Frank Dwyer
July 8, 2004
Marblehead: Devereaux Beach continues to produce stripers, but mostly sub-legal bass. Lures and bait (clams) have both worked well. Fly anglers with sinking lines and large profile flies have done well. Fishing off Brown’s Island has proven productive for boat anglers searching for bass.
Salem: Fishing in Salem Harbor and off the Willows Pier has proven productive again this past week. Bass and bluefish have been caught in good numbers, but smaller fish seem to be the norm. Flounder remain available, but skates have made catching these fish more of a challenge. The Danvers River has been slow over the last week.
Beverly: Fishing in and around Beverly has been reported to be good over the last week. Surfcasters working West Beach and boat anglers just off the beach and around the rocky outcroppings have done well with school sized bass and a few bigger ones mixed in. Bluefish and flounder have been around, but sporadic at best.
Cape Ann: Manchester-by-the-Sea and Magnolia continue to produce bass and bluefish for both shore and boat fishermen. Fishing the rocky Gloucester coast as well as the Annisquam River has continued to please anglers, especially at night, with a few hefty bass reported to be landed over the last week. The Essex River has been spotty, but has produced bass and bluefish, with a few surface feeds reported over the last week. Dogfish have been somewhat annoying to those fishing the ledges for groundfish as well as on the party boats.
Ipswich: Small bass have been the rule in the Ipswich River this past week, however a few legal bass have been in the mix. Bass and bluefish have been reported off both Steep Hill and Crane Beach. Anglers fishing poppers on both spinning gear and fly rods equipped with floating lines have enjoyed surface strikes, predominantly in low-light conditions.
Newbury: The Parker River has been productive for both bass and bluefish, with boat and shore bound anglers enjoying catching numbers of fish. Unfortunately, large fish have been somewhat spotty, but anglers with light spinning gear and fly rods have been having a blast. Sinking lines with baitfish or sand eel imitations work best on the moving tides.
Newburyport / Plum Island: The Merrimack continues to impress with several reports of large bass being landed. If you can stand the boat traffic, big bass are available for those willing to put in the time. Large bass have been caught with large flies (to 10”s) on sinking lines, large sluggos or Fin-S on spinning gear, or live eels on conventional gear. Shore reports have good fish being landed at Plum Island Point and the sandbar, as well as along the ocean front from Atty. May’s to the south jetty. Upriver, anglers fishing under the Route 1 Bridge with bait as well as off Deer Island have done well. Party boats report good numbers of Cod and Haddock, with Dogfish starting to show up more frequently.
Salisbury: Fishing from the State Reservation has been good, but you won’t want for company. Bass to 30” have been reported over the last week, with herring chunks and sea worms the bait of choice. Buck tail jigs have also been producing. Surfcasters and boat anglers fishing off the ocean front have reported good numbers of school sized striped bass and a few bluefish in the mix.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton continue to produce decent numbers of bass for shore and boat anglers with a few bluefish in the mix. More bluefish activity has been reported at the Isle of Shoals than inshore. Fishing in and around Portsmouth continues to produce good numbers of bass and bluefish.
July 8, 2004
July 1, 2004
Fish Finder – 7/1/2004
Frank Dwyer
July 1, 2004
Marblehead: Fishing around Castle Rock and the Lighthouse has been good for both bait and fly fishermen. Anglers reported mostly sub-legal striped bass activity, but plenty of it. Chunk herring or mackerel has been working well for bait anglers with sinking lines and bait fish imitation flies being the order of the day for fly anglers. Devereaux Beach continued to produce for anglers with the best action after dark.
Salem: Fishing in the Danvers River and in Salem Harbor has been productive over the past week and although most of the action has been on school striped bass, some larger fish have been in the mix. Anglers fishing with bait off the Salem Willows Pier have found fish to be willing to bite. Flounder and Bluefish have been less active.
Beverly: Fishing from West Beach over the last week, as well as just outside Beverly Harbor has improved with striped bass reported to be more active. Kernwood Bridge and Ober Park have both improved over the last week for both bait/spin fishermen and fly anglers.
Cape Ann: Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea has continued to fish well, especially after sunset. Top water plugs at dusk have been known to cause quite a stir and of course, no respectable striped bass can resist an eel! The Ipswich Bay side of the Annisquam River has been fishing well over the last week with buck tail jigs, sluggos and bait all producing fish. Fishing off Rockport and Halibut Point continued to please anglers targeting bass in deeper waters. The Essex River continued to be home to numbers of striped bass and bluefish; however the action was not fast and furious. Cod and Haddock action remains steady.
Ipswich: Crane Beach had large numbers of bass cruising the sand bars this past week. While these fish can be finicky at times, some nice fish were landed, including bass to 20 pounds. Steep Hill Beach and Pavilion Beach have also fished well over the past week with occasional bluefish blitzes noted by surfcasters.
Newbury: The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has opened Parking Lot 1 and hopefully more beach front will be accessible to fishermen soon. Plum Island Sound has been slow over the last week, while the Parker River has been somewhat consistent for striped bass, even if most of the fish are sub-legal. Bluefish have not been quite as prevalent over the last week, which may indicate they have started the move to deeper water.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing has been good around Newburyport and the Merrimack River estuary. Last Saturday’s fog did not deter hearty anglers from venturing out onto the river. I stayed up river and we were lucky enough to boat two bass over 20 pounds, both on top water plugs with 12 lb. test spinning gear. Earlier last week, a forty pound bass was weighed in at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island, so the big bass are in and eating. Fishing with a live eel on Joppa Flats at night is also a good bet. Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing from the party boats continues to offer consistent action. Flounder action has been decent, while Bluefish have been spotty.
Salisbury: The Salisbury ocean front has produced a few striped bass surface blitzes over the last week, with a few big fish in the mix. Anglers fishing the Merrimack River from the shores of the Salisbury State Reservation have continued to do well with stripers on the end of the outgoing tide and first part of the incoming tide. Flounder fishing remains good just outside the mouth of the Merrimack as well as off the beaches with an occasional bluefish in the mix.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing the rocks off Rye as well the Hampton River and marsh has seen consistent striped bass fishing, although most fish have not been keeper sized. Further up the coast, and in the Piscataqua River, striped bass fishing has been good for both spin and fly fishermen. Bluefish have been scarce close to shore, however bigger blues (to 10 lbs.) have been reported around the Isle of Shoals.
July 1, 2004
Marblehead: Fishing around Castle Rock and the Lighthouse has been good for both bait and fly fishermen. Anglers reported mostly sub-legal striped bass activity, but plenty of it. Chunk herring or mackerel has been working well for bait anglers with sinking lines and bait fish imitation flies being the order of the day for fly anglers. Devereaux Beach continued to produce for anglers with the best action after dark.
Salem: Fishing in the Danvers River and in Salem Harbor has been productive over the past week and although most of the action has been on school striped bass, some larger fish have been in the mix. Anglers fishing with bait off the Salem Willows Pier have found fish to be willing to bite. Flounder and Bluefish have been less active.
Beverly: Fishing from West Beach over the last week, as well as just outside Beverly Harbor has improved with striped bass reported to be more active. Kernwood Bridge and Ober Park have both improved over the last week for both bait/spin fishermen and fly anglers.
