As summer approaches, fishing opportunities abound

Frank G. Dwyer
June 16, 2006

The warmer weather has helped keep fishing on the up-tick as baitfish have become thicker and larger striped bass have been taken by both shore and boat anglers.

The flounder bite has become more consistent, while offshore, cod and haddock fishing has been good on both Jeffries and Stellwagen.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing from the Neck has been productive this past week as bass chased bait up against the rocks. Spin fishermen did well with small poppers and plastics and fly fishermen did well with small baitfish imitations. Devereux Beach provided steady action for anglers fishing lures and bait, however many of the fish are still sub-legal.

Salem: (3 hooks) The Salem Willows Pier has been a popular spot for anglers this week, as larger bass have been caught, especially at night. Fishing around Bakers Island has provided good action for anglers using cut bait or live-lining mackerel. Flounder fishing has improved just outside the harbor.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Fishing the Islands around Beverly and Manchester has been productive for boat anglers as keeper size bass have been taken by anglers offering cut bait in the rocks and trolling tube-n-worms and live-lining mackerel. Bait fishermen working from the Beverly Fishing Pier have also done well.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) The Manchester-by-the-Sea shoreline has been offering a steady pick of decent sized bass, with larger fish also in the mix. Flounder has been decent just outside the harbor. Further north, the beaches of Magnolia and Gloucester have been fishing well, especially for anglers utilizing the mackerel that have really become thick in the waters around the Cape. The Annisquam and Little Rivers have been providing good action for fly and spin fishermen with small deceivers and sliders working well on the fly and pencil poppers and small plugs for those using spinning gear. Boat anglers working from Eastern Point to Emerson Point have found good bass numbers, with larger fish hitting live-lined mackerel. Sand Eels and Silversides have been enticing bass in the Essex River as fly anglers do well with small minnow imitations.
Good action for cod and haddock off Tillies and Stellwagen, with some pollock and cusk in the mix.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Crane, Pavilion and Steep Hill beaches have all had good bass activity for surf casters. A few surface blitzes have been noted at the mouth of the Ipswich River as bass continue to take up residence in the local waters.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Plum Island Sound has been fishing well as has the Parker River, especially around Cape Merrill. Sluggos, top water plugs and pencil poppers have all been working quite well. The Parker River has been yielding larger bass, especially in upriver spots. Anglers have also found good bass fishing from Sandy Point on the southern end of Plum Island.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) I just got my skiff in the water this past week as my marina was one of those affected by the flooding of the Merrimack. I can tell you that the water in the river is still quite murky and has many large logs/poles still floating down river. Be careful!! That said, fishing the last few days has been spotty, but fish have been taken by bait fishermen as well as those anglers using flies and lures. The ocean front has had quite a bit of sea weed present, making fishing from the beach somewhat of a challenge. Party boats continue to catch good numbers of cod and haddock.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) Boat fishermen have found mackerel at Breaking Rocks and have done well live-lining them in the Merrimack. Fishing off the State Reservations stretch along the Merrimack has been fishing well, especially for bait anglers using mackerel, clams and sea worms.

Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all become lively with bass over the last week as more mackerel make their way north. Bass have been taken from Foss Beach and Jenness Beach as well off Hampton Beach. Further north, the Great Bay and Piscataqua have been heating up as more legal bass have been taken this week.

Tip Of The Week:

Increase you chances at landing bluefish! As the summer approaches, bluefish will be infesting our waters and you’ll do well always using a wire leader or fluro-carbon leader so you don’t lose your favorite plugs. If your using larger plugs, the blues may not be able to get their razor sharp teeth to your line, but unlike stripers, feeding bluefish have little problem taking a plug with a wire or fluro leader.