Now we’re talking!

Frank G. Dwyer
6/6/2008 Publication Date

The weather the last few days has put a damper on some of the fishing on the North Shore, however before the weather turned, fishing for striped bass was excellent throughout the region.

Cod and Haddock fishing has improved over the last week and bluefish have been feeding heavily on the Cape for some time now, so expect the toothy one’s to be in the mix soon.


Marblehead: (3 hooks) Anglers fishing Devereux Beach have found cooperative bass, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. I worked a large Danny Plug off the beach this past week and found many cooperative bass; however my theory of weeding out the small fish with the large plug was flawed as hungry school-bass continually gave chase.

Salem: (3 hooks) Fishermen trolling the reliable tube ‘n worm set up around Salem Harbor have had good success with hungry bass. Fly fishermen have found fish off Winter Island as well as in the Harbor. Fish have been feeding actively so sinking lines and small bait fish imitations are getting the most strikes. Cod and Haddock fishing has been good for those going off shore in search of dinner.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Fishing near Kernwood Bridge has been heating up as anglers are taking bigger bass from the Danvers River. Soft plastic baits and swimming plugs have been attracting the fish. Action off West Beach, as well as around the islands off the beach, has also been good. Flounder catches have also been quite good along the Beverly shoreline.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Decent sized schools of mackerel have been off the Magnolia and Gloucester coast and with that, anglers have been finding larger bass. Cut as well as live lined mackerel has been working quite well. The Annisquam and Halibut Point continue to produce good striped bass action. Fishing from Long Beach and Pebble Beach has been quite good, especially at dawn. The Castle Neck and Essex Rivers continue to produce striped bass for fly and spin fishermen. The fish have been quite active with soft plastics, top water plugs, swimming plugs and flies all working. Those targeting cod and haddock have been pleased with the action this week.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Fishing continues to make fishermen happy as the Ipswich River and Crane Beach areas have been fishing very well. Pavilion Beach has also picked up over the last week with striped bass

Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishing behind Plum Island on Middle Ground has been productive with Sluggos and Storm Shads attracting fish. In addition, anglers have had good luck in the Parker River near the Route 1A Bridge.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) As usual for this time of year, fishing at Plum Island Point is attracting mega crowds, especially on the weekend. Fishing is best the first few hours before and after low tide. Anglers bouncing clams and sea worms off the bottom have done well, as have fly anglers with sinking lines. The oceanfront has been producing sporadic action for striped bass, but well worth a casting walk from the south jetty towards the Parker River Reservation. I’ve had good luck this week on sluggos rigged on lead heads as well as a few morning of top water action. Joppa Flats continues to produce good action, especially for boat angler’s drifting on the outgoing tide. Off shore, Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good for the Party Boats.

Salisbury, MA: (3 hooks) Fishing from the State Reservation has been good over the last week, with bait anglers outnumbering other anglers and thus scoring the most bass. Cut mackerel, sea worms and clams have all been taking fish and larger fish continue to invade the river.

Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) Saltwater fishing in New Hampshire has definitely gotten better over the last week with more and more striped bass invading the coast line. From Seabrook to Portsmouth, stripers have been cooperating with bait and artificial fishermen. The Hampton marshes and surrounding river systems have been yielding good fish and further north, the Piscataqua and Lamprey Rivers have been producing a steady pick of bass. Offshore, cod and haddock fishing has been very good.


TIP OF THE WEEK:

Keep it light! The lighter test line that is used when surfcasting, the further you will be able to cast and the less weight you will need to use to hold the bottom. In our environs, 12 to 20 pound test should almost always suffice. The same rule applies when fishing with lures, so try to use the lightest test possible without risking losing a fish.