Cape Ann: Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea has continued to fish well, especially after sunset. Top water plugs at dusk have been known to cause quite a stir and of course, no respectable striped bass can resist an eel! The Ipswich Bay side of the Annisquam River has been fishing well over the last week with buck tail jigs, sluggos and bait all producing fish. Fishing off Rockport and Halibut Point continued to please anglers targeting bass in deeper waters. The Essex River continued to be home to numbers of striped bass and bluefish; however the action was not fast and furious. Cod and Haddock action remains steady.
Ipswich: Crane Beach had large numbers of bass cruising the sand bars this past week. While these fish can be finicky at times, some nice fish were landed, including bass to 20 pounds. Steep Hill Beach and Pavilion Beach have also fished well over the past week with occasional bluefish blitzes noted by surfcasters.
Newbury: The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge has opened Parking Lot 1 and hopefully more beach front will be accessible to fishermen soon. Plum Island Sound has been slow over the last week, while the Parker River has been somewhat consistent for striped bass, even if most of the fish are sub-legal. Bluefish have not been quite as prevalent over the last week, which may indicate they have started the move to deeper water.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing has been good around Newburyport and the Merrimack River estuary. Last Saturday’s fog did not deter hearty anglers from venturing out onto the river. I stayed up river and we were lucky enough to boat two bass over 20 pounds, both on top water plugs with 12 lb. test spinning gear. Earlier last week, a forty pound bass was weighed in at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island, so the big bass are in and eating. Fishing with a live eel on Joppa Flats at night is also a good bet. Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing from the party boats continues to offer consistent action. Flounder action has been decent, while Bluefish have been spotty.
Salisbury: The Salisbury ocean front has produced a few striped bass surface blitzes over the last week, with a few big fish in the mix. Anglers fishing the Merrimack River from the shores of the Salisbury State Reservation have continued to do well with stripers on the end of the outgoing tide and first part of the incoming tide. Flounder fishing remains good just outside the mouth of the Merrimack as well as off the beaches with an occasional bluefish in the mix.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing the rocks off Rye as well the Hampton River and marsh has seen consistent striped bass fishing, although most fish have not been keeper sized. Further up the coast, and in the Piscataqua River, striped bass fishing has been good for both spin and fly fishermen. Bluefish have been scarce close to shore, however bigger blues (to 10 lbs.) have been reported around the Isle of Shoals.
June 24, 2004
Fish Finder – 6/24/2004
Frank Dwyer
June 24, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel have become more scarce, but anglers fishing with live or dead ones have done well off Marblehead, and in and around the islands. Bluefish have been present, but not in large numbers. Flounder fishing just outside the harbor has been good.
Salem: Striped Bass fishing in the Danvers River remains steady with bait anglers out fishing all others at this point. Worms and clams are the preferred meal for these hungry fish. Fishing the harbor and just outside has been good for flounder. Tubes trolled off Bakers Island have done well for bass.
Beverly: Fishing continues to be decent off Beverly. Reports had bass feeding on herring outside Beverly Harbor during the past week. In addition, flounder fishing has improved for those targeting them, and even those who aren’t. I had a friend dredge up a 3 pound flounder on a fly he was dragging along the bottom. The Kernwood Bridge is also pleasing anglers with bait and jigs as is the base of the Beverly/Salem Bridge.Beverly beaches have been slow, but anglers fishing at night have reported success.
Cape Ann: Singing Beach, in Manchester-by-the-Sea has been home to some excellent bass fishing, especially at night. Sea worms seem to be the most popular bait, drifted on a fish finder rig. Fly anglers have also done well, picking up school bass in the wash. Fishing the rocks around Magnolia and Gloucester picked up for several days, but seems to have cooled again, however anglers are still reporting good catches on both bait and lures. Anglers fishing off Halibut Point reported bass into the 20-pound range, with live bait working best. Stripers have not been as steady in the Essex River, but are still present, as well as bluefish.
Ipswich: Fishing in Ipswich has also been somewhat spotty, however there have been some fish in the rivers. Cranes, Steep Hill and Pavilion beach have continued to produce fish from shore bound anglers, however not in steady numbers. Bluefish have been caught in Plum Island Sound as well as at the mouth of the Ipswich River.
Newbury: The Parker River has been fishing well at night and has been home to both bass and bluefish in the past week. The Parker River NWR beaches remain closed for nesting Piping Plover’s.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bigger fish are in, but you’ll need to put in the time. The fish are in and getting bigger and big bass are being landed in the Merrimack from the Lawrence Dam all the way to the mouth at Plum Island. Fly anglers on Joppa Flats are doing well with large (5-9”s) fly’s imitating bait fish. Sand eel imitations also do well. Anglers fishing the mouth have done well with live mackerel, which are still plentiful out by Breaking Rocks. The ocean front on Plum Island has been home to numerous bass blitzes over the past week with spin anglers landing good sized bass on popping plugs and metal (Kastmaster, Hopkins) lures. Bait anglers fishing off Deer Island (Chain Bridge) have done well with worms and cut bait. Bluefish are spotty, but party boats still reporting good Cod, Haddock and Pollock action.
Salisbury: The ocean front has produced some larger fish for bait anglers fishing with worms and clams. I fished the Salisbury Reservation side of the river for a change last week and landed several small stripers on bucktail jigs, however I did see two keepers being walked off the beach. Bait anglers continue to do well, with most sticking to worms and clams.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all seen their share of good fishing over the last week. I heard about a nice surface feed off Rye at sunset last week, with bass and blues in the mix. Boat anglers have done well in the Piscataqua River over the past week, with many keeper sized bass being landed. Fly anglers do best with large flies presented on a fast sinking line. Spin fishermen have done well with sluggos, broken-back swimming lures and poppers. Bluefish and Bass are still available in numbers offshore at the Isle of Shoals.
June 24, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel have become more scarce, but anglers fishing with live or dead ones have done well off Marblehead, and in and around the islands. Bluefish have been present, but not in large numbers. Flounder fishing just outside the harbor has been good.
Salem: Striped Bass fishing in the Danvers River remains steady with bait anglers out fishing all others at this point. Worms and clams are the preferred meal for these hungry fish. Fishing the harbor and just outside has been good for flounder. Tubes trolled off Bakers Island have done well for bass.
Beverly: Fishing continues to be decent off Beverly. Reports had bass feeding on herring outside Beverly Harbor during the past week. In addition, flounder fishing has improved for those targeting them, and even those who aren’t. I had a friend dredge up a 3 pound flounder on a fly he was dragging along the bottom. The Kernwood Bridge is also pleasing anglers with bait and jigs as is the base of the Beverly/Salem Bridge.Beverly beaches have been slow, but anglers fishing at night have reported success.
Cape Ann: Singing Beach, in Manchester-by-the-Sea has been home to some excellent bass fishing, especially at night. Sea worms seem to be the most popular bait, drifted on a fish finder rig. Fly anglers have also done well, picking up school bass in the wash. Fishing the rocks around Magnolia and Gloucester picked up for several days, but seems to have cooled again, however anglers are still reporting good catches on both bait and lures. Anglers fishing off Halibut Point reported bass into the 20-pound range, with live bait working best. Stripers have not been as steady in the Essex River, but are still present, as well as bluefish.
Ipswich: Fishing in Ipswich has also been somewhat spotty, however there have been some fish in the rivers. Cranes, Steep Hill and Pavilion beach have continued to produce fish from shore bound anglers, however not in steady numbers. Bluefish have been caught in Plum Island Sound as well as at the mouth of the Ipswich River.
