Frank Dwyer
July 29, 2005
Striped Bass fishing remains quite strong for night fishermen and bluefish are still plentiful off our coast. Flounder and Fluke catches have been quite good for the last few weeks and school bluefin tuna have started to make appearances in our waters.
As we move into August, we can expect the fish to continue to head for cooler/deeper water and the tuna to arrive in more numbers.
Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing out on the Neck near Castle Rock has been good at night especially for those using eels or fresh cut bait. Surfcasters reported limited success working the beaches at night this week as skates have become more prevalent. Fishing just outside the harbor has been good for bluefish.
Salem: (3 hooks) Boaters have found good sized bass and blues from Satan Rock to Newcome Ledge. Live and Chunk Bait has been working well as has trolling deep diving lures. The Willows and Winter Island continue to attract fishermen and bass are still willing to eat, especially at night. There has not been as much bait in the water this week as in weeks past. The Salem/Beverly Bridge is still a good spot to search out bass.
Beverly: (3 hooks) Beverly fishermen have reported excellent flounder fishing just off shore. The largest sea worms you can find will work best! Bass continue to traverse the Beverly coast line with most anglers finding fish in the rocks early in the morning or after sunset. Fly fishermen need to let their fly sink for a solid 10 count to get down to where the fish are.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Manchester-by-the-Sea continues to be a good spot for flounder, blues and striped bass, but most of the action is before sunrise or after sunset. Good fishing abounds for those working the water in Gloucester as bass, blues and flounder are all plentiful. Trolling for bluefish just outside the breakwater has proved productive for many anglers. Using lures that swim from 18-25 feet seems to work best. Striped bass fishing continues to be strong in the Annisquam as I was lucky enough to get out this weekend in Gloucester and it’s amazing how many fish we landed in broad daylight with extreme boat traffic. The fish were all taken with cut bait in a nice 20 foot hole up river, with a couple of keepers in the mix. Halibut Point continues to offer up good action for bluefish and bass, especially in some of the deeper water. Off shore anglers in search of Cod, Haddock and Pollock have been pleased with their catches but the bigger news is that surface feeds of tuna in the 30-100 pound range have been spotted. If you can get close enough, these fish will take popping plugs cast in their direction or trolled lures like the green machine. Rockport continues to fish just as well as Gloucester, while fishing in the Essex River may be quite picturesque, the fishing has been slow.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Ipswich Bay has been loaded with bluefish with many anglers hooking up on the troll and others coming upon surface feeds and casting to their catch. The mouth of the Ipswich River has also had a potpourri of bass and blues for the taking with fly and spin fishermen reporting success. Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches are all still good bets for bass, especially after dark.
Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishing the Parker River at night has been productive lately, especially for boat anglers fishing in low light conditions. Some bluefish have been carousing in the river as well. Plum Island Sound has had decent action for bass and bluefish with many fish being taken on cut bait. On the southern end of Plum Island, Sandy Point continues to be a destination for anglers in search of bass and blues.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Plenty of fish and pressure around Newburyport and Plum Island this last week. I fished last Friday night in-between some severe lightning storms, and we had many bass to the boat, with three over 30” in the mix. We were anchored not far from the Route 1 bridge and using fresh herring. Joppa Flats has been fairly inconsistent during the daylight hours, however good bass fishing can be had at night around the flats and out towards the Toothpick and Badger Rocks. Plum Island Point continues to attract large crowds of anglers in search of their dream fish. Some bluefish have been taken off the South Jetty and flounder fishing just outside the mouth has been good. Anglers have been motoring towards the ledges in search of tuna and the fish should become more plentiful in the coming weeks. Party boats have been returning to the dock with lots of fish and happy patrons.
Salisbury: (3 hooks) As it is across the river, the State Reservation has seen its share of fishing pressure over the last week. Anglers pitching sea worms, cut mackerel or herring and clams have all been hooking up with fish, most in the 20-26” range. Salisbury Beach has yielded keeper bass to bait fishermen at night this past week.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish have been patrolling the waters off the New Hampshire coast in good numbers from Seabrook to Portsmouth. As with other areas, trolling deep diving swimming lures tends to lead to a hook up with these toothy critters. Bass fishermen are still finding fish during the day, but many are casting into the rock strewn shorelines around Rye and Hampton. Further north, bluefish and stripers have been just outside the mouth of the Piscataqua while anglers working off Pierce Island have also reported decent fishing conditions.
July 29, 2005
July 22, 2005
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.
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.
July 15, 2005
Fishing still on the Upswing
Frank Dwyer
July 15, 2005
Despite our changing weather, the fishing continues to please anglers throughout the North Shore. Bluefish, Flounder, Striped Bass and numerous other species are out there for the taking.
As we get deeper into July, we can expect the striped bass to head for deeper/cooler water, and to be more active in the nighttime hours. Large bass are the norm at night and using an eel, cut bait or a large plug can put you on the fish of your life.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish, Striped Bass and Flounder continue to please fishermen around Marblehead. Just outside the harbor, flounder fishermen have been catching their limits. Striped Bass fishing has been strong from the beaches for surfcasters, with most fish being landed before dawn or after sunset. Bluefish remain quite abundant.
Salem: (4 hooks) The Willows and Winter Island have seen good bluefish activity over the last week. These toothy critters have been taking all offerings and are especially fun on light tackle or fly rods. Flounder fishing has also been good in the harbor and just outside. Bigger bass have been taken outside the mouth out to the Gooseberries.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Mackerel and Pogies are still around in numbers but you’ll need to get out early to find them. Plenty of bass off the beaches and around the Islands just off the Beverly coast line. Flounder fishing has also been good as anglers dunking healthy portions of sea worms have been rewarded heartily.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Striped bass fishing continues to be strong for anglers fishing the Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Boat anglers reported good action for bass from House Island to Kettle Island, mostly for school sized bass to 26 inches. Further up the coast, fishing activity in Magnolia, Gloucester and Rockport continues to be good. Fishing the rocks from Eastern Point to Halibut Point has been yielding many keeper size bass, most taking fresh cut bait. Mackerel are still around the Cape, but you will need to search them out before the sun is up and the boat traffic is heavy. Bluefish are still quite thick around the Cape and the ever pesky dogfish have also been showing up more and more. Fishing for the ground fish boats has been good with many market sized cod, haddock and pollock being taken.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Pavilion and Steep Hill Beach have been home to a few surface feeds this past week, with bass and blues feeding on top. Fly rodders with poppers or sliders have had a ball as have those with spinning rods. Crane Beach has also been producing for anglers patrolling the sand in lowlight hours.
Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River continues to yield striped bass and a few bluefish. Plum Island Sound has also been fishing well with a good mix of bluefish and striped bass. Sandy Point at the very end of the Parker River NWR has also seen a good mix of blues and stripers. Sea worms, clams and cut bait are the favorites among the bait crowd, while popping plugs have been yielding both striped bass and bluefish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Plenty of company out on Joppa Flats at night these days as the larger fish are becoming harder to find in the daylight hours. Needelefish and large popping plugs have been working well, as have eels, clams and cut bait. Fishing from the AYC mooring area continues to produce good amounts of school bass—with an occasional bluefish mixed in—being taken, mostly on the outgoing drift. Fishermen anchoring just off the channel near the Toothpick as well as by Badgers Rocks have reported many legal sized fish taken on bait. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along the beaches and have been taken by anglers casting and trolling. Party Boat action remains consistent for Cod, Haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) No shortage of fishermen on the riverbank and jetty off the Salisbury State Reservation. Anglers have seen good catches of bass and blues over the last week, with bait fishermen out-fishing all other anglers. The Salisbury beach front has also been yielding both bluefish and stripers, however you need to get your fishing done prior to sun bathing times.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Fishing in New Hampshire continues to please those drawn to the coast. Bluefish and striped bass are quite abundant, with no shortage of school sized bass. Larger bluefish have shown up in the Granite State’s waters, with some over 12 pounds being caught. Fishing in Portsmouth, specifically in the Piscataqua and Great Bay area has been consistent with plenty of legal bass for those willing to put in the time.
July 15, 2005
Despite our changing weather, the fishing continues to please anglers throughout the North Shore. Bluefish, Flounder, Striped Bass and numerous other species are out there for the taking.
As we get deeper into July, we can expect the striped bass to head for deeper/cooler water, and to be more active in the nighttime hours. Large bass are the norm at night and using an eel, cut bait or a large plug can put you on the fish of your life.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish, Striped Bass and Flounder continue to please fishermen around Marblehead. Just outside the harbor, flounder fishermen have been catching their limits. Striped Bass fishing has been strong from the beaches for surfcasters, with most fish being landed before dawn or after sunset. Bluefish remain quite abundant.
