Frank Dwyer
September 30, 2004
Marblehead: Things are looking up, at least compared to last week. The recent hurricane remnants were not that helpful mid-week, but this coming weekend should provide good fishing. Surfcasters fishing near the lighthouse on Neck have done well with stripers in the last week. I saw a few keepers taken there with my own eyes this week. Most anglers are using bait but some fish are falling for plugs and large rubber shads. Devereux Beach has also yielded stripers this week, again mostly for the bait crew. Bluefish remain available, but in deeper water and mostly on the troll.
Salem: Striper fishing has been steady around Salem this week, with some fish close to trophy size being landed. Anglers working the waters around Winter Island have reported good striper activity. Spin fishermen have done well with large popping plugs and needlefish while fly anglers have been landing fish consistently on large baitfish flies presented on a sinking line. The Salem Willows Pier has also been home to a few striper catches and bluefish remain available outside the harbor.
Beverly: Stripers have blitzed West Beach a few times this week, with excellent surface activity and willing striped bass. Flounder have also been plentiful around Beverly with the best action around West Beach and Mingo Beach. Anglers targeting flounder have had the best results using sea worms as bait.
Cape Ann: Good numbers of flounder have been reported just outside Manchester Harbor over the last week with many anglers catching their limit. In addition, surface feeding schoolies have been pleasing anglers in Manchester Harbor, mostly at dawn and dusk. In Gloucester, bluefish have been plentiful at the mouth of the Annisquam, with most of the fish being landed on deep trolled swimming lures. Bluefish activity was also strong around Gloucester and Magnolia Harbors while stripers, mostly on the small side, have become more plentiful over the last week around Cape Ann. Fishing has also picked up in the Essex River, as the fish have been actively feeding on sand eels on the surface and taking small popping plugs, sluggos and sparsely tied sand eel imitations. School bluefin tuna reports have been a bit more consistent, with most of the activity out in Ipswich Bay and on the troll. Party boats report decent numbers of cod, pollack and haddock, with some pesky dogfish getting in the way.
Ipswich: Crane, Pavilion and Steep Hill beach have all been yielding bass within casting range, as the fall run seems to finally be getting under way. Fish have been available along the beach, and at the mouth of the Ipswich and Essex rivers. Small popping plugs have been working well for spin fishermen, and sparsely tied flies like Ray’s Fly and the small epoxy sand eels. Bluefish remain in the mix.
Newbury: Anglers trolling 9’er rigs and tube n’ worm set ups have reported larger bass catches in Plum Island Sound. In addition, the Parker River has also heated up with several surface feeding pods of striped bass reported over the last week. The crew fishing the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge had high surf to deal with part of this week, but night-time catches continue to yield keeper sized bass. Clams, sea worms and cut bait have all been working well. If history is any measure, surface feeding bass should be crashing the beach over the next two weeks.
Newburyport / Plum Island: The last week has seen the activity around the port increase. I was out twice this past week and pleasantly surprised by the availability of both stripers and bluefish. Fishing upriver of the Route 1 Bridge has found actively feeding schoolies off Carr, Eagle and Deer Islands. Fish have been taking sluggos and Fin-S’s for spin fishermen and sand-eel imitations for fly anglers. Further towards the mouth, Joppa Flats has been heating up with willing fish feeding quite nicely, mostly on the outgoing tide. Fishing around the AYC moorings as well as along the dike and Woodbridge Island has been good for feeding bass. Surfcasters working the point have reported an up-tick in activity as striper catches have increased this past week. The last two hours of the outgoing tide seems to be the favorite of the locals. Bluefish have been caught from the Toothpick out to the MR buoy, with most of the fish being landed on deeply trolled swimmers. Tuna have been more evident over the last week with landings in the 30-50lb range reported. Most activity has been reported around Stellwagan Bank and Jeffries Ledge. Party Boats have had a good week, landing plenty of cod and haddock for their customers.
Salisbury: Bluefish remain off Salisbury Beach, and trolling swimming lures has landed plenty of these aggressive fish over the last week. A few fish have been landed off Salisbury Beach, mostly on bait, with anglers hoping the annual surface feeds will start soon. There have been plenty of bass being landed at the mouth of the Merrimack by anglers fishing from the State Reservation and off the North Jetty.
Seacoast, NH: Stripers have been cooperating this week for anglers fishing in the Seabrook and Hampton areas. The railroad bridge in Hampton has been heating up as anglers fishing with both bait and lures report good bass landings. In Rye Harbor, anglers fishing from the Jetty have reported decent activity for small stripers and some bluefish. Further to the north, anglers have done well with striped bass around the mouth of the Piscataqua as well as into Great Bay, with some bluefish still in the mix. Some larger bass are being landed around the Isle of Shoals, and some tuna have also been reported in the area.
