well after the slack we found the bait and birds and got one on the Widowmaker left long that taped out at 46 inches. Set back out and tagged and released another one same size on the Chameleon bar right long rigger. By then it was getting rather sporty so we headed back for the barn. I know some guys were in the shallow water chasing these fish around with spinning gear too so there seems to be a good amount of these fish around. I will be out tagging tuna with the UMASS Tagging Team for the next three days so I hope thses little fish stay around. Just a note for anyone fishing this fall out east. The new break is starting to shoal up out by the B bouy. It was only 4 ft at half tide the other day. With the fall easterly winds starting you need to be careful there. I went out the new cut in the morning but once the easterly kicked up I came home the old cut. Just use your head with out going tides and easterly wind and low water with the new cut. Be safe. Capt. Eric