Newbury: The Parker River has been fishing well at night and has been home to both bass and bluefish in the past week. The Parker River NWR beaches remain closed for nesting Piping Plover’s.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bigger fish are in, but you’ll need to put in the time. The fish are in and getting bigger and big bass are being landed in the Merrimack from the Lawrence Dam all the way to the mouth at Plum Island. Fly anglers on Joppa Flats are doing well with large (5-9”s) fly’s imitating bait fish. Sand eel imitations also do well. Anglers fishing the mouth have done well with live mackerel, which are still plentiful out by Breaking Rocks. The ocean front on Plum Island has been home to numerous bass blitzes over the past week with spin anglers landing good sized bass on popping plugs and metal (Kastmaster, Hopkins) lures. Bait anglers fishing off Deer Island (Chain Bridge) have done well with worms and cut bait. Bluefish are spotty, but party boats still reporting good Cod, Haddock and Pollock action.
Salisbury: The ocean front has produced some larger fish for bait anglers fishing with worms and clams. I fished the Salisbury Reservation side of the river for a change last week and landed several small stripers on bucktail jigs, however I did see two keepers being walked off the beach. Bait anglers continue to do well, with most sticking to worms and clams.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all seen their share of good fishing over the last week. I heard about a nice surface feed off Rye at sunset last week, with bass and blues in the mix. Boat anglers have done well in the Piscataqua River over the past week, with many keeper sized bass being landed. Fly anglers do best with large flies presented on a fast sinking line. Spin fishermen have done well with sluggos, broken-back swimming lures and poppers. Bluefish and Bass are still available in numbers offshore at the Isle of Shoals.
June 17, 2004
Fish Finder – 6/17/2004
Frank Dwyer
June 17, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel seem to be a bit spotty but striped bass action continues to be good for those willing to put in the time. Beaches continue to produce for both bait and lure anglers, with bluefish showing up more and more. Night fishing will soon be the rule for big bass, but that’s the name of the game in the summer! Try an eel in the rocks and hold on!
Salem: Flounder fishing continues to please anglers with many catching their limit. A few bluefish have been reported in the Danvers River, while striped bass fishing remains somewhat steady. Salem Harbor has been home to many pods of stripers but unfortunately, most have been small. Mackerel have spread out a bit but anglers using large bait fish imitations are still landing nice fish. Reports from the Bass and North Rivers had good schoolie action with a few big ones mixed in.
Beverly: Bluefish action has increased while bass have become harder to find, but certainly not impossible. Anglers fishing off West Beach have reported decent striper activity as have anglers fishing Beverly Harbor. While mackerel have been spotty, anglers have still been using them as bait with success. Fly rod anglers have started to break out the floating lines to entice surface feeding bass.
Cape Ann: Boat anglers fishing off Manchester-by-the-Sea have done well with live mackerel as well as cut bait, landing some big bass. Anglers fishing off Magnolia as well as Halibut Point have done well with both live and cut bait. Depths to 120 feet have produced some bass in the 30 pound range. Bluefish are also being caught off Halibut Point. Mackerel have been somewhat scarce around the Cape, but Pollock have been showing up in bigger numbers. Reports also have bluefish in the Essex River as well as some decent sized striped bass, with several reports of good surface feeding activity over the last week. Dogfish are here, but Cod, Haddock and Pollack fishing is still pleasing party boat patrons.
Ipswich: I fished from a boat off Cranes Beach this past weekend and landed several nice bass on clam strips. On the ride over from Newburyport, we scared a few pods of fish lounging in the sun in Plum Island Sound, but these fish had no interest in any lures or flies we offered. Shore anglers reported spotty action; however some nice bass have come from Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches. Bluefish are also in the mix here. The Ipswich River has been fishing well at dawn, dusk and night.
Newbury: Bluefish in the Parker River pleased several anglers over the last week. As usual, these choppers will pretty take anything you offer, but certainly poppers and metal lures top many anglers lists. Bass action in the Parker, while not quite predictable, has offered up keeper size bass over the last week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Newburyport continues to offer good fishing, however “night time may be the right time” soon. Drifting the flats this past weekend saw several bass landed, but the action was not quite as fast and furious as weeks past. Larger flies on sinking lines were still the most productive set up with our crew, while sluggos on lead heads also produced. Bluefish have arrived as well, and anglers on Joppa Flats, the ocean front and at the mouth of the Merrimack have reported choppers in the 2-4 pound range. Fly anglers continue to cast away off the sand bar on Plum Island Point for steady schoolie action. Flounder catches are on the increase for those targeting them and Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing has remained strong.
Salisbury: The riverbank at the State Reservation was lined with anglers this past weekend, most with rod in spike and bait on the bottom. Sea worms, clams, herring and mackerel have all been producing, mostly on the end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming tide.
Seacoast, NH: Hampton Harbor, and the rivers and marshes around Hampton have seen the bass action slow, but it’s certainly not dead. Fly anglers reported catching sub-legal striped bass in the marsh/estuary; however the action is not as fast and furious in weeks past. Further up the coast, the Piscataqua River, Dover Point and Little Bay all have had excellent striper activity. Off shore, the Isle of Shoals has produced bass into the 30 pound range.
June 17, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel seem to be a bit spotty but striped bass action continues to be good for those willing to put in the time. Beaches continue to produce for both bait and lure anglers, with bluefish showing up more and more. Night fishing will soon be the rule for big bass, but that’s the name of the game in the summer! Try an eel in the rocks and hold on!
Salem: Flounder fishing continues to please anglers with many catching their limit. A few bluefish have been reported in the Danvers River, while striped bass fishing remains somewhat steady. Salem Harbor has been home to many pods of stripers but unfortunately, most have been small. Mackerel have spread out a bit but anglers using large bait fish imitations are still landing nice fish. Reports from the Bass and North Rivers had good schoolie action with a few big ones mixed in.
Beverly: Bluefish action has increased while bass have become harder to find, but certainly not impossible. Anglers fishing off West Beach have reported decent striper activity as have anglers fishing Beverly Harbor. While mackerel have been spotty, anglers have still been using them as bait with success. Fly rod anglers have started to break out the floating lines to entice surface feeding bass.
Cape Ann: Boat anglers fishing off Manchester-by-the-Sea have done well with live mackerel as well as cut bait, landing some big bass. Anglers fishing off Magnolia as well as Halibut Point have done well with both live and cut bait. Depths to 120 feet have produced some bass in the 30 pound range. Bluefish are also being caught off Halibut Point. Mackerel have been somewhat scarce around the Cape, but Pollock have been showing up in bigger numbers. Reports also have bluefish in the Essex River as well as some decent sized striped bass, with several reports of good surface feeding activity over the last week. Dogfish are here, but Cod, Haddock and Pollack fishing is still pleasing party boat patrons.
Ipswich: I fished from a boat off Cranes Beach this past weekend and landed several nice bass on clam strips. On the ride over from Newburyport, we scared a few pods of fish lounging in the sun in Plum Island Sound, but these fish had no interest in any lures or flies we offered. Shore anglers reported spotty action; however some nice bass have come from Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches. Bluefish are also in the mix here. The Ipswich River has been fishing well at dawn, dusk and night.