September 30, 2004
September 23, 2004
Fish Finder – 9/23/2004
Frank Dwyer
September 23, 2004
Marblehead: Strange days on the North Shore as anglers, terns and seagulls wonder when and if the typical fall surface feeds will happen. Fishing up around Castle Rock and the lighthouse has yielded a few fish, but nothing to write home about. Anglers have found both bass and blues in the deeper water around Gerry and Brown’s Island. There has been some activity for surfcasters off Devereux Beach, with mostly smaller stripers being reported.
Salem: Anglers fishing the Salem Willows Pier and also from Winter Island report decent action for striped bass, but it’s not red hot just yet. Bluefish have been reported just outside the harbor and anglers fishing near Coney Island with live and cut bait have reported some large striper catches.
Beverly: Fishermen have found fairly spotty action along the Beverly coast, with some fish being caught by anglers trolling tube n’ worm rigs just off shore. Trolling deep diving swimming plugs has proved productive for bluefish as well. Anglers targeting flounder have continued to do well.
Cape Ann: Manchester Harbor continued to be home to small schools of herring which anglers have been successfully using as bait in deeper water. Singing Beach offered only spotty action this week, with the fish showing inconsistently. One report did have schoolies in the wash at dusk with fly anglers picking them off with some frequency. In Gloucester, reports had small bass on the Ipswich Bay side of the Annisquam River over the last week, as well as off Wingersheek Beach. Fly and spin anglers fishing along Shore Road in Magnolia have reported sporadic striper activity, with a few bluefish in the mix. Anglers fishing in deeper waters off Halibut Point have landed some large bluefish trolling big lures on wire. The Essex River has yielded some fish, but again folks are scratching their heads wondering about the yet-to-start Fall run. Tuna activity has been slow as well offshore with some fish being seen surfacing, but not staying up for any length of time. Party boats continue to do well for ground fish.
Ipswich: I fished from Crane Beach last week and was frustrated by a pod of surface feeding bass just out of my casting range. I did manage several small bass, all taken on an olive and green clouser fly on a sinking line, but wished I could reach the frenzy out in front of me. Bluefish have been at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week; however the striper fishing has been a bit slow.
Newbury: Anglers fishing the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has continued to attract walk on and drive on surfcasters in search of the big one. Anglers reported spotty action, but those fishing at night have managed some fish into the twenty-pound range. Fishing on the Parker River and Plum Island Sound has been slow.
Newburyport / Plum Island: A large, well defined cloud deck was hanging over the mouth of the Merrimack on Sunday as the 43 degree air lapped at my face. The sun did not warm me until mid-morning, but the fishing was decent along the AYC moorings and further out by Can # 11. In fact, one fish hit a slow drifted sluggo extremely hard, and then the line went limp. Upon inspection, the hook on the lead-head was bent, so there are some big one’s out there! Anglers continue to flock to Plum Island Point to fish, but the action is somewhat sporadic. Clams and sea worms drifted on the bottom seem to be the best bait. Outside the mouth, bluefish continue to be caught, mostly by those trolling large lures on wire. Some big fish have come from the 20-40 foot depths. Many anglers are still in search of Tuna and there were some sightings south of the Isle of Shoals, but most of the action seems to remain to our south in Cape Cod Bay. Party boats have reported good action for their patrons.
Salisbury: The Salisbury beach front remained quiet this week, with no traditional signs of any fall activity. Bluefish have been caught by boat anglers fishing off Salisbury beach, but surfcasters report little action. The State Reservation yielded some fish this week, mostly for those using bait, but the action has not been red hot by any measure.
Seacoast, NH: There has been a bit more activity around Seabrook, Rye and Hampton, mostly with small bass. I saw several fish landed at the Rye Harbor State Park on Wednesday, and reports also had fish off Foss Beach, just outside Hampton Harbor and along Hampton Beach. Further north, fish have been feeding at the mouth of the Piscataqua, although again, most of the fish have been schoolie sized. Bluefish have also been more active this week along the New Hampshire coast. The Isle of Shoals continues to draw anglers in search of blues, bass and the elusive bluefin tuna.
September 23, 2004
Marblehead: Strange days on the North Shore as anglers, terns and seagulls wonder when and if the typical fall surface feeds will happen. Fishing up around Castle Rock and the lighthouse has yielded a few fish, but nothing to write home about. Anglers have found both bass and blues in the deeper water around Gerry and Brown’s Island. There has been some activity for surfcasters off Devereux Beach, with mostly smaller stripers being reported.
Salem: Anglers fishing the Salem Willows Pier and also from Winter Island report decent action for striped bass, but it’s not red hot just yet. Bluefish have been reported just outside the harbor and anglers fishing near Coney Island with live and cut bait have reported some large striper catches.