Salem: (4 hooks) The Willows and Winter Island have seen good bluefish activity over the last week. These toothy critters have been taking all offerings and are especially fun on light tackle or fly rods. Flounder fishing has also been good in the harbor and just outside. Bigger bass have been taken outside the mouth out to the Gooseberries.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Mackerel and Pogies are still around in numbers but you’ll need to get out early to find them. Plenty of bass off the beaches and around the Islands just off the Beverly coast line. Flounder fishing has also been good as anglers dunking healthy portions of sea worms have been rewarded heartily.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Striped bass fishing continues to be strong for anglers fishing the Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Boat anglers reported good action for bass from House Island to Kettle Island, mostly for school sized bass to 26 inches. Further up the coast, fishing activity in Magnolia, Gloucester and Rockport continues to be good. Fishing the rocks from Eastern Point to Halibut Point has been yielding many keeper size bass, most taking fresh cut bait. Mackerel are still around the Cape, but you will need to search them out before the sun is up and the boat traffic is heavy. Bluefish are still quite thick around the Cape and the ever pesky dogfish have also been showing up more and more. Fishing for the ground fish boats has been good with many market sized cod, haddock and pollock being taken.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Pavilion and Steep Hill Beach have been home to a few surface feeds this past week, with bass and blues feeding on top. Fly rodders with poppers or sliders have had a ball as have those with spinning rods. Crane Beach has also been producing for anglers patrolling the sand in lowlight hours.
Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River continues to yield striped bass and a few bluefish. Plum Island Sound has also been fishing well with a good mix of bluefish and striped bass. Sandy Point at the very end of the Parker River NWR has also seen a good mix of blues and stripers. Sea worms, clams and cut bait are the favorites among the bait crowd, while popping plugs have been yielding both striped bass and bluefish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Plenty of company out on Joppa Flats at night these days as the larger fish are becoming harder to find in the daylight hours. Needelefish and large popping plugs have been working well, as have eels, clams and cut bait. Fishing from the AYC mooring area continues to produce good amounts of school bass—with an occasional bluefish mixed in—being taken, mostly on the outgoing drift. Fishermen anchoring just off the channel near the Toothpick as well as by Badgers Rocks have reported many legal sized fish taken on bait. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along the beaches and have been taken by anglers casting and trolling. Party Boat action remains consistent for Cod, Haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) No shortage of fishermen on the riverbank and jetty off the Salisbury State Reservation. Anglers have seen good catches of bass and blues over the last week, with bait fishermen out-fishing all other anglers. The Salisbury beach front has also been yielding both bluefish and stripers, however you need to get your fishing done prior to sun bathing times.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Fishing in New Hampshire continues to please those drawn to the coast. Bluefish and striped bass are quite abundant, with no shortage of school sized bass. Larger bluefish have shown up in the Granite State’s waters, with some over 12 pounds being caught. Fishing in Portsmouth, specifically in the Piscataqua and Great Bay area has been consistent with plenty of legal bass for those willing to put in the time.
July 8, 2005
Blue (and Greenhead) July
Frank Dwyer
July 8, 2005
Bluefish have thoroughly invaded the North Shore now and have chased some of the mackerel and herring off, but the fishing remains quite good. Larger bass have taken up residency inshore and anglers fishing at night have the best chance of taking home a hog.
Flounder fishing remains strong across most of our region as does the fishing for Cod, Haddock and other ground fish.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish continue to patrol the coast of Marblehead in search of an easy meal and anglers have been taking advantage of their aggressive nature. Trolling deep diving swimming lures or casting large plugs will typically get you hooked up. Bass fishing has been consistent, but mostly in low light hours as anglers utilizing cut bait, sea worms and clams scoring best. Flounder limits are easily attainable just off the Marblehead coast, especially just inside the harbor.
Salem: (4 hooks) The Salem Willows Pier continues to attract throngs of anglers with stripers, bluefish and even a few flounder being landed. Kernwood Bridge has also been fishing quite consistently with anglers drifting sea worms on a moving tide doing best. Fishing off Winter Island has also been quite productive for blues and bass. Mackerel have thinned out but are still available early in the morning for those willing to search.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Large schools of Pogies have been in Beverly Harbor and that is terrific news for striped bass anglers. If you can snag a large pogie and set up a live drift, that’s a very good way of weeding out the smaller fish and getting your self a fish over 30 pounds! Anglers fishing the rocky structures off West Beach and Baker’s Island have done quite well with cut bait and trolling a tube n’ worm rig. Bluefish have chased some fish to deeper water, and using bait in deeper holes inshore is one way to target bass with the blues around.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel have been thinning out around Cape Ann, however pogies have been around in larger schools, enticing bass and blues to chase them. Flounder fishing remains strong off Marblehead as limits have been reached by many anglers over the last week. Blues have been carousing just off the Marblehead coast and striped bass have been hanging in the rocks, especially at night. Anglers fishing the beaches of Gloucester, especially at night, have been rewarded with consistent bass action, some into the 30 pound range. Boat fishermen have done well with bait in some of the deeper holes around Gloucester as some bass have moved to deeper, cooler water. Fishermen reported good sized bass in 30 – 100 foot depths off Halibut Point. Flounder fishing remains strong from Marblehead to Magnolia and large portions of sea worms will work best. The Essex River has not been as hopping as the last few weeks, however anglers fishing for bass in low light conditions continue to land fish. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good around Stellwagen, Jeffreys and Tillies as the Party Boats continue to please their patrons.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Mackerel have thinned out a bit in Ipswich Bay, however pogies have made the move north and have been attracting bass and bluefish. Fishing from Crane and Steep Hill Beach has slowed in the daylight hours but fishing has been quite good for anglers willing to head out after dark. Boat anglers continue to score good numbers of bluefish and bass around the mouth of the Ipswich River.
Newbury: (4 hooks)
Suprisingly, the Parker River continues to fish well in Newbury, with schoolie bass still available during the day and larger bass coming out of the water at night. Boat anglers working the southern end of Plum Island have found good numbers of bass off Sandy Point as well as Emerson Rocks. Bluefish remain strong just off the beaches.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Fishing around Newburyport continues to please anglers of all methods. Upriver, anglers working some of the deeper holes with bait around Ram and Carr Islands as well as further up river by Eagle and Deer Island report good sized catches of bass. On Joppa Flats, fly fishermen fishing around the moorings of the AYC and near Woodbridge Island have reported good numbers of bass. Larger fish, as with most of our area , are a better bet at night. Top water plugs were the rule for spin fishermen on Joppa last weekend as stripers put their noses up at most other offerings, choosing instead to treat fishermen to the surface explosions that come from fishing on top. Further down river, fishing from the Toothpick to Badgers rocks has been producing good numbers of bass, with a few bluefish also venturing into the river. Anglers drifting with live or dead bait at the mouth of the Merrimack have also done quite well with bass into the 20 pound range. Plum Island Point continues to attract the largest crowds, with good reason as the fishing remains strong, if you can take the company. Flounder have been pleasing anglers just off the Plum Island beaches, with seaworms proving irresistible to the flatties. Bluefish remain just outside the mouth out to the MR Buoy. Party boats continue to bring happy patrons back to the dock as Cod and Haddock fishing has been good. Boat anglers should take note that a new “No Wake” zone is going to be set up in the near future from approximately Ben Butler’s Toothpick to Green Can 11, near Badgers Rocks.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) The RV and Camping season is in full swing and with that the Salisbury State Reservation has been quite crowded with anglers. Sea worms, cut bait and clams have all yielded keeper bass over the past week. Surfcasters working Salisbury Beach early in the morning or at dusk have reported action with both bass and bluefish.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) The seacoast remains hot for bass and bluefish. The mackerel that have thinned out to the south are still around the New Hampshire coast and with that, bass are still in close to shore. Bluefish have started to spread over the area, so the mackerel may push out any day, but for now the fishing from Seabrook to Portsmouth remains strong as bass cooperate with both fly and spin anglers. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good just south of the Isle of Shoals as the ground fish action continue to please fishermen.
______________________________________________________________________________Frank Dwyer is the Fishing and Outdoor Columnist for Eagle Tribune Publishing and is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Email him at dwyer.f@comcast.net
July 8, 2005
Bluefish have thoroughly invaded the North Shore now and have chased some of the mackerel and herring off, but the fishing remains quite good. Larger bass have taken up residency inshore and anglers fishing at night have the best chance of taking home a hog.
Flounder fishing remains strong across most of our region as does the fishing for Cod, Haddock and other ground fish.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish continue to patrol the coast of Marblehead in search of an easy meal and anglers have been taking advantage of their aggressive nature. Trolling deep diving swimming lures or casting large plugs will typically get you hooked up. Bass fishing has been consistent, but mostly in low light hours as anglers utilizing cut bait, sea worms and clams scoring best. Flounder limits are easily attainable just off the Marblehead coast, especially just inside the harbor.
