August 26, 2004

Fish Finder – 8/26/2004

Frank Dwyer
August 26, 2004

Marblehead: Striped bass and bluefish continue to be landed around Marblehead, however you’ll still need to work to find them. Fishing around Castle Rock and Chandler Hovey Park has yielded striped bass over 30 inches this past week, mostly at night. Anglers using chunk bait as well as large Danny Plugs have done well. Devereux Beach is also a good bet at night. Boat anglers have found large bluefish in deeper water. Flounder have been caught just outside the harbor.

Salem: Traditionally, mid to late August is known as the “Dog Days” to local anglers, and while the fish have been harder to locate, persistence does pay off. Anglers fishing the Salem Willow Pier at night have landed striped bass, some well over 30 inches. Bluefish have moved to deeper water, making them somewhat scarce to shore bound anglers. Reports have stripers also being caught in the North River.

Beverly: Boat fishermen have found bass off the Beverly coast in the vicinity of Endicott College and the Landmark School, as well as around Great Misery Island. Anglers trolling tube and worm set ups, as well as using live bait have done well. Those in search of flounder are still finding these fish just off the coast. The trick is to keep moving or drift to cover enough ground to locate the fish.

Cape Ann: Surfcasters fishing Singing Beach at night have done well with striped bass on both lures and bait. Popping plugs and needlefish have produced good action in the surf, and bait anglers using eels, sea worms and cut bait have also landed fish. Fishing around Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport has been quite good over the last week. Anglers fishing near Halibut Point as well as Thachers Island have found keeper sized bass in deeper water. Tube and worms trolled deep, as well as live bait have produced the most fish. Fly anglers report good takes on large flies (six inches and over) offered in deep water. Some bluefish have been in the mix as well. The Essex River continues to offer decent striped bass fishing with reports having good action in the early morning and late evening hours. Tuna fishing remained somewhat slow offshore, however the steadier weather we had this week should improve conditions. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock.

Ipswich: The mouth of the Ipswich River has been a good spot to be as boat anglers reported good action for bluefish and striped bass. The fish have been interested in Sluggos and Storm Wild Eye lures as well as popping plugs and broken back swimming lures. Fishing off Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach has been slower, as fish seem to be just out of reach form shore.

Newbury: Fishermen trolling tube and worms and swimming plugs have found keeper sized bass in Plum Island Sound. Bluefish have thinned out in the Sound, but it seems some bigger stripers have taken up residency. Reports from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have anglers taking good numbers of bass along the entire stretch of beach. The top of the incoming tide and the beginning of the outgoing seem to be the preferred tides.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing near the old boat ramp at Cashman Park can yield striped bass, as evidenced by the two healthy school sized stripers I saw fall for a top water plug on Wednesday evening. Bait anglers were also scoring bass. Joppa Flats has been a tough go in the daylight hours, but some anglers getting out after dark have found bass around Woodbridge Island as well as around the AYC mornings. Dark flies on sinking lines have worked well for fly anglers, while spin fishermen have done well on large black plugs and live eels. Further down river at Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the last of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide have had consistent schoolie action. Fishing along the Plum Island beachfront has been sporadic, with bait anglers doing better than most others. Offshore, anglers in search of bluefin tuna have not had much luck, but conditions should improve with the current weather pattern. Cod and Haddock catches continue to please party boat patrons.

Salisbury: As in weeks past, most of the fishing around Salisbury is taking place off the State Reservation, at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Much like across the river, anglers fishing the last part of the falling tide and beginning of the rise have done best. Sea worms and chunk bait are the main offerings. Anglers working the Salisbury beachfront have reported decent surfcasting action in the pre-dawn hours.

Seacoast, NH: Activity along the Seabrook, Rye and Hampton coast seems to be picking up slightly. Anglers fishing the state beach in North Hampton have had good luck with school sized striped bass. Further north, the Piscataqua has also had some decent fishing over the past week, including decent fish activity around the Navy Yard. The Isle of Shoals and surrounding waters have held good numbers of striped bass, with some bluefish still in the mix. Tuna have been tough to locate.

