August Dwindles and the Fall Migration Looms

Frank Dwyer
August 26, 2005

As the waning days of August come to an end, the fishing action seems to be slowly improving, almost signaling the beginning of the fall migration. While still a few weeks away from the frenzy that is the fall migration, fishing has certainly improved from a few weeks ago.

A wide array of fish are available for anglers to target, with good table fare like Fluke and Flounder readily available and game fish like Tuna and Striped Bass all available for the taking.


Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing from shore has improved for surfcasters as both striped bass and bluefish have been taken from area beaches. Fly fishermen using fast sinking lines along the rocky coastline on the Neck have also taken decent numbers of striped bass.

Salem: (4 hooks)There have been good numbers of bass in Salem Harbor this week, with several early morning feeds as bass chased peanut bunker to the surface. Bigger fish have been taken by the outer islands as plugs, tube-n-worm and bait have all been attracting keeper sized bass. Bluefish continue to remain all around Salem.

Beverly: (3 hooks) No shortage of bass and bluefish along the Beverly coast as fishermen from shore and boat report decent action with striped bass and bluefish. Fishing the Danvers River has continued to produce good numbers of bass, with some nice sized keepers in the mix especially at night. Bluefish continue to wreak havoc and take just about any offering.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) The mouth of Manchester Harbor continues to produce good numbers of flounder. Bluefish and stripers are also in the mix at the mouth and along the Manchester and Magnolia coast as both spin and fly anglers report an up-tick in activity. Fishing the deeper holes in the Annisquam has yielded bigger fish this past week, mostly for chunk fishermen. Bluefish continue to remain just outside the breakwater and Tuna fever is in full swing as anglers patrol Tillies and Jefferies in search of these speedsters. Party boats continue to produce excellent numbers of cod and haddock. The Essex Estuary has seen better numbers of stripers in the past week for both fly and spin anglers.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Bass and blues continue to be taken by anglers in Ipswich. Plum Island Sound and the inner part of Ipswich Bay provide a healthy mix of striped bass and bluefish for anglers. Shore fishing has not been as productive as for those in boats, but anglers continue to try their luck from Pavilion, Crane and Steep Hill beaches.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Anglers fishing the southern end of Plum Island have reported decent action for striped bass and bluefish from the beaches at the Parker River NWR. Parking Lot’s 1, 6 and 7 have all yielded fish with stripers and bluefish taking bait, plugs and metal. While not breathtaking, the action has certainly improved.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Striped bass fishing around Newburyport has been somewhat spotty over the last week, however decent fish have been found by persistent anglers from the Route 95 Bridge to the mouth of the Merrimack and beyond. Drifting Joppa on the outgoing tide from the American Yacht Club moorings out towards Woodbridge Island has yielded schoolie size bass for both fly and spin anglers. Bait anglers continue to land fish from Plum Island Point, mostly on bait. Bluefish continue to be landed from the mouth of the river and all along the Plum Island Beachfront. Fluke have been taken just outside the mouth of the Merrimack, near Ben Butler’s toothpick, as well as upriver by the Ice Breaker.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) Bass and bluefish continue to be the order of the day for anglers fishing from the State Reservation in Salisbury. Anglers fishing from the Jetty have reported bigger bluefish—to 12 pounds—just inside the mouth of the river.

Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) Just outside Hampton Harbor has seen a good mix of striped bass and bluefish. The beaches off 1A in Rye have also been quite productive for bass fishermen as larger bass have been working bait close to sure, especially at night. Pogies have been in the waters around Portsmouth and using this fresh bait when possible has been landing keeper sized bass for bait fishermen. Bass and Bluefish have been reported from the New Castle Bridge as well as by Fort Foster.

No reason to complain

Frank Dwyer
August 19, 2005

While the fishing is not tremendous—and never is this time of year—there are plenty of opportunities for North Shore anglers to wet a line and land a fish.

Striped Bass continue to be caught from Marblehead to Portsmouth, with most large fish still being taken at night. Bluefish remain in large numbers in our area while tuna have been a hit or miss proposition.

Marblehead: (3 hooks) There are plenty of bluefish swimming the waters in and around Marblehead, most in the 3-7 pound range. Boat anglers report stripers hanging around in pods just outside of the Neck, with many keeper size bass being taken on chunk baits as well as large plugs. Fly anglers report slower action, which is normal for this time of year. Surfcaster report decent action on clams, worms and cut bait from Devereaux Beach. Flounder fishing seems to be on the upturn, especially just outside the Harbor.

Salem: (3 hooks) Bass seem to be on the move quite often lately as a hot location one day is not so hot the next. Pogies can still be found early in the morning in Salem Harbor and live-lining this striper favorite will increase your chances of hooking a big one dramatically. Bluefish remain in good numbers in and just outside the Harbor, with anglers trolling large, deep swimming lures doing quite well.