Newbury: Bluefish in the Parker River pleased several anglers over the last week. As usual, these choppers will pretty take anything you offer, but certainly poppers and metal lures top many anglers lists. Bass action in the Parker, while not quite predictable, has offered up keeper size bass over the last week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Newburyport continues to offer good fishing, however “night time may be the right time” soon. Drifting the flats this past weekend saw several bass landed, but the action was not quite as fast and furious as weeks past. Larger flies on sinking lines were still the most productive set up with our crew, while sluggos on lead heads also produced. Bluefish have arrived as well, and anglers on Joppa Flats, the ocean front and at the mouth of the Merrimack have reported choppers in the 2-4 pound range. Fly anglers continue to cast away off the sand bar on Plum Island Point for steady schoolie action. Flounder catches are on the increase for those targeting them and Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing has remained strong.
Salisbury: The riverbank at the State Reservation was lined with anglers this past weekend, most with rod in spike and bait on the bottom. Sea worms, clams, herring and mackerel have all been producing, mostly on the end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming tide.
Seacoast, NH: Hampton Harbor, and the rivers and marshes around Hampton have seen the bass action slow, but it’s certainly not dead. Fly anglers reported catching sub-legal striped bass in the marsh/estuary; however the action is not as fast and furious in weeks past. Further up the coast, the Piscataqua River, Dover Point and Little Bay all have had excellent striper activity. Off shore, the Isle of Shoals has produced bass into the 30 pound range.
June 10, 2004
Fish Finder – 6/10/2004
Frank Dwyer
June 10, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel are in thick and fishing the rocky beach line has proven quite productive for striped bass fishermen. Fly anglers do well with fast sinking lines when dropping their fly into the turbulent water. Riverhead and Devereux Beach continue to produce stripers for both spin and fly anglers. While larger fish have been caught, mid-sized schoolies seem most active. Castle Rock on the Neck has also been home to numbers of bass.
Salem: Both the North and Bass Rivers have been fishing well over the last week with both spin and fly anglers reporting decent numbers of bass. The Danvers River has done well for anglers offering swimming shad plastics. Salem Harbor has seen steady mackerel activity with bass in pursuit. Flounder fishing has been consistent with many anglers catching their limit. A few bluefish have also have been reported to have been caught. Cod and Haddock remain plentiful off shore.
Beverly: Beverly Harbor and the beaches have seen good fishing continue as many anglers have landed legal sized bass. Swimming plugs, shad imitation’s and popping plugs all produce fish. Kernwood Bridge and Ober Park continue to be fishy locations for both bait and artificial anglers. Flounder continue to be caught in numbers.
Cape Ann: Manchester-by-the-Sea beaches continue to produce for shore bound anglers. Clousers, Deceivers and Herring pattern flies all do well on sinking lines for fly fishermen. Popping plugs and broken back swimming lures have done well for spin fishermen. The incoming tide on the Annisquam River continued to fish well as did the rocky shoreline in Magnolia. The Essex River continues to fish well, with some decent sized bass showing up. Cod, Haddock and Pollack reports have been good from the party boats.
Ipswich: Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach continue to offer consistent fishing for striped bass, with most fish in the sub-legal class. Boat anglers fishing at the mouth of the Ipswich River report good fishing on the outgoing tide. Pavillion Beach also continues to be a good option for shore anglers. A few bluefish are in the mix as well. Anglers off shore in deeper water have done well live-lining mackerel for some bigger bass.
Newbury: The Parker River continued to produce striped bass this past week. Boat anglers fishing in the river and Plum Island Sound have reported excellent striped bass activity. Sluggos offered with little or no weight entice surface feeding bass nicely. A little twitch of the rod tip and hold on!
Newburyport / Plum Island: Good fishing continues in the Newburyport area as some bigger fish have moved into the river and along the ocean front with a few 30 pound bass being landed. Large sand eels were present on Joppa Flats most of the week, with striped bass following them and enjoying the feast. Sluggos have been producing very well. Bait anglers have done well anchored just off the channel near the Toothpick. Clams, cut bait and worms all do well. Don’t anchor IN the channel! Upriver, shore anglers fishing Deer Island and other accessible areas have landed stripers to twenty pounds. Mackerel are thick at Breaking Rocks and have made a few appearances at the mouth of the Merrimack. Flounder have also begun to show just outside the river and reports of a few sporadic bluefish have begun to pop up.
Salisbury: Surfcasters patrolling the Salisbury Beach ocean front have reported a few surface feeds over the last week with striped bass taking anything offered during the frenzy. Top water plugs set off the most aggressive hits. Anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation have done well drifting worms with numbers of bass over 28 inches being landed.
Seacoast, NH: Beaches from Seabrook to Hampton have reported good numbers of school striped bass being landed. Estuaries and river systems are all producing good numbers of bass for all who care to wet a line. Large fish have begun to become more prevalent and that should only improve as the water warms.
June 10, 2004
Marblehead: Mackerel are in thick and fishing the rocky beach line has proven quite productive for striped bass fishermen. Fly anglers do well with fast sinking lines when dropping their fly into the turbulent water. Riverhead and Devereux Beach continue to produce stripers for both spin and fly anglers. While larger fish have been caught, mid-sized schoolies seem most active. Castle Rock on the Neck has also been home to numbers of bass.
Salem: Both the North and Bass Rivers have been fishing well over the last week with both spin and fly anglers reporting decent numbers of bass. The Danvers River has done well for anglers offering swimming shad plastics. Salem Harbor has seen steady mackerel activity with bass in pursuit. Flounder fishing has been consistent with many anglers catching their limit. A few bluefish have also have been reported to have been caught. Cod and Haddock remain plentiful off shore.
Beverly: Beverly Harbor and the beaches have seen good fishing continue as many anglers have landed legal sized bass. Swimming plugs, shad imitation’s and popping plugs all produce fish. Kernwood Bridge and Ober Park continue to be fishy locations for both bait and artificial anglers. Flounder continue to be caught in numbers.
Cape Ann: Manchester-by-the-Sea beaches continue to produce for shore bound anglers. Clousers, Deceivers and Herring pattern flies all do well on sinking lines for fly fishermen. Popping plugs and broken back swimming lures have done well for spin fishermen. The incoming tide on the Annisquam River continued to fish well as did the rocky shoreline in Magnolia. The Essex River continues to fish well, with some decent sized bass showing up. Cod, Haddock and Pollack reports have been good from the party boats.
Ipswich: Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach continue to offer consistent fishing for striped bass, with most fish in the sub-legal class. Boat anglers fishing at the mouth of the Ipswich River report good fishing on the outgoing tide. Pavillion Beach also continues to be a good option for shore anglers. A few bluefish are in the mix as well. Anglers off shore in deeper water have done well live-lining mackerel for some bigger bass.
Newbury: The Parker River continued to produce striped bass this past week. Boat anglers fishing in the river and Plum Island Sound have reported excellent striped bass activity. Sluggos offered with little or no weight entice surface feeding bass nicely. A little twitch of the rod tip and hold on!
Newburyport / Plum Island: Good fishing continues in the Newburyport area as some bigger fish have moved into the river and along the ocean front with a few 30 pound bass being landed. Large sand eels were present on Joppa Flats most of the week, with striped bass following them and enjoying the feast. Sluggos have been producing very well. Bait anglers have done well anchored just off the channel near the Toothpick. Clams, cut bait and worms all do well. Don’t anchor IN the channel! Upriver, shore anglers fishing Deer Island and other accessible areas have landed stripers to twenty pounds. Mackerel are thick at Breaking Rocks and have made a few appearances at the mouth of the Merrimack. Flounder have also begun to show just outside the river and reports of a few sporadic bluefish have begun to pop up.
