Frank Dwyer
September 9, 2004
Marblehead: Fishing is showing signs of picking up as fish are becoming more active along the North Shore. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have had good luck over the last week with both bait and lures, even with the less than perfect surf conditions. Surfcasters fishing off Devereux Beach have done well with chunk herring and large plugs. (Danny Plugs, Needle Fish) Boat anglers fishing with live eels have reported good action with striped bass around Brown’s and Gerry Islands.
Salem: Fishermen have done well off Winter Island using chunk baits in the surf near the lighthouse. Schoolies and keeper size bass have been in the mix over the last week, with the best action at night. Boat anglers have done well trolling tube n’ worm rigs around The Gooseberries. Action at the Salem Willow Pier is increasing as well.
Beverly: The Danvers River has been heating up and anglers casting cut bait from the base of the Salem/Beverly Bridge have done well at night with keeper bass being landed. There have also been surface feeds reported in the river over the last week. Boat anglers working the shoreline near Endicott College and the Landmark school have done well using both live and dead herring. Flounder have been caught near Tuck’s Point.
Cape Ann: Anglers fishing Singing Beach at night have reported an increase in striper activity over the last week. Anglers using live eels as well as cut bait and sea worms have done well with several keepers being landed. The herring in Manchester Harbor have thinned out a bit, but fish are still around for the taking. Fly anglers using large profile bait fish imitation on sinking lines have also reported better fishing activity this week. Fishing around Gloucester and Rockport has been somewhat consistent in the low-light hours, however most fish taken have been sub-legal. Bluefish are still around, but not quite as thick in weeks past. The Peanut Bunker have yet to show in any numbers, but once this happens, fishing should improve quickly. Fishing in the Essex River has been slow, but some stripers have been located by persistent anglers. Those in search of tuna have had limited success, with most fish being landed while trolling. Party boats have continued to please their patrons with good trips for cod and haddock.
Ipswich: Anglers fishing in the Ipswich and Castle Neck rivers have reported an up-tick in activity, with bluefish and stripers actively feeding on top several times this past week. Fish have been most interested in top water plugs, like the Rapala Skitter Pop or the Creek Chub Striper Strike. Shore anglers working both Crane and Steep Hill beach have also reported catch-able numbers of bass, with both spin and fly anglers tallying fish.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound has been slower than most spots this week however some big bass have been landed at night. Angler’s trolling broken-back swimming lures and tube ‘n worm rigs have done well. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches have been yielding fish, but most anglers are awaiting the typical fall feeding frenzies. The Emerson Rocks area seems to be the most productive stretch of beach.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing has certainly improved over the last week around the Port. Boat fishermen have done well anchored up near the Route 1 Bridge with cut bait, clam strips and sea worms. Joppa Flats has been home to consistent numbers of small school sized striped bass most of the week. There is an abundance of bait in the river with juvenile herring, sand eels and minnows all in the mix. Flies fished deep on the edge of the channel, as well as on outgoing drifts starting near the AYC, have led to consistent hook-ups. Anglers wading on Joppa Flats at low tide have also reported increased activity. Fishermen working the Woodbridge Island area at night have reported larger fish caught on eels and cut bait. Plum Island Point continues to draw anglers and while the action is picking up, most of the fish caught have been small. The beaches on Plum Island have also seen an increase in activity with blues and bass being landed on both lures and bait. Just outside the mouth, bluefish continue to be landed, mostly by anglers trolling the vicinity, with the occasional blue being picked up on bait. Those in search of tuna have reported sporadic sightings and landings, but not much consistent action has been reported. Cod and haddock catches remain plentiful for those fishing from the party boats.
Salisbury: Boat anglers continue to find bluefish just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along Salisbury Beach. Reports also had stripers corralling bait along the north jetty this week, with the fish actively taking flies and sluggo type offerings. Shore fishermen had consistent fishing for schoolies along the river at the State Reservation, with sea worms and clams landing the most fish.
Seacoast, NH: The Seacoast seems to be lagging behind other areas as the fishing seems a bit slow. Reports from Hampton have a few fish coming from the river, as well as the marsh, but overall the fish have been slow to take most offerings. Further north, around Portsmouth anglers have had to work hard for just a few fish. Bluefish have been active just offshore, with most getting them on the troll. Further offshore, tuna action remains spotty, with scattered activity and landings reported.
September 9, 2004
September 2, 2004
Fish Finder – 9/2/2004
Frank Dwyer
September 2, 2004
Marblehead: It seems the summer doldrums have continued a bit longer than we’d all like as the fishing continues to be somewhat slow. Bait has been thin in the waters around Marblehead, and anglers are working hard to find fish. Shore bound anglers have found fish off Devereux Beach as well as off the Neck, with bait anglers scoring more consistently.
Salem: Early morning and night continues to be the time to fish if you’re searching for bigger fish. While the last week of weather has been quite nice, fishing during the day has been a bit slow, with the exception being bluefish that have still been cooperating in the Harbor and around the Islands. Anglers fishing off the Salem Willows Pier have reported a few keeper bass with the Danvers River also producing fish. Anglers dunking worms continue to land flounder.
Beverly: Striped Bass have been landed off West Beach and the Islands just off shore. Anglers trolling tube and worm setups as well as those using live eels have done well. Fishing off Tuck Point has also yielded bass and bluefish, while anglers looking for flounder have continued to be land these fish along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: There are plenty of herring in and around Manchester Harbor, and angler’s live-lining or chunking herring have done well. Fishing off Singing Beach continues to be a bit slow for surfcasters, but fish have been landed on both bait and large plugs. Boat anglers trolling tube and worms off Singing Beach have also scored both bass and bluefish. Further north, anglers fishing the rocks off Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport report slower activity for striped bass with many working quite hard for a handful of fish. The Annisquam and Essex River are full of bait (sand eels mostly) however the fishing has been quite spotty. Offshore, party boats continue to land good numbers of ground fish and anglers in search of tuna have reported many sightings, but fewer landings.
Ipswich: Most of the activity around Ipswich continues to be in the early morning or in the evening. Fly anglers fishing off Cranes Beach have reported a few evenings with stripers chasing sand eels right up on to the beach and taking flies in the wash. Boat fishermen have reported a few surface feeds at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week, but the activity is far from predictable. Once the peanut bunker show up in numbers, the fishing should improve drastically.
Newbury: With the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches now completely open, it seems more fish are being caught there. Emerson Rocks has been home to several surface feeds with a mix of blues and bass over the past week. Anglers working the night patrol off the beaches have also been scoring bass on both bait and large plugs. Plum Island Sound has been quiet over the past week with anglers having to work to find fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: I fished upriver of the Route 1 Bridge on Wednesday evening and found cooperative schoolie bass around Carr and Ram Island and further upriver by Eagle and Deer Island. The fish were hitting sluggos rigged on a small lead head which I was twitching quite slowly along the bottom of the river. Earlier in the week, I found bass drifting the mooring area by the AYC as well as just off the channel by the Captain’s Fishing Party boats off Plum Island Point. There are plenty of sand eels and silversides in the river as evidenced by the many terns feeding on them. I also tried using sand eels for bait quite successfully both anchored and drifting. Further down river, anglers drifting through the river and out the mouth on the outgoing tide have done well drifting whole herring. Surfcasters continue to score bass in the river off the Point, with sea worms, clams and chunk bait all producing fish. The Plum Island beach front has also been home to some fish over the past week, and the crowds are quite smaller than those at the mouth of the river. Anglers fishing offshore have scored a few tuna, but all are hoping the activity picks up in the coming weeks. Party boats continue to please their patrons with good numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Boats fishing off the Salisbury beachfront has found small pods of striped bass, especially up against the North Jetty. Surfcasters have faired well at night with bait, but lures and flies have not been attracting as many fish. Crowds continue to flock to the State Reservation to try their luck in the river and have had fairly consistent action on school sized bass. Bluefish have been scarce, but have made a few runs through the river over the last week.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Hampton Beach has been fair this past week with many small fish being landed and a few keepers in the mix. Fishing in the marsh area has also seen an increase in fish activity. Sea worms and chunk herring seem to be the preferred bait. In the Piscataqua, fish continue to be landed as anglers drift the river using flies on sinking lines as well as using sluggos and other plastics. The Isle of Shoals has had some larger stripers landed over the last week. Tuna activity remains light.