Beverly: (3 hooks) The action for bass at the Salem/Beverly Bridge has been somewhat sporadic as anglers fishing with clam strips and tube-n-worm rigs report moderate success for bass to 35 inches. Anglers fishing from boats off West Beach and around the islands report decent action for bass, especially in low-light hours. Tube-N-Worm, cut bait and large popping plugs have all been attracting fish.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Surfcasting from White and Singing Beaches in Manchester has been more productive over the last week as anglers report good action for both bluefish and striped bass. Flounder catches have increased for anglers drifting sea-worms near the mouth of Manchester Harbor. Some herring remain in the harbor. Fishing from the beaches in Gloucester, surfcasters also report good action, mostly on worms, cut bait and clams. Boat anglers have been having good luck for bass in the 20-30 pound range in the deeper waters off Halibut Point. Bluefish remain numerous all around the Cape. School Bluefin Tuna have been reported from just east of Thachers Island, out to Tillies and Stellwagen. Trolling covers more water, but if you get the chance, casting plugs and jigs into fish on top can also provide a hook up. The Essex River has seen decent action for school-sized bass over the last week, but no large fish to report. Good numbers of Cod and Haddock reported for those who like to get out on the Party Boats.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Bluefish and striped bass have been caught in better numbers this past week in and at the mouth of the Ipswich River. Some nice surface feeds have been reported with bluefish and stripers churning up the water and taking both plugs and surface twitched plastics. Fly fishermen report slower fishing from the shores of Crane and Steep Hill Beach, with fast sinking lines and larger flies only registering an occasional hit.

Newbury: (3 hooks) With the additional beach front to work with, anglers have reported decent action for both bass and blues from the beaches at parking lots 6 and 7 at the Plum Island National Wildlife Refuge. Early morning has been good for top water plug action as stripers and bass have both been cooperative.
Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Bass have been cooperating around Newburyport, but mostly for anglers out at night. Bluefish have been in quite thick around Newburyport with the choppers venturing further onto Joppa Flats than in weeks past. Several times this week I was cut off when fishing for stripers on Joppa. Some of the bluefish have become quite large as they have fed over the last few weeks and some bluefish in the 15 pound range have been taken. Fishing from Plum Island Point continues to be somewhat sporadic; however decent fish continue to be caught every day, mostly on bait. Outside the mouth of the Merrimack, larger bluefish have been falling for large, trolled swimming plugs, as well as popping plugs twitched on the surface. Fishermen in search of Tuna report decent sightings but sporadic hook ups for bluefin tuna. Cod and Haddock fishing remains strong.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) Surfcasters fishing from the State Reservation have landed a mix of bluefish and stripers over the last week. Most fish have been attracted to bait much more so than lures, with clams and worms working best. Some anglers have been having success with bluefish by casting Kastmaster’s and other metals from the Jetty and Salisbury Beach.

Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) Like much of our coastline, fishing from Seabrook to Portsmouth has been fairly consistent for bluefish and somewhat more sporadic for striped bass. Larger bluefish and striped bass have been reported around the Isle of Shoals and there has been a few feeding frenzy’s reported just outside Hampton Harbor over the last week. The Piscataqua has been somewhat slow for bass, but bluefish have been active just outside the mouth.

Stripers a bit Finicky

Frank Dwyer
August 12, 2005

The summer heat has pushed many of the striped bass in our area to deeper water as they seek relief from the heated shallow waters of the North Shore. Bass have been much more active at night; however the next few weeks will see a resurgence of bass activity as the beginning of the fall migration approaches. Bluefish remain ever present, while cod, haddock and school bluefin tuna remain in good numbers.

Mark your calendars, as the Third Annual Leo Almeida Memorial North Shore Striped Bass Tournament will be held Labor Day weekend. Last year 350 anglers entered and $3,500 was raised for three North Shore food pantries, the Cape Ann Food Pantry in Gloucester, Our Neighbor’s Table in Amesbury, and the Danvers People to People pantry. For full details, visit http://www.northshorestriper.com/


Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing the beaches in Marblehead has slowed as the waters have warmed to a near season high. Fishing around the Neck has been more productive than the beaches as anglers look for deeper holes near rocky structure. Bluefish remain active around most of Marblehead.

Salem: (3 hooks) Bluefish have been both inside and outside of the harbor in Salem and anglers targeting them with light spinning gear and fly rods have been having a ball with fish ranging from 3- 12 pounds. Stripers have been reacting to the heating waters and moving to deeper environs, however night anglers have reported success with chunk bait off Winter Island.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Fishing in and around Beverly has been somewhat slow in the daylight hour’s, however bluefish and flounder have been taken in the sunlight by persistent anglers. Fishing the Beverly Fishing Pier at night has produced good results for anglers finding the right tide at night. Boaters around Bakers and Misery Island report good bass action at night.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Things have slowed for surfcasters off Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, with only sporadic action reported over the last week. The same story is being heard in Gloucester as well as surfcasters struggle to find decent action for striped bass. Bluefish remain plentiful, but most seem to be out of the casting distance of shore bound anglers. The big attraction for anglers with boats that can travel some distance are the good numbers of school bluefin tuna that are being caught about 10 miles off Thachers Island. Tuna have been taken by anglers trolling Green Machines and casting metal jigs and even tossing chunk baits. You’ll need at least 30 pound test and 300 yard capacity or a 12 weight fly rod to have a shot of landing these fish. Rockport and Essex striped bass fishing has slowed as well, with bluefish remaining the more prevalent catch this past week. Party boats continue to please their customers with good numbers of cod, haddock, cusk and wolfish.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Fishing from the beaches of Ipswich has been slow for anglers casting from shore. Many bluefish have been hanging around the mouth of the Ipswich River with a few striped bass in the mix. Pavilion, Crane and Steep Hill beach continue to produce for anglers willing to get out in the dark of the night.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishermen have gained additional real estate to work with on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge as parking lots one, six and seven are now open and ready for anglers to wet a line. Some reports of decent striped bass catches in the early morning hours, with seaworms and cut bait working best. The Plum Island Sound has also gotten better over the last few weeks with both striped bass and bluefish catches reported.


Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Fish have been finicky around Newburyport this week, even at night. Slurping bass have been on top working small bait fish from the central waterfront right out to the Toothpick. While most of the fish are small, some bigger fish have been in the mix, but most remain quite temperamental with plenty of bait and lure offerings going untouched. The Point continues to attract throngs of anglers, but most of the fish of any size are coming at night. Bluefish remain present from the mouth of the Merrimack and along most of the Newburyport beachfront. Some flounder catches have been had over the past week but are not as plentiful in weeks past. Many anglers have been heading out into Ipswich Bay in search of the school bluefin tuna that have started to populate our waters. Cod and Haddock Party Boats continue to please anglers with good market-sized catches.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) Some bluefish have been taken by surfcasters off Salisbury beach, most just after sunrise. Large plugs, Kastmasters, Rangers or Ballistic Missiles should do the trick. Bass fishing has slowed from the beach, but some bass are still hanging around the Merrimack with anglers fishing the jetty and State Reservation having limited success.

Seacoast, NH: (3 hooks) Striped Bass fishing from Seabrook to Portsmouth has also seen a slow down mostly driven by rising water temperatures. Anglers need to find deeper holes, or head out at night to increase their chances. Big bluefish have been carousing off the Isle of Shoals as well as some bigger striped bass hanging around the cooler rocky structure. The Piscataqua and Great Bay area have also seen a slow down in fishing activity.

Keep on Fishing

Frank Dwyer
Front Page!! https://home.comcast.net/~dwyer.f/Aug5FrontPage.pdf
August 5, 2005

There are plenty of choices for North Shore anglers as the fishing season continues to roll on. Bait fish continue to be somewhat plentiful and anglers are scoring good catches from both shore and sea.

Larger bass have been caught mostly at night by those utilizing live baits like eels, or large cut baits. Bluefish continue to patrol our shoreline while groundfish and tuna await those looking to get off shore.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Pogies remain around Marblehead Harbor, but you need to get out early to find them. Live-lining these favorite striper baits has been yielding fish into the 30 pound range. Fishing around the Neck has improved for bait, spin and fly fishermen.

Salem: (4 hooks) Early-risers report consistent Pogie catches in Salem Harbor and success can be had live-lining or chunking these fish. Bluefish are available inside and outside the harbor and have been quite aggressive. Winter Island and Salem Willows Pier continue to attract throngs of anglers.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishermen trolling tube-n-worm combinations in the Danvers River have been catching good numbers of striped bass. Fishing around the islands just off West Beach has also proven quite productive for bass. A live pogie set up on a balloon rig has been deadly around the rocks. Bluefish continue to please anglers on light spinning and fly rods as the fish get fatter as they continue to feed.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Flounder have been somewhat scarce, however persistent anglers have found them in Manchester and off Magnolia. Tuna are now in quite thick around Stellwagen Bank as well as 10 miles off Thacher’s Island. Anglers have reported success trolling for these speedsters as well casting plugs and mega-bait jigs to pods that appear on top. Striped Bass fishing continues to impress anglers at night with many fish in the 20-30 pound range coming out of the Annisquam and off the beaches. Bluefish continue to wreak havoc around the Breakwater and anglers trolling large, deep-diving plugs have reported blues to 12 pounds. Fishing off Halibut Point has been yielding more bluefish and dogfish, however some bass have been taken in deeper water. Party boats report good action for Cod and Haddock.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) The greenheads have become a bit more bearable around Crane Beach, but the best angling for bass remains at night. Fly anglers casting large black sliders have reported bass action close to shore. Bluefish remain plentiful throughout Ipswich Bay and especially close to the mouth of the Ipswich River. Pavilion and Steep Hill have also yielded their fair share of bass.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishing from boat off Emerson Rocks over the last week has produced a good mix of bluefish and striped bass. Trolling off the reservation beaches has been quite productive with many double hook ups on my boat during the past week. Striped bass fishing in the Parker River has slowed a bit, however some smaller bluefish have ventured upriver.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Upriver of the Route 1 Bridge has been quite productive at night. If you can find a nice hole or change in surface structure, dunk your bait and hold on. There are nice drop offs and holes near the Gillis Bridge as well as off Ram, Carr, Eagle and Deer Island. Joppa Flats has continued to yield good numbers of schoolie sized striped bass in the early morning, however the bigger fish are being taken at night by anglers using both bait and artificial lures, especially around Woodman Island. Bluefish continue to be available just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along the entire length of the Plum Island Beaches. Off shore, anglers have been pleased with the numbers of school bluefin tuna available near Stellwagen Bank and the Party Boats continue to please patrons with Cod, Haddock and Bluefish trips.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) With camping season in full swing, most of the fishing from the banks of the river at the State Reservation is of the elbow to elbow kind. Bluefish have been taken from the North Jetty for those anglers willing to brave the walk on the jagged rocks. Striped Bass—some keepers—have been taken at night from Salisbury Beach.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish have know thoroughly invaded the waters off the coast of New Hampshire and are available and willing from Seabrook to Portsmouth and out to the Isle of Shoals. Striped bass have been somewhat fussy during the day, but anglers fishing the rocks near Hampton and Rye have done quite well with chunk baits and eels. Further north, the Piscataqua has been somewhat quite, however bluefish and stripers have been congregating at the mouth.

Stripers , Blues and Tuna Too

Frank Dwyer
July 29, 2005

Striped Bass fishing remains quite strong for night fishermen and bluefish are still plentiful off our coast. Flounder and Fluke catches have been quite good for the last few weeks and school bluefin tuna have started to make appearances in our waters.

As we move into August, we can expect the fish to continue to head for cooler/deeper water and the tuna to arrive in more numbers.