Salisbury: Surfcasters patrolling the Salisbury Beach ocean front have reported a few surface feeds over the last week with striped bass taking anything offered during the frenzy. Top water plugs set off the most aggressive hits. Anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation have done well drifting worms with numbers of bass over 28 inches being landed.
Seacoast, NH: Beaches from Seabrook to Hampton have reported good numbers of school striped bass being landed. Estuaries and river systems are all producing good numbers of bass for all who care to wet a line. Large fish have begun to become more prevalent and that should only improve as the water warms.
June 9, 2004
Angler Update
Frank Dwyer
June 9, 2004
Port area fishing continues to improve however there have been some dry spells reported over the last week.
The Plum Island Point crowd continues to fish the mouth of the Merrimack and as usual the tides around the low produce best. Many keeper sized bass have come from the Point and both bait and artificial fishermen have done well. Clams, worms and cut bait on fish-finder rigs have worked well as have shad and herring imitation lures. Storm Wild Eye swim baits seem to be the rage this year, and I can see why having landed many stripers over the last few weeks with them.
Fly fishermen are doing well off the sand bar with fast sinking lines and sparsely tied herring and sand eel imitations.
Surfcasters along the front beach on Plum Island have done well from the edge of the NWR all the way to the south jetty. Buck tail jigs and large shad imitations bounced on the bottom have produced nice fish, right up into the wash.
Boat fishermen have been plentiful from Badger Rocks to the Toothpick, with most anchoring just off the channel and drifting clams, worms or cut bait and landing decent sized fish. Unfortunately, some anglers anchor IN the channel, which is quite dangerous and not all that smart. Most of these anglers get the hint when a party boat goes by closely leaving a 5-foot wake in its path. Please don’t anchor in the channel.
Joppa Flats continues to produce numbers of striped bass for boat and wade fishermen. As at the Point, fly anglers do best with fast sinking lines and sand eel or herring imitations. Spin anglers using sluggos with light or no weight have done well on surface feeding bass. Top water plugs have also produced this past week. Try using a larger plug or fly to weed out the small guys!
Upriver, Deer Island has seen increasing fishing pressure over the last weeks as more fish have been landed by shore-bound anglers. Fishing near Eagle and Carr Islands has also been productive, but mostly for sub-legal bass. Rocks Village continues to produce good numbers of shad, with not too many fishermen targeting them.
***
Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island reports good numbers of striped bass with some 30 pound fish being taken. Anglers do well at Plum Island Point on the bottom of the outgoing tide and beginning of the incoming tide.
Flounder have begun to appear with a few anglers landing several on worms. Kay reported a few bluefish catches over the last week, including a 10 pound chopper that was landed on Joppa Flats.
***
Nat at First Light Anglers on Main Street in Rowley reported decent fishing from Swampscott to Plum Island. According to Nat, “nothing outrageous”, but plenty of school sized bass being landed up in the rocks and in the rivers.
Nat also mentioned that mackerel have been hanging around the mouth of both the Essex and Ipswich rivers, but have been dispersing at times with no rhyme or reason. Fishing on Joppa Flats has been good, but you’ll have plenty of company so consider a location more off the beaten path.
***
Chris at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reported good Cod and Haddock fishing over the last week on the full day trips with average pool fish in the 20 pound class; however a nice 38 pound cod was also landed. A few Pollock have also been landed on each trip, with a mix of Cusk and Wolfish. Dogfish have been tolerable. The full day boat leaves daily at 7:30 AM.
The half day boats leaving at 8:30 AM have done well fishing for Mackerel and have also been landing a few striped bass on each trip. Call 800-427-1333 for information or to make reservations.
***
The Plum Island Surfcasters monthly meeting on Tuesday June 15 will feature Ed Nowak of The Fisherman Magazine. His presentation, entitled “Fishing from Choice Launching Sites from Boston to Plum Island” should draw a large crowd.
The Plum Island Surfcasters is a club of about 250 recreational anglers. Club meetings are held every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Newbury Fire Hall behind Newbury Town Hall. Doors open at 6:30 PM. with the meeting beginning at 7:30 PM.
If your interested in becoming a member, visit http://www.surfcaster.com/ or email me for information.
June 9, 2004
Port area fishing continues to improve however there have been some dry spells reported over the last week.
The Plum Island Point crowd continues to fish the mouth of the Merrimack and as usual the tides around the low produce best. Many keeper sized bass have come from the Point and both bait and artificial fishermen have done well. Clams, worms and cut bait on fish-finder rigs have worked well as have shad and herring imitation lures. Storm Wild Eye swim baits seem to be the rage this year, and I can see why having landed many stripers over the last few weeks with them.
Fly fishermen are doing well off the sand bar with fast sinking lines and sparsely tied herring and sand eel imitations.Surfcasters along the front beach on Plum Island have done well from the edge of the NWR all the way to the south jetty. Buck tail jigs and large shad imitations bounced on the bottom have produced nice fish, right up into the wash.
Boat fishermen have been plentiful from Badger Rocks to the Toothpick, with most anchoring just off the channel and drifting clams, worms or cut bait and landing decent sized fish. Unfortunately, some anglers anchor IN the channel, which is quite dangerous and not all that smart. Most of these anglers get the hint when a party boat goes by closely leaving a 5-foot wake in its path. Please don’t anchor in the channel.
Joppa Flats continues to produce numbers of striped bass for boat and wade fishermen. As at the Point, fly anglers do best with fast sinking lines and sand eel or herring imitations. Spin anglers using sluggos with light or no weight have done well on surface feeding bass. Top water plugs have also produced this past week. Try using a larger plug or fly to weed out the small guys!
Upriver, Deer Island has seen increasing fishing pressure over the last weeks as more fish have been landed by shore-bound anglers. Fishing near Eagle and Carr Islands has also been productive, but mostly for sub-legal bass. Rocks Village continues to produce good numbers of shad, with not too many fishermen targeting them.
***
Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island reports good numbers of striped bass with some 30 pound fish being taken. Anglers do well at Plum Island Point on the bottom of the outgoing tide and beginning of the incoming tide.
Flounder have begun to appear with a few anglers landing several on worms. Kay reported a few bluefish catches over the last week, including a 10 pound chopper that was landed on Joppa Flats.
***
Nat at First Light Anglers on Main Street in Rowley reported decent fishing from Swampscott to Plum Island. According to Nat, “nothing outrageous”, but plenty of school sized bass being landed up in the rocks and in the rivers.
Nat also mentioned that mackerel have been hanging around the mouth of both the Essex and Ipswich rivers, but have been dispersing at times with no rhyme or reason. Fishing on Joppa Flats has been good, but you’ll have plenty of company so consider a location more off the beaten path.
***
Chris at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reported good Cod and Haddock fishing over the last week on the full day trips with average pool fish in the 20 pound class; however a nice 38 pound cod was also landed. A few Pollock have also been landed on each trip, with a mix of Cusk and Wolfish. Dogfish have been tolerable. The full day boat leaves daily at 7:30 AM.
The half day boats leaving at 8:30 AM have done well fishing for Mackerel and have also been landing a few striped bass on each trip. Call 800-427-1333 for information or to make reservations.
***
The Plum Island Surfcasters monthly meeting on Tuesday June 15 will feature Ed Nowak of The Fisherman Magazine. His presentation, entitled “Fishing from Choice Launching Sites from Boston to Plum Island” should draw a large crowd.