September 2, 2004
Marblehead: It seems the summer doldrums have continued a bit longer than we’d all like as the fishing continues to be somewhat slow. Bait has been thin in the waters around Marblehead, and anglers are working hard to find fish. Shore bound anglers have found fish off Devereux Beach as well as off the Neck, with bait anglers scoring more consistently.
Salem: Early morning and night continues to be the time to fish if you’re searching for bigger fish. While the last week of weather has been quite nice, fishing during the day has been a bit slow, with the exception being bluefish that have still been cooperating in the Harbor and around the Islands. Anglers fishing off the Salem Willows Pier have reported a few keeper bass with the Danvers River also producing fish. Anglers dunking worms continue to land flounder.
Beverly: Striped Bass have been landed off West Beach and the Islands just off shore. Anglers trolling tube and worm setups as well as those using live eels have done well. Fishing off Tuck Point has also yielded bass and bluefish, while anglers looking for flounder have continued to be land these fish along the Beverly shoreline.
Cape Ann: There are plenty of herring in and around Manchester Harbor, and angler’s live-lining or chunking herring have done well. Fishing off Singing Beach continues to be a bit slow for surfcasters, but fish have been landed on both bait and large plugs. Boat anglers trolling tube and worms off Singing Beach have also scored both bass and bluefish. Further north, anglers fishing the rocks off Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport report slower activity for striped bass with many working quite hard for a handful of fish. The Annisquam and Essex River are full of bait (sand eels mostly) however the fishing has been quite spotty. Offshore, party boats continue to land good numbers of ground fish and anglers in search of tuna have reported many sightings, but fewer landings.
Ipswich: Most of the activity around Ipswich continues to be in the early morning or in the evening. Fly anglers fishing off Cranes Beach have reported a few evenings with stripers chasing sand eels right up on to the beach and taking flies in the wash. Boat fishermen have reported a few surface feeds at the mouth of the Ipswich River this past week, but the activity is far from predictable. Once the peanut bunker show up in numbers, the fishing should improve drastically.
Newbury: With the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches now completely open, it seems more fish are being caught there. Emerson Rocks has been home to several surface feeds with a mix of blues and bass over the past week. Anglers working the night patrol off the beaches have also been scoring bass on both bait and large plugs. Plum Island Sound has been quiet over the past week with anglers having to work to find fish.
Newburyport / Plum Island: I fished upriver of the Route 1 Bridge on Wednesday evening and found cooperative schoolie bass around Carr and Ram Island and further upriver by Eagle and Deer Island. The fish were hitting sluggos rigged on a small lead head which I was twitching quite slowly along the bottom of the river. Earlier in the week, I found bass drifting the mooring area by the AYC as well as just off the channel by the Captain’s Fishing Party boats off Plum Island Point. There are plenty of sand eels and silversides in the river as evidenced by the many terns feeding on them. I also tried using sand eels for bait quite successfully both anchored and drifting. Further down river, anglers drifting through the river and out the mouth on the outgoing tide have done well drifting whole herring. Surfcasters continue to score bass in the river off the Point, with sea worms, clams and chunk bait all producing fish. The Plum Island beach front has also been home to some fish over the past week, and the crowds are quite smaller than those at the mouth of the river. Anglers fishing offshore have scored a few tuna, but all are hoping the activity picks up in the coming weeks. Party boats continue to please their patrons with good numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Boats fishing off the Salisbury beachfront has found small pods of striped bass, especially up against the North Jetty. Surfcasters have faired well at night with bait, but lures and flies have not been attracting as many fish. Crowds continue to flock to the State Reservation to try their luck in the river and have had fairly consistent action on school sized bass. Bluefish have been scarce, but have made a few runs through the river over the last week.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Hampton Beach has been fair this past week with many small fish being landed and a few keepers in the mix. Fishing in the marsh area has also seen an increase in fish activity. Sea worms and chunk herring seem to be the preferred bait. In the Piscataqua, fish continue to be landed as anglers drift the river using flies on sinking lines as well as using sluggos and other plastics. The Isle of Shoals has had some larger stripers landed over the last week. Tuna activity remains light.
August 26, 2004
Fish Finder – 8/26/2004
Frank Dwyer
August 26, 2004
Marblehead: Striped bass and bluefish continue to be landed around Marblehead, however you’ll still need to work to find them. Fishing around Castle Rock and Chandler Hovey Park has yielded striped bass over 30 inches this past week, mostly at night. Anglers using chunk bait as well as large Danny Plugs have done well. Devereux Beach is also a good bet at night. Boat anglers have found large bluefish in deeper water. Flounder have been caught just outside the harbor.
Salem: Traditionally, mid to late August is known as the “Dog Days” to local anglers, and while the fish have been harder to locate, persistence does pay off. Anglers fishing the Salem Willow Pier at night have landed striped bass, some well over 30 inches. Bluefish have moved to deeper water, making them somewhat scarce to shore bound anglers. Reports have stripers also being caught in the North River.
Beverly: Boat fishermen have found bass off the Beverly coast in the vicinity of Endicott College and the Landmark School, as well as around Great Misery Island. Anglers trolling tube and worm set ups, as well as using live bait have done well. Those in search of flounder are still finding these fish just off the coast. The trick is to keep moving or drift to cover enough ground to locate the fish.
Cape Ann: Surfcasters fishing Singing Beach at night have done well with striped bass on both lures and bait. Popping plugs and needlefish have produced good action in the surf, and bait anglers using eels, sea worms and cut bait have also landed fish. Fishing around Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport has been quite good over the last week. Anglers fishing near Halibut Point as well as Thachers Island have found keeper sized bass in deeper water. Tube and worms trolled deep, as well as live bait have produced the most fish. Fly anglers report good takes on large flies (six inches and over) offered in deep water. Some bluefish have been in the mix as well. The Essex River continues to offer decent striped bass fishing with reports having good action in the early morning and late evening hours. Tuna fishing remained somewhat slow offshore, however the steadier weather we had this week should improve conditions. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock.
Ipswich: The mouth of the Ipswich River has been a good spot to be as boat anglers reported good action for bluefish and striped bass. The fish have been interested in Sluggos and Storm Wild Eye lures as well as popping plugs and broken back swimming lures. Fishing off Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach has been slower, as fish seem to be just out of reach form shore.
Newbury: Fishermen trolling tube and worms and swimming plugs have found keeper sized bass in Plum Island Sound. Bluefish have thinned out in the Sound, but it seems some bigger stripers have taken up residency. Reports from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have anglers taking good numbers of bass along the entire stretch of beach. The top of the incoming tide and the beginning of the outgoing seem to be the preferred tides.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing near the old boat ramp at Cashman Park can yield striped bass, as evidenced by the two healthy school sized stripers I saw fall for a top water plug on Wednesday evening. Bait anglers were also scoring bass. Joppa Flats has been a tough go in the daylight hours, but some anglers getting out after dark have found bass around Woodbridge Island as well as around the AYC mornings. Dark flies on sinking lines have worked well for fly anglers, while spin fishermen have done well on large black plugs and live eels. Further down river at Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the last of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide have had consistent schoolie action. Fishing along the Plum Island beachfront has been sporadic, with bait anglers doing better than most others. Offshore, anglers in search of bluefin tuna have not had much luck, but conditions should improve with the current weather pattern. Cod and Haddock catches continue to please party boat patrons.
