Fish of a lifetime caught on FBC Newburyport boat

I normally don't beleive many fish tales, but seeing that I have pictures to prove it this time; I figured I would show off what fishing on the Merrimac River has to offer. FBC Newburyport member, Mike Codair and friends, landed the fish of a lifetime last Thursday at Half-tide Rocks, not more than one mile from our club. Mike and his crew were on their way in from a full day of fishing on our 25' Bluefin and had some time to kill before our member meet up at Ten Center, so they decided to anchor up and give it one more shot. That proved to be a great decision, they ended up landing a 46lb moster that has to be one of the largest fish caught this season. Mike has put his time in this year and I am glad to see him get this great catch. Congratulations Mike!

First striper caught and it was a keeper!

To all the fishermen and fisherwomen out there, Get your rods ready! The Stripers have arrived! I have personally witnessed a few breaking the surface and the first keeper has been caught. I have included the story from The Newburyport Daily News below.

First striper of the year is a 'keeper'

By Will Courtney
Newburyport Daily News staff writer

NEWBURY — The earliest-season striper fishing is an effort in tranquility. Typically, it's more about the fishing than the catching.

Fishing in early May likely means catching only the smallest fish, known as "schoolies" for their propensity to travel in schools, which usually arrive ahead of their bigger brothers. As of midweek, no striper catches, even small ones, had been reported from local waters.

Nevertheless, Bob Smith of Plum Island headed to the town dock on the Parker River Thursday to take his first casts of the season, hoping to get some fresh air and maybe land one of those small ones, just to know they were there.

He wandered down a little later than he had hoped, at the top of the high tide, and found no one else there. The incoming tide is said to be the best for fishing.

"I was the Lone Ranger," he said. "I made about six casts, and it just happened."

A fish took his bait, and this was no schoolie — it was a striper nearly 3 feet long. According to the experts at Surfland Bait and Tackle, the Plum Island shop that serves as the hub of local fish stories, it was the first confirmed catch of the season.

The 34-inch striper — 6 inches longer than the minimum size allowed to keep the fish — became dinner for Smith and a friend that night.

Smith normally doesn't keep the fish, but he owed the friend a long-promised filet.

Yesterday, Smith was back at the dock, and he and friend Eddie Fewtrell of Seabrook got a couple of more fish, all schoolies. An unidentified fisherman reported getting two small fish off the Plum Island beachfront, thought to be the first caught off Plum Island.

"It hasn't been great," Smith said. "They're late in coming, a little behind schedule.

But they're officially here.

"From now on, you're going to see more and more," Smith said.

With his fish story out, he will have company at the dock, too.

Please stop by the club or give us a call to see how you can get out on the water and be part of the action.

Freedom Boat Club is moving to the Newburyport waterfront

Starting on March 15th, 2009 FBC will be operating out of Hilton's Marina (pictured above) on the Newburyport Waterfront . Hilton's Marina is located between Michael's Harborside and The Black Cow Restaurant which is just a short stroll from the activities of downtown. Hilton's is the ideal location for our club and we are very excited about this move. We are now able to offer our members restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, a coffee shop and a number of great restaurants, all within steps of our fleet. Just think how nice it would be to take a day trip out to the Isles of Shoals, return to the marina to freshen up, dine within feet of the marina, then overnight on one of our cabin cruisers, just to wake up the next morning to do it all over again. For members of the Freedom Boat Club, this is just another day in boater's paradise....please call us at (978) 499-0899 to find out how you can get in on the fun.

The Boat is Waiting! Why are you?

Freedom Boat Club celebrates 20th year in business

“How do we make boating simple and hassle free?” was a question posed by the founders of Freedom Boat Club (FBC) twenty years ago. With this question a unique idea was born. A membership club for boating enthusiasts that reduces their cost of boating, provides expert training, eliminates the physical strains such as maintenance or cleaning, allows access to a fleet of boats for any excursion, and ultimately creates more opportunities for time on the water. Since its inception, FBC has grown to forty-five locations throughout the United States due to the concept’s popularity.

This simple idea has proven to have timeless benefits as well. Amidst the credit crunch, environmental concerns, and fuel consumption awareness, FBC has been able to expand and increase its membership base. Since FBC is a membership club based on monthly dues, no long-term financing or credit is required. This has proven useful as home equity and the stock market has declined. The idea is also an inherently “green” or environmentally friendly form of boating. By members sharing a fleet of boats, they are using less shoreline for dockage and putting fewer hulls into landfills long-term. Lastly, by scaling the size of a boat to their needs for the day, members ultimately use less fuel. Imagine being able to adjust the size of your car each trip based on the number of passengers!

Staying true to its roots after twenty years, FBC wants to make the joy of boating available to all who are interested. If you are new to boating and lack training, an avid fisherman looking for more time on the water, a busy young professional or family trying to fit it all in, or a retiree tired of the strains of boating, FBC welcomes you to learn more about what the club can do for you. Visit www.freedomboatclub.com or call Jake Goodridge at (978) 499-0899 for more details.