Beverly: Fishermen have found fairly spotty action along the Beverly coast, with some fish being caught by anglers trolling tube n’ worm rigs just off shore. Trolling deep diving swimming plugs has proved productive for bluefish as well. Anglers targeting flounder have continued to do well.
Cape Ann: Manchester Harbor continued to be home to small schools of herring which anglers have been successfully using as bait in deeper water. Singing Beach offered only spotty action this week, with the fish showing inconsistently. One report did have schoolies in the wash at dusk with fly anglers picking them off with some frequency. In Gloucester, reports had small bass on the Ipswich Bay side of the Annisquam River over the last week, as well as off Wingersheek Beach. Fly and spin anglers fishing along Shore Road in Magnolia have reported sporadic striper activity, with a few bluefish in the mix. Anglers fishing in deeper waters off Halibut Point have landed some large bluefish trolling big lures on wire. The Essex River has yielded some fish, but again folks are scratching their heads wondering about the yet-to-start Fall run. Tuna activity has been slow as well offshore with some fish being seen surfacing, but not staying up for any length of time. Party boats continue to do well for ground fish.
Ipswich: I fished from Crane Beach last week and was frustrated by a pod of surface feeding bass just out of my casting range. I did manage several small bass, all taken on an olive and green clouser fly on a sinking line, but wished I could reach the frenzy out in front of me. Bluefish have been at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week; however the striper fishing has been a bit slow.
Newbury: Anglers fishing the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has continued to attract walk on and drive on surfcasters in search of the big one. Anglers reported spotty action, but those fishing at night have managed some fish into the twenty-pound range. Fishing on the Parker River and Plum Island Sound has been slow.
Newburyport / Plum Island: A large, well defined cloud deck was hanging over the mouth of the Merrimack on Sunday as the 43 degree air lapped at my face. The sun did not warm me until mid-morning, but the fishing was decent along the AYC moorings and further out by Can # 11. In fact, one fish hit a slow drifted sluggo extremely hard, and then the line went limp. Upon inspection, the hook on the lead-head was bent, so there are some big one’s out there! Anglers continue to flock to Plum Island Point to fish, but the action is somewhat sporadic. Clams and sea worms drifted on the bottom seem to be the best bait. Outside the mouth, bluefish continue to be caught, mostly by those trolling large lures on wire. Some big fish have come from the 20-40 foot depths. Many anglers are still in search of Tuna and there were some sightings south of the Isle of Shoals, but most of the action seems to remain to our south in Cape Cod Bay. Party boats have reported good action for their patrons.
Salisbury: The Salisbury beach front remained quiet this week, with no traditional signs of any fall activity. Bluefish have been caught by boat anglers fishing off Salisbury beach, but surfcasters report little action. The State Reservation yielded some fish this week, mostly for those using bait, but the action has not been red hot by any measure.
Seacoast, NH: There has been a bit more activity around Seabrook, Rye and Hampton, mostly with small bass. I saw several fish landed at the Rye Harbor State Park on Wednesday, and reports also had fish off Foss Beach, just outside Hampton Harbor and along Hampton Beach. Further north, fish have been feeding at the mouth of the Piscataqua, although again, most of the fish have been schoolie sized. Bluefish have also been more active this week along the New Hampshire coast. The Isle of Shoals continues to draw anglers in search of blues, bass and the elusive bluefin tuna.
September 16, 2004
Fish Finder – 9/16/2004
Frank Dwyer
September 16, 2004
Marblehead: The Fall run has not quite measured up to years past yet, but hopefully that will mean a later season for us all. Devereux Beach has offered decent fishing over the last week, with anglers doing well at night with bait and a few surface feeds at dawn also being reported. Just outside the harbor there have been reports of decent sized bluefish willing to take most offerings when you can find them.
Salem: Large bluefish have been tearing it outside the harbor and some in the 15 pound range have been landed. In addition, boat anglers trolling a tube n’ worm set up have done well with keeper sized bass. Striped Bass fishing off Winter Island continues to be fairly consistent, with nice sized fish being landed. Flounder have been moving as well, with local anglers finding them a bit easier than in weeks past.
Beverly: There have been a few surface feeds reported over the last week in the vicinity of West Beach and the Landmark School. The fish seemed to be chasing small pods of bunker; however the bait has been far from plentiful in the North Shore waters. Anglers fishing around the Salem/Beverly Bridge as well as from the Beverly Fishing Pier have done well with bait for striped bass. Pods of bluefish have also been patrolling the area.
Cape Ann: Surfcasters fishing off Singing Beach over the past week have found a mix of bluefish and striped bass activity. Herring have been in Manchester Harbor over the past week and anglers able to take these fish and live-line them have done well with some larger striped bass. In Gloucester, anglers have done well for bluefish off both Good Harbor and Wingarsheek Beaches, with the fish taking typical offerings like Ballistic Missiles, Rangers, and most any other top-water plug. Fishing off Halibut Point has yielded some larger striped bass, mostly on bait. Further north, the Essex River has been picking up in activity, but like most locations, it just does not feel like the Fall run is underway. Anglers in search of Tuna have found a few of these “footballs”, but most of the activity seems to be to our south in Cape Cod Bay. Cod and Haddock fishing have been strong for the party boats.