Salisbury: As in weeks past, most of the fishing around Salisbury is taking place off the State Reservation, at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Much like across the river, anglers fishing the last part of the falling tide and beginning of the rise have done best. Sea worms and chunk bait are the main offerings. Anglers working the Salisbury beachfront have reported decent surfcasting action in the pre-dawn hours.
Seacoast, NH: Activity along the Seabrook, Rye and Hampton coast seems to be picking up slightly. Anglers fishing the state beach in North Hampton have had good luck with school sized striped bass. Further north, the Piscataqua has also had some decent fishing over the past week, including decent fish activity around the Navy Yard. The Isle of Shoals and surrounding waters have held good numbers of striped bass, with some bluefish still in the mix. Tuna have been tough to locate.
August 26, 2004
Marblehead: Striped bass and bluefish continue to be landed around Marblehead, however you’ll still need to work to find them. Fishing around Castle Rock and Chandler Hovey Park has yielded striped bass over 30 inches this past week, mostly at night. Anglers using chunk bait as well as large Danny Plugs have done well. Devereux Beach is also a good bet at night. Boat anglers have found large bluefish in deeper water. Flounder have been caught just outside the harbor.
Salem: Traditionally, mid to late August is known as the “Dog Days” to local anglers, and while the fish have been harder to locate, persistence does pay off. Anglers fishing the Salem Willow Pier at night have landed striped bass, some well over 30 inches. Bluefish have moved to deeper water, making them somewhat scarce to shore bound anglers. Reports have stripers also being caught in the North River.
Beverly: Boat fishermen have found bass off the Beverly coast in the vicinity of Endicott College and the Landmark School, as well as around Great Misery Island. Anglers trolling tube and worm set ups, as well as using live bait have done well. Those in search of flounder are still finding these fish just off the coast. The trick is to keep moving or drift to cover enough ground to locate the fish.
Cape Ann: Surfcasters fishing Singing Beach at night have done well with striped bass on both lures and bait. Popping plugs and needlefish have produced good action in the surf, and bait anglers using eels, sea worms and cut bait have also landed fish. Fishing around Gloucester, Magnolia and Rockport has been quite good over the last week. Anglers fishing near Halibut Point as well as Thachers Island have found keeper sized bass in deeper water. Tube and worms trolled deep, as well as live bait have produced the most fish. Fly anglers report good takes on large flies (six inches and over) offered in deep water. Some bluefish have been in the mix as well. The Essex River continues to offer decent striped bass fishing with reports having good action in the early morning and late evening hours. Tuna fishing remained somewhat slow offshore, however the steadier weather we had this week should improve conditions. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock.
Ipswich: The mouth of the Ipswich River has been a good spot to be as boat anglers reported good action for bluefish and striped bass. The fish have been interested in Sluggos and Storm Wild Eye lures as well as popping plugs and broken back swimming lures. Fishing off Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach has been slower, as fish seem to be just out of reach form shore.
Newbury: Fishermen trolling tube and worms and swimming plugs have found keeper sized bass in Plum Island Sound. Bluefish have thinned out in the Sound, but it seems some bigger stripers have taken up residency. Reports from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have anglers taking good numbers of bass along the entire stretch of beach. The top of the incoming tide and the beginning of the outgoing seem to be the preferred tides.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing near the old boat ramp at Cashman Park can yield striped bass, as evidenced by the two healthy school sized stripers I saw fall for a top water plug on Wednesday evening. Bait anglers were also scoring bass. Joppa Flats has been a tough go in the daylight hours, but some anglers getting out after dark have found bass around Woodbridge Island as well as around the AYC mornings. Dark flies on sinking lines have worked well for fly anglers, while spin fishermen have done well on large black plugs and live eels. Further down river at Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the last of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide have had consistent schoolie action. Fishing along the Plum Island beachfront has been sporadic, with bait anglers doing better than most others. Offshore, anglers in search of bluefin tuna have not had much luck, but conditions should improve with the current weather pattern. Cod and Haddock catches continue to please party boat patrons.
Salisbury: As in weeks past, most of the fishing around Salisbury is taking place off the State Reservation, at the mouth of the Merrimack River. Much like across the river, anglers fishing the last part of the falling tide and beginning of the rise have done best. Sea worms and chunk bait are the main offerings. Anglers working the Salisbury beachfront have reported decent surfcasting action in the pre-dawn hours.
Seacoast, NH: Activity along the Seabrook, Rye and Hampton coast seems to be picking up slightly. Anglers fishing the state beach in North Hampton have had good luck with school sized striped bass. Further north, the Piscataqua has also had some decent fishing over the past week, including decent fish activity around the Navy Yard. The Isle of Shoals and surrounding waters have held good numbers of striped bass, with some bluefish still in the mix. Tuna have been tough to locate.
August 19, 2004
Fish Finder – 8/19/2004
Frank Dwyer
August 19, 2004
Marblehead: Bluefish and striped bass continue to be landed from Devereux Beach, but the fishing has been somewhat sporadic. At night, dark plugs or swimming lures have been attracting fish. Marblehead Neck has been a bit slow over the last week. Anglers in boats have done well with live and chunk baits off Ram, Tinkers and Browns Islands. Flounder and Fluke catches have also been increasing.
Salem: Salem Sound has had an influx of mackerel and herring over the last week and anglers able to take advantage of these live baits have done very well with striped bass, some in the thirty-pound range. Fluke and flounder catches have increased over the last week as the bluefish have seemed to thin out a bit.
Beverly: Boat anglers have done well with striped bass just outside the harbor, as well as off West Beach and in the coves around the islands. The fish have been chasing herring and mackerel, and once they get a pod of bait cornered, watch out! Sometimes it’s a challenge to get these feeding fish to take your offering, however I find letting the lure or fly sink way below the action, and then slowly reeling or stripping back in works well. Anglers fishing the Fishing Pier at night have been landing keeper size bass on clams, worms and cut baits.
Cape Ann: Anglers fishing off White Beach in Manchester have reported surface feeding bass this past week. Fishing in Gloucester Harbor and from the State Fishing Pier has been good for the most part over the last week. Bluefish have been prevalent but some bigger striped bass have also been landed. Anglers fishing around Ten Pound Island as well as Straitsmouth have done well, mostly with school sized bass. Fishermen using chunk baits have landed larger fish. Those exploring the Essex River have reported steadier action for bluefish and stripers, mostly in the early morning or evening. Fluke and Flounder have also been cooperative for anglers targeting them. Off shore, anglers in search of tuna reported a slower week, due in part to the left over hurricane activity we’ve had.
Ipswich: Anglers fishing the Ipswich River for stripers and bluefish have done well with both fly and spin gear. The stripers seem quite interested in sluggo-type offerings and large profile baitfish flies. Surfcasters working the Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches reported slower activity, but some fish are still being landed, mostly in the low-light hours.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound and the Parker River remain productive for bass and bluefish; however the bluefish activity has slowed a bit. Fishing along the beaches of the refuge has been slow, but anglers fishing with clams and sea worms have landed bass. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge fully opened its beaches last week and this means the entire stretch of beach is now open for fishing. In addition, drive-on fishing is also allowed now, however there are some new regulations, including a log book that must be signed each and every time you drive on the beach. You’ll also need to purchase a day or season pass, as well as have all the proper equipment needed for driving on the beach. (tow rope, shovel, board, etc…) Contact of visit the Refuge for further information.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Shore anglers fishing from the Deer Island/Chain Bridge area reported slow going over this past week. The same can be said for fishing off of Carr and Eagle Islands, upriver from the Route 1 Bridge. Joppa Flats has also been slow, and while fish have been evident on several outings, they have been quite finicky and unwilling to take most offerings. Anglers fishing the higher tides on the flats at night have reported some keeper size bass on black flies and plugs, as well as on live eels. Fishing the backside of Woodbridge Island has also yielded fish. Fishing the Plum Island Beach front from shore has also been slow, but some fish have been landed, mostly on bait. Anglers in boats have landed flounder and fluke on the sandy bottom, just off the beach. Plum Island Point continues to draw crowds of anglers, and fish continue to be caught in the swift moving river. Sea worms, clams and cut bait have all worked for anglers, allowing their bait to bounce along the bottom. Fly fishermen and anglers using lures have reported less activity. Anglers willing to brave the jetties have also been landing fish, mostly on bait.
