Fish Finder Back in Newspapers on May 22, 2009

Frank G. Dwyer
May 11, 2009


The Fish Finder will make its return to the Eagle Tribune, Newburyport Daily News, Gloucester Times and Salem News on Friday May 22nd and run each Friday through the Fall.


In the meantime, I've been scouting the North Shore and have a few schoolies already to show for it. Fish are being caught sporadically from Boston to Newburyport and mackeral and pogies are beginning to show up in our waters.


Stay tuned!

Sweetwater Tune-Up

Frank G. Dwyer
April 7, 2009
Spring fever is in full effect and if you are like me you are itching to wet a line. I've been staking out some of the local ponds for trout and assorted other species like large mouth, perch and pickerel. Searching out these fish is a great rehearsal for when the stripers and blues arrive.

The State has been busing stocking trout and you can find the schedule and ponds and rivers stocked here.

You'll also find that other freshwater species will become quite active as April leaks into May. The State has excellent resources for finding a location near you to freshwater fish or you can use your Google skills.

Wishin' we were Fishin'

As warmer weather slowly moves our way, striped bass will begin their move up the coast and out of the Hudson River and as with every year, it can't happen soon enough!

To keep you occupied, the New England Saltwater Fishing Show will be held April 3 through April 5 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Should be lot's of great exhibitors as well as lessons, demonstrations and other fun.

Bird catches fish with Bait!

No Saltwater Fishing License for Massachusetts Anglers.....Yet.

Frank G. Dwyer

January 14, 2009

Saltwater fishermen will once again be able to take to the sea without a license, however one way or another, we will have to register with either a Federal Registry or buy a State License, whichever happens to be in place by January 1, 2010.

Massachusetts has wrestled with this question in the past and if a state does not have a registry (aka saltwater license) in place by January 2010, saltwater anglers will have to register via NOAA's (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Fisheries Service federal registration.

If Massachusetts does not have a saltwater license program in place anglers who fish in federal ocean waters or in tidal waters for anadromous species (migratory fish such as striped bass and salmon that spawn in rivers and spend their adult lives in estuaries and oceans), they will need to register with the Federal Registry. The registry is expected to be free the first few years with a nominal fee added in future years.

Those registering via the Federal Registry will need to include the angler's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and the regions where they intend to fish. The information will be used to conduct surveys on fishing effort and numbers of fish caught. Once anglers have registered, they may fish anywhere in U.S. federal waters, or in tidal waters for anadromous species, regardless of the region specified in their registration.

The registration will be valid for one year from its date of issue. Anglers must comply with applicable state licensing requirements when fishing in state waters. Anglers will be able to register online or by calling a toll-free number that will be publicized, and will receive a registration certificate. Anglers will need to carry this certificate (or their state license from an exempt state) and produce it to an authorized enforcement officer if requested.

Tule Elk Attract Elite Bow Hunters

I happened across this article in yesterday's New York Times. It's a very interesting read.

Photo by Bill Becher for The New York Times

Two Days Left in Shotgun Season

Frank G. Dwyer
December 13, 2008


The shotgun season for most of Massachusetts ends on Monday and overall the hunting has been good for Bay State sportsman. While the ice storm has slowed some areas of the state, others are still out tracking deer on the last weekend of the season.


Frank Sousa wrote a great article at the beginning of the season which does an excellent job looking at the season as compared to the size of the herd and how it relates to past seasons.


For the non-hunters that might stumble across this article, you should read at least this paragraph from Mr. Sousa's article:


"Deer density ranges from 10 whitetails per square mile in northwestern Massachusetts to 50 to 60 on Nantucket Island, where the state’s highest Lyme disease in humans is recorded. A special hunt was instituted last year at the request of residents. While animals were taken, the total was not significant enough to drastically reduce the Lyme disease threat.
Biologists estimate the deer population increases by more than 30 percent annually.
MassWildlife maintains deer densities between 10 to 30 animals per square mile, depending on habitat and deer nuisance reports.
Biologists indicated that a higher deer per mile ratio could be reached, but higher populations lead to an increase in Lyme disease, car-deer collisions, habitat destruction, and nuisance reports."
Merry Christmas!!

Archery Season Winding Down

Frank Dwyer

November 18, 2008

The archery season is winding down in Massachusetts and by all reports I've seen, it's been a decent season for deer.

For a look at recent white tail harvest numbers, you can visit the Massachusetts Deer Harvest Page from Mass Wildlife.

Mass Wildlife also has a great site with maps of all the Wildlife Management Areas in the state.

For some inspiration in the last few days of archery season, check out this article from New England Game and Fish.

Shotgun seson starts December 1st and runs through December 15th in all Zones expect Zone 12 where the season only runs to December 6th.

Fall Fishing in New England; A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Picture by Captain Brett Van Gelder
September 12th, 2008 - Boston Harbor
Bait: Live Pogie

Fall’s Bittersweet Arrival

Frank G. Dwyer

September 5, 2008

There was a distinct Autumn feel to the air when I was on Cape Cod over the last few days and back home here on the North Shore, and certainly the annual Fall run is on most anglers minds.

In the back of our minds is also the knowledge that after the fall run comes six months of sheer torture as we wait for Spring’s arrival, so get out there while you can.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) The saltwater fishing has improved as of late and should remain good until hurricane remnants put the fish down. The Neck and beaches have been good for blues and bass as plugs, plastics and bait have all been scoring fish. Fish have been feeding on peanut bunker.

Salem: (4 hooks) Pogies are in thick in Salem Harbor and with that larger bass are there for the taking. Fly fishermen using larger baitfish imitations slipped rapidly have been doing quite well, especially with olive and white patterns. Working your way around Winter Island and environs at dusk and dawn is worth your time.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Increased activity has been noted around the Cape as fish gear up for their southern migration. The Annisquam has seen an uptick in activity as bass have been active especially early in the morning and at dusk. Top water action has been good. The beaches in Rockport have been giving up decent amounts of stripers and some bluefish, while some anglers have found larger bass off Halibut Point. Fishing around Essex has also seen an uptick in activity, especially in the river. The Northwest corner of Stellwagen has been hot for both giant and school size tuna and anglers have done well trolling as well as casting spoons and even sluggo type baits.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Crane Beach usually heats up in September and that is the case this week. Bass and blues have been quite active off the beach for anglers using plugs, swimming lures and sluggos. Fly anglers have found cooperative bass near the mouth of the Ipswich.

Newbury: (4 hooks) Plover season is over on the Federal Reservation and the entire beach is open to walk-on and drive-on anglers. It’s good timing as the fishing has been quite good from Parking Lot 2 down to Sandy Point. Shore fishing has been somewhat hit or miss, but bluefish have been showing up fairly regularly in the early morning hours.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Fishing has been great around the Port, as anglers have found cooperating bluefish and stripers from the Chain Bridge to the mouth of the