Ipswich: Action around Ipswich has been good, with fish cooperating with shore anglers fishing Pavilion, Crane and Steep Hill Beaches. A mix of blues and stripers were reported to be feeding furiously on the surface at the mouth of the Ipswich River earlier this week with the fish feeding on a mix of sand eels and silversides. Fly anglers reported better fishing from the beaches, with sinking lines and bait fish imitation flies working well.
Newbury: Surfcasters working the shore at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have seen good numbers of striped bass over the past week, with the best action seeming to be from Emerson Rocks down to Sandy Point. I was fishing off the reservation from a boat last weekend and got into several pods of 8-12 pound bluefish. Plum Island Sound has picked up over the last week, and while the fishing is good, it’s not phenomenal just yet.
Newburyport / Plum Island: There are fish to be found around Newburyport, but like most spots, fishermen are waiting for the fall migration to really get underway. Stripers have been available to anglers fishing Joppa Flats from both shore and boat, with the outgoing tide being the most productive. While there have not been many surface feeds evident on Joppa over the last week, fish have been taking top-water plugs, as well as rubber and plastics rigged on lead heads. Fly anglers have also reported better fishing off Joppa. Fishermen fishing from Plum Island Point have also seen decent activity for stripers, but most fish have been sub-legal sized. Sea worms and clams have been working best for bait fishermen, with buck tail jigs and sluggo type offerings working well for spin fishermen. Fly anglers braving the sand bar have also reported decent outings for schoolies. Boat anglers fishing just outside the mouth, out to the MR buoy and along the Plum Island Beaches have found good sized bluefish, some upwards of 12 pounds. Party Boats continue to return with good numbers of Cod and Haddock, while those in search of tuna have reported spotty action.
Salisbury: Most anglers fishing in Salisbury have been fishing the Merrimack from the State Reservation. Results have been similar those across the river, with small striped bass taking clams, sea worms and lures. If history is any guide, surfcasters would do well to work the ocean beaches in Salisbury in search of stripers feeding close to shore as the fish start to feed aggressively for their migration south.
Seacoast, NH: Still fairly quiet along the Seacoast, but some fish are starting to show. Seabrook and Hampton anglers have had to work hard to find a few small schoolies, with not much bait evident. Bluefish activity seems to have remained to the south. Further north, anglers in Rye and Portsmouth have reported finicky fish with some activity on school sized bass. Anglers fishing in the Piscataqua River as well as around Pierce Island have also reported some activity with small stripers, but like most in our area, hoping the action busts wide open soon. Fishermen making the run to the Isle of Shoals have reported some larger bass with bluefish in the mix.
September 16, 2004
Marblehead: The Fall run has not quite measured up to years past yet, but hopefully that will mean a later season for us all. Devereux Beach has offered decent fishing over the last week, with anglers doing well at night with bait and a few surface feeds at dawn also being reported. Just outside the harbor there have been reports of decent sized bluefish willing to take most offerings when you can find them.
Salem: Large bluefish have been tearing it outside the harbor and some in the 15 pound range have been landed. In addition, boat anglers trolling a tube n’ worm set up have done well with keeper sized bass. Striped Bass fishing off Winter Island continues to be fairly consistent, with nice sized fish being landed. Flounder have been moving as well, with local anglers finding them a bit easier than in weeks past.
Beverly: There have been a few surface feeds reported over the last week in the vicinity of West Beach and the Landmark School. The fish seemed to be chasing small pods of bunker; however the bait has been far from plentiful in the North Shore waters. Anglers fishing around the Salem/Beverly Bridge as well as from the Beverly Fishing Pier have done well with bait for striped bass. Pods of bluefish have also been patrolling the area.
Cape Ann: Surfcasters fishing off Singing Beach over the past week have found a mix of bluefish and striped bass activity. Herring have been in Manchester Harbor over the past week and anglers able to take these fish and live-line them have done well with some larger striped bass. In Gloucester, anglers have done well for bluefish off both Good Harbor and Wingarsheek Beaches, with the fish taking typical offerings like Ballistic Missiles, Rangers, and most any other top-water plug. Fishing off Halibut Point has yielded some larger striped bass, mostly on bait. Further north, the Essex River has been picking up in activity, but like most locations, it just does not feel like the Fall run is underway. Anglers in search of Tuna have found a few of these “footballs”, but most of the activity seems to be to our south in Cape Cod Bay. Cod and Haddock fishing have been strong for the party boats.