Salisbury: Most of the fishing action in Salisbury remains at the State Reservation where fishermen continue to cast into the river in hopes of landing the big one. Most of the action reported has been with bass in the 22” to 26” range, but some keepers have been in the mix. Sea worms, clams and cut bait continue to out fish lures and flies. Anglers fishing from boats have reported bluefish activity off Salisbury Beach.
Seacoast, NH: Surfcasters have reported sporadic activity along the Rye, Seabrook and Hampton beaches. The marsh area and railroad bridge in Hampton continues to produce striped bass. Best time is at night, with the most productive bait appearing to be cut herring. In Portsmouth, fishing in the Piscataqua has been good, with anglers reporting decent action around both Badger and Pierce Island. Anglers fishing around New Castle have also found cooperative striped bass.
August 19, 2004
Marblehead: Bluefish and striped bass continue to be landed from Devereux Beach, but the fishing has been somewhat sporadic. At night, dark plugs or swimming lures have been attracting fish. Marblehead Neck has been a bit slow over the last week. Anglers in boats have done well with live and chunk baits off Ram, Tinkers and Browns Islands. Flounder and Fluke catches have also been increasing.
Salem: Salem Sound has had an influx of mackerel and herring over the last week and anglers able to take advantage of these live baits have done very well with striped bass, some in the thirty-pound range. Fluke and flounder catches have increased over the last week as the bluefish have seemed to thin out a bit.
Beverly: Boat anglers have done well with striped bass just outside the harbor, as well as off West Beach and in the coves around the islands. The fish have been chasing herring and mackerel, and once they get a pod of bait cornered, watch out! Sometimes it’s a challenge to get these feeding fish to take your offering, however I find letting the lure or fly sink way below the action, and then slowly reeling or stripping back in works well. Anglers fishing the Fishing Pier at night have been landing keeper size bass on clams, worms and cut baits.
Cape Ann: Anglers fishing off White Beach in Manchester have reported surface feeding bass this past week. Fishing in Gloucester Harbor and from the State Fishing Pier has been good for the most part over the last week. Bluefish have been prevalent but some bigger striped bass have also been landed. Anglers fishing around Ten Pound Island as well as Straitsmouth have done well, mostly with school sized bass. Fishermen using chunk baits have landed larger fish. Those exploring the Essex River have reported steadier action for bluefish and stripers, mostly in the early morning or evening. Fluke and Flounder have also been cooperative for anglers targeting them. Off shore, anglers in search of tuna reported a slower week, due in part to the left over hurricane activity we’ve had.
Ipswich: Anglers fishing the Ipswich River for stripers and bluefish have done well with both fly and spin gear. The stripers seem quite interested in sluggo-type offerings and large profile baitfish flies. Surfcasters working the Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches reported slower activity, but some fish are still being landed, mostly in the low-light hours.
Newbury: Plum Island Sound and the Parker River remain productive for bass and bluefish; however the bluefish activity has slowed a bit. Fishing along the beaches of the refuge has been slow, but anglers fishing with clams and sea worms have landed bass. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge fully opened its beaches last week and this means the entire stretch of beach is now open for fishing. In addition, drive-on fishing is also allowed now, however there are some new regulations, including a log book that must be signed each and every time you drive on the beach. You’ll also need to purchase a day or season pass, as well as have all the proper equipment needed for driving on the beach. (tow rope, shovel, board, etc…) Contact of visit the Refuge for further information.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Shore anglers fishing from the Deer Island/Chain Bridge area reported slow going over this past week. The same can be said for fishing off of Carr and Eagle Islands, upriver from the Route 1 Bridge. Joppa Flats has also been slow, and while fish have been evident on several outings, they have been quite finicky and unwilling to take most offerings. Anglers fishing the higher tides on the flats at night have reported some keeper size bass on black flies and plugs, as well as on live eels. Fishing the backside of Woodbridge Island has also yielded fish. Fishing the Plum Island Beach front from shore has also been slow, but some fish have been landed, mostly on bait. Anglers in boats have landed flounder and fluke on the sandy bottom, just off the beach. Plum Island Point continues to draw crowds of anglers, and fish continue to be caught in the swift moving river. Sea worms, clams and cut bait have all worked for anglers, allowing their bait to bounce along the bottom. Fly fishermen and anglers using lures have reported less activity. Anglers willing to brave the jetties have also been landing fish, mostly on bait.
Salisbury: Most of the fishing action in Salisbury remains at the State Reservation where fishermen continue to cast into the river in hopes of landing the big one. Most of the action reported has been with bass in the 22” to 26” range, but some keepers have been in the mix. Sea worms, clams and cut bait continue to out fish lures and flies. Anglers fishing from boats have reported bluefish activity off Salisbury Beach.
Seacoast, NH: Surfcasters have reported sporadic activity along the Rye, Seabrook and Hampton beaches. The marsh area and railroad bridge in Hampton continues to produce striped bass. Best time is at night, with the most productive bait appearing to be cut herring. In Portsmouth, fishing in the Piscataqua has been good, with anglers reporting decent action around both Badger and Pierce Island. Anglers fishing around New Castle have also found cooperative striped bass.
August 12, 2004
Fish Finder – 8/12/2004
Frank Dwyer
August 12, 2004
Marblehead: Anglers fishing sea clams, worms and cut bait have done well with bass off Devereux Beach, mostly in the evening. Bluefish have been plentiful again this week, with boat and shore anglers landing fish from 3 to 12 pounds. Fly and Spin fishermen have done well in pursuit of bass near the lighthouse on the neck.
Salem: Surface feeding bass with birds overhead were seen this past week in Salem Sound. The Kernwood Bridge and Route 1A/127 Bridge have presented shore fishermen with opportunities for striped bass catches. Clam strips and cut bait have been the most productive baits. Fishing around Winter Island has continued to produce striped bass for both fly and spin anglers.
Beverly: Beverly Harbor has been home to surface feeding bass over the last week and it’s great to have this type of action in August! Bluefish are still around, but those with boats have done better as the fish seemed to move into deeper water. Anglers patrolling the beaches at night are finding striped bass, mostly with cut bait and live eels. Flounder still around the shoreline for those who want them.
Cape Ann: Manchester anglers continue to report decent action for striped bass as well as bluefish. Bluefish have not been as prevalent over the last week, but sporadic pods are around. Anglers fishing around Thatchers Island have done well as well as near Halibut Point. School bluefin tuna are on many anglers minds as these fish have been seen from all throughout the area. While seeing and catching are certainly two different things, there have been quite a few of these fish landed. Anglers trolling Green Machines have done well while casting spin fishermen have been using Hydro poppers and jigs. Some savvy fishermen have even landed these speedy fish on large mackerel or herring imitation flies. Party boats continue to return with good catches of market sized cod and haddock.
Ipswich: Bluefish and striped bass activity has been good off Ipswich Neck. Some bigger blues—to 15 pounds—have been landed. The mouth of the Ipswich has had good action over the past week, with bluefish and stripers both in the mix. Shore anglers have had decent action from Pavilion Beach as well as the beaches around the Crane Mansion. Small popping plugs like Chub Creeks or Skitter Pops have attracted blues and stripers and fly anglers have also done well with floating lines and popping flies.