Marblehead: (3 hooks) Fishing out on the Neck near Castle Rock has been good at night especially for those using eels or fresh cut bait. Surfcasters reported limited success working the beaches at night this week as skates have become more prevalent. Fishing just outside the harbor has been good for bluefish.

Salem: (3 hooks) Boaters have found good sized bass and blues from Satan Rock to Newcome Ledge. Live and Chunk Bait has been working well as has trolling deep diving lures. The Willows and Winter Island continue to attract fishermen and bass are still willing to eat, especially at night. There has not been as much bait in the water this week as in weeks past. The Salem/Beverly Bridge is still a good spot to search out bass.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Beverly fishermen have reported excellent flounder fishing just off shore. The largest sea worms you can find will work best! Bass continue to traverse the Beverly coast line with most anglers finding fish in the rocks early in the morning or after sunset. Fly fishermen need to let their fly sink for a solid 10 count to get down to where the fish are.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Manchester-by-the-Sea continues to be a good spot for flounder, blues and striped bass, but most of the action is before sunrise or after sunset. Good fishing abounds for those working the water in Gloucester as bass, blues and flounder are all plentiful. Trolling for bluefish just outside the breakwater has proved productive for many anglers. Using lures that swim from 18-25 feet seems to work best. Striped bass fishing continues to be strong in the Annisquam as I was lucky enough to get out this weekend in Gloucester and it’s amazing how many fish we landed in broad daylight with extreme boat traffic. The fish were all taken with cut bait in a nice 20 foot hole up river, with a couple of keepers in the mix. Halibut Point continues to offer up good action for bluefish and bass, especially in some of the deeper water. Off shore anglers in search of Cod, Haddock and Pollock have been pleased with their catches but the bigger news is that surface feeds of tuna in the 30-100 pound range have been spotted. If you can get close enough, these fish will take popping plugs cast in their direction or trolled lures like the green machine. Rockport continues to fish just as well as Gloucester, while fishing in the Essex River may be quite picturesque, the fishing has been slow.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) Ipswich Bay has been loaded with bluefish with many anglers hooking up on the troll and others coming upon surface feeds and casting to their catch. The mouth of the Ipswich River has also had a potpourri of bass and blues for the taking with fly and spin fishermen reporting success. Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches are all still good bets for bass, especially after dark.



Newbury: (3 hooks) Fishing the Parker River at night has been productive lately, especially for boat anglers fishing in low light conditions. Some bluefish have been carousing in the river as well. Plum Island Sound has had decent action for bass and bluefish with many fish being taken on cut bait. On the southern end of Plum Island, Sandy Point continues to be a destination for anglers in search of bass and blues.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Plenty of fish and pressure around Newburyport and Plum Island this last week. I fished last Friday night in-between some severe lightning storms, and we had many bass to the boat, with three over 30” in the mix. We were anchored not far from the Route 1 bridge and using fresh herring. Joppa Flats has been fairly inconsistent during the daylight hours, however good bass fishing can be had at night around the flats and out towards the Toothpick and Badger Rocks. Plum Island Point continues to attract large crowds of anglers in search of their dream fish. Some bluefish have been taken off the South Jetty and flounder fishing just outside the mouth has been good. Anglers have been motoring towards the ledges in search of tuna and the fish should become more plentiful in the coming weeks. Party boats have been returning to the dock with lots of fish and happy patrons.

Salisbury: (3 hooks) As it is across the river, the State Reservation has seen its share of fishing pressure over the last week. Anglers pitching sea worms, cut mackerel or herring and clams have all been hooking up with fish, most in the 20-26” range. Salisbury Beach has yielded keeper bass to bait fishermen at night this past week.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish have been patrolling the waters off the New Hampshire coast in good numbers from Seabrook to Portsmouth. As with other areas, trolling deep diving swimming lures tends to lead to a hook up with these toothy critters. Bass fishermen are still finding fish during the day, but many are casting into the rock strewn shorelines around Rye and Hampton. Further north, bluefish and stripers have been just outside the mouth of the Piscataqua while anglers working off Pierce Island have also reported decent fishing conditions.

Heat has Fish heading for Deeper Water

Frank Dwyer
July 22, 2005

The warm weather has finally taken its toll on fishing on the North Shore as anglers and fish alike seek cooler environments. Mackerel and Pogies have thinned out as the bluefish have spread throughout the area, but are still available early in the morning before heavy boat traffic starts.

Striped bass fishing is best at night now, with these nocturnal fish coming out to feed when the sun is down. Cod and Haddock fishing remains quite good.
Marblehead: (3 hooks) If you want big fish, you’ll need to get out at night for the most part. Anglers fishing the neck at night have reported good fishing action for keeper sized striped bass. Chunk herring or mackerel has been slaying the fish. Surfcasters fishing at night from Devereux Beach have been quite productive as well. Bluefish are still available just off shore and anglers trolling deep diving Rapalas having the best luck.

Salem: (3 hooks) Pogies remain available in Salem Harbor and those able to snag them live have been having their way with big striped bass. Bluefish continue to patrol inside and outside the harbor, with fishermen ending up with a few blues on the line even when not targeting the toothy critters. Salem Willows Pier continues to attract fishermen with bait at night working best while chunk fishermen at Winter Island have done well for bass.

Beverly: (3 hooks) Fishing from the Beverly Fishing Pier has yielded some decent sized keeper bass for anglers tossing chunk baits at night. A mix of bluefish and striped bass has been available in and around the rocks off Bakers’ Island, with mostly undersize bass available during the day. Worms and large sluggos twitched slowly along the bottom have been enticing bass to hit.