August 19, 2004

Fish Finder – 8/19/2004

Frank Dwyer
August 19, 2004

Marblehead: Bluefish and striped bass continue to be landed from Devereux Beach, but the fishing has been somewhat sporadic. At night, dark plugs or swimming lures have been attracting fish. Marblehead Neck has been a bit slow over the last week. Anglers in boats have done well with live and chunk baits off Ram, Tinkers and Browns Islands. Flounder and Fluke catches have also been increasing.

Salem: Salem Sound has had an influx of mackerel and herring over the last week and anglers able to take advantage of these live baits have done very well with striped bass, some in the thirty-pound range. Fluke and flounder catches have increased over the last week as the bluefish have seemed to thin out a bit.

Beverly: Boat anglers have done well with striped bass just outside the harbor, as well as off West Beach and in the coves around the islands. The fish have been chasing herring and mackerel, and once they get a pod of bait cornered, watch out! Sometimes it’s a challenge to get these feeding fish to take your offering, however I find letting the lure or fly sink way below the action, and then slowly reeling or stripping back in works well. Anglers fishing the Fishing Pier at night have been landing keeper size bass on clams, worms and cut baits.

Cape Ann: Anglers fishing off White Beach in Manchester have reported surface feeding bass this past week. Fishing in Gloucester Harbor and from the State Fishing Pier has been good for the most part over the last week. Bluefish have been prevalent but some bigger striped bass have also been landed. Anglers fishing around Ten Pound Island as well as Straitsmouth have done well, mostly with school sized bass. Fishermen using chunk baits have landed larger fish. Those exploring the Essex River have reported steadier action for bluefish and stripers, mostly in the early morning or evening. Fluke and Flounder have also been cooperative for anglers targeting them. Off shore, anglers in search of tuna reported a slower week, due in part to the left over hurricane activity we’ve had.

Ipswich: Anglers fishing the Ipswich River for stripers and bluefish have done well with both fly and spin gear. The stripers seem quite interested in sluggo-type offerings and large profile baitfish flies. Surfcasters working the Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches reported slower activity, but some fish are still being landed, mostly in the low-light hours.

Newbury: Plum Island Sound and the Parker River remain productive for bass and bluefish; however the bluefish activity has slowed a bit. Fishing along the beaches of the refuge has been slow, but anglers fishing with clams and sea worms have landed bass. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge fully opened its beaches last week and this means the entire stretch of beach is now open for fishing. In addition, drive-on fishing is also allowed now, however there are some new regulations, including a log book that must be signed each and every time you drive on the beach. You’ll also need to purchase a day or season pass, as well as have all the proper equipment needed for driving on the beach. (tow rope, shovel, board, etc…) Contact of visit the Refuge for further information.

Newburyport / Plum Island: Shore anglers fishing from the Deer Island/Chain Bridge area reported slow going over this past week. The same can be said for fishing off of Carr and Eagle Islands, upriver from the Route 1 Bridge. Joppa Flats has also been slow, and while fish have been evident on several outings, they have been quite finicky and unwilling to take most offerings. Anglers fishing the higher tides on the flats at night have reported some keeper size bass on black flies and plugs, as well as on live eels. Fishing the backside of Woodbridge Island has also yielded fish. Fishing the Plum Island Beach front from shore has also been slow, but some fish have been landed, mostly on bait. Anglers in boats have landed flounder and fluke on the sandy bottom, just off the beach. Plum Island Point continues to draw crowds of anglers, and fish continue to be caught in the swift moving river. Sea worms, clams and cut bait have all worked for anglers, allowing their bait to bounce along the bottom. Fly fishermen and anglers using lures have reported less activity. Anglers willing to brave the jetties have also been landing fish, mostly on bait.

Salisbury: Most of the fishing action in Salisbury remains at the State Reservation where fishermen continue to cast into the river in hopes of landing the big one. Most of the action reported has been with bass in the 22” to 26” range, but some keepers have been in the mix. Sea worms, clams and cut bait continue to out fish lures and flies. Anglers fishing from boats have reported bluefish activity off Salisbury Beach.

Seacoast, NH: Surfcasters have reported sporadic activity along the Rye, Seabrook and Hampton beaches. The marsh area and railroad bridge in Hampton continues to produce striped bass. Best time is at night, with the most productive bait appearing to be cut herring. In Portsmouth, fishing in the Piscataqua has been good, with anglers reporting decent action around both Badger and Pierce Island. Anglers fishing around New Castle have also found cooperative striped bass.