Newbury: The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain home to many bluefish. Striped Bass activity seemed a bit better this week, with most of the action on schoolies, but some bigger fish have been in the mix. The reservation beaches continue to produce bass for anglers, mostly those using bait, although a few surface blitzes have been reported. Shore anglers fishing the Parker River near the Route 1A bridge have also reported decent striped bass activity.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Striped bass fishing has been fairly consistent around Joppa Flats. The outgoing tide over the last several days has produced good sized schoolies and several keeper sized bass. These fish have been taking sluggos rigged on lead heads, popping plugs and needlefish, as well as flies stripped fast on a sinking line. The beaches have also produced fish, but surfcasters have found the fish to be somewhat finicky over the last week. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds of anglers who have been landing good numbers of striped bass. Fly anglers fishing the sandbar off the Point have done well stripping clousers and deceivers on sinking lines in the fast moving current. Upriver, Deer Island remains popular with shore bound anglers in search of striped bass. Bait fishermen seem to be outscoring all others here. Fishermen in search of Tuna have found these fish all throughout Ipswich Bay out to the Isle of Shoals. Party Boats have continued to reward their patrons with cod numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Salisbury Beach is really only an option early in the morning or in the evening as beachgoers have certainly taken over. That said, surfcasters working this stretch of beach have had luck with both bluefish and striped bass, with relatively little company from other anglers. Sea worms rigged on a fish finder rig work very well, as do swimming and popping plugs, and metal lures. Much like Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation have continued to land good numbers of striped bass.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing the seacoast has been somewhat spotty, but anglers fishing the Rye coastline, off Route 1A, have found striped bass in lowlight conditions. Anglers working the Hampton marsh and bridges have also found fish, but have had to work a bit harder and longer to find them. The Piscataqua has been somewhat spotty, with schoolies being landed here and there, but the fish seem to be spread out. Anglers fishing further off shore and out to the Isle of Shoals have reported decent pods of bluefish and some school bluefin tuna activity as well.
August 12, 2004
Marblehead: Anglers fishing sea clams, worms and cut bait have done well with bass off Devereux Beach, mostly in the evening. Bluefish have been plentiful again this week, with boat and shore anglers landing fish from 3 to 12 pounds. Fly and Spin fishermen have done well in pursuit of bass near the lighthouse on the neck.
Salem: Surface feeding bass with birds overhead were seen this past week in Salem Sound. The Kernwood Bridge and Route 1A/127 Bridge have presented shore fishermen with opportunities for striped bass catches. Clam strips and cut bait have been the most productive baits. Fishing around Winter Island has continued to produce striped bass for both fly and spin anglers.
Beverly: Beverly Harbor has been home to surface feeding bass over the last week and it’s great to have this type of action in August! Bluefish are still around, but those with boats have done better as the fish seemed to move into deeper water. Anglers patrolling the beaches at night are finding striped bass, mostly with cut bait and live eels. Flounder still around the shoreline for those who want them.
Cape Ann: Manchester anglers continue to report decent action for striped bass as well as bluefish. Bluefish have not been as prevalent over the last week, but sporadic pods are around. Anglers fishing around Thatchers Island have done well as well as near Halibut Point. School bluefin tuna are on many anglers minds as these fish have been seen from all throughout the area. While seeing and catching are certainly two different things, there have been quite a few of these fish landed. Anglers trolling Green Machines have done well while casting spin fishermen have been using Hydro poppers and jigs. Some savvy fishermen have even landed these speedy fish on large mackerel or herring imitation flies. Party boats continue to return with good catches of market sized cod and haddock.
Ipswich: Bluefish and striped bass activity has been good off Ipswich Neck. Some bigger blues—to 15 pounds—have been landed. The mouth of the Ipswich has had good action over the past week, with bluefish and stripers both in the mix. Shore anglers have had decent action from Pavilion Beach as well as the beaches around the Crane Mansion. Small popping plugs like Chub Creeks or Skitter Pops have attracted blues and stripers and fly anglers have also done well with floating lines and popping flies.
Newbury: The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain home to many bluefish. Striped Bass activity seemed a bit better this week, with most of the action on schoolies, but some bigger fish have been in the mix. The reservation beaches continue to produce bass for anglers, mostly those using bait, although a few surface blitzes have been reported. Shore anglers fishing the Parker River near the Route 1A bridge have also reported decent striped bass activity.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Striped bass fishing has been fairly consistent around Joppa Flats. The outgoing tide over the last several days has produced good sized schoolies and several keeper sized bass. These fish have been taking sluggos rigged on lead heads, popping plugs and needlefish, as well as flies stripped fast on a sinking line. The beaches have also produced fish, but surfcasters have found the fish to be somewhat finicky over the last week. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds of anglers who have been landing good numbers of striped bass. Fly anglers fishing the sandbar off the Point have done well stripping clousers and deceivers on sinking lines in the fast moving current. Upriver, Deer Island remains popular with shore bound anglers in search of striped bass. Bait fishermen seem to be outscoring all others here. Fishermen in search of Tuna have found these fish all throughout Ipswich Bay out to the Isle of Shoals. Party Boats have continued to reward their patrons with cod numbers of cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Salisbury Beach is really only an option early in the morning or in the evening as beachgoers have certainly taken over. That said, surfcasters working this stretch of beach have had luck with both bluefish and striped bass, with relatively little company from other anglers. Sea worms rigged on a fish finder rig work very well, as do swimming and popping plugs, and metal lures. Much like Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation have continued to land good numbers of striped bass.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing the seacoast has been somewhat spotty, but anglers fishing the Rye coastline, off Route 1A, have found striped bass in lowlight conditions. Anglers working the Hampton marsh and bridges have also found fish, but have had to work a bit harder and longer to find them. The Piscataqua has been somewhat spotty, with schoolies being landed here and there, but the fish seem to be spread out. Anglers fishing further off shore and out to the Isle of Shoals have reported decent pods of bluefish and some school bluefin tuna activity as well.
August 5, 2004
Fish Finder – 8/5/2004
Frank Dwyer
August 5, 2004
Marblehead: Striped Bass remain picky around Marblehead, with most fish now being caught at dawn or after dark, or in deeper water. Small bluefish have been plentiful off Devereux Beach as along most of the beaches. There are bluefish all around the Neck and boat anglers fishing live bait in the deeper waters have done well in pursuit of stripers.
Salem: Bluefish action remains steady off Salem with fish being landed at the usual spots, including Salem Willows Pier, Winter Island and the bridges. Stripers are being landed, but not at the pace we had earlier in the season. Fly fishing has been somewhat slow, but some long wanders are still landing fish by letting the fly sink for a solid “10 count” prior to beginning their retrieve.
Beverly: Persistent anglers in search of flounder off Beverly have caught their limit, but have had to exercise patience. Boat anglers drifting and dragging their worm across the bottom have faired better than their shore bound brethren. Anglers fishing for striped bass from shore have found fish, but like many North Shore locations, dusk to dawn is the best time to get out. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters.
Cape Ann: Fishing the Manchester shoreline has produced good bass and bluefish action, with boat anglers tallying more fish than those who are shore bound. Larger bluefish have been present this week off Halibut Point and Magnolia. Boat anglers fishing the rocks around Gloucester have reported fairly steady action for schoolie sized bass, with a few keeper sized bass mixed in. Fly anglers utilizing sinking lines and large profile bait fish imitations have done well as have spin anglers using large sluggos. Fishing in the Essex River remains somewhat spotty, with bluefish catches outnumbering striped bass. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock and anglers in search of tuna have seen and even landed a few fish around Jeffries and Stellwagan banks.
Ipswich: Bluefish continue to patrol the waters around Ipswich with many fish being landed in and at the mouth of the Ipswich River. Anglers fishing Crane and Steep Hill beach have found some striped bass activity during the low light hours, with fish taking sluggos, popping plugs, needle fish and bait. Fly anglers have done well with deceivers, clousers and sand eel imitations on fast sinking lines.