Salem: (4 hooks) The Salem Willows Pier continues to attract throngs of anglers with stripers, bluefish and even a few flounder being landed. Kernwood Bridge has also been fishing quite consistently with anglers drifting sea worms on a moving tide doing best. Fishing off Winter Island has also been quite productive for blues and bass. Mackerel have thinned out but are still available early in the morning for those willing to search.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Large schools of Pogies have been in Beverly Harbor and that is terrific news for striped bass anglers. If you can snag a large pogie and set up a live drift, that’s a very good way of weeding out the smaller fish and getting your self a fish over 30 pounds! Anglers fishing the rocky structures off West Beach and Baker’s Island have done quite well with cut bait and trolling a tube n’ worm rig. Bluefish have chased some fish to deeper water, and using bait in deeper holes inshore is one way to target bass with the blues around.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel have been thinning out around Cape Ann, however pogies have been around in larger schools, enticing bass and blues to chase them. Flounder fishing remains strong off Marblehead as limits have been reached by many anglers over the last week. Blues have been carousing just off the Marblehead coast and striped bass have been hanging in the rocks, especially at night. Anglers fishing the beaches of Gloucester, especially at night, have been rewarded with consistent bass action, some into the 30 pound range. Boat fishermen have done well with bait in some of the deeper holes around Gloucester as some bass have moved to deeper, cooler water. Fishermen reported good sized bass in 30 – 100 foot depths off Halibut Point. Flounder fishing remains strong from Marblehead to Magnolia and large portions of sea worms will work best. The Essex River has not been as hopping as the last few weeks, however anglers fishing for bass in low light conditions continue to land fish. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good around Stellwagen, Jeffreys and Tillies as the Party Boats continue to please their patrons.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Mackerel have thinned out a bit in Ipswich Bay, however pogies have made the move north and have been attracting bass and bluefish. Fishing from Crane and Steep Hill Beach has slowed in the daylight hours but fishing has been quite good for anglers willing to head out after dark. Boat anglers continue to score good numbers of bluefish and bass around the mouth of the Ipswich River.
Newbury: (4 hooks)
Suprisingly, the Parker River continues to fish well in Newbury, with schoolie bass still available during the day and larger bass coming out of the water at night. Boat anglers working the southern end of Plum Island have found good numbers of bass off Sandy Point as well as Emerson Rocks. Bluefish remain strong just off the beaches.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Fishing around Newburyport continues to please anglers of all methods. Upriver, anglers working some of the deeper holes with bait around Ram and Carr Islands as well as further up river by Eagle and Deer Island report good sized catches of bass. On Joppa Flats, fly fishermen fishing around the moorings of the AYC and near Woodbridge Island have reported good numbers of bass. Larger fish, as with most of our area , are a better bet at night. Top water plugs were the rule for spin fishermen on Joppa last weekend as stripers put their noses up at most other offerings, choosing instead to treat fishermen to the surface explosions that come from fishing on top. Further down river, fishing from the Toothpick to Badgers rocks has been producing good numbers of bass, with a few bluefish also venturing into the river. Anglers drifting with live or dead bait at the mouth of the Merrimack have also done quite well with bass into the 20 pound range. Plum Island Point continues to attract the largest crowds, with good reason as the fishing remains strong, if you can take the company. Flounder have been pleasing anglers just off the Plum Island beaches, with seaworms proving irresistible to the flatties. Bluefish remain just outside the mouth out to the MR Buoy. Party boats continue to bring happy patrons back to the dock as Cod and Haddock fishing has been good. Boat anglers should take note that a new “No Wake” zone is going to be set up in the near future from approximately Ben Butler’s Toothpick to Green Can 11, near Badgers Rocks.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) The RV and Camping season is in full swing and with that the Salisbury State Reservation has been quite crowded with anglers. Sea worms, cut bait and clams have all yielded keeper bass over the past week. Surfcasters working Salisbury Beach early in the morning or at dusk have reported action with both bass and bluefish.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) The seacoast remains hot for bass and bluefish. The mackerel that have thinned out to the south are still around the New Hampshire coast and with that, bass are still in close to shore. Bluefish have started to spread over the area, so the mackerel may push out any day, but for now the fishing from Seabrook to Portsmouth remains strong as bass cooperate with both fly and spin anglers. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good just south of the Isle of Shoals as the ground fish action continue to please fishermen.
______________________________________________________________________________Frank Dwyer is the Fishing and Outdoor Columnist for Eagle Tribune Publishing and is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Email him at dwyer.f@comcast.net
June 30, 2005
The Heat Is On!
Frank Dwyer
June 30, 2004
The warm weather over the last week has not yet pushed fish to deeper water, but if the warming trend continues, expect to work a little harder in your pursuit of striped bass. Bluefish have moved in quite heavily over most of the north shore, and while they may hinder your search for bass, they can be a fun catch on their own.
Overall, the fishing has been quite good over the past week with a nice mix of bluefish, striped bass and flounder for inshore anglers, while cod, haddock, pollock, cusk and wolfish are all being caught by the offshore crowd. Mackerel are readily available in all the usual spots and the July 4th Weekend should be an excellent one for fishing.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Flounder fishing has remained strong for anglers off the coast of Marblehead, with slow drifts bouncing sea worms off the bottom working best. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have done well with both fly and spin rods. Sinking lines and large baitfish flies are the rule for fly fishermen while all manner of bait and lure has been working for the spin casters. Bluefish and striped bass have also been taken from Devereux Beach.
Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel continue to be readily available in Salem Harbor. Fishing from Salem Willows Pier as well as off Winter Island has been quite consistent with bait fishermen landing fish well into the 20 pound range. The Lead Mills is also fishing well, again, with bait anglers landing the bigger fish. Anglers fishing at night have done well at the Kernwood Bridge. As with most of the area, bluefish have been carousing just off shore, most in the 4-8 pound range.
Beverly: (4 hooks) The Beverly Fishing Pier has been popular as the warm weather has settled in our area. Most anglers use bait from the pier and do quite well. Anglers fishing around Baker’s Island have reported larger bass hanging in the rocks. Anglers have done well with a tube ‘n worm rig around the island and also with live mackerel and pogie’s, which are also showing up in more numbers. Flounder fishing along the Beverly coast has continued to please anglers in search of this delicious table fare.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel and pogie’s are quite abundant around the Cape and anglers have been doing quite well live-lining either of these for hungry striped bass. In Manchester, anglers casting from Singing Beach have reported larger fish, especially at night, with most using cut bait, clams or sea worms. Around Gloucester, fishermen have done well off Eastern Point, Milk Island and Thacher Island as larger striped bass have been taking up residence. Live or dead lining a whole pogie or mackerel will weed out the smaller fish and hopefully attract that linesider we are all hoping for. Wingarshaeek and Good Harbor beaches have also been yielding fish at night and the Annisquam continues to fish well. Bluefish remain in large numbers around Gloucester, so if you’re getting cut off, perhaps a wire leader is in order. Fishermen working the Rockport and Essex water have reported similar numbers of bass and blues. Party Boats continue to produce good numbers of ground fish from Stellwagen and Jeffrey’s.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) The mouth of the Ipswich River has had several mornings this week with a mix of blues and bass feeding on top, with birds overhead. Boat anglers have been having a good time hooking up on most every cast. Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches have all been fishing well, mostly in early morning or evening hours.
Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches remain closed except for a small section of beach at Parking Lot 1. Typically the beaches begin to reopen sporadically in July, but don’t expect full beach access until mid to late August. Plum Island Sound has been fishing quite nicely, with a solid mix of bass and blues now available. Anglers fishing with top water plugs, metals, and plastics have all done quite well. The Parker River has also been yielding fish, but has not been as consistent as earlier in the season.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) The fishing around the Port has been excellent over the last week, but the pressure has also been quite intense with many boat and shore anglers targeting the waters around Newburyport. Upriver, fishing from the Route 95 Bridge down to the Route 1 Bridge continues to yield good numbers of striped bass. Anglers fishing cut bait in the deeper holes have done well for keeper sized bass. Fishermen drifting on Joppa Flats continue to land good numbers of striped bass with an occasional blue fish in the mix now. The drift on the outgoing tide on the flats seems to produce the best numbers of fish. Fly anglers with sinking lines do quite well, once a fly pattern and color is identified, which can take some time. In addition, top water and swimming plugs have been producing as well as sluggos rigged on lead heads. On Plum Island Point--which apparently has become some people’s personal dump site—fishing continues to produce good numbers of bass, with many keepers now in the mix, if you can stand the mess. Here’s my annual plea; please leave the beach as clean if not cleaner than you found it. Bluefish have taken up residence at the mouth of the river and have been caught by anglers from the MR buoy to Emerson Rocks. Plum Island Beaches continue to yield striped bass and surfcasters are now able to reach blues from shore. Party Boats are doing well with Cod, Haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass have been hooked by anglers surfcasting off Salisbury Beach. Try a ballistic missile for some long distance casting and swimming action that bluefish can’t seem to resist. Surfcasters fishing from the banks of the Salisbury State Reservation have done quite well for good numbers of keeper sized bass and some bluefish.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Good fishing action for the “Live Free or Die” crew as bass and blues have taken up residence along most of the New Hampshire seacoast. Anglers fishing out of Seabrook and Hampton Harbors have reported good numbers of bass, most interested in live or fresh cut mackerel. Bluefish have also been showing up in larger numbers. Further north, fishing the Rye and Portsmouth area has continued to please both shore and boat anglers. Like the party boats to their south, the ground fishing has been good off the New Hampshire coast.
June 30, 2004
The warm weather over the last week has not yet pushed fish to deeper water, but if the warming trend continues, expect to work a little harder in your pursuit of striped bass. Bluefish have moved in quite heavily over most of the north shore, and while they may hinder your search for bass, they can be a fun catch on their own.
Overall, the fishing has been quite good over the past week with a nice mix of bluefish, striped bass and flounder for inshore anglers, while cod, haddock, pollock, cusk and wolfish are all being caught by the offshore crowd. Mackerel are readily available in all the usual spots and the July 4th Weekend should be an excellent one for fishing.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Flounder fishing has remained strong for anglers off the coast of Marblehead, with slow drifts bouncing sea worms off the bottom working best. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have done well with both fly and spin rods. Sinking lines and large baitfish flies are the rule for fly fishermen while all manner of bait and lure has been working for the spin casters. Bluefish and striped bass have also been taken from Devereux Beach.
Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel continue to be readily available in Salem Harbor. Fishing from Salem Willows Pier as well as off Winter Island has been quite consistent with bait fishermen landing fish well into the 20 pound range. The Lead Mills is also fishing well, again, with bait anglers landing the bigger fish. Anglers fishing at night have done well at the Kernwood Bridge. As with most of the area, bluefish have been carousing just off shore, most in the 4-8 pound range.
Beverly: (4 hooks) The Beverly Fishing Pier has been popular as the warm weather has settled in our area. Most anglers use bait from the pier and do quite well. Anglers fishing around Baker’s Island have reported larger bass hanging in the rocks. Anglers have done well with a tube ‘n worm rig around the island and also with live mackerel and pogie’s, which are also showing up in more numbers. Flounder fishing along the Beverly coast has continued to please anglers in search of this delicious table fare.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel and pogie’s are quite abundant around the Cape and anglers have been doing quite well live-lining either of these for hungry striped bass. In Manchester, anglers casting from Singing Beach have reported larger fish, especially at night, with most using cut bait, clams or sea worms. Around Gloucester, fishermen have done well off Eastern Point, Milk Island and Thacher Island as larger striped bass have been taking up residence. Live or dead lining a whole pogie or mackerel will weed out the smaller fish and hopefully attract that linesider we are all hoping for. Wingarshaeek and Good Harbor beaches have also been yielding fish at night and the Annisquam continues to fish well. Bluefish remain in large numbers around Gloucester, so if you’re getting cut off, perhaps a wire leader is in order. Fishermen working the Rockport and Essex water have reported similar numbers of bass and blues. Party Boats continue to produce good numbers of ground fish from Stellwagen and Jeffrey’s.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) The mouth of the Ipswich River has had several mornings this week with a mix of blues and bass feeding on top, with birds overhead. Boat anglers have been having a good time hooking up on most every cast. Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches have all been fishing well, mostly in early morning or evening hours.
Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches remain closed except for a small section of beach at Parking Lot 1. Typically the beaches begin to reopen sporadically in July, but don’t expect full beach access until mid to late August. Plum Island Sound has been fishing quite nicely, with a solid mix of bass and blues now available. Anglers fishing with top water plugs, metals, and plastics have all done quite well. The Parker River has also been yielding fish, but has not been as consistent as earlier in the season.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) The fishing around the Port has been excellent over the last week, but the pressure has also been quite intense with many boat and shore anglers targeting the waters around Newburyport. Upriver, fishing from the Route 95 Bridge down to the Route 1 Bridge continues to yield good numbers of striped bass. Anglers fishing cut bait in the deeper holes have done well for keeper sized bass. Fishermen drifting on Joppa Flats continue to land good numbers of striped bass with an occasional blue fish in the mix now. The drift on the outgoing tide on the flats seems to produce the best numbers of fish. Fly anglers with sinking lines do quite well, once a fly pattern and color is identified, which can take some time. In addition, top water and swimming plugs have been producing as well as sluggos rigged on lead heads. On Plum Island Point--which apparently has become some people’s personal dump site—fishing continues to produce good numbers of bass, with many keepers now in the mix, if you can stand the mess. Here’s my annual plea; please leave the beach as clean if not cleaner than you found it. Bluefish have taken up residence at the mouth of the river and have been caught by anglers from the MR buoy to Emerson Rocks. Plum Island Beaches continue to yield striped bass and surfcasters are now able to reach blues from shore. Party Boats are doing well with Cod, Haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass have been hooked by anglers surfcasting off Salisbury Beach. Try a ballistic missile for some long distance casting and swimming action that bluefish can’t seem to resist. Surfcasters fishing from the banks of the Salisbury State Reservation have done quite well for good numbers of keeper sized bass and some bluefish.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Good fishing action for the “Live Free or Die” crew as bass and blues have taken up residence along most of the New Hampshire seacoast. Anglers fishing out of Seabrook and Hampton Harbors have reported good numbers of bass, most interested in live or fresh cut mackerel. Bluefish have also been showing up in larger numbers. Further north, fishing the Rye and Portsmouth area has continued to please both shore and boat anglers. Like the party boats to their south, the ground fishing has been good off the New Hampshire coast.
June 23, 2005
Plenty of Fish Around
Frank Dwyer
June 23, 2005
By all accounts, this past week was quite good for fishing the North Shore. From Nahant to Portsmouth, fish of all sizes have been caught, including some monster bass in the 20 – 40 pound range.
Bluefish have moved in through most of the area and striped bass, flounder, cod and haddock remain plentiful. If you can get on the water, now’s the time to wet a line.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish have been prevalent off the shores of Marblehead as anglers either target them with any variety of top water, swimming or metal lures, or try to avoid them in their search for other species. Fishing from the neck has produced a number of legal bass for both spin and fly fishermen. Night time certainly increases your chances of landing a large fish.
Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel are in Salem Harbor in large numbers and anglers have been using mackerel jigs to stock up on these baits and then live-lining them in deeper waters for bass in the 30 pound range. The Danvers River continues to produce good numbers of bass, with larger bass being taken at night. Cod and Haddock remain plentiful—and some Pollock--just offshore and at the ledges, while bluefish have showed up in larger numbers.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishermen fishing from shore off West Beach (when bathing is not taking precedence), and from boats near Misery Island have landed good amounts of bass and blues. Mackerel—live or dead—has been working well for the bait crowd and is readily available. Flounder fishing remains decent, but skates have become more of a problem. (Put a float on!)
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel are thick around the Cape and that’s good news for fishermen as bass (and blues) chase the baitfish closer to shore. Manchester remains a strong spot for Flounder fishermen as limits have been caught by anglers daily. In addition, the surfcasters have been doing quite well of Singing Beach with cut mackerel and herring. Fishermen fishing near the breakwater in Gloucester as well as near Ten Pound Light have done well for bass and blues. Shore fishermen have done well with sluggos and storm wildeyes as well as with cut bait, clams and worms. Rockport has also seen an influx of mackerel and with it, larger bass and bluefish. In Essex, the river has given up a number of larger fish to anglers working popping plugs and large bait fish flies worked with an erratic strip. The charter boats have reported good action on cod, haddock and Pollock with some pool fish topping 25 pounds.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Excellent fishing of Crane Beach currently, especially at night. Large black flies and dark sluggos have both been deadly on bass this past week. Bluefish have made it to the mouth of the Ipswich River and are scattered all over Ipswich Bay. While they may thin out the bass, they can be a real treat on a fly rod or light spinning rod.
Newbury: (4 hooks) Anglers fishing off Sandy Point, at the southern end of Plum Island, have done well for bass. Seaworms and clams have worked quite well for the bait fishermen while sinking lines and the reliable clouser and deceiver patterns have produced nicely for fly fishermen. Plum Island Sound has also been yielding good numbers of bass.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) There are abundant opportunities for fishermen around the Port at this time with mackerel, bluefish and stripers all plentiful. Upriver action above the Route 1 Bridge remains strong with anglers drifting in boats doing well around Rams and Carr Island. Sluggos and flies on sinking lines work well, as does top water plugs in low light conditions. Plenty of bass have been congregating on Joppa Flats with some days being harder than others to target these fish. Night time seems to be the best on the flats, at least for larger fish, as the schoolies are still quite abundant 24/7. Anglers fishing the ocean front, as well as Plum Island Point have been landed plenty of legal-sized keepers. Bait anglers have been doing well with worms, clams and cut mackerel, while plugs and metals have been attracting both bass and bluefish. Party boats have been producing excellent numbers of cod, haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) The good fishing was complimented this week by the arrest of several “poachers” on Ring’s Island for targeting and illegally keeping under sized bass. Let’s hope this trend continues as I think anyone who has fished the area has seen people keeping undersized bass. If you see something suspicious, you can report it to the Environmental Police by calling 1-800-632-8075. Bait anglers have reported fish in the twenty pound range off Salisbury Beach as well as bluefish carousing just off shore.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) There are plenty of bass from Seabrook to Portsmouth now as the fishing has really taken off on the seacoast. Mackerel are now in quite thick and with that many bass have taken up residence. Fishing around Hampton Harbor has been good with larger fish being landed by those live-lining freshly caught mackerel. Further north, anglers fishing around Odiorne Point in Rye have reported consistent bass action from shore and boat. In Portsmouth, the Piscataqua has been alive with all sizes of bass from 14 inch schoolies to thirty pound keepers. Off shore, the Isle of Shoals has produced more bass as mackerel have been around the islands. Bluefish, while not in thick, will be soon.
June 23, 2005
By all accounts, this past week was quite good for fishing the North Shore. From Nahant to Portsmouth, fish of all sizes have been caught, including some monster bass in the 20 – 40 pound range.
Bluefish have moved in through most of the area and striped bass, flounder, cod and haddock remain plentiful. If you can get on the water, now’s the time to wet a line.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish have been prevalent off the shores of Marblehead as anglers either target them with any variety of top water, swimming or metal lures, or try to avoid them in their search for other species. Fishing from the neck has produced a number of legal bass for both spin and fly fishermen. Night time certainly increases your chances of landing a large fish.
Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel are in Salem Harbor in large numbers and anglers have been using mackerel jigs to stock up on these baits and then live-lining them in deeper waters for bass in the 30 pound range. The Danvers River continues to produce good numbers of bass, with larger bass being taken at night. Cod and Haddock remain plentiful—and some Pollock--just offshore and at the ledges, while bluefish have showed up in larger numbers.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishermen fishing from shore off West Beach (when bathing is not taking precedence), and from boats near Misery Island have landed good amounts of bass and blues. Mackerel—live or dead—has been working well for the bait crowd and is readily available. Flounder fishing remains decent, but skates have become more of a problem. (Put a float on!)
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel are thick around the Cape and that’s good news for fishermen as bass (and blues) chase the baitfish closer to shore. Manchester remains a strong spot for Flounder fishermen as limits have been caught by anglers daily. In addition, the surfcasters have been doing quite well of Singing Beach with cut mackerel and herring. Fishermen fishing near the breakwater in Gloucester as well as near Ten Pound Light have done well for bass and blues. Shore fishermen have done well with sluggos and storm wildeyes as well as with cut bait, clams and worms. Rockport has also seen an influx of mackerel and with it, larger bass and bluefish. In Essex, the river has given up a number of larger fish to anglers working popping plugs and large bait fish flies worked with an erratic strip. The charter boats have reported good action on cod, haddock and Pollock with some pool fish topping 25 pounds.
Ipswich: (4 hooks) Excellent fishing of Crane Beach currently, especially at night. Large black flies and dark sluggos have both been deadly on bass this past week. Bluefish have made it to the mouth of the Ipswich River and are scattered all over Ipswich Bay. While they may thin out the bass, they can be a real treat on a fly rod or light spinning rod.
Newbury: (4 hooks) Anglers fishing off Sandy Point, at the southern end of Plum Island, have done well for bass. Seaworms and clams have worked quite well for the bait fishermen while sinking lines and the reliable clouser and deceiver patterns have produced nicely for fly fishermen. Plum Island Sound has also been yielding good numbers of bass.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) There are abundant opportunities for fishermen around the Port at this time with mackerel, bluefish and stripers all plentiful. Upriver action above the Route 1 Bridge remains strong with anglers drifting in boats doing well around Rams and Carr Island. Sluggos and flies on sinking lines work well, as does top water plugs in low light conditions. Plenty of bass have been congregating on Joppa Flats with some days being harder than others to target these fish. Night time seems to be the best on the flats, at least for larger fish, as the schoolies are still quite abundant 24/7. Anglers fishing the ocean front, as well as Plum Island Point have been landed plenty of legal-sized keepers. Bait anglers have been doing well with worms, clams and cut mackerel, while plugs and metals have been attracting both bass and bluefish. Party boats have been producing excellent numbers of cod, haddock and Pollock.
Salisbury: (4 hooks) The good fishing was complimented this week by the arrest of several “poachers” on Ring’s Island for targeting and illegally keeping under sized bass. Let’s hope this trend continues as I think anyone who has fished the area has seen people keeping undersized bass. If you see something suspicious, you can report it to the Environmental Police by calling 1-800-632-8075. Bait anglers have reported fish in the twenty pound range off Salisbury Beach as well as bluefish carousing just off shore.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) There are plenty of bass from Seabrook to Portsmouth now as the fishing has really taken off on the seacoast. Mackerel are now in quite thick and with that many bass have taken up residence. Fishing around Hampton Harbor has been good with larger fish being landed by those live-lining freshly caught mackerel. Further north, anglers fishing around Odiorne Point in Rye have reported consistent bass action from shore and boat. In Portsmouth, the Piscataqua has been alive with all sizes of bass from 14 inch schoolies to thirty pound keepers. Off shore, the Isle of Shoals has produced more bass as mackerel have been around the islands. Bluefish, while not in thick, will be soon.
June 16, 2005
Bigger Fish Moving In
Frank Dwyer
June 16, 2005
The fishing has definitely improved this week as the warm weather heated up local waters. The last few cool and rainy days have not put a damper on the action as anglers have had excellent results throughout the North Shore.
Mackerel and Herring are on the move and bigger fish have been caught as they chase these baits in closer to shore. Live-lining these baits will weed out the small fish and allow you to target bigger fish.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Excellent fishing around Marblehead has been pleasing both spin and fly anglers this week. Surfcasters working the rocks off Castle Rock have done well, especially at night with large plugs as well as cut bait. Fly rodders with sinking lines and larger bait fish imitations have done well on bass in the 20”-30” range. Boat anglers working off Brown’s Island and Gerry’s Island have done well for bass with cut bait and live mackerel.
Salem: (4 hooks) Salem Willows Pier has been attracting fishermen all week as striped bass have continued to cooperate with both bait and lure anglers. Flounder fishing is still good just outside the harbor. Boat anglers have reported larger bass around Bakers Island. Cod and haddock fishing remains strong.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Small herring continue to school up in Beverly Harbor while mackerel are readily available for those willing to look. Fishing off West Beach continues to be a good bet as fish have been corralling bait in close to shore. Fly and spin anglers have reported decent catches with more and more keepers in the mix. The Beverly Fishing Pier has been attracting many anglers as the fishing has improved. Flounder remain plentiful.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) No major complaints—except for the last few days of cold weather—from fishermen targeting the Cape Ann area. White Beach and Singing Beach continue to produce good numbers of bass for surfcasters. I was on White Beach recently and saw a kayaker nailing fish after fish on the fly, just off the beach. Gloucester anglers have also reported an up-tick in activity as the Annisquam and Little rivers continue to yield good numbers of striped bass. Boat anglers in search of striped bass have found plenty of mackerel to live-line and have been finding bass from the Eastern Point to Emerson Point and off Thacher Island. Stripers have been cooperative in Rockport as anglers have found fish off most of the beaches as well as in deeper waters off Halibut Point and Andrews Point. The Essex River has also been producing good numbers of bass as sand eels and silversides have been chased by these hungry fish. The Party Boats have been catching good numbers of cod and haddock off Tillies and Stellwagen with a few Pollock and Cusk in the mix.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Crane, Pavilion and Steep Hill Beaches are all active with striped bass as surfcasters and boat anglers alike enjoy good fishing around Ipswich. Fishing at the mouth of the Ipswich River as well as in the deeper waters of Ipswich Bay has been quite good as bait has been plentiful with striped bass in pursuit. I fished an evening last week at Crane’s and was treated to many bass, up to 36 inches, all taken on six to nine inch sluggos twitched on the surface.
Newbury: (3 hooks) Boat anglers have found good action for striped bass in the Parker River around Cape Merrill as well as in Plum Island Sound. Top Water Plugs, swimming plugs and sluggos have all produced good sized fish as has cut bait. Several fish over 30 inches have been taken this past week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) The fishing is getting better every day around Newburyport and Plum Island. I’ve had success on both day and night trips over the last week, with some bigger fish getting to the boat at night, including a 38” fish that fell for an eel dragged slowly on the bottom of Joppa Flats. Upriver fishing continues to be good, with the waters around Ram and Carr Island still producing good numbers of bass. Fishing from the mouth of the river, out to the MR Buoy and all the way down to Emerson Rocks has also been good at different times for bass. Plum Island Point and the front beach are also yielding good numbers of bass, with many keepers in the mix. The pressure has increased dramatically over the last two weeks for both shore and boat fishermen so please try to remember to be courteous to those around you and to leave nothing behind. Also, I mention this every year, but boaters should not anchor in the channel, as this is not only illegal and stupid, but also quite dangerous. Party boats have been delivering the goods to their patrons with excellent catches of cod, haddock and pollock.
Salisbury: (3 hooks) Beach weather is here—well it was-- so the Salisbury ocean front is mainly an option early morning or late afternoon and evening. This may be a blessing, as the fishing has been quite good off the beach at those hours. Bait fishermen as well as those plugging the ocean have landed good numbers of striped bass. The State Reservation has been jammed with campers, so the river front has been quite crowded but those fishing with clams, worms and cut mackerel have all done well.
Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) No shortage of bass in New Hampshire now as the fish have made their presence known in northern waters. Seabrook, Hampton and Rye have all been hot for bass, with more legal fish being landed. Bass have been reported off Jenness Beach and Foss Beach as well as in the Hampton River and off Hampton Beach. Further north, fishing at the mouth of the Piscataqua River has seen a few surface feeds with decent sized bass underneath. Also, fishing around New Castle and in Great Bay has been steadily improving with good amounts of bass being taken.
June 16, 2005
The fishing has definitely improved this week as the warm weather heated up local waters. The last few cool and rainy days have not put a damper on the action as anglers have had excellent results throughout the North Shore.
Mackerel and Herring are on the move and bigger fish have been caught as they chase these baits in closer to shore. Live-lining these baits will weed out the small fish and allow you to target bigger fish.
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Excellent fishing around Marblehead has been pleasing both spin and fly anglers this week. Surfcasters working the rocks off Castle Rock have done well, especially at night with large plugs as well as cut bait. Fly rodders with sinking lines and larger bait fish imitations have done well on bass in the 20”-30” range. Boat anglers working off Brown’s Island and Gerry’s Island have done well for bass with cut bait and live mackerel.