August 12, 2004

Fish Finder – 8/12/2004

Frank Dwyer
August 12, 2004

Marblehead: Anglers fishing sea clams, worms and cut bait have done well with bass off Devereux Beach, mostly in the evening. Bluefish have been plentiful again this week, with boat and shore anglers landing fish from 3 to 12 pounds. Fly and Spin fishermen have done well in pursuit of bass near the lighthouse on the neck.

Salem: Surface feeding bass with birds overhead were seen this past week in Salem Sound. The Kernwood Bridge and Route 1A/127 Bridge have presented shore fishermen with opportunities for striped bass catches. Clam strips and cut bait have been the most productive baits. Fishing around Winter Island has continued to produce striped bass for both fly and spin anglers.

Beverly: Beverly Harbor has been home to surface feeding bass over the last week and it’s great to have this type of action in August! Bluefish are still around, but those with boats have done better as the fish seemed to move into deeper water. Anglers patrolling the beaches at night are finding striped bass, mostly with cut bait and live eels. Flounder still around the shoreline for those who want them.

Cape Ann: Manchester anglers continue to report decent action for striped bass as well as bluefish. Bluefish have not been as prevalent over the last week, but sporadic pods are around. Anglers fishing around Thatchers Island have done well as well as near Halibut Point. School bluefin tuna are on many anglers minds as these fish have been seen from all throughout the area. While seeing and catching are certainly two different things, there have been quite a few of these fish landed. Anglers trolling Green Machines have done well while casting spin fishermen have been using Hydro poppers and jigs. Some savvy fishermen have even landed these speedy fish on large mackerel or herring imitation flies. Party boats continue to return with good catches of market sized cod and haddock.

Ipswich: Bluefish and striped bass activity has been good off Ipswich Neck. Some bigger blues—to 15 pounds—have been landed. The mouth of the Ipswich has had good action over the past week, with bluefish and stripers both in the mix. Shore anglers have had decent action from Pavilion Beach as well as the beaches around the Crane Mansion. Small popping plugs like Chub Creeks or Skitter Pops have attracted blues and stripers and fly anglers have also done well with floating lines and popping flies.

Newbury: The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain home to many bluefish. Striped Bass activity seemed a bit better this week, with most of the action on schoolies, but some bigger fish have been in the mix. The reservation beaches continue to produce bass for anglers, mostly those using bait, although a few surface blitzes have been reported. Shore anglers fishing the Parker River near the Route 1A bridge have also reported decent striped bass activity.

Newburyport / Plum Island: Striped bass fishing has been fairly consistent around Joppa Flats. The outgoing tide over the last several days has produced good sized schoolies and several keeper sized bass. These fish have been taking sluggos rigged on lead heads, popping plugs and needlefish, as well as flies stripped fast on a sinking line. The beaches have also produced fish, but surfcasters have found the fish to be somewhat finicky over the last week. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds of anglers who have been landing good numbers of striped bass. Fly anglers fishing the sandbar off the Point have done well stripping clousers and deceivers on sinking lines in the fast moving current. Upriver, Deer Island remains popular with shore bound anglers in search of striped bass. Bait fishermen seem to be outscoring all others here. Fishermen in search of Tuna have found these fish all throughout Ipswich Bay out to the Isle of Shoals. Party Boats have continued to reward their patrons with cod numbers of cod and haddock.

Salisbury: Salisbury Beach is really only an option early in the morning or in the evening as beachgoers have certainly taken over. That said, surfcasters working this stretch of beach have had luck with both bluefish and striped bass, with relatively little company from other anglers. Sea worms rigged on a fish finder rig work very well, as do swimming and popping plugs, and metal lures. Much like Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation have continued to land good numbers of striped bass.

Seacoast, NH: Fishing the seacoast has been somewhat spotty, but anglers fishing the Rye coastline, off Route 1A, have found striped bass in lowlight conditions. Anglers working the Hampton marsh and bridges have also found fish, but have had to work a bit harder and longer to find them. The Piscataqua has been somewhat spotty, with schoolies being landed here and there, but the fish seem to be spread out. Anglers fishing further off shore and out to the Isle of Shoals have reported decent pods of bluefish and some school bluefin tuna activity as well.