Newbury: I was at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island last night, and while the order of business was collecting shells with my five-year old daughter and not fishing, I could not help but notice the fishy looking water, and for good reason. Stripers and blues have been landed over the last week from Parking lots 1, 6 and 7 on the refuge, and while the greenheads are still there, they are dying off. Cut bait and worms have both been working well for striped bass, while anglers using plugs, swimming lures and metals have all reported good fun with bluefish. The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain full of bluefish with some spotty striper fishing reported.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bluefish are still abundant around Newburyport, and we had several pods of 8 – 12 pound blues around and in the boat this past weekend. From the mouth of the Merrimack all the way down to Sandy Point your likely to run into many pods of bluefish willing to take most any offering. Shore anglers fishing the Plum Island Beach front have also had luck with blues. Striped bass fishing has been decent, but has slowed down compared to last week. Fishing at Plum Island Point continued to draw crowds of anglers, with many fishing sea worms and cut bait, or working sluggos in the fast moving current. Joppa Flats remains home to some finicky bass, which sometimes are quite evident, but unwilling to take any fly, lure or bait thrown at them. However, anglers using live eels have had some success at night. Upriver spots have continued to yield bass to anglers willing to hunt for them. Tuna rumors have turned into confirmations, with anglers finding these “footballs” offshore and willing to take both trolled and cast offerings. Party boats have continued to please anglers looking to fill the freezer with cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Fishing the Salisbury ocean front will certainly afford you more solitude than the riverfront of the State Reservation, but the fish seem more plentiful in the river. Fishermen setting up on the Salisbury side of the Merrimack have been landing both striped bass and bluefish using both bait and lures. Cut bait (herring) and sea worms on fish finder rigs are the preference of bait fishermen, while anglers fishing with metal and plug lures have done well. Bluefish are closer to the mouth, so anglers willing to fish the jetty have done well.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Seabrook, Rye and Hampton has been decent for bluefish but fairly slow for striped bass. There are some reports of bass being caught off Rye, mostly on eels and cut herring. Further up the coast, anglers fishing the Piscataqua River have reported schoolie action at times and bluefish at the mouth. Reports had the area around the Isle of Shoals slower than last week for both bass and blues.
August 5, 2004
Marblehead: Striped Bass remain picky around Marblehead, with most fish now being caught at dawn or after dark, or in deeper water. Small bluefish have been plentiful off Devereux Beach as along most of the beaches. There are bluefish all around the Neck and boat anglers fishing live bait in the deeper waters have done well in pursuit of stripers.
Salem: Bluefish action remains steady off Salem with fish being landed at the usual spots, including Salem Willows Pier, Winter Island and the bridges. Stripers are being landed, but not at the pace we had earlier in the season. Fly fishing has been somewhat slow, but some long wanders are still landing fish by letting the fly sink for a solid “10 count” prior to beginning their retrieve.
Beverly: Persistent anglers in search of flounder off Beverly have caught their limit, but have had to exercise patience. Boat anglers drifting and dragging their worm across the bottom have faired better than their shore bound brethren. Anglers fishing for striped bass from shore have found fish, but like many North Shore locations, dusk to dawn is the best time to get out. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters.
Cape Ann: Fishing the Manchester shoreline has produced good bass and bluefish action, with boat anglers tallying more fish than those who are shore bound. Larger bluefish have been present this week off Halibut Point and Magnolia. Boat anglers fishing the rocks around Gloucester have reported fairly steady action for schoolie sized bass, with a few keeper sized bass mixed in. Fly anglers utilizing sinking lines and large profile bait fish imitations have done well as have spin anglers using large sluggos. Fishing in the Essex River remains somewhat spotty, with bluefish catches outnumbering striped bass. Party boats continue to land good numbers of Cod and Haddock and anglers in search of tuna have seen and even landed a few fish around Jeffries and Stellwagan banks.
Ipswich: Bluefish continue to patrol the waters around Ipswich with many fish being landed in and at the mouth of the Ipswich River. Anglers fishing Crane and Steep Hill beach have found some striped bass activity during the low light hours, with fish taking sluggos, popping plugs, needle fish and bait. Fly anglers have done well with deceivers, clousers and sand eel imitations on fast sinking lines.
Newbury: I was at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island last night, and while the order of business was collecting shells with my five-year old daughter and not fishing, I could not help but notice the fishy looking water, and for good reason. Stripers and blues have been landed over the last week from Parking lots 1, 6 and 7 on the refuge, and while the greenheads are still there, they are dying off. Cut bait and worms have both been working well for striped bass, while anglers using plugs, swimming lures and metals have all reported good fun with bluefish. The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain full of bluefish with some spotty striper fishing reported.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bluefish are still abundant around Newburyport, and we had several pods of 8 – 12 pound blues around and in the boat this past weekend. From the mouth of the Merrimack all the way down to Sandy Point your likely to run into many pods of bluefish willing to take most any offering. Shore anglers fishing the Plum Island Beach front have also had luck with blues. Striped bass fishing has been decent, but has slowed down compared to last week. Fishing at Plum Island Point continued to draw crowds of anglers, with many fishing sea worms and cut bait, or working sluggos in the fast moving current. Joppa Flats remains home to some finicky bass, which sometimes are quite evident, but unwilling to take any fly, lure or bait thrown at them. However, anglers using live eels have had some success at night. Upriver spots have continued to yield bass to anglers willing to hunt for them. Tuna rumors have turned into confirmations, with anglers finding these “footballs” offshore and willing to take both trolled and cast offerings. Party boats have continued to please anglers looking to fill the freezer with cod and haddock.
Salisbury: Fishing the Salisbury ocean front will certainly afford you more solitude than the riverfront of the State Reservation, but the fish seem more plentiful in the river. Fishermen setting up on the Salisbury side of the Merrimack have been landing both striped bass and bluefish using both bait and lures. Cut bait (herring) and sea worms on fish finder rigs are the preference of bait fishermen, while anglers fishing with metal and plug lures have done well. Bluefish are closer to the mouth, so anglers willing to fish the jetty have done well.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Seabrook, Rye and Hampton has been decent for bluefish but fairly slow for striped bass. There are some reports of bass being caught off Rye, mostly on eels and cut herring. Further up the coast, anglers fishing the Piscataqua River have reported schoolie action at times and bluefish at the mouth. Reports had the area around the Isle of Shoals slower than last week for both bass and blues.
July 29, 2004
Fish Finder – 7/29/2004
Frank Dwyer
July 29, 2004
Marblehead: Plenty of bluefish in the waters off Marblehead, however our striped friends continue to be a bit picky and tougher to locate. Anglers casting bait around Castle Rock and Light House Point have landed some striped bass in the past week, mostly in the wee hours or after dark. Bluefish have been abundant for both shore and boat anglers with some bruisers to 15 pounds being reported. Boat anglers off Marblehead have faired a little better as the fish have moved to deeper (cooler) waters.
Salem: Anglers fishing the Salem-Beverly Bridge have reported decent catches of bass, mostly for those fishing at night. Eels and cut bait have worked well, while those tossing lures and flies have had a tougher time. Bluefish have been abundant for both shore anglers and those fishing from boats. Salem Willows Pier has produced both bluefish and striped bass for anglers willing to put in the time. Anglers casting chunk baits off Winter Island have reported some decent bass catches as well.
Beverly: Flounder have become harder to find as dogfish continue to annoy anglers, but plenty of bluefish for those interested. Anglers fishing just outside the harbor have reported marauding bluefish, many located after having a cut off while fishing for stripers. Fishing from the Beverly Fishing Pier has been sporadic, but some blues and stripers are being landed.