Cape Ann: (3 hooks) Surfcasters setting up on Singing Beach have done well with all manner of bait, including sea worms, clams and chunk herring. Anglers fishing from the State Fish Pier in Gloucester at night have had consistent action for bass well over the legal 28 inch limit. Chunk herring, mackerel or pogie has been working quite well, with or without a weight. In deeper water, fishing off Halibut Point has been yielding larger fish on bait in some of the deeper holes. Bluefish have been taken from most of the local beaches as well as just outside Gloucester Harbor and dogfish are becoming more prevalent. Cod, Haddock and Pollock fishing has been very good for the Party Boats with plenty of fish coming off Stellwagen and Tillies. School Bluefin Tuna rumors are starting to be heard.

Ipswich: (3 hooks) There are many bluefish to be had at the mouth of the Ipswich River as well as throughout Ipswich Bay. Striped bass fishing during the day has waned, with mostly schoolies available during daylight hours. Crane and Steep Hill beaches continue to produce healthy sized striped bass for night fishermen.

Newbury: (3 hooks) Greenheads are more abundant now than striped bass in the Parker River, but as with most of the area, stripers are active at night. Plum Island Sound has been slower than the last few weeks, but is still yielding striped bass and bluefish to anglers willing to put in the time. Sandy Point at the southern end of Plum Island has been producing some fish, with mostly bait anglers hooking up.



Newburyport / Plum Island: (3 hooks) Fishing upriver of the Route 1 Bridge this past week has yielded some decent fish for anglers using both fly and spin gear. Around the 95 Bridge as well as near Deer Island, anglers have been having decent luck during the day mostly for sub-legal bass. Night time around Carr and Eagle Islands and in some of the holes in the back river has been quite good, especially for bait fishermen. Joppa Flats continues to attract both wade and boat fishermen day and night; with anglers fishing at night with eels, large popping plugs or large black flies. Some small bluefish have also been carousing on the flats, most in the 3-5 pound range. Just outside the mouth, flounder fishing has been good, as well as just off the Plum Island beaches. Bluefish continue to patrol the ocean from Sandy Point to the mouth of the Merrimack. Look for a cloud of birds or just troll a deep-diving plug for a near certain hook up. Party boat patrons have been loading up on Cod and Haddock and even some Pollock.


Salisbury: (3 hooks) The camping/RV season is in full swing and many of those staying at the Salisbury State Reservation are crowding the river bank and jetty in search of bass and blues. Anglers using bait across from Plum Island Point have been catching good numbers of bass, with the best fish coming at night. Bluefish have been taken from anglers willing to brave the jetty to get closer to the mouth. Boat anglers fishing just off Salisbury Beach have been finding more Flounder than in the last few weeks.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass remain quite plentiful for anglers fishing the Seacoast. From Seabrook to Portsmouth, anglers have been hooking up with both fly and spin gear. Fishing near the railroad bridge in Hampton has yielded some fish to 30 pounds for anglers using live and cut bait. Further north, the rocky coastline in Rye has also been yielding it’s fair share of striped bass. In the Portsmouth area, Great Bay has been flooded with bluefish and bass, with both large swimming or popping plugs and bait working quite well. Blues, Cod and Haddock are all available around the Isle of Shoals.

Fishing still on the Upswing

Frank Dwyer
July 15, 2005

Despite our changing weather, the fishing continues to please anglers throughout the North Shore. Bluefish, Flounder, Striped Bass and numerous other species are out there for the taking.
As we get deeper into July, we can expect the striped bass to head for deeper/cooler water, and to be more active in the nighttime hours. Large bass are the norm at night and using an eel, cut bait or a large plug can put you on the fish of your life.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish, Striped Bass and Flounder continue to please fishermen around Marblehead. Just outside the harbor, flounder fishermen have been catching their limits. Striped Bass fishing has been strong from the beaches for surfcasters, with most fish being landed before dawn or after sunset. Bluefish remain quite abundant.

Salem: (4 hooks) The Willows and Winter Island have seen good bluefish activity over the last week. These toothy critters have been taking all offerings and are especially fun on light tackle or fly rods. Flounder fishing has also been good in the harbor and just outside. Bigger bass have been taken outside the mouth out to the Gooseberries.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Mackerel and Pogies are still around in numbers but you’ll need to get out early to find them. Plenty of bass off the beaches and around the Islands just off the Beverly coast line. Flounder fishing has also been good as anglers dunking healthy portions of sea worms have been rewarded heartily.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Striped bass fishing continues to be strong for anglers fishing the Manchester-by-the-Sea area. Boat anglers reported good action for bass from House Island to Kettle Island, mostly for school sized bass to 26 inches. Further up the coast, fishing activity in Magnolia, Gloucester and Rockport continues to be good. Fishing the rocks from Eastern Point to Halibut Point has been yielding many keeper size bass, most taking fresh cut bait. Mackerel are still around the Cape, but you will need to search them out before the sun is up and the boat traffic is heavy. Bluefish are still quite thick around the Cape and the ever pesky dogfish have also been showing up more and more. Fishing for the ground fish boats has been good with many market sized cod, haddock and pollock being taken.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Pavilion and Steep Hill Beach have been home to a few surface feeds this past week, with bass and blues feeding on top. Fly rodders with poppers or sliders have had a ball as have those with spinning rods. Crane Beach has also been producing for anglers patrolling the sand in lowlight hours.

Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River continues to yield striped bass and a few bluefish. Plum Island Sound has also been fishing well with a good mix of bluefish and striped bass. Sandy Point at the very end of the Parker River NWR has also seen a good mix of blues and stripers. Sea worms, clams and cut bait are the favorites among the bait crowd, while popping plugs have been yielding both striped bass and bluefish.


Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Plenty of company out on Joppa Flats at night these days as the larger fish are becoming harder to find in the daylight hours. Needelefish and large popping plugs have been working well, as have eels, clams and cut bait. Fishing from the AYC mooring area continues to produce good amounts of school bass—with an occasional bluefish mixed in—being taken, mostly on the outgoing drift. Fishermen anchoring just off the channel near the Toothpick as well as by Badgers Rocks have reported many legal sized fish taken on bait. Bluefish continue to patrol the waters just outside the mouth of the Merrimack and along the beaches and have been taken by anglers casting and trolling. Party Boat action remains consistent for Cod, Haddock and Pollock.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) No shortage of fishermen on the riverbank and jetty off the Salisbury State Reservation. Anglers have seen good catches of bass and blues over the last week, with bait fishermen out-fishing all other anglers. The Salisbury beach front has also been yielding both bluefish and stripers, however you need to get your fishing done prior to sun bathing times.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Fishing in New Hampshire continues to please those drawn to the coast. Bluefish and striped bass are quite abundant, with no shortage of school sized bass. Larger bluefish have shown up in the Granite State’s waters, with some over 12 pounds being caught. Fishing in Portsmouth, specifically in the Piscataqua and Great Bay area has been consistent with plenty of legal bass for those willing to put in the time.

Blue (and Greenhead) July

Frank Dwyer
July 8, 2005

Bluefish have thoroughly invaded the North Shore now and have chased some of the mackerel and herring off, but the fishing remains quite good. Larger bass have taken up residency inshore and anglers fishing at night have the best chance of taking home a hog.

Flounder fishing remains strong across most of our region as does the fishing for Cod, Haddock and other ground fish.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish continue to patrol the coast of Marblehead in search of an easy meal and anglers have been taking advantage of their aggressive nature. Trolling deep diving swimming lures or casting large plugs will typically get you hooked up. Bass fishing has been consistent, but mostly in low light hours as anglers utilizing cut bait, sea worms and clams scoring best. Flounder limits are easily attainable just off the Marblehead coast, especially just inside the harbor.

Salem: (4 hooks) The Salem Willows Pier continues to attract throngs of anglers with stripers, bluefish and even a few flounder being landed. Kernwood Bridge has also been fishing quite consistently with anglers drifting sea worms on a moving tide doing best. Fishing off Winter Island has also been quite productive for blues and bass. Mackerel have thinned out but are still available early in the morning for those willing to search.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Large schools of Pogies have been in Beverly Harbor and that is terrific news for striped bass anglers. If you can snag a large pogie and set up a live drift, that’s a very good way of weeding out the smaller fish and getting your self a fish over 30 pounds! Anglers fishing the rocky structures off West Beach and Baker’s Island have done quite well with cut bait and trolling a tube n’ worm rig. Bluefish have chased some fish to deeper water, and using bait in deeper holes inshore is one way to target bass with the blues around.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel have been thinning out around Cape Ann, however pogies have been around in larger schools, enticing bass and blues to chase them. Flounder fishing remains strong off Marblehead as limits have been reached by many anglers over the last week. Blues have been carousing just off the Marblehead coast and striped bass have been hanging in the rocks, especially at night. Anglers fishing the beaches of Gloucester, especially at night, have been rewarded with consistent bass action, some into the 30 pound range. Boat fishermen have done well with bait in some of the deeper holes around Gloucester as some bass have moved to deeper, cooler water. Fishermen reported good sized bass in 30 – 100 foot depths off Halibut Point. Flounder fishing remains strong from Marblehead to Magnolia and large portions of sea worms will work best. The Essex River has not been as hopping as the last few weeks, however anglers fishing for bass in low light conditions continue to land fish. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good around Stellwagen, Jeffreys and Tillies as the Party Boats continue to please their patrons.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Mackerel have thinned out a bit in Ipswich Bay, however pogies have made the move north and have been attracting bass and bluefish. Fishing from Crane and Steep Hill Beach has slowed in the daylight hours but fishing has been quite good for anglers willing to head out after dark. Boat anglers continue to score good numbers of bluefish and bass around the mouth of the Ipswich River.


Newbury: (4 hooks)

