Heat has Fish heading for Deeper Water

Frank Dwyer
July 22, 2005

The warm weather has finally taken its toll on fishing on the North Shore as anglers and fish alike seek cooler environments. Mackerel and Pogies have thinned out as the bluefish have spread throughout the area, but are still available early in the morning before heavy boat traffic starts.

Striped bass fishing is best at night now, with these nocturnal fish coming out to feed when the sun is down. Cod and Haddock fishing remains quite good.
Marblehead: (3 hooks) If you want big fish, you’ll need to get out at night for the most part. Anglers fishing the neck at night have reported good fishing action for keeper sized striped bass. Chunk herring or mackerel has been slaying the fish. Surfcasters fishing at night from Devereux Beach have been quite productive as well. Bluefish are still available just off shore and anglers trolling deep diving Rapalas having the best luck.

Salem: (3 hooks) Pogies remain available in Salem Harbor and those able to snag them live have been having their way with big striped bass. Bluefish continue to patrol inside and outside the harbor, with fishermen ending up with a few blues on the line even when not targeting the toothy critters. Salem Willows Pier continues to attract fishermen with bait at night working best while chunk fishermen at Winter Island have done well for bass.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Fishing from the Beverly Fishing Pier has yielded some decent sized keeper bass for anglers tossing chunk baits at night. A mix of bluefish and striped bass has been available in and around the rocks off Bakers’ Island, with mostly undersize bass available during the day. Worms and large sluggos twitched slowly along the bottom have been enticing bass to hit.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Surfcasters setting up on Singing Beach have done well with all manner of bait, including sea worms, clams and chunk herring. Anglers fishing from the State Fish Pier in Gloucester at night have had consistent action for bass well over the legal 28 inch limit. Chunk herring, mackerel or pogie has been working quite well, with or without a weight. In deeper water, fishing off Halibut Point has been yielding larger fish on bait in some of the deeper holes. Bluefish have been taken from most of the local beaches as well as just outside Gloucester Harbor and dogfish are becoming more prevalent. Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing has been very good for the Party Boats with plenty of fish coming off Stellwagen and Tillies. School Bluefin Tuna rumors are starting to be heard.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) There are many bluefish to be had at the mouth of the Ipswich River as well as throughout Ipswich Bay. Striped bass fishing during the day has waned, with mostly schoolies available during daylight hours. Crane and Steep Hill beaches continue to produce healthy sized striped bass for night fishermen.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Greenheads are more abundant now than striped bass in the Parker River, but as with most of the area, stripers are active at night. Plum Island Sound has been slower than the last few weeks, but is still yielding striped bass and bluefish to anglers willing to put in the time. Sandy Point at the southern end of Plum Island has been producing some fish, with mostly bait anglers hooking up.



Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Fishing upriver of the Route 1 Bridge this past week has yielded some decent fish for anglers using both fly and spin gear. Around the 95 Bridge as well as near Deer Island, anglers have been having decent luck during the day mostly for sub-legal bass. Night time around Carr and Eagle Islands and in some of the holes in the back river has been quite good, especially for bait fishermen. Joppa Flats continues to attract both wade and boat fishermen day and night; with anglers fishing at night with eels, large popping plugs or large black flies. Some small bluefish have also been carousing on the flats, most in the 3-5 pound range. Just outside the mouth, flounder fishing has been good, as well as just off the Plum Island beaches. Bluefish continue to patrol the ocean from Sandy Point to the mouth of the Merrimack. Look for a cloud of birds or just troll a deep-diving plug for a near certain hook up. Party boat patrons have been loading up on Cod and Haddock and even some Pollock.


Salisbury: (3 hooks) The camping/RV season is in full swing and many of those staying at the Salisbury State Reservation are crowding the river bank and jetty in search of bass and blues. Anglers using bait across from Plum Island Point have been catching good numbers of bass, with the best fish coming at night. Bluefish have been taken from anglers willing to brave the jetty to get closer to the mouth. Boat anglers fishing just off Salisbury Beach have been finding more Flounder than in the last few weeks.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass remain quite plentiful for anglers fishing the Seacoast. From Seabrook to Portsmouth, anglers have been hooking up with both fly and spin gear. Fishing near the railroad bridge in Hampton has yielded some fish to 30 pounds for anglers using live and cut bait. Further north, the rocky coastline in Rye has also been yielding it’s fair share of striped bass. In the Portsmouth area, Great Bay has been flooded with bluefish and bass, with both large swimming or popping plugs and bait working quite well. Blues, Cod and Haddock are all available around the Isle of Shoals.