Cape Ann: Fishing off Singing Beach has proven slow, but anglers willing to fish at night or early in the morning have reported bass that are still cooperating. Bluefish have blitzed the beach a few mornings as well, but boat anglers have had more success off Manchester with the toothy ones. Surfcasters fishing Cape Hedge and Good Harbor beaches have had success with both bass and blues. Fishing the rocks off and around Rockport has been productive in the early morning hours and at night. Anglers using live eels in those rocks have landed keeper size bass over the last week. The Essex River has slowed down, with bass becoming harder to find, and sporadic bluefish activity also reported. Offshore, cod and haddock fishing has been good, with the dogfish not as much of a nuisance as a few weeks ago. Rumors are becoming more frequent and credible regarding school bluefin tuna sightings and catches.
Ipswich: Plenty of bluefish around Ipswich Bay and along Steep Hill and Crane Beach. Pavilion Beach has also seen bluefish blitzes over the last week. Striped bass have continued to be somewhat elusive, but anglers trolling tube and worm setups have reported bass catches in deeper waters.
Newbury: When the Parker River Wildlife Refuge has its “No Refunds, Greenheads are Here” sign posted, you know they are not kidding! Nonetheless, anglers braving the threat of being mauled by these flesh eating flies have reported bass and bluefish catches from the currently open beaches at the Refuge. No changes since last week, as Parking Lot 1, 6 and 7 are open for surfcasters. Bluefish have been hitting Ranger type lures as well as metal lures like Charlie Graves Tins or Hopkins. Stripers have been hitting sea worms as usual, but you’ll need a small float to keep the skates off your line. The Parker River and Plum Island Sound have seen plenty of bluefish over the last week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing the Merrimack River upriver of the Route 1 Bridge has been good for anglers tossing cut baits into some of the deeper holes off Carr, Eagle and Deer Island. Joppa Flats has been home to decent striped bass fishing, even as we enter the traditional “slow down” period. Fly anglers wading on Joppa have had a harder time over the past few weeks, but fish are still being caught for the persistent angler. Bluefish have been caught up on the flats as well, but the main action with the choppers has been right at the mouth of the Merrimack, or along the ocean front. Some big bluefish mixed in with the typical 3-5 lb fish. Surf fishermen fishing the ocean front have landed decent sized bluefish from the beach and anglers using bait have enticed striped bass to their line. Party boat action remains decent off Plum Island for bluefish, cod and haddock. As around Cape Ann, school bluefin tuna rumors are beginning to gather momentum.
Salisbury: Shore anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation resembled a picket fence from afar this past weekend, but anglers willing to deal with the sometime shoulder to shoulder conditions have reported catching good numbers of schoolie sized striped bass along with some good sized bluefish. Boat fishermen have done well anchored in the fast moving waters just off the Toothpick and Badgers Rock. Cut herring still seems to be the favored bait.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Seabrook, Rye and Hampton has slowed a bit, however a few surface feeds with bass and birds overhead have been reported just outside Hampton Harbor. Plenty of anglers were fishing the Railroad Bridge in Hampton when I drove by this past weekend, and one angler had a nice bend in his rod. Anglers fishing around Portsmouth continue to land good numbers of bass in and around the Piscataqua. Isle of Shoals still has reports of good bass and bluefish activity.
July 29, 2004
Marblehead: Plenty of bluefish in the waters off Marblehead, however our striped friends continue to be a bit picky and tougher to locate. Anglers casting bait around Castle Rock and Light House Point have landed some striped bass in the past week, mostly in the wee hours or after dark. Bluefish have been abundant for both shore and boat anglers with some bruisers to 15 pounds being reported. Boat anglers off Marblehead have faired a little better as the fish have moved to deeper (cooler) waters.
Salem: Anglers fishing the Salem-Beverly Bridge have reported decent catches of bass, mostly for those fishing at night. Eels and cut bait have worked well, while those tossing lures and flies have had a tougher time. Bluefish have been abundant for both shore anglers and those fishing from boats. Salem Willows Pier has produced both bluefish and striped bass for anglers willing to put in the time. Anglers casting chunk baits off Winter Island have reported some decent bass catches as well.
Beverly: Flounder have become harder to find as dogfish continue to annoy anglers, but plenty of bluefish for those interested. Anglers fishing just outside the harbor have reported marauding bluefish, many located after having a cut off while fishing for stripers. Fishing from the Beverly Fishing Pier has been sporadic, but some blues and stripers are being landed.
Cape Ann: Fishing off Singing Beach has proven slow, but anglers willing to fish at night or early in the morning have reported bass that are still cooperating. Bluefish have blitzed the beach a few mornings as well, but boat anglers have had more success off Manchester with the toothy ones. Surfcasters fishing Cape Hedge and Good Harbor beaches have had success with both bass and blues. Fishing the rocks off and around Rockport has been productive in the early morning hours and at night. Anglers using live eels in those rocks have landed keeper size bass over the last week. The Essex River has slowed down, with bass becoming harder to find, and sporadic bluefish activity also reported. Offshore, cod and haddock fishing has been good, with the dogfish not as much of a nuisance as a few weeks ago. Rumors are becoming more frequent and credible regarding school bluefin tuna sightings and catches.
Ipswich: Plenty of bluefish around Ipswich Bay and along Steep Hill and Crane Beach. Pavilion Beach has also seen bluefish blitzes over the last week. Striped bass have continued to be somewhat elusive, but anglers trolling tube and worm setups have reported bass catches in deeper waters.
Newbury: When the Parker River Wildlife Refuge has its “No Refunds, Greenheads are Here” sign posted, you know they are not kidding! Nonetheless, anglers braving the threat of being mauled by these flesh eating flies have reported bass and bluefish catches from the currently open beaches at the Refuge. No changes since last week, as Parking Lot 1, 6 and 7 are open for surfcasters. Bluefish have been hitting Ranger type lures as well as metal lures like Charlie Graves Tins or Hopkins. Stripers have been hitting sea worms as usual, but you’ll need a small float to keep the skates off your line. The Parker River and Plum Island Sound have seen plenty of bluefish over the last week.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Fishing the Merrimack River upriver of the Route 1 Bridge has been good for anglers tossing cut baits into some of the deeper holes off Carr, Eagle and Deer Island. Joppa Flats has been home to decent striped bass fishing, even as we enter the traditional “slow down” period. Fly anglers wading on Joppa have had a harder time over the past few weeks, but fish are still being caught for the persistent angler. Bluefish have been caught up on the flats as well, but the main action with the choppers has been right at the mouth of the Merrimack, or along the ocean front. Some big bluefish mixed in with the typical 3-5 lb fish. Surf fishermen fishing the ocean front have landed decent sized bluefish from the beach and anglers using bait have enticed striped bass to their line. Party boat action remains decent off Plum Island for bluefish, cod and haddock. As around Cape Ann, school bluefin tuna rumors are beginning to gather momentum.
Salisbury: Shore anglers fishing the river from the State Reservation resembled a picket fence from afar this past weekend, but anglers willing to deal with the sometime shoulder to shoulder conditions have reported catching good numbers of schoolie sized striped bass along with some good sized bluefish. Boat fishermen have done well anchored in the fast moving waters just off the Toothpick and Badgers Rock. Cut herring still seems to be the favored bait.
Seacoast, NH: Fishing off Seabrook, Rye and Hampton has slowed a bit, however a few surface feeds with bass and birds overhead have been reported just outside Hampton Harbor. Plenty of anglers were fishing the Railroad Bridge in Hampton when I drove by this past weekend, and one angler had a nice bend in his rod. Anglers fishing around Portsmouth continue to land good numbers of bass in and around the Piscataqua. Isle of Shoals still has reports of good bass and bluefish activity.