The Plum Island Surfcasters is a club of about 250 recreational anglers. Club meetings are held every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Newbury Fire Hall behind Newbury Town Hall. Doors open at 6:30 PM. with the meeting beginning at 7:30 PM.
If your interested in becoming a member, visit http://www.surfcaster.com/ or email me for information.
June 3, 2004
Fish Finder – 6/3/2004
Frank G. Dwyer
June 3, 2004
Marblehead: The Lead Mills Bridge area has fished well over the last week. Both bait and artificials have worked well on the moving tides. Reports from Devereaux Beach have also been good with both fly and spin anglers doing well. Large herring pattern flies do well, especially in the wind we’ve had over the last week.
Salem: Salem Harbor and the Danvers River continued to produce numbers of striped bass. Like most of the North Shore, mackerel are now readily available in the waters around Salem. Salem Willow Pier has been fishing well for mackerel with anglers using herring rigs and mackerel trees. Fish have also been to reported to be active in the North River.
Beverly: Striped Bass fishing continues to be good around Beverly. In addition, shore and boat fishermen have reported decent numbers of flounder being caught. These flatties enjoy the blood and sea worms that bait anglers have been tossing them. Clam strips are also popular bait. A small float on your line goes a long way in avoiding skates.
Cape Ann: Those large schools of mackerel and herring have made there way inshore and the bass have followed. Rockport and Manchester have reports of nice surface activity in the harbor and just off the beaches. Anglers fishing Singing Beach landed stripers and mackerel. Top Water plugs and gurgler flies have been taking nice bass. The Essex and Annisquam Rivers continue to have large numbers of striped bass, mostly in the 18” – 26” range. Shore Road in Magnolia has also had bass activity over the last week. Boat anglers off Halibut Point have done quite well in 90-120 feet of water with live mackerel. Cod and Haddock fishing continues to please both the party boat patrons and those recreational anglers who target them.
Ipswich: Pavillion and Steep Hill Beach were productive spots for anglers this past week. Several schools of fish were seen feeding on large sand eels, pushing them right up on to the beach. Fly anglers with sand eel imitations as well as larger streamer flies reported taken numbers of striped bass to 30 inches.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound continued to produce striped bass in numbers over Memorial Day weekend. Larger fish were landed this week as anglers increased the size of their bait and lures to weed out the smaller fish. The big fish should only continue to grow in numbers over the next few weeks. The Parker River continued to fish well for both shore and boat anglers, however larger fish are still the exception.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Herring and mackerel have both arrived in the Port and I personally followed several pods of striped bass on Joppa Flats over Memorial Day as they feasted on herring on the incoming tide. Larger fish are present now, with the largest on my watch going 13 lbs and 34 inches. Word from both the beach front and the river at Plum Island Point are that larger fish have also been landed over the past week. Fly rod anglers have been doing well on the sand bar at the mouth of the Merrimack River during the end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming tide. While the Parker River NWR remains closed to anglers, there have been reports of fish being taken at Sandy Point. Cod and Haddock party boats are reporting good market sized fish with only a few dogfish starting to show up.
Salisbury: The river front at the State Reservation in Salisbury continued to produce nice numbers of striped bass over the past week. Anglers drifting sea-worms on a fish-finder rig have been doing well, as have those using cut bait and clams. I even spoke to one angler who landed numerous schoolies on a 3oz. Kastmaster lure, so it appears that you can add metal to your bag of tricks. The Salisbury ocean front has also been producing fish.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all seen fishing improve over the last week. Fish have been reported in the Taylor and Blackwater Rivers as well as Hampton Harbor. Surfcasters using cut bait (mackerel or herring) have done well along the Seacoast beaches on incoming tides.
June 3, 2004
Marblehead: The Lead Mills Bridge area has fished well over the last week. Both bait and artificials have worked well on the moving tides. Reports from Devereaux Beach have also been good with both fly and spin anglers doing well. Large herring pattern flies do well, especially in the wind we’ve had over the last week.
Salem: Salem Harbor and the Danvers River continued to produce numbers of striped bass. Like most of the North Shore, mackerel are now readily available in the waters around Salem. Salem Willow Pier has been fishing well for mackerel with anglers using herring rigs and mackerel trees. Fish have also been to reported to be active in the North River.
Beverly: Striped Bass fishing continues to be good around Beverly. In addition, shore and boat fishermen have reported decent numbers of flounder being caught. These flatties enjoy the blood and sea worms that bait anglers have been tossing them. Clam strips are also popular bait. A small float on your line goes a long way in avoiding skates.
Cape Ann: Those large schools of mackerel and herring have made there way inshore and the bass have followed. Rockport and Manchester have reports of nice surface activity in the harbor and just off the beaches. Anglers fishing Singing Beach landed stripers and mackerel. Top Water plugs and gurgler flies have been taking nice bass. The Essex and Annisquam Rivers continue to have large numbers of striped bass, mostly in the 18” – 26” range. Shore Road in Magnolia has also had bass activity over the last week. Boat anglers off Halibut Point have done quite well in 90-120 feet of water with live mackerel. Cod and Haddock fishing continues to please both the party boat patrons and those recreational anglers who target them.
Ipswich: Pavillion and Steep Hill Beach were productive spots for anglers this past week. Several schools of fish were seen feeding on large sand eels, pushing them right up on to the beach. Fly anglers with sand eel imitations as well as larger streamer flies reported taken numbers of striped bass to 30 inches.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound continued to produce striped bass in numbers over Memorial Day weekend. Larger fish were landed this week as anglers increased the size of their bait and lures to weed out the smaller fish. The big fish should only continue to grow in numbers over the next few weeks. The Parker River continued to fish well for both shore and boat anglers, however larger fish are still the exception.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Herring and mackerel have both arrived in the Port and I personally followed several pods of striped bass on Joppa Flats over Memorial Day as they feasted on herring on the incoming tide. Larger fish are present now, with the largest on my watch going 13 lbs and 34 inches. Word from both the beach front and the river at Plum Island Point are that larger fish have also been landed over the past week. Fly rod anglers have been doing well on the sand bar at the mouth of the Merrimack River during the end of the outgoing and beginning of the incoming tide. While the Parker River NWR remains closed to anglers, there have been reports of fish being taken at Sandy Point. Cod and Haddock party boats are reporting good market sized fish with only a few dogfish starting to show up.
Salisbury: The river front at the State Reservation in Salisbury continued to produce nice numbers of striped bass over the past week. Anglers drifting sea-worms on a fish-finder rig have been doing well, as have those using cut bait and clams. I even spoke to one angler who landed numerous schoolies on a 3oz. Kastmaster lure, so it appears that you can add metal to your bag of tricks. The Salisbury ocean front has also been producing fish.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all seen fishing improve over the last week. Fish have been reported in the Taylor and Blackwater Rivers as well as Hampton Harbor. Surfcasters using cut bait (mackerel or herring) have done well along the Seacoast beaches on incoming tides.
May 27, 2004
Fish Finder – 5/27/2004
Frank G. Dwyer
May 27, 2004
Marblehead: Marblehead Harbor has been producing striped bass for boat anglers and while the big fish have not shown in numbers, that should happen very soon. Castle Rock on Marblehead Neck has also been producing numbers of striped bass.
Salem: The Danvers River has been producing steady striped bass action on moving tides over the last week. Fly anglers tossing clouser minnow and deceiver patterns on sinking lines have been hooking up on a regular basis. Rubber shad and small metal lures have also been picking up fish. White Fuel Bridge has also been decent for spin anglers.