Salem: (4 hooks) Salem Willows Pier has been attracting fishermen all week as striped bass have continued to cooperate with both bait and lure anglers. Flounder fishing is still good just outside the harbor. Boat anglers have reported larger bass around Bakers Island. Cod and haddock fishing remains strong.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Small herring continue to school up in Beverly Harbor while mackerel are readily available for those willing to look. Fishing off West Beach continues to be a good bet as fish have been corralling bait in close to shore. Fly and spin anglers have reported decent catches with more and more keepers in the mix. The Beverly Fishing Pier has been attracting many anglers as the fishing has improved. Flounder remain plentiful.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) No major complaints—except for the last few days of cold weather—from fishermen targeting the Cape Ann area. White Beach and Singing Beach continue to produce good numbers of bass for surfcasters. I was on White Beach recently and saw a kayaker nailing fish after fish on the fly, just off the beach. Gloucester anglers have also reported an up-tick in activity as the Annisquam and Little rivers continue to yield good numbers of striped bass. Boat anglers in search of striped bass have found plenty of mackerel to live-line and have been finding bass from the Eastern Point to Emerson Point and off Thacher Island. Stripers have been cooperative in Rockport as anglers have found fish off most of the beaches as well as in deeper waters off Halibut Point and Andrews Point. The Essex River has also been producing good numbers of bass as sand eels and silversides have been chased by these hungry fish. The Party Boats have been catching good numbers of cod and haddock off Tillies and Stellwagen with a few Pollock and Cusk in the mix.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Crane, Pavilion and Steep Hill Beaches are all active with striped bass as surfcasters and boat anglers alike enjoy good fishing around Ipswich. Fishing at the mouth of the Ipswich River as well as in the deeper waters of Ipswich Bay has been quite good as bait has been plentiful with striped bass in pursuit. I fished an evening last week at Crane’s and was treated to many bass, up to 36 inches, all taken on six to nine inch sluggos twitched on the surface.
Newbury: (3 hooks) Boat anglers have found good action for striped bass in the Parker River around Cape Merrill as well as in Plum Island Sound. Top Water Plugs, swimming plugs and sluggos have all produced good sized fish as has cut bait. Several fish over 30 inches have been taken this past week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) The fishing is getting better every day around Newburyport and Plum Island. I’ve had success on both day and night trips over the last week, with some bigger fish getting to the boat at night, including a 38” fish that fell for an eel dragged slowly on the bottom of Joppa Flats. Upriver fishing continues to be good, with the waters around Ram and Carr Island still producing good numbers of bass. Fishing from the mouth of the river, out to the MR Buoy and all the way down to Emerson Rocks has also been good at different times for bass. Plum Island Point and the front beach are also yielding good numbers of bass, with many keepers in the mix. The pressure has increased dramatically over the last two weeks for both shore and boat fishermen so please try to remember to be courteous to those around you and to leave nothing behind. Also, I mention this every year, but boaters should not anchor in the channel, as this is not only illegal and stupid, but also quite dangerous. Party boats have been delivering the goods to their patrons with excellent catches of cod, haddock and pollock.
Salisbury: (3 hooks) Beach weather is here—well it was-- so the Salisbury ocean front is mainly an option early morning or late afternoon and evening. This may be a blessing, as the fishing has been quite good off the beach at those hours. Bait fishermen as well as those plugging the ocean have landed good numbers of striped bass. The State Reservation has been jammed with campers, so the river front has been quite crowded but those fishing with clams, worms and cut mackerel have all done well.
Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) No shortage of bass in New Hampshire now as the fish have made their presence known in northern waters. Seabrook, Hampton and Rye have all been hot for bass, with more legal fish being landed. Bass have been reported off Jenness Beach and Foss Beach as well as in the Hampton River and off Hampton Beach. Further north, fishing at the mouth of the Piscataqua River has seen a few surface feeds with decent sized bass underneath. Also, fishing around New Castle and in Great Bay has been steadily improving with good amounts of bass being taken.
June 9, 2005
Weather and Fishing Heating Up
Frank Dwyer
June 9, 2005
Fishing has been quite good over the past week with the warming weather patterns improving the fishing activity all over the North Shore.
Boat and shore anglers—may they be spin, fly or bait fishermen-- have all been pleased with the action around our waters. Mackerel and Herring are in closer to shore now and bigger fish are following them in, so get out there!
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Good striped bass action all around Marblehead. Fishing the Neck, especially around Castle Rock has been consistent for bass, with some keepers in the mix now. The waters around Marblehead Harbor have also been hot for both school striped bass and flounder. Some Cod reported close to the mouth of the Harbor as well.
Salem: (4 hooks) Anglers trolling tube ‘n worm and umbrella rigs in and around Salem Harbor have had good success with hungry bass. In addition, fly anglers have found fish on most every cast off Winter Island as well as in the Harbor. Fish have been feeding on small herring so sinking lines small bait fish imitations are getting the most strikes. Cod and Haddock fishing has been good for those going off shore in search of table fare.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishing near the Kernwood Bridge has been heating up as anglers are taking bigger bass every day from the Danvers River. Soft stick baits and swimming plugs have been yielding good catches. Anglers fishing off West Beach, as well as around the islands off the beach, have also found good bass fishing. Flounder catches have also been quite good along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) White Beach and Singing Beach have been producing well with spin and fly anglers landing excellent numbers of bass. Cut bait, sea worms and clams have all been working for fishermen; however skates are showing up in more numbers. Gloucester beaches and rivers are also producing good numbers of bass, with larger bass starting to show up closer to shore. Fishing near Stage Fort Park, as well as off Eastern Point/Niles Beach has also been fairly consistent for bass. Mackerel are reported to be closer to shore now, thus the bigger fish showing up. Rockport fishermen are also enjoying the influx of fresh bass as most of the shoreline has been producing fish, including Pebble and Long Beaches. In Essex, lot’s of small fish in the Essex River with a few larger fish in the mix. Cod and Haddock fishing has been good for the Party Boat crowd.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Good sized schools of bass have been cruising off Crane’s Beach, mostly feeding on sand eels. Boat and shore anglers alike report fish willing to take most offerings. While there have been no real monsters yet, the fish are getting bigger. The mouth of the Ipswich has also see good numbers of bass for both bait and artificial anglers.
Newbury: (3 hooks) Parking Lot 1 at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge is open for walk-on fishermen, while the remainder of the refuge remains closed for nesting Piping Plovers. Good numbers of fish have been taken at the southern end of Plum Island with buck tail jigs, kastmasters and popping plugs all landing fish for spin fishermen. Plum Island Sound is also starting to yield more fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks)
I’ve gotten out around Newburyport several times in the past week and have found good numbers of fish on each outing. Anglers continue to crowd Deer Island to fish from shore, with many anglers landing white catfish while searching for bass. Plenty of schoolies around Eagle and Carr Island as the creeks and river have been fishing quite well. Further downriver, Joppa Flats has been pleasing both wade and boat fishermen with the outgoing tide producing the best results. Experimenting with retrieve speeds has helped quite a bit this week as the fish don’t seem to be following any rules with quick retrieves working some days and near dead drifts working on other days. The ocean front from Atty. May’s to the south jetty has been producing good numbers of bass for anglers willing to put in their time. If you can stand the crowds, Plum Island Point has been yielding keepers from the river for many anglers. Party Boats are enjoying the good weather with good catches of Cod and Haddock.
Salisbury: (3 hooks) Anglers working the Salisbury ocean front have found good numbers of bass within casting distance from shore. Jigs, plugs, metal and swimming lures have all worked well. Crowds continue to line the Merrimack River from the State Reservation in search of large striped bass. Worms and clams have been the most productive baits.
Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) The Seacoast is catching up to the waters to the south as more and more bass are showing up. The Hampton River and Marsh area has been heating up as more fish are being caught and larger fish now in the mix. Fishing off Rye Beach and Odiorne Point has also been good as fish have been feeding close to shore. Further north, the Piscataqua is yielding more bass as is the Newcastle Island area, with fish feeding on herring.
June 9, 2005
Fishing has been quite good over the past week with the warming weather patterns improving the fishing activity all over the North Shore.
Boat and shore anglers—may they be spin, fly or bait fishermen-- have all been pleased with the action around our waters. Mackerel and Herring are in closer to shore now and bigger fish are following them in, so get out there!
Marblehead: (4 hooks) Good striped bass action all around Marblehead. Fishing the Neck, especially around Castle Rock has been consistent for bass, with some keepers in the mix now. The waters around Marblehead Harbor have also been hot for both school striped bass and flounder. Some Cod reported close to the mouth of the Harbor as well.
Salem: (4 hooks) Anglers trolling tube ‘n worm and umbrella rigs in and around Salem Harbor have had good success with hungry bass. In addition, fly anglers have found fish on most every cast off Winter Island as well as in the Harbor. Fish have been feeding on small herring so sinking lines small bait fish imitations are getting the most strikes. Cod and Haddock fishing has been good for those going off shore in search of table fare.
Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishing near the Kernwood Bridge has been heating up as anglers are taking bigger bass every day from the Danvers River. Soft stick baits and swimming plugs have been yielding good catches. Anglers fishing off West Beach, as well as around the islands off the beach, have also found good bass fishing. Flounder catches have also been quite good along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: (4 hooks) White Beach and Singing Beach have been producing well with spin and fly anglers landing excellent numbers of bass. Cut bait, sea worms and clams have all been working for fishermen; however skates are showing up in more numbers. Gloucester beaches and rivers are also producing good numbers of bass, with larger bass starting to show up closer to shore. Fishing near Stage Fort Park, as well as off Eastern Point/Niles Beach has also been fairly consistent for bass. Mackerel are reported to be closer to shore now, thus the bigger fish showing up. Rockport fishermen are also enjoying the influx of fresh bass as most of the shoreline has been producing fish, including Pebble and Long Beaches. In Essex, lot’s of small fish in the Essex River with a few larger fish in the mix. Cod and Haddock fishing has been good for the Party Boat crowd.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Good sized schools of bass have been cruising off Crane’s Beach, mostly feeding on sand eels. Boat and shore anglers alike report fish willing to take most offerings. While there have been no real monsters yet, the fish are getting bigger. The mouth of the Ipswich has also see good numbers of bass for both bait and artificial anglers.
Newbury: (3 hooks) Parking Lot 1 at the Parker River Wildlife Refuge is open for walk-on fishermen, while the remainder of the refuge remains closed for nesting Piping Plovers. Good numbers of fish have been taken at the southern end of Plum Island with buck tail jigs, kastmasters and popping plugs all landing fish for spin fishermen. Plum Island Sound is also starting to yield more fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks)
I’ve gotten out around Newburyport several times in the past week and have found good numbers of fish on each outing. Anglers continue to crowd Deer Island to fish from shore, with many anglers landing white catfish while searching for bass. Plenty of schoolies around Eagle and Carr Island as the creeks and river have been fishing quite well. Further downriver, Joppa Flats has been pleasing both wade and boat fishermen with the outgoing tide producing the best results. Experimenting with retrieve speeds has helped quite a bit this week as the fish don’t seem to be following any rules with quick retrieves working some days and near dead drifts working on other days. The ocean front from Atty. May’s to the south jetty has been producing good numbers of bass for anglers willing to put in their time. If you can stand the crowds, Plum Island Point has been yielding keepers from the river for many anglers. Party Boats are enjoying the good weather with good catches of Cod and Haddock.
Salisbury: (3 hooks) Anglers working the Salisbury ocean front have found good numbers of bass within casting distance from shore. Jigs, plugs, metal and swimming lures have all worked well. Crowds continue to line the Merrimack River from the State Reservation in search of large striped bass. Worms and clams have been the most productive baits.
Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) The Seacoast is catching up to the waters to the south as more and more bass are showing up. The Hampton River and Marsh area has been heating up as more fish are being caught and larger fish now in the mix. Fishing off Rye Beach and Odiorne Point has also been good as fish have been feeding close to shore. Further north, the Piscataqua is yielding more bass as is the Newcastle Island area, with fish feeding on herring.
June 2, 2005
Action for Anglers on the Upswing
Frank Dwyer
June 2, 2005
The fishing has definitely improved over the last few days and hopefully a trend of decent weather will stay with us for June. The water temperatures have risen and we should see an increase in bait in our waters over the next few weeks.
Memorial Day Weekend had many anglers out and about the North Shore in search of fish and by all accounts the fishing has been quite consistent, however large fish have yet to become the rule.
Marblehead: (3 hooks) Flounder fishermen have had good luck with the flatties at the mouth of the Harbor. Drifting sea worms seems to be the best bet. Anglers working the waters around Devereux Beach and Castle Rock have seen better fishing over the last week with fly, spin and bait fishermen all reporting decent catches from shore and boat.
Salem: (3 hooks) Fishing has improved around Salem and anglers have been enjoying good fishing for bass and flounder. The area around Salem Willows Pier, as well as off Winter Island has seen an influx of bass, many in the micro (8-14”) range. Boat anglers fishing off Eagle Bar and Chappel Ledge have reported decent action for Cod. Mackerel and Herring seem to remain off shore.
Beverly: (3 hooks) Anglers fishing around West Beach have seen a few sunrise surface feeds this past week with school bass taking both top water plugs and most other offerings. Bait fishermen have reported decent action near the Salem/Beverly Bridge, as bigger fish have started to show, especially at night. The Beverly Fishing Pier is always worth a try.
Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Action from Singing Beach in Manchester has increased as hungry striped bass take offerings from both fly and spin fishermen. Anglers casting 6-9” sluggos on lead heads have done well, as have fishermen using buck tail jigs and kastmaster or other metal lures. Flounder fishing continues to be good around the Harbor. In Gloucester, the Annisquam and Little Rivers have been yielding good numbers of bass as both fly and spin fishermen reported good activity. Wingaersheek and the other beaches in Gloucester have begun to heat up as well. Cape Hedge Beach and Long Beach in Rockport have had an influx of school sized bass and anglers fishing around Halibut Point have also reported an increase in bass action. The Essex River has been fishing quite consistently for the last week for both fly and spin anglers. Sluggos twitched on the surface or jigged on a lead head have produced well for spin anglers while clousers, deceivers and ray’s flies have worked will for the long wand crew. Cod and Haddock fishermen have done well at both Jeffrey’s and Stellwagen.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Fishing from Cranes and Steep Hill Beaches has been somewhat consistent for the past week, with most bass fitting the “micro” description. Anglers fishing the backside of Cranes along the Castle Neck River have also found good numbers of bass. If you take a swing by the Ipswich Town Hall, you can pick up an overnight parking permit that will allow you to park outside the Cranes Beach entrance after hours.
Newbury: (3 hooks)
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks)
There was plenty of company around Newburyport for the holiday weekend, and there were also decent amounts of fish, but many quite small. You’ll do well crimping your barbs regardless if you’re a spin or fly fishermen, as the schoolies are quite small this Spring. Fishing the Merrimack from Rock’s Village down to the Route 1 Bridge has been quite consistent for small striped bass. Boat anglers working the upriver holes and creeks have found consistent bass action with schoolie bass. Joppa Flats has also been producing well on both the incoming and outgoing tides. Again, small bass are the rule, but it sure beats not catching! The Ocean Front and Plum Island Point continue to fish well, with more Polaroid’s of keepers going up on the wall at Surfland Bait and Tackle every day.
Salisbury: (2 hooks) Large crowds fished the shores of the Merrimack from the State Reservation over Memorial Day Weekend as bass cooperated with anglers fishing with cut bait, sea worms, jigs and flies. The ocean front in Salisbury has also improved for surfcasters as school bass have been feeding in the wash.
Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) Fishing the rocks off Rye as well as in the Hampton River has been heating up as bass have continued their push north. Fly fishermen have done well with sinking lines and white flies. Further up the coast, the Piscataqua has been alive with school bass in many areas, including near the Navy Yard as well as by Four Tree Island. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good offshore.
June 2, 2005
The fishing has definitely improved over the last few days and hopefully a trend of decent weather will stay with us for June. The water temperatures have risen and we should see an increase in bait in our waters over the next few weeks.
Memorial Day Weekend had many anglers out and about the North Shore in search of fish and by all accounts the fishing has been quite consistent, however large fish have yet to become the rule.
Marblehead: (3 hooks) Flounder fishermen have had good luck with the flatties at the mouth of the Harbor. Drifting sea worms seems to be the best bet. Anglers working the waters around Devereux Beach and Castle Rock have seen better fishing over the last week with fly, spin and bait fishermen all reporting decent catches from shore and boat.
Salem: (3 hooks) Fishing has improved around Salem and anglers have been enjoying good fishing for bass and flounder. The area around Salem Willows Pier, as well as off Winter Island has seen an influx of bass, many in the micro (8-14”) range. Boat anglers fishing off Eagle Bar and Chappel Ledge have reported decent action for Cod. Mackerel and Herring seem to remain off shore.
Beverly: (3 hooks) Anglers fishing around West Beach have seen a few sunrise surface feeds this past week with school bass taking both top water plugs and most other offerings. Bait fishermen have reported decent action near the Salem/Beverly Bridge, as bigger fish have started to show, especially at night. The Beverly Fishing Pier is always worth a try.
Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Action from Singing Beach in Manchester has increased as hungry striped bass take offerings from both fly and spin fishermen. Anglers casting 6-9” sluggos on lead heads have done well, as have fishermen using buck tail jigs and kastmaster or other metal lures. Flounder fishing continues to be good around the Harbor. In Gloucester, the Annisquam and Little Rivers have been yielding good numbers of bass as both fly and spin fishermen reported good activity. Wingaersheek and the other beaches in Gloucester have begun to heat up as well. Cape Hedge Beach and Long Beach in Rockport have had an influx of school sized bass and anglers fishing around Halibut Point have also reported an increase in bass action. The Essex River has been fishing quite consistently for the last week for both fly and spin anglers. Sluggos twitched on the surface or jigged on a lead head have produced well for spin anglers while clousers, deceivers and ray’s flies have worked will for the long wand crew. Cod and Haddock fishermen have done well at both Jeffrey’s and Stellwagen.