Ipswich: Action around Ipswich has been good, with fish cooperating with shore anglers fishing Pavilion, Crane and Steep Hill Beaches. A mix of blues and stripers were reported to be feeding furiously on the surface at the mouth of the Ipswich River earlier this week with the fish feeding on a mix of sand eels and silversides. Fly anglers reported better fishing from the beaches, with sinking lines and bait fish imitation flies working well.
Newbury: Surfcasters working the shore at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have seen good numbers of striped bass over the past week, with the best action seeming to be from Emerson Rocks down to Sandy Point. I was fishing off the reservation from a boat last weekend and got into several pods of 8-12 pound bluefish. Plum Island Sound has picked up over the last week, and while the fishing is good, it’s not phenomenal just yet.
Newburyport / Plum Island: There are fish to be found around Newburyport, but like most spots, fishermen are waiting for the fall migration to really get underway. Stripers have been available to anglers fishing Joppa Flats from both shore and boat, with the outgoing tide being the most productive. While there have not been many surface feeds evident on Joppa over the last week, fish have been taking top-water plugs, as well as rubber and plastics rigged on lead heads. Fly anglers have also reported better fishing off Joppa. Fishermen fishing from Plum Island Point have also seen decent activity for stripers, but most fish have been sub-legal sized. Sea worms and clams have been working best for bait fishermen, with buck tail jigs and sluggo type offerings working well for spin fishermen. Fly anglers braving the sand bar have also reported decent outings for schoolies. Boat anglers fishing just outside the mouth, out to the MR buoy and along the Plum Island Beaches have found good sized bluefish, some upwards of 12 pounds. Party Boats continue to return with good numbers of Cod and Haddock, while those in search of tuna have reported spotty action.
Salisbury: Most anglers fishing in Salisbury have been fishing the Merrimack from the State Reservation. Results have been similar those across the river, with small striped bass taking clams, sea worms and lures. If history is any guide, surfcasters would do well to work the ocean beaches in Salisbury in search of stripers feeding close to shore as the fish start to feed aggressively for their migration south.
Seacoast, NH: Still fairly quiet along the Seacoast, but some fish are starting to show. Seabrook and Hampton anglers have had to work hard to find a few small schoolies, with not much bait evident. Bluefish activity seems to have remained to the south. Further north, anglers in Rye and Portsmouth have reported finicky fish with some activity on school sized bass. Anglers fishing in the Piscataqua River as well as around Pierce Island have also reported some activity with small stripers, but like most in our area, hoping the action busts wide open soon. Fishermen making the run to the Isle of Shoals have reported some larger bass with bluefish in the mix.
September 9, 2004
Fish Finder – 9/9/2004
Frank Dwyer
September 9, 2004
Marblehead: Fishing is showing signs of picking up as fish are becoming more active along the North Shore. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have had good luck over the last week with both bait and lures, even with the less than perfect surf conditions. Surfcasters fishing off Devereux Beach have done well with chunk herring and large plugs. (Danny Plugs, Needle Fish) Boat anglers fishing with live eels have reported good action with striped bass around Brown’s and Gerry Islands.
Salem: Fishermen have done well off Winter Island using chunk baits in the surf near the lighthouse. Schoolies and keeper size bass have been in the mix over the last week, with the best action at night. Boat anglers have done well trolling tube n’ worm rigs around The Gooseberries. Action at the Salem Willow Pier is increasing as well.
Beverly: The Danvers River has been heating up and anglers casting cut bait from the base of the Salem/Beverly Bridge have done well at night with keeper bass being landed. There have also been surface feeds reported in the river over the last week. Boat anglers working the shoreline near Endicott College and the Landmark school have done well using both live and dead herring. Flounder have been caught near Tuck’s Point.
Cape Ann: Anglers fishing Singing Beach at night have reported an increase in striper activity over the last week. Anglers using live eels as well as cut bait and sea worms have done well with several keepers being landed. The herring in Manchester Harbor have thinned out a bit, but fish are still around for the taking. Fly anglers using large profile bait fish imitation on sinking lines have also reported better fishing activity this week. Fishing around Gloucester and Rockport has been somewhat consistent in the low-light hours, however most fish taken have been sub-legal. Bluefish are still around, but not quite as thick in weeks past. The Peanut Bunker have yet to show in any numbers, but once this happens, fishing should improve quickly. Fishing in the Essex River has been slow, but some stripers have been located by persistent anglers. Those in search of tuna have had limited success, with most fish being landed while trolling. Party boats have continued to please their patrons with good trips for cod and haddock.