Suprisingly, the Parker River continues to fish well in Newbury, with schoolie bass still available during the day and larger bass coming out of the water at night. Boat anglers working the southern end of Plum Island have found good numbers of bass off Sandy Point as well as Emerson Rocks. Bluefish remain strong just off the beaches.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Fishing around Newburyport continues to please anglers of all methods. Upriver, anglers working some of the deeper holes with bait around Ram and Carr Islands as well as further up river by Eagle and Deer Island report good sized catches of bass. On Joppa Flats, fly fishermen fishing around the moorings of the AYC and near Woodbridge Island have reported good numbers of bass. Larger fish, as with most of our area , are a better bet at night. Top water plugs were the rule for spin fishermen on Joppa last weekend as stripers put their noses up at most other offerings, choosing instead to treat fishermen to the surface explosions that come from fishing on top. Further down river, fishing from the Toothpick to Badgers rocks has been producing good numbers of bass, with a few bluefish also venturing into the river. Anglers drifting with live or dead bait at the mouth of the Merrimack have also done quite well with bass into the 20 pound range. Plum Island Point continues to attract the largest crowds, with good reason as the fishing remains strong, if you can take the company. Flounder have been pleasing anglers just off the Plum Island beaches, with seaworms proving irresistible to the flatties. Bluefish remain just outside the mouth out to the MR Buoy. Party boats continue to bring happy patrons back to the dock as Cod and Haddock fishing has been good. Boat anglers should take note that a new “No Wake” zone is going to be set up in the near future from approximately Ben Butler’s Toothpick to Green Can 11, near Badgers Rocks.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) The RV and Camping season is in full swing and with that the Salisbury State Reservation has been quite crowded with anglers. Sea worms, cut bait and clams have all yielded keeper bass over the past week. Surfcasters working Salisbury Beach early in the morning or at dusk have reported action with both bass and bluefish.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) The seacoast remains hot for bass and bluefish. The mackerel that have thinned out to the south are still around the New Hampshire coast and with that, bass are still in close to shore. Bluefish have started to spread over the area, so the mackerel may push out any day, but for now the fishing from Seabrook to Portsmouth remains strong as bass cooperate with both fly and spin anglers. Cod and Haddock fishing has been quite good just south of the Isle of Shoals as the ground fish action continue to please fishermen.

______________________________________________________________________________Frank Dwyer is the Fishing and Outdoor Columnist for Eagle Tribune Publishing and is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Email him at dwyer.f@comcast.net

The Heat Is On!

Frank Dwyer
June 30, 2004

The warm weather over the last week has not yet pushed fish to deeper water, but if the warming trend continues, expect to work a little harder in your pursuit of striped bass. Bluefish have moved in quite heavily over most of the north shore, and while they may hinder your search for bass, they can be a fun catch on their own.

Overall, the fishing has been quite good over the past week with a nice mix of bluefish, striped bass and flounder for inshore anglers, while cod, haddock, pollock, cusk and wolfish are all being caught by the offshore crowd. Mackerel are readily available in all the usual spots and the July 4th Weekend should be an excellent one for fishing.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Flounder fishing has remained strong for anglers off the coast of Marblehead, with slow drifts bouncing sea worms off the bottom working best. Anglers fishing off Castle Rock have done well with both fly and spin rods. Sinking lines and large baitfish flies are the rule for fly fishermen while all manner of bait and lure has been working for the spin casters. Bluefish and striped bass have also been taken from Devereux Beach.

Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel continue to be readily available in Salem Harbor. Fishing from Salem Willows Pier as well as off Winter Island has been quite consistent with bait fishermen landing fish well into the 20 pound range. The Lead Mills is also fishing well, again, with bait anglers landing the bigger fish. Anglers fishing at night have done well at the Kernwood Bridge. As with most of the area, bluefish have been carousing just off shore, most in the 4-8 pound range.

Beverly: (4 hooks) The Beverly Fishing Pier has been popular as the warm weather has settled in our area. Most anglers use bait from the pier and do quite well. Anglers fishing around Baker’s Island have reported larger bass hanging in the rocks. Anglers have done well with a tube ‘n worm rig around the island and also with live mackerel and pogie’s, which are also showing up in more numbers. Flounder fishing along the Beverly coast has continued to please anglers in search of this delicious table fare.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel and pogie’s are quite abundant around the Cape and anglers have been doing quite well live-lining either of these for hungry striped bass. In Manchester, anglers casting from Singing Beach have reported larger fish, especially at night, with most using cut bait, clams or sea worms. Around Gloucester, fishermen have done well off Eastern Point, Milk Island and Thacher Island as larger striped bass have been taking up residence. Live or dead lining a whole pogie or mackerel will weed out the smaller fish and hopefully attract that linesider we are all hoping for. Wingarshaeek and Good Harbor beaches have also been yielding fish at night and the Annisquam continues to fish well. Bluefish remain in large numbers around Gloucester, so if you’re getting cut off, perhaps a wire leader is in order. Fishermen working the Rockport and Essex water have reported similar numbers of bass and blues. Party Boats continue to produce good numbers of ground fish from Stellwagen and Jeffrey’s.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) The mouth of the Ipswich River has had several mornings this week with a mix of blues and bass feeding on top, with birds overhead. Boat anglers have been having a good time hooking up on most every cast. Pavilion, Steep Hill and Crane Beaches have all been fishing well, mostly in early morning or evening hours.

Newbury: (4 hooks) The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches remain closed except for a small section of beach at Parking Lot 1. Typically the beaches begin to reopen sporadically in July, but don’t expect full beach access until mid to late August. Plum Island Sound has been fishing quite nicely, with a solid mix of bass and blues now available. Anglers fishing with top water plugs, metals, and plastics have all done quite well. The Parker River has also been yielding fish, but has not been as consistent as earlier in the season.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) The fishing around the Port has been excellent over the last week, but the pressure has also been quite intense with many boat and shore anglers targeting the waters around Newburyport. Upriver, fishing from the Route 95 Bridge down to the Route 1 Bridge continues to yield good numbers of striped bass. Anglers fishing cut bait in the deeper holes have done well for keeper sized bass. Fishermen drifting on Joppa Flats continue to land good numbers of striped bass with an occasional blue fish in the mix now. The drift on the outgoing tide on the flats seems to produce the best numbers of fish. Fly anglers with sinking lines do quite well, once a fly pattern and color is identified, which can take some time. In addition, top water and swimming plugs have been producing as well as sluggos rigged on lead heads. On Plum Island Point--which apparently has become some people’s personal dump site—fishing continues to produce good numbers of bass, with many keepers now in the mix, if you can stand the mess. Here’s my annual plea; please leave the beach as clean if not cleaner than you found it. Bluefish have taken up residence at the mouth of the river and have been caught by anglers from the MR buoy to Emerson Rocks. Plum Island Beaches continue to yield striped bass and surfcasters are now able to reach blues from shore. Party Boats are doing well with Cod, Haddock and Pollock.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass have been hooked by anglers surfcasting off Salisbury Beach. Try a ballistic missile for some long distance casting and swimming action that bluefish can’t seem to resist. Surfcasters fishing from the banks of the Salisbury State Reservation have done quite well for good numbers of keeper sized bass and some bluefish.
Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Good fishing action for the “Live Free or Die” crew as bass and blues have taken up residence along most of the New Hampshire seacoast. Anglers fishing out of Seabrook and Hampton Harbors have reported good numbers of bass, most interested in live or fresh cut mackerel. Bluefish have also been showing up in larger numbers. Further north, fishing the Rye and Portsmouth area has continued to please both shore and boat anglers. Like the party boats to their south, the ground fishing has been good off the New Hampshire coast.