Ipswich: (3 hooks) Fishing from Cranes and Steep Hill Beaches has been somewhat consistent for the past week, with most bass fitting the “micro” description. Anglers fishing the backside of Cranes along the Castle Neck River have also found good numbers of bass. If you take a swing by the Ipswich Town Hall, you can pick up an overnight parking permit that will allow you to park outside the Cranes Beach entrance after hours.
Newbury: (3 hooks)
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks)
There was plenty of company around Newburyport for the holiday weekend, and there were also decent amounts of fish, but many quite small. You’ll do well crimping your barbs regardless if you’re a spin or fly fishermen, as the schoolies are quite small this Spring. Fishing the Merrimack from Rock’s Village down to the Route 1 Bridge has been quite consistent for small striped bass. Boat anglers working the upriver holes and creeks have found consistent bass action with schoolie bass. Joppa Flats has also been producing well on both the incoming and outgoing tides. Again, small bass are the rule, but it sure beats not catching! The Ocean Front and Plum Island Point continue to fish well, with more Polaroid’s of keepers going up on the wall at Surfland Bait and Tackle every day.
Salisbury: (2 hooks) Large crowds fished the shores of the Merrimack from the State Reservation over Memorial Day Weekend as bass cooperated with anglers fishing with cut bait, sea worms, jigs and flies. The ocean front in Salisbury has also improved for surfcasters as school bass have been feeding in the wash.
Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) Fishing the rocks off Rye as well as in the Hampton River has been heating up as bass have continued their push north. Fly fishermen have done well with sinking lines and white flies. Further up the coast, the Piscataqua has been alive with school bass in many areas, including near the Navy Yard as well as by Four Tree Island. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good offshore.
May 27, 2005
Right Season, Wrong Weather
Frank Dwyer
May 27, 2005
Many of my friends who like to golf as much as I like to fish have been complaining—as most of us are—about the lousy weather we have been experiencing. It appears the forecast should be improving for the Holiday weekend so we can all get out an pursue our interests, be it chasing a little white ball around a large grassy area, or looking for fish around the North Shore.
The weather has created very light pressure in most North Shore spots, and while the going has been tough, some decent fish have been landed. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing around Marblehead Neck and Castle Rock has not been for the faint of heart. If you can find a lee in the wind, then you may just find willing bass. Flounder reports have been sparse due to the weather, but if things calm down for the weekend, flounder should remain in and around Marblehead.
Salem: (3 hooks) Winter Island continues to produce bass for those willing to brave the weather. Anglers with light spinning gear and jigs or rubber shads have done well casting into the wind. Anglers fishing with bait from the Salem Willows Pier had been landing bigger bass before the weather turned, and fishing should be good once things calm down.
Beverly: (3 hooks) The Kernwood Bridge area has been producing hungry striped bass for anglers casting from shore. With the wind this past week, fly anglers have had a tough go of it, while those casting small swimming lures, jigs and sluggo type lures have done better. Fishing off West Beach has slowed with the inclement weather, but as with most spots, it should heat up again quickly.
Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Flounder fishing had been quite good around the entrance to Manchester Harbor and around House Island prior to this week’s weather. Bass activity off the beaches in Manchester has slowed, however a few reports of landings have been heard. In Gloucester, the Little River has been yielding more bass as has the Annisquam. Fishing from the beaches in Gloucester has been difficult, while Cod and Haddock fishing has slowed due to the weather. The buoy at Stellwagen Bank was reporting 9-15 foot waves on Thursday. School bass have been reported to be cooperative off both Long Beach and Pebble Beach in Rockport. Those fishing the Essex River by boat have reported schoolies taking refuge upriver from the weather, allowing for some decent catches this week. There are some mackerel and herring around, but not in large numbers yet.
Ipswich: (2 hooks) Fishing in the Ipswich River and at the mouth has produced schoolies over the last week. Fishing off Cranes Beach has improved, with a few decent surface feeds reported during the week. Pavilion and Steep Hill have also been yielding school bass willing to bend your rod.
Newbury: (2 hooks) I drove by the Newbury Boat ramp off 1A earlier this week and wish I had a rod in the car. A good sized pod of bass was working an undetermined school of bait with birds overhead, well within casting distance from shore. Fishing in Plum Island Sound had been improving however reports have been scarce this week due to the weather.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) I finally got the boat in the water last Friday and had decent fishing all weekend long. Even in the wind and rain on Sunday, we found willing fish on an incoming drift not far from the Captain’s Lady. In two hours time we boated over 30 fish, most under the magic 28 inch mark. The nice thing was that there were only 2-3 boats working the same pods of fish, which is one of the positives you can take from the lousy weather. In addition, working upriver of the Route 1 Bridge, around Eagle and Carr Islands has also yielded fish over the last week. Joppa Flats has also increased it fish output for both boat and wade fishermen. The ocean beaches on Plum Island have been quite rough, with only sparse activity reported. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds 2 hours before low tide, right through the first part of the incoming tide. George at Captain’s Fishing Parties on Plum Island reported that he’s been baby sitting the boats for the past week, but up until the weather change, the action had been quite good.
Salisbury: (2 hooks) Fishing the Salisbury side of the river by boat, around the Toothpick and the State Boat Ramp, has been productive for the past week. Shore anglers do well from the shores of the State Reservation using bucktail jigs, sluggos and sea worms.
Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) The Rivers around Seabrook, Hampton and Rye have seen alewives become active, which usually means bigger fish will follow. The Piscataqua River and the Great Bay Estuary have also become more active as stripers have been caught by both lure and bait anglers. Before the weather change, reports had decent Cod and Haddock action off the Seacoast.
May 27, 2005
Many of my friends who like to golf as much as I like to fish have been complaining—as most of us are—about the lousy weather we have been experiencing. It appears the forecast should be improving for the Holiday weekend so we can all get out an pursue our interests, be it chasing a little white ball around a large grassy area, or looking for fish around the North Shore.
The weather has created very light pressure in most North Shore spots, and while the going has been tough, some decent fish have been landed. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing around Marblehead Neck and Castle Rock has not been for the faint of heart. If you can find a lee in the wind, then you may just find willing bass. Flounder reports have been sparse due to the weather, but if things calm down for the weekend, flounder should remain in and around Marblehead.
Salem: (3 hooks) Winter Island continues to produce bass for those willing to brave the weather. Anglers with light spinning gear and jigs or rubber shads have done well casting into the wind. Anglers fishing with bait from the Salem Willows Pier had been landing bigger bass before the weather turned, and fishing should be good once things calm down.
Beverly: (3 hooks) The Kernwood Bridge area has been producing hungry striped bass for anglers casting from shore. With the wind this past week, fly anglers have had a tough go of it, while those casting small swimming lures, jigs and sluggo type lures have done better. Fishing off West Beach has slowed with the inclement weather, but as with most spots, it should heat up again quickly.
Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Flounder fishing had been quite good around the entrance to Manchester Harbor and around House Island prior to this week’s weather. Bass activity off the beaches in Manchester has slowed, however a few reports of landings have been heard. In Gloucester, the Little River has been yielding more bass as has the Annisquam. Fishing from the beaches in Gloucester has been difficult, while Cod and Haddock fishing has slowed due to the weather. The buoy at Stellwagen Bank was reporting 9-15 foot waves on Thursday. School bass have been reported to be cooperative off both Long Beach and Pebble Beach in Rockport. Those fishing the Essex River by boat have reported schoolies taking refuge upriver from the weather, allowing for some decent catches this week. There are some mackerel and herring around, but not in large numbers yet.
Ipswich: (2 hooks) Fishing in the Ipswich River and at the mouth has produced schoolies over the last week. Fishing off Cranes Beach has improved, with a few decent surface feeds reported during the week. Pavilion and Steep Hill have also been yielding school bass willing to bend your rod.
Newbury: (2 hooks) I drove by the Newbury Boat ramp off 1A earlier this week and wish I had a rod in the car. A good sized pod of bass was working an undetermined school of bait with birds overhead, well within casting distance from shore. Fishing in Plum Island Sound had been improving however reports have been scarce this week due to the weather.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) I finally got the boat in the water last Friday and had decent fishing all weekend long. Even in the wind and rain on Sunday, we found willing fish on an incoming drift not far from the Captain’s Lady. In two hours time we boated over 30 fish, most under the magic 28 inch mark. The nice thing was that there were only 2-3 boats working the same pods of fish, which is one of the positives you can take from the lousy weather. In addition, working upriver of the Route 1 Bridge, around Eagle and Carr Islands has also yielded fish over the last week. Joppa Flats has also increased it fish output for both boat and wade fishermen. The ocean beaches on Plum Island have been quite rough, with only sparse activity reported. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds 2 hours before low tide, right through the first part of the incoming tide. George at Captain’s Fishing Parties on Plum Island reported that he’s been baby sitting the boats for the past week, but up until the weather change, the action had been quite good.
Salisbury: (2 hooks) Fishing the Salisbury side of the river by boat, around the Toothpick and the State Boat Ramp, has been productive for the past week. Shore anglers do well from the shores of the State Reservation using bucktail jigs, sluggos and sea worms.
Seacoast, NH: (2 hooks) The Rivers around Seabrook, Hampton and Rye have seen alewives become active, which usually means bigger fish will follow. The Piscataqua River and the Great Bay Estuary have also become more active as stripers have been caught by both lure and bait anglers. Before the weather change, reports had decent Cod and Haddock action off the Seacoast.
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