Ipswich: Anglers fishing in the Ipswich and Castle Neck rivers have reported an up-tick in activity, with bluefish and stripers actively feeding on top several times this past week. Fish have been most interested in top water plugs, like the Rapala Skitter Pop or the Creek Chub Striper Strike. Shore anglers working both Crane and Steep Hill beach have also reported catch-able numbers of bass, with both spin and fly anglers tallying fish.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound has been slower than most spots this week however some big bass have been landed at night. Angler’s trolling broken-back swimming lures and tube ‘n worm rigs have done well. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches have been yielding fish, but most anglers are awaiting the typical fall feeding frenzies. The Emerson Rocks area seems to be the most productive stretch of beach.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing has certainly improved over the last week around the Port. Boat fishermen have done well anchored up near the Route 1 Bridge with cut bait, clam strips and sea worms. Joppa Flats has been home to consistent numbers of small school sized striped bass most of the week. There is an abundance of bait in the river with juvenile herring, sand eels and minnows all in the mix. Flies fished deep on the edge of the channel, as well as on outgoing drifts starting near the AYC, have led to consistent hook-ups. Anglers wading on Joppa Flats at low tide have also reported increased activity. Fishermen working the Woodbridge Island area at night have reported larger fish caught on eels and cut bait. Plum Island Point continues to draw anglers and while the action is picking up, most of the fish caught have been small. The beaches on Plum Island have also seen an increase in activity with blues and bass being landed on both lures and bait. Just outside the mouth, bluefish continue to be landed, mostly by anglers trolling the vicinity, with the occasional blue being picked up on bait. Those in search of tuna have reported sporadic sightings and landings, but not much consistent action has been reported. Cod and haddock catches remain plentiful for those fishing from the party boats.
Salisbury: Boat anglers continue to find bluefish just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along Salisbury Beach. Reports also had stripers corralling bait along the north jetty this week, with the fish actively taking flies and sluggo type offerings. Shore fishermen had consistent fishing for schoolies along the river at the State Reservation, with sea worms and clams landing the most fish.
Seacoast, NH: The Seacoast seems to be lagging behind other areas as the fishing seems a bit slow. Reports from Hampton have a few fish coming from the river, as well as the marsh, but overall the fish have been slow to take most offerings. Further north, around Portsmouth anglers have had to work hard for just a few fish. Bluefish have been active just offshore, with most getting them on the troll. Further offshore, tuna action remains spotty, with scattered activity and landings reported.
September 9, 2004
Marblehead: Fishing is showing signs of picking up as fish are becoming more active along the North Shore. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have had good luck over the last week with both bait and lures, even with the less than perfect surf conditions. Surfcasters fishing off Devereux Beach have done well with chunk herring and large plugs. (Danny Plugs, Needle Fish) Boat anglers fishing with live eels have reported good action with striped bass around Brown’s and Gerry Islands.
Salem: Fishermen have done well off Winter Island using chunk baits in the surf near the lighthouse. Schoolies and keeper size bass have been in the mix over the last week, with the best action at night. Boat anglers have done well trolling tube n’ worm rigs around The Gooseberries. Action at the Salem Willow Pier is increasing as well.
Beverly: The Danvers River has been heating up and anglers casting cut bait from the base of the Salem/Beverly Bridge have done well at night with keeper bass being landed. There have also been surface feeds reported in the river over the last week. Boat anglers working the shoreline near Endicott College and the Landmark school have done well using both live and dead herring. Flounder have been caught near Tuck’s Point.
Cape Ann: Anglers fishing Singing Beach at night have reported an increase in striper activity over the last week. Anglers using live eels as well as cut bait and sea worms have done well with several keepers being landed. The herring in Manchester Harbor have thinned out a bit, but fish are still around for the taking. Fly anglers using large profile bait fish imitation on sinking lines have also reported better fishing activity this week. Fishing around Gloucester and Rockport has been somewhat consistent in the low-light hours, however most fish taken have been sub-legal. Bluefish are still around, but not quite as thick in weeks past. The Peanut Bunker have yet to show in any numbers, but once this happens, fishing should improve quickly. Fishing in the Essex River has been slow, but some stripers have been located by persistent anglers. Those in search of tuna have had limited success, with most fish being landed while trolling. Party boats have continued to please their patrons with good trips for cod and haddock.
Ipswich: Anglers fishing in the Ipswich and Castle Neck rivers have reported an up-tick in activity, with bluefish and stripers actively feeding on top several times this past week. Fish have been most interested in top water plugs, like the Rapala Skitter Pop or the Creek Chub Striper Strike. Shore anglers working both Crane and Steep Hill beach have also reported catch-able numbers of bass, with both spin and fly anglers tallying fish.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound has been slower than most spots this week however some big bass have been landed at night. Angler’s trolling broken-back swimming lures and tube ‘n worm rigs have done well. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches have been yielding fish, but most anglers are awaiting the typical fall feeding frenzies. The Emerson Rocks area seems to be the most productive stretch of beach.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing has certainly improved over the last week around the Port. Boat fishermen have done well anchored up near the Route 1 Bridge with cut bait, clam strips and sea worms. Joppa Flats has been home to consistent numbers of small school sized striped bass most of the week. There is an abundance of bait in the river with juvenile herring, sand eels and minnows all in the mix. Flies fished deep on the edge of the channel, as well as on outgoing drifts starting near the AYC, have led to consistent hook-ups. Anglers wading on Joppa Flats at low tide have also reported increased activity. Fishermen working the Woodbridge Island area at night have reported larger fish caught on eels and cut bait. Plum Island Point continues to draw anglers and while the action is picking up, most of the fish caught have been small. The beaches on Plum Island have also seen an increase in activity with blues and bass being landed on both lures and bait. Just outside the mouth, bluefish continue to be landed, mostly by anglers trolling the vicinity, with the occasional blue being picked up on bait. Those in search of tuna have reported sporadic sightings and landings, but not much consistent action has been reported. Cod and haddock catches remain plentiful for those fishing from the party boats.