Plenty of Fish Around

Frank Dwyer
June 23, 2005

By all accounts, this past week was quite good for fishing the North Shore. From Nahant to Portsmouth, fish of all sizes have been caught, including some monster bass in the 20 – 40 pound range.

Bluefish have moved in through most of the area and striped bass, flounder, cod and haddock remain plentiful. If you can get on the water, now’s the time to wet a line.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Bluefish have been prevalent off the shores of Marblehead as anglers either target them with any variety of top water, swimming or metal lures, or try to avoid them in their search for other species. Fishing from the neck has produced a number of legal bass for both spin and fly fishermen. Night time certainly increases your chances of landing a large fish.

Salem: (4 hooks) Mackerel are in Salem Harbor in large numbers and anglers have been using mackerel jigs to stock up on these baits and then live-lining them in deeper waters for bass in the 30 pound range. The Danvers River continues to produce good numbers of bass, with larger bass being taken at night. Cod and Haddock remain plentiful—and some Pollock--just offshore and at the ledges, while bluefish have showed up in larger numbers.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishermen fishing from shore off West Beach (when bathing is not taking precedence), and from boats near Misery Island have landed good amounts of bass and blues. Mackerel—live or dead—has been working well for the bait crowd and is readily available. Flounder fishing remains decent, but skates have become more of a problem. (Put a float on!)

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Mackerel are thick around the Cape and that’s good news for fishermen as bass (and blues) chase the baitfish closer to shore. Manchester remains a strong spot for Flounder fishermen as limits have been caught by anglers daily. In addition, the surfcasters have been doing quite well of Singing Beach with cut mackerel and herring. Fishermen fishing near the breakwater in Gloucester as well as near Ten Pound Light have done well for bass and blues. Shore fishermen have done well with sluggos and storm wildeyes as well as with cut bait, clams and worms. Rockport has also seen an influx of mackerel and with it, larger bass and bluefish. In Essex, the river has given up a number of larger fish to anglers working popping plugs and large bait fish flies worked with an erratic strip. The charter boats have reported good action on cod, haddock and Pollock with some pool fish topping 25 pounds.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Excellent fishing of Crane Beach currently, especially at night. Large black flies and dark sluggos have both been deadly on bass this past week. Bluefish have made it to the mouth of the Ipswich River and are scattered all over Ipswich Bay. While they may thin out the bass, they can be a real treat on a fly rod or light spinning rod.

Newbury: (4 hooks) Anglers fishing off Sandy Point, at the southern end of Plum Island, have done well for bass. Seaworms and clams have worked quite well for the bait fishermen while sinking lines and the reliable clouser and deceiver patterns have produced nicely for fly fishermen. Plum Island Sound has also been yielding good numbers of bass.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) There are abundant opportunities for fishermen around the Port at this time with mackerel, bluefish and stripers all plentiful. Upriver action above the Route 1 Bridge remains strong with anglers drifting in boats doing well around Rams and Carr Island. Sluggos and flies on sinking lines work well, as does top water plugs in low light conditions. Plenty of bass have been congregating on Joppa Flats with some days being harder than others to target these fish. Night time seems to be the best on the flats, at least for larger fish, as the schoolies are still quite abundant 24/7. Anglers fishing the ocean front, as well as Plum Island Point have been landed plenty of legal-sized keepers. Bait anglers have been doing well with worms, clams and cut mackerel, while plugs and metals have been attracting both bass and bluefish. Party boats have been producing excellent numbers of cod, haddock and Pollock.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) The good fishing was complimented this week by the arrest of several “poachers” on Ring’s Island for targeting and illegally keeping under sized bass. Let’s hope this trend continues as I think anyone who has fished the area has seen people keeping undersized bass. If you see something suspicious, you can report it to the Environmental Police by calling 1-800-632-8075. Bait anglers have reported fish in the twenty pound range off Salisbury Beach as well as bluefish carousing just off shore.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) There are plenty of bass from Seabrook to Portsmouth now as the fishing has really taken off on the seacoast. Mackerel are now in quite thick and with that many bass have taken up residence. Fishing around Hampton Harbor has been good with larger fish being landed by those live-lining freshly caught mackerel. Further north, anglers fishing around Odiorne Point in Rye have reported consistent bass action from shore and boat. In Portsmouth, the Piscataqua has been alive with all sizes of bass from 14 inch schoolies to thirty pound keepers. Off shore, the Isle of Shoals has produced more bass as mackerel have been around the islands. Bluefish, while not in thick, will be soon.