July 22, 2004
Fish Finder – 7/22/2004
Frank Dwyer
July 22, 2004
Marblehead: While it may not exactly be the summer doldrums, fish have become a bit picky in the waters around Marblehead. Anglers fishing the beaches at night have reported decent catches on both live bait (eels) and chunk bait. (herring) Soft plastics and popping plugs tossed along the rocky shore at night have also produced fish for persistent anglers. Fish are still being landed around the Harbor, Light House Point and Castle Rock; you just need a bit more patience than earlier in the season. Bluefish are getting easier to find, but mostly in the smaller variety and a few flounder catches have been reported in the harbor.
Salem: Similar to many North Shore locales, Salem has seen a slowdown in bass activity, but as usual, those who put in the time are still landing fish. Again this week, fishing around Baker’s Island has been productive for anglers fishing both live and cut bait. Bluefish cruising along the shore, as well as in the harbor have pleased anglers with their acrobatic abilities. Anglers fishing the Danvers River have found fish, especially around the flats. Flounder fishing remains somewhat slow.
Beverly: Anglers targeting flounder have reported decent catches just off the beach. Bluefish to nine pounds have been caught along the Beverly coast, with spin anglers pulling them in on metal (Hopkins, Kastmaster, etc…) and top water lures (Ballistic Missile, Ranger, etc…) Daytime bass activity has slowed, but fishermen venturing out after dark, have done well.
Cape Ann: Small striped bass are still available somewhat readily along the Cape Ann coast, but finding the big bass will take some time. Singing Beach in Manchester has been home to a few reported surface feeds over the last week, but nothing fast and furious. Bait anglers have reported some catches from the beach as well, using sea worms and cut herring. While not in large numbers, flounder have been reported just off the Manchester coast. There have been a few schools of mackerel and Pollack off the Gloucester and Rockport with bass in pursuit. Large profile baitfish flies stripped fast have been working well, as have soft plastics. The Essex River has slowed considerably, although bluefish have been resident in numbers. Party boats are doing well with good size cod and haddock coming back to the dock.
Ipswich: Nat Moody at First Light Anglers in Rowley reported decent numbers of mostly small bass around Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach. He did say that there were a few bigger fish in the mix, with sight casting to these big bass a possibility, utilizing a sparsely tied Ray’s Fly, or similar sand eel imitation fly. There are plenty of 3-5 pound bluefish all along the ocean front and in the rivers.
Newbury: Reports have a mix of bass and greenheads off the Parker River NWR beaches over the last week. Anglers fishing sea worms and cut herring have reported decent sized bass from Parking Lot’s 6 and 7. There are good numbers of bluefish along the beach, as well as in the rivers and the Plum Island Sound.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bass have become a bit fussy over the last week, especially for anglers with an aversion to bait. We did manage a few bass on Rapala Skitter Pops over the past week, but had steady action anchored just off the Toothpick with cut herring rigged on a long leader with a small egg sinker. Boat anglers fishing with live eels on Joppa Flats and around Woodbridge Island have reported keeper size bass. Fly fishermen fishing the early morning hours from the sand bar at Plum Island Point have reported decent catches over the last week. You’ll need a fast sinking line to get your fly down quickly in the fast moving current. Bluefish have been available at the mouth of the river (from the jetties) as well as along the ocean front. The commercial season opening has certainly increased the company you will see on the water. Party Boats have done well with Cod and Haddock, but dogfish continue to annoy at times.
Salisbury: Fishing the Salisbury ocean front has been good for those willing to hit the beach in the pre-dawn hours or after dark. Sea worms and herring have worked well for bait anglers. Fishing the river from the State Reservation has been good for both bluefish and bass. Anglers tossing metal lures and soft plastics have done well, as well as those using bait.
Seacoast, NH: Anglers fishing the mouth of the Piscataqua River with live eels have done well with bass into the thirty pound range. Bluefish have also been at the mouth, all the way out to the Isle of Shoals with some large choppers in the mix. The lower Piscataqua and Little Bay have also been producing good numbers of keeper sized bass.
July 22, 2004
Marblehead: While it may not exactly be the summer doldrums, fish have become a bit picky in the waters around Marblehead. Anglers fishing the beaches at night have reported decent catches on both live bait (eels) and chunk bait. (herring) Soft plastics and popping plugs tossed along the rocky shore at night have also produced fish for persistent anglers. Fish are still being landed around the Harbor, Light House Point and Castle Rock; you just need a bit more patience than earlier in the season. Bluefish are getting easier to find, but mostly in the smaller variety and a few flounder catches have been reported in the harbor.
Salem: Similar to many North Shore locales, Salem has seen a slowdown in bass activity, but as usual, those who put in the time are still landing fish. Again this week, fishing around Baker’s Island has been productive for anglers fishing both live and cut bait. Bluefish cruising along the shore, as well as in the harbor have pleased anglers with their acrobatic abilities. Anglers fishing the Danvers River have found fish, especially around the flats. Flounder fishing remains somewhat slow.
Beverly: Anglers targeting flounder have reported decent catches just off the beach. Bluefish to nine pounds have been caught along the Beverly coast, with spin anglers pulling them in on metal (Hopkins, Kastmaster, etc…) and top water lures (Ballistic Missile, Ranger, etc…) Daytime bass activity has slowed, but fishermen venturing out after dark, have done well.
Cape Ann: Small striped bass are still available somewhat readily along the Cape Ann coast, but finding the big bass will take some time. Singing Beach in Manchester has been home to a few reported surface feeds over the last week, but nothing fast and furious. Bait anglers have reported some catches from the beach as well, using sea worms and cut herring. While not in large numbers, flounder have been reported just off the Manchester coast. There have been a few schools of mackerel and Pollack off the Gloucester and Rockport with bass in pursuit. Large profile baitfish flies stripped fast have been working well, as have soft plastics. The Essex River has slowed considerably, although bluefish have been resident in numbers. Party boats are doing well with good size cod and haddock coming back to the dock.
Ipswich: Nat Moody at First Light Anglers in Rowley reported decent numbers of mostly small bass around Crane Beach and Steep Hill Beach. He did say that there were a few bigger fish in the mix, with sight casting to these big bass a possibility, utilizing a sparsely tied Ray’s Fly, or similar sand eel imitation fly. There are plenty of 3-5 pound bluefish all along the ocean front and in the rivers.
Newbury: Reports have a mix of bass and greenheads off the Parker River NWR beaches over the last week. Anglers fishing sea worms and cut herring have reported decent sized bass from Parking Lot’s 6 and 7. There are good numbers of bluefish along the beach, as well as in the rivers and the Plum Island Sound.
Newburyport / Plum Island: Bass have become a bit fussy over the last week, especially for anglers with an aversion to bait. We did manage a few bass on Rapala Skitter Pops over the past week, but had steady action anchored just off the Toothpick with cut herring rigged on a long leader with a small egg sinker. Boat anglers fishing with live eels on Joppa Flats and around Woodbridge Island have reported keeper size bass. Fly fishermen fishing the early morning hours from the sand bar at Plum Island Point have reported decent catches over the last week. You’ll need a fast sinking line to get your fly down quickly in the fast moving current. Bluefish have been available at the mouth of the river (from the jetties) as well as along the ocean front. The commercial season opening has certainly increased the company you will see on the water. Party Boats have done well with Cod and Haddock, but dogfish continue to annoy at times.
Salisbury: Fishing the Salisbury ocean front has been good for those willing to hit the beach in the pre-dawn hours or after dark. Sea worms and herring have worked well for bait anglers. Fishing the river from the State Reservation has been good for both bluefish and bass. Anglers tossing metal lures and soft plastics have done well, as well as those using bait.
Seacoast, NH: Anglers fishing the mouth of the Piscataqua River with live eels have done well with bass into the thirty pound range. Bluefish have also been at the mouth, all the way out to the Isle of Shoals with some large choppers in the mix. The lower Piscataqua and Little Bay have also been producing good numbers of keeper sized bass.
July 8, 2004
Fish Finder – 7/8/2004
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
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 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.
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