Salisbury: Boat anglers continue to find bluefish just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along Salisbury Beach. Reports also had stripers corralling bait along the north jetty this week, with the fish actively taking flies and sluggo type offerings. Shore fishermen had consistent fishing for schoolies along the river at the State Reservation, with sea worms and clams landing the most fish.
Seacoast, NH: The Seacoast seems to be lagging behind other areas as the fishing seems a bit slow. Reports from Hampton have a few fish coming from the river, as well as the marsh, but overall the fish have been slow to take most offerings. Further north, around Portsmouth anglers have had to work hard for just a few fish. Bluefish have been active just offshore, with most getting them on the troll. Further offshore, tuna action remains spotty, with scattered activity and landings reported.
September 2, 2004
Fish Finder – 9/2/2004
Frank Dwyer
September 2, 2004
Marblehead: It seems the summer doldrums have continued a bit longer than we’d all like as the fishing continues to be somewhat slow. Bait has been thin in the waters around Marblehead, and anglers are working hard to find fish. Shore bound anglers have found fish off Devereux Beach as well as off the Neck, with bait anglers scoring more consistently.
Salem: Early morning and night continues to be the time to fish if you’re searching for bigger fish. While the last week of weather has been quite nice, fishing during the day has been a bit slow, with the exception being bluefish that have still been cooperating in the Harbor and around the Islands. Anglers fishing off the Salem Willows Pier have reported a few keeper bass with the Danvers River also producing fish. Anglers dunking worms continue to land flounder.
Beverly: Striped Bass have been landed off West Beach and the Islands just off shore. Anglers trolling tube and worm setups as well as those using live eels have done well. Fishing off Tuck Point has also yielded bass and bluefish, while anglers looking for flounder have continued to be land these fish along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: There are plenty of herring in and around Manchester Harbor, and angler’s live-lining or chunking herring have done well. Fishing off Singing Beach continues to be a bit slow for surfcasters, but fish have been landed on both bait and large plugs. Boat anglers trolling tube and worms off Singing Beach have also scored both bass and bluefish. Further north, anglers fishing the rocks off Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport report slower activity for striped bass with many working quite hard for a handful of fish. The Annisquam and Essex River are full of bait (sand eels mostly) however the fishing has been quite spotty. Offshore, party boats continue to land good numbers of ground fish and anglers in search of tuna have reported many sightings, but fewer landings.
Ipswich: Most of the activity around Ipswich continues to be in the early morning or in the evening. Fly anglers fishing off Cranes Beach have reported a few evenings with stripers chasing sand eels right up on to the beach and taking flies in the wash. Boat fishermen have reported a few surface feeds at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week, but the activity is far from predictable. Once the peanut bunker show up in numbers, the fishing should improve drastically.
Newbury: With the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches now completely open, it seems more fish are being caught there. Emerson Rocks has been home to several surface feeds with a mix of blues and bass over the past week. Anglers working the night patrol off the beaches have also been scoring bass on both bait and large plugs. Plum Island Sound has been quiet over the past week with anglers having to work to find fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: I fished upriver of the Route 1 Bridge on Wednesday evening and found cooperative schoolie bass around Carr and Ram Island and further upriver by Eagle and Deer Island. The fish were hitting sluggos rigged on a small lead head which I was twitching quite slowly along the bottom of the river. Earlier in the week, I found bass drifting the mooring area by the AYC as well as just off the channel by the Captain’s Fishing Party boats off Plum Island Point. There are plenty of sand eels and silversides in the river as evidenced by the many terns feeding on them. I also tried using sand eels for bait quite successfully both anchored and drifting. Further down river, anglers drifting through the river and out the mouth on the outgoing tide have done well drifting whole herring. Surfcasters continue to score bass in the river off the Point, with sea worms, clams and chunk bait all producing fish. The Plum Island beach front has also been home to some fish over the past week, and the crowds are quite smaller than those at the mouth of the river. Anglers fishing offshore have scored a few tuna, but all are hoping the activity picks up in the coming weeks. Party boats continue to please their patrons with good numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Boats fishing off the Salisbury beachfront has found small pods of striped bass, especially up against the North Jetty. Surfcasters have faired well at night with bait, but lures and flies have not been attracting as many fish. Crowds continue to flock to the State Reservation to try their luck in the river and have had fairly consistent action on school sized bass. Bluefish have been scarce, but have made a few runs through the river over the last week.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Hampton Beach has been fair this past week with many small fish being landed and a few keepers in the mix. Fishing in the marsh area has also seen an increase in fish activity. Sea worms and chunk herring seem to be the preferred bait. In the Piscataqua, fish continue to be landed as anglers drift the river using flies on sinking lines as well as using sluggos and other plastics. The Isle of Shoals has had some larger stripers landed over the last week. Tuna activity remains light.
