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Matt Haeffner

@matthaeffner

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Assistant Editor @onthewatermagazine
The Dude Abides.

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Hostess: “Two uncut scallion pancakes, right? Making sashimi pizzas?”
Me: “Actually, yes! I guess a lot of people must order them like this huh?”
Hostess: “No. Just you and one other guy.”
Me: 😑

Shoutout to @tactical_bassin26 for running the boat and showing me and @mjryan4 the program. And if you haven’t yet tried tuna sashimi pizza, I highly encourage you to give it a try and customize to your liking. Need more people ordering whole scallion pancakes so I can stop being the weird guy at our local Chinese restaurant.

#bluefintuna #sashimi #pizza #tunafishing #bluefin taken in Long Island, New York by @matthaeffner

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2 months ago

They took their time this year, but the bonito invasion on Cape Cod is finally underway.

The fish have been filling in for almost two weeks now, so it felt like the appropriate time to splash the yak. Whether you’re in Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay, or Vineyard or Nantucket Sound, there’s a good chance you’ll run into ‘em this weekend. Low wind, glassy conditions, and tiny baitfish made for a finicky bite but there was no shortage of activity on this beautiful August morning.

#bonito #capecod #kayakfishing #lighttackle taken in Cape Cod, Massachussets by @matthaeffner

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2 months ago

Dug up this one from an unreal night with @matthaeffner last fall

#stripedbass #newengland #summer #fishing taken in Fishers Island, New York by @matthaeffner

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2 months ago

Storytime because this was such a sick eat. Mountain pond, crystal-clear water, sun had just crested the hills. Spotted this fish lounging over a lone boulder that rose from a steep, sandy dropoff. I casted far to avoid spooking her and watched as she slid into the dark water beyond the rock as the jig fell. Moments later, as my jig crept up the sandy slope, I watched the bass follow it out of the deep, nosing on it the whole time. No question she wanted to eat. I let jig settle, paused, gave it one hop, and she cautiously picked it up. It was one of those bites when the fish grabs it, but hasn’t really committed. The bait sat in the corner of her mouth briefly and finally disappeared after what felt like half a minute when in reality, it was probably a split second. When I set on her she beelined for that boulder and, thankfully, I turned her away in time. After two headshaking jumps and a heart-stopping tail walk at the bank, she came to hand. Not the biggest bass by any means, but another solid mountain chunk from my honey hole, and a fantastic start to a solid morning bite window. The 3/8 oz. Stealth Pumpkin @beastcoastfishing Lil’ Magnum and @berkleyfishing PowerBait Bunker Hawg is a magical combo at this place.

#largemouthbass #bassfishing #largemouthbassfishing #jigfishing #largemouth taken in Vermont by @matthaeffner

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3 months ago

@mjryan4 pulling in a healthy skunk-breaking fluke in the wind earlier this week.

Weird fluke season so far. Seems like fewer fish around and shorter bite windows, but there are some quality flatties when they decide to chew.

#fluke #flounder #flukefishing #flatsfishing #flounderfishing by @matthaeffner

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3 months ago

I had been wondering when I’d encounter my first tagged striped bass. Took a while, but here we are.

Caught this fish in early June on Cape Cod. It ate a live squid. No weight taken, no measurements, no grip and grin—just a quick shot of the tag number to report its capture and release to the Atlantic Striped Bass Cooperative Tagging Program. I realize that I could’ve provided them more valuable catch data, but I don’t carry a tape measure or a scale because I don’t need to. I don’t fish for striped bass for food or for bragging rights. I surfcast for fun, and for the connection to something greater that I feel each time the rod bucks and the drag sings. Therefore, my priority is always to get the fish back in the water in good condition. Plus, the lack of data on this striper does not even slightly detract from the interaction we shared. Here’s the best part: the bass was tagged earlier this spring in my home state (by the @nysdec), in the Hudson River.

I fished the Hudson for a day in early May with @keepinitreelsportfishing, and now I have to wonder—were we in the river at the same time? How close were we to an encounter then? Had she been tagged yet? Where will she go from here? For now, at least, she’s probably headed north.

Very special catch that I will remember forever.

#stripedbass #surfcasting #catchandrelease #releasethemright #striperfishing by @matthaeffner

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4 months ago

Great to have some decent numbers of these leader-busting bastards back in the equation this spring. Had ‘em on everything this week, from @superstrikelures Little Neck Poppers—which are just bluefish magnets—to @zmanfishingproducts Herculez Swimmers and more. Thanks to my guy Ben @inthenet_sportfishing for putting in the hard work to find them with me last weekend… Led to a fun midweek, post-work bluefish blitz on the beach.

📸 @lo.prod27 @inthenet_sportfishing

#bluefish #topwater #capecod #grundens #onthewatermagazine by @matthaeffner

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5 months ago

Hudson Heavies with @keepinitreelsportfishing

What a day. The mighty Hudson River is such a unique fishery, and the sheer volume of fish is astonishing. The screen was littered with marks nonstop, from 6:30am to 5pm, with every size class imaginable. After getting our fix of bass on chunked herring and sandworms, outgoing water temps on the mud flats hit 60 and it was glide o’clock. I have mixed emotions about catching these fish on their way to spawn, which is why it’s even more important to properly revive each and every one of them, no matter how big or small. They’re the future.

Big thanks to our friend Capt. Chris Oliver for putting us on and showing us what his home waters are all about.

#stripedbass #hudsonriver #glidebait #catchandrelease #onthewatermagazine by @matthaeffner

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5 months ago

A little full moon fun to start the spring. Tough bite. But after a long off-season, my lucky @takwaterman lid still has the juice.

📸 @munchin_lineside_hunter

#stripedbass #doinks by @matthaeffner

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5 months ago

Whoever said Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year was certainly not a tog fisherman from New England. Spring is finally springing.

#greencrabs #crabwalk #tautog #blackfish #capecod by @matthaeffner

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6 months ago

I love the @onthewatermagazine boys. They worked the NJ Saltwater Expo all day, drove all the way down to the Bunka to talk to me after, and had an extremely late night because of it. But they also know how to party so it was fine. You’re gonna party with us on Cut & Retie tomorrow, correct? #cutandretie #onthewater #stripedbass #icefishing #clampizza #beerme #latenightthoughts by @matthaeffner

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7 months ago

Incredible late-night sesh with the @onthewatermagazine boys. If you love failures, follies, foibles, and value good milk crates and Amish pretzels, you’ll want to hang with us this Friday. #cutandretie #icefishing #failarmy #stripedbass #onthewater #beermeplease by @matthaeffner

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7 months ago