August 5, 2004

Fish Finder – 8/5/2004

Frank Dwyer
August 5, 2004

Marblehead: Striped Bass remain picky around Marblehead, with most fish now being caught at dawn or after dark, or in deeper water. Small bluefish have been plentiful off Devereux Beach as along most of the beaches. There are bluefish all around the Neck and boat anglers fishing live bait in the deeper waters have done well in pursuit of stripers.

Salem: Bluefish action remains steady off Salem with fish being landed at the usual spots, including Salem Willows Pier, Winter Island and the bridges. Stripers are being landed, but not at the pace we had earlier in the season. Fly fishing has been somewhat slow, but some long wanders are still landing fish by letting the fly sink for a solid “10 count” prior to beginning their retrieve.

Beverly: Persistent anglers in search of flounder off Beverly have caught their limit, but have had to exercise patience. Boat anglers drifting and dragging their worm across the bottom have faired better than their shore bound brethren. Anglers fishing for striped bass from shore have found fish, but like many North Shore locations, dusk to dawn is the best time to get out. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters.

Cape Ann: Fishing the Manchester shoreline has produced good bass and bluefish action, with boat anglers tallying more fish than those who are shore bound. Larger bluefish have been present this week off Halibut Point and Magnolia. Boat anglers fishing the rocks around Gloucester have reported fairly steady action for schoolie sized bass, with a few keeper sized bass mixed in. Fly anglers utilizing sinking lines and large profile bait fish imitations have done well as have spin anglers using large sluggos. Fishing in the Essex River remains somewhat spotty, with bluefish catches outnumbering striped bass. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock and anglers in search of tuna have seen and even landed a few fish around Jeffries and Stellwagan banks.

Ipswich: Bluefish continue to patrol the waters around Ipswich with many fish being landed in and at the mouth of the Ipswich River. Anglers fishing Crane and Steep Hill beach have found some striped bass activity during the low light hours, with fish taking sluggos, popping plugs, needle fish and bait. Fly anglers have done well with deceivers, clousers and sand eel imitations on fast sinking lines.

Newbury: I was at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island last night, and while the order of business was collecting shells with my five-year old daughter and not fishing, I could not help but notice the fishy looking water, and for good reason. Stripers and blues have been landed over the last week from Parking lots 1, 6 and 7 on the refuge, and while the greenheads are still there, they are dying off. Cut bait and worms have both been working well for striped bass, while anglers using plugs, swimming lures and metals have all reported good fun with bluefish. The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain full of bluefish with some spotty striper fishing reported.

Newburyport / Plum Island: Bluefish are still abundant around Newburyport, and we had several pods of 8 – 12 pound blues around and in the boat this past weekend. From the mouth of the Merrimack all the way down to Sandy Point your likely to run into many pods of bluefish willing to take most any offering. Shore anglers fishing the Plum Island Beach front have also had luck with blues. Striped bass fishing has been decent, but has slowed down compared to last week. Fishing at Plum Island Point continued to draw crowds of anglers, with many fishing sea worms and cut bait, or working sluggos in the fast moving current. Joppa Flats remains home to some finicky bass, which sometimes are quite evident, but unwilling to take any fly, lure or bait thrown at them. However, anglers using live eels have had some success at night. Upriver spots have continued to yield bass to anglers willing to hunt for them. Tuna rumors have turned into confirmations, with anglers finding these “footballs” offshore and willing to take both trolled and cast offerings. Party boats have continued to please anglers looking to fill the freezer with cod and haddock.

Salisbury: Fishing the Salisbury ocean front will certainly afford you more solitude than the riverfront of the State Reservation, but the fish seem more plentiful in the river. Fishermen setting up on the Salisbury side of the Merrimack have been landing both striped bass and bluefish using both bait and lures. Cut bait (herring) and sea worms on fish finder rigs are the preference of bait fishermen, while anglers fishing with metal and plug lures have done well. Bluefish are closer to the mouth, so anglers willing to fish the jetty have done well.

Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Seabrook, Rye and Hampton has been decent for bluefish but fairly slow for striped bass. There are some reports of bass being caught off Rye, mostly on eels and cut herring. Further up the coast, anglers fishing the Piscataqua River have reported schoolie action at times and bluefish at the mouth. Reports had the area around the Isle of Shoals slower than last week for both bass and blues.