September 2, 2004
Marblehead: It seems the summer doldrums have continued a bit longer than we’d all like as the fishing continues to be somewhat slow. Bait has been thin in the waters around Marblehead, and anglers are working hard to find fish. Shore bound anglers have found fish off Devereux Beach as well as off the Neck, with bait anglers scoring more consistently.
Salem: Early morning and night continues to be the time to fish if you’re searching for bigger fish. While the last week of weather has been quite nice, fishing during the day has been a bit slow, with the exception being bluefish that have still been cooperating in the Harbor and around the Islands. Anglers fishing off the Salem Willows Pier have reported a few keeper bass with the Danvers River also producing fish. Anglers dunking worms continue to land flounder.
Beverly: Striped Bass have been landed off West Beach and the Islands just off shore. Anglers trolling tube and worm setups as well as those using live eels have done well. Fishing off Tuck Point has also yielded bass and bluefish, while anglers looking for flounder have continued to be land these fish along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: There are plenty of herring in and around Manchester Harbor, and angler’s live-lining or chunking herring have done well. Fishing off Singing Beach continues to be a bit slow for surfcasters, but fish have been landed on both bait and large plugs. Boat anglers trolling tube and worms off Singing Beach have also scored both bass and bluefish. Further north, anglers fishing the rocks off Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport report slower activity for striped bass with many working quite hard for a handful of fish. The Annisquam and Essex River are full of bait (sand eels mostly) however the fishing has been quite spotty. Offshore, party boats continue to land good numbers of ground fish and anglers in search of tuna have reported many sightings, but fewer landings.
Ipswich: Most of the activity around Ipswich continues to be in the early morning or in the evening. Fly anglers fishing off Cranes Beach have reported a few evenings with stripers chasing sand eels right up on to the beach and taking flies in the wash. Boat fishermen have reported a few surface feeds at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week, but the activity is far from predictable. Once the peanut bunker show up in numbers, the fishing should improve drastically.
Newbury: With the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches now completely open, it seems more fish are being caught there. Emerson Rocks has been home to several surface feeds with a mix of blues and bass over the past week. Anglers working the night patrol off the beaches have also been scoring bass on both bait and large plugs. Plum Island Sound has been quiet over the past week with anglers having to work to find fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: I fished upriver of the Route 1 Bridge on Wednesday evening and found cooperative schoolie bass around Carr and Ram Island and further upriver by Eagle and Deer Island. The fish were hitting sluggos rigged on a small lead head which I was twitching quite slowly along the bottom of the river. Earlier in the week, I found bass drifting the mooring area by the AYC as well as just off the channel by the Captain’s Fishing Party boats off Plum Island Point. There are plenty of sand eels and silversides in the river as evidenced by the many terns feeding on them. I also tried using sand eels for bait quite successfully both anchored and drifting. Further down river, anglers drifting through the river and out the mouth on the outgoing tide have done well drifting whole herring. Surfcasters continue to score bass in the river off the Point, with sea worms, clams and chunk bait all producing fish. The Plum Island beach front has also been home to some fish over the past week, and the crowds are quite smaller than those at the mouth of the river. Anglers fishing offshore have scored a few tuna, but all are hoping the activity picks up in the coming weeks. Party boats continue to please their patrons with good numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Boats fishing off the Salisbury beachfront has found small pods of striped bass, especially up against the North Jetty. Surfcasters have faired well at night with bait, but lures and flies have not been attracting as many fish. Crowds continue to flock to the State Reservation to try their luck in the river and have had fairly consistent action on school sized bass. Bluefish have been scarce, but have made a few runs through the river over the last week.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Hampton Beach has been fair this past week with many small fish being landed and a few keepers in the mix. Fishing in the marsh area has also seen an increase in fish activity. Sea worms and chunk herring seem to be the preferred bait. In the Piscataqua, fish continue to be landed as anglers drift the river using flies on sinking lines as well as using sluggos and other plastics. The Isle of Shoals has had some larger stripers landed over the last week. Tuna activity remains light.
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