Beverly: Beverly Harbor and West Beach have both been choked with bait and hungry stripers. West Beach in particular has been hot over the past week with bait, birds and busting stripers. These fish were taking most any lure offered, but top water plugs and fast stripped herring flies seemed most popular. Kernwood Bridge and Ober Park are good spots to try as well.
Cape Ann: Large schools of mackerel and herring have been reported off shore this week and hopefully those schools will move closer to shore with bigger striped bass following them. Herring/Mackerel imitations as well as live or cut bait should both work well around Cape Ann. The start of the incoming tide on the Ipswich Bay side of the Annisquam River has also been a good spot for both shore and boat anglers. The Essex River is also producing nice numbers of striped bass. Singing Beach has been a hit for surfcasters in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Party boats report good numbers of Cod and Haddock on most trips.
Ipswich: Crane Beach and Pavillion Beach have both begun to heat up for anglers from shore. Bass feeding on the surface have been reported from both beaches over the last week and anglers using both fly and spin gear have done well.
Newbury: The Parker River at the Route 1A Bridge has produced nice numbers of bass on the incoming tide and the first part of the outgoing tide. Fly anglers are having luck with clousers, deceivers and crease fly’s, while spin anglers tossing both top water plugs and swimming lures have done well. The Plum Island Sound has also been home to several frenzied bass blitzes.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing around Newburyport has picked up nicely over the last week. While big striped bass are still the exception, bigger fish should be moving in daily. The front beach has produced many striped bass for both spin and fly fishermen, while the ever popular Plum Island Point continues to produce fish for anglers using both artificials as well as bait. Clams and Sea worms are the bait of choice here. Joppa Flats continues to please both wade and boat fishermen on the outgoing tide. Charter trips have been returning with good numbers of Cod and Haddock, as well as a few Wolfish and Cusk.
Salisbury: Anglers fishing the Salsibury side off of Joppa Flats as well as the State Reservation have been doing well catching numbers of Striped Bass. Just as it is across the river, large fish are still not the norm, but things are certainly picking up. Boat anglers anchoring by the Toothpick and Badger Rocks have been doing well drifting clams.
Seacoast, NH: Seabrook, Rye and Hampton have all seen fishing improve over the last week. The Hampton River and the surrounding marshes have begun to fill in with striped bass. Hampton and Seabrook Harbor have also seen increasing schoolie action. Larger fish should make their way to these northern waters in the next few weeks.
May 26, 2004
Memorial Day Weekend Should Produce Larger Fish
Frank G. Dwyer
May 26, 2004
This past weekend I had two very different fishing trips in two days.
Saturday began with a cold, windy and rainy trip that ended early with few fish and two very wet anglers. The temperature on Joppa Flats was in the high 40’s with a steady chop in the early dawn hours. We managed some five striped bass in three hours, with the largest hitting the tape measure at 24 inches. All fish were landed on fly rods with fast sinking lines and herring imitation flies.
At 3AM on Sunday morning I was stirred from sleep by passing thunderstorms accompanied by brilliant lightning. I was thinking fishing in an hour and half might not be happening, but luckily that was not the case.
I was on the water by 5 AM, and as I passed under the Route 1 Bridge heading towards the mouth of the river, I was pleasantly surprised at how calm it was, especially when compared to the day before. The tide was outgoing at a good clip and it appeared to be a great day to drift the edge of Joppa Flats.
Appearances turned to reality as the boat eased under the Route 1 Bridge. Fish were actively feeding on the top from just under the bridge, all the way out to the Ice Breaker. I have been known to get frustrated with the fly rod and switching to spinning gear if the fly rod does not produce quickly enough for my taste. No worries on this morning as the first cast with the long wand, and many after that, produced fish.
Once I cleared the Ice Breaker, I motored to the edge of the channel and enjoyed many drifts on the fast moving outgoing current. Numerous fish were landed on each drift, with two fish over 30 inches landed. Hopefully bigger fish will soon start to become the rule and not the exception.
Sinking lines with olive and white clousers, and grey and white deceivers all worked well. Fast, one-handed stripping of the fly line seemed to work best, however this worked best after a 5-count to let the line sink a bit.
Mid-week brought more of the same as fish stayed up on Joppa Flats during high tide and for most of the outgoing tide. Once again drifting towards the mouth of the river, a sinking line and herring imitation fly provided hours of entertainment as striped bass devoured most flies offered to them.
***
When I visited with Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island this past Wednesday, she said many anglers were having success at Plum Island Point on clams as well as buck tail jigs and sluggo type plastics.
The ocean front continued to produce fish and anglers using any number of methods have caught fish along the entire front beach. Kay said that while she’s selling lots of bait, there’s really no reason to use it this early in the season since most lures and flies will produce fish while the striped bass continue their spring feeding frenzy.
Top water lures are also attracting stripers and that can create surface strikes that are quite something to witness. Kay suggests both Stillwater and Creek Chub top water plugs, and I can attest that they were both working well this past Wednesday out on Joppa Flats
***
Nat at First Light Anglers on Main Street in Rowley reported excellent fishing up and down the coast. The river systems from the Annisquam to the Parker Rivers are all producing nice fish for both spin and fly anglers.
The morning outgoing tide at Crane’s Beach has produced some large fish mixed in with the smaller striped bass, with several mornings providing surface feeding bass.
Large schools of herring and mackerel have moved in off Cape Ann and there is hope that the somewhat slower paced fishing from Beverly to Gloucester will pick up very soon.
***
George at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reports good cod and haddock fishing, with pool fish weighing from 16 to 30 pounds over the last week. Wolfish and cusk have also been caught on trips during the last week.
Daily trips will resume on Memorial Day weekend and run throughout the summer. It’s not a bad idea to make a reservation as the boats can fill up quickly. To do so, call 1-800-427-1333.
May 26, 2004
This past weekend I had two very different fishing trips in two days.
Saturday began with a cold, windy and rainy trip that ended early with few fish and two very wet anglers. The temperature on Joppa Flats was in the high 40’s with a steady chop in the early dawn hours. We managed some five striped bass in three hours, with the largest hitting the tape measure at 24 inches. All fish were landed on fly rods with fast sinking lines and herring imitation flies.
At 3AM on Sunday morning I was stirred from sleep by passing thunderstorms accompanied by brilliant lightning. I was thinking fishing in an hour and half might not be happening, but luckily that was not the case.
I was on the water by 5 AM, and as I passed under the Route 1 Bridge heading towards the mouth of the river, I was pleasantly surprised at how calm it was, especially when compared to the day before. The tide was outgoing at a good clip and it appeared to be a great day to drift the edge of Joppa Flats.
Appearances turned to reality as the boat eased under the Route 1 Bridge. Fish were actively feeding on the top from just under the bridge, all the way out to the Ice Breaker. I have been known to get frustrated with the fly rod and switching to spinning gear if the fly rod does not produce quickly enough for my taste. No worries on this morning as the first cast with the long wand, and many after that, produced fish.
Once I cleared the Ice Breaker, I motored to the edge of the channel and enjoyed many drifts on the fast moving outgoing current. Numerous fish were landed on each drift, with two fish over 30 inches landed. Hopefully bigger fish will soon start to become the rule and not the exception.
Sinking lines with olive and white clousers, and grey and white deceivers all worked well. Fast, one-handed stripping of the fly line seemed to work best, however this worked best after a 5-count to let the line sink a bit.
Mid-week brought more of the same as fish stayed up on Joppa Flats during high tide and for most of the outgoing tide. Once again drifting towards the mouth of the river, a sinking line and herring imitation fly provided hours of entertainment as striped bass devoured most flies offered to them.
***
When I visited with Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island this past Wednesday, she said many anglers were having success at Plum Island Point on clams as well as buck tail jigs and sluggo type plastics.
The ocean front continued to produce fish and anglers using any number of methods have caught fish along the entire front beach. Kay said that while she’s selling lots of bait, there’s really no reason to use it this early in the season since most lures and flies will produce fish while the striped bass continue their spring feeding frenzy.
Top water lures are also attracting stripers and that can create surface strikes that are quite something to witness. Kay suggests both Stillwater and Creek Chub top water plugs, and I can attest that they were both working well this past Wednesday out on Joppa Flats
***
Nat at First Light Anglers on Main Street in Rowley reported excellent fishing up and down the coast. The river systems from the Annisquam to the Parker Rivers are all producing nice fish for both spin and fly anglers.
The morning outgoing tide at Crane’s Beach has produced some large fish mixed in with the smaller striped bass, with several mornings providing surface feeding bass.
Large schools of herring and mackerel have moved in off Cape Ann and there is hope that the somewhat slower paced fishing from Beverly to Gloucester will pick up very soon.
***
George at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reports good cod and haddock fishing, with pool fish weighing from 16 to 30 pounds over the last week. Wolfish and cusk have also been caught on trips during the last week.
Daily trips will resume on Memorial Day weekend and run throughout the summer. It’s not a bad idea to make a reservation as the boats can fill up quickly. To do so, call 1-800-427-1333.
May 19, 2004
Just in Time, the Fish have Arrived in the Port
Frank G. Dwyer
May 19, 2004
While the fish have been resident in force around the Cape and Islands as well as the south shore for sometime now, our saltwater season here has really just started to get underway. School striped bass have been reported to have been caught in the Essex and Parker rivers, as well as the Merrimack this past week and with the warm weather heading our way, fishing in the Merrimack and other fishing haunts around the Port should bust wide open any day.
Earlier this past week found fish just above the Route 1 Bridge, right up to the Point Shores area. While the fish were not thick, they were spread over a wide area enjoying the warmer up-river waters. The windier days had the fish hugging the banks of the river and an offering of an albino sluggo on a small lead head seemed to be the preferred meal.
Mid-week, the fish were not quite as hungry up river so I tried my luck drifting the Joppa Flats area as well as the waters just off the basin on the outgoing tide. I picked up several small striped bass on each drift and on these mornings the fly rod out-fished the spinning gear by a 2 to 1 margin. Clouser Minnows in chartreuse and green as well as deceivers and small sand eel patterns all worked well, with most fish hitting the fly on the “drop back”.
Surfcasting along the ocean front has also yielded fish over the last week, with fish being caught from Atty. May’s all the way to the South Jetty. Metal and top-water lures as well as buck-tail jigs all proved worthy of catching fish.
***
When I visited Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island this past Tuesday, she already had three “keepers” up on her photo board. One lucky angler scored a 24 lb. bass on the incoming tide on the ocean front.
Kay reports that shore fishermen have been doing well in the river at Plum Island point using worms and clams as well as artificial lures, with buck-tail jigs working best. The bottom half of the outgoing tide seems to be the best time at this spot.
Fly and Spin anglers wading on Joppa Flats have had success of late with top water lures from sliders to poppers. The aggressive spring schoolies are knocking them clean out of the water on some hits!
Surfland is open from 6am to 8pm weekdays and 5am to 8pm on weekends.
***
Nat Moody and Derek Springer, proprietors of First Light Anglers, have moved their store from Manchester-by-the-Sea to Main Street in Rowley. This is a good thing for Port area anglers, especially fly fishermen.
Nat and Derek are experienced fishermen who beyond providing a great store to shop in for all your fly fishing needs, are excellent fishing guides offering both shore and boat trips. In addition, they offer tuna charters come the fall, which is a real blast on the fly or light spinning tackle.
Derek reported good fishing in the Essex and Parker River as well as down by Crane’s Beach.
***
If you’d prefer some deep sea fishing, George at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reports good Cod and Haddock fishing with the first mackerel trip scheduled for this coming Saturday.
Pool fish have weighed from a modest 13 pound wolfish to a hefty 42 pound cod caught last week. Plenty of market sized fish have been caught on each trip.
The trips run Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May and move to a full seven day schedule come June. Night trips will also resume in June.
May 19, 2004
While the fish have been resident in force around the Cape and Islands as well as the south shore for sometime now, our saltwater season here has really just started to get underway. School striped bass have been reported to have been caught in the Essex and Parker rivers, as well as the Merrimack this past week and with the warm weather heading our way, fishing in the Merrimack and other fishing haunts around the Port should bust wide open any day.
Earlier this past week found fish just above the Route 1 Bridge, right up to the Point Shores area. While the fish were not thick, they were spread over a wide area enjoying the warmer up-river waters. The windier days had the fish hugging the banks of the river and an offering of an albino sluggo on a small lead head seemed to be the preferred meal.
Mid-week, the fish were not quite as hungry up river so I tried my luck drifting the Joppa Flats area as well as the waters just off the basin on the outgoing tide. I picked up several small striped bass on each drift and on these mornings the fly rod out-fished the spinning gear by a 2 to 1 margin. Clouser Minnows in chartreuse and green as well as deceivers and small sand eel patterns all worked well, with most fish hitting the fly on the “drop back”.
Surfcasting along the ocean front has also yielded fish over the last week, with fish being caught from Atty. May’s all the way to the South Jetty. Metal and top-water lures as well as buck-tail jigs all proved worthy of catching fish.
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When I visited Kay Moulton at Surfland Bait and Tackle on Plum Island this past Tuesday, she already had three “keepers” up on her photo board. One lucky angler scored a 24 lb. bass on the incoming tide on the ocean front.
Kay reports that shore fishermen have been doing well in the river at Plum Island point using worms and clams as well as artificial lures, with buck-tail jigs working best. The bottom half of the outgoing tide seems to be the best time at this spot.
Fly and Spin anglers wading on Joppa Flats have had success of late with top water lures from sliders to poppers. The aggressive spring schoolies are knocking them clean out of the water on some hits!
Surfland is open from 6am to 8pm weekdays and 5am to 8pm on weekends.
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Nat Moody and Derek Springer, proprietors of First Light Anglers, have moved their store from Manchester-by-the-Sea to Main Street in Rowley. This is a good thing for Port area anglers, especially fly fishermen.
Nat and Derek are experienced fishermen who beyond providing a great store to shop in for all your fly fishing needs, are excellent fishing guides offering both shore and boat trips. In addition, they offer tuna charters come the fall, which is a real blast on the fly or light spinning tackle.
Derek reported good fishing in the Essex and Parker River as well as down by Crane’s Beach.
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If you’d prefer some deep sea fishing, George at Captains Fishing Parties on Plum Island reports good Cod and Haddock fishing with the first mackerel trip scheduled for this coming Saturday.
Pool fish have weighed from a modest 13 pound wolfish to a hefty 42 pound cod caught last week. Plenty of market sized fish have been caught on each trip.
The trips run Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May and move to a full seven day schedule come June. Night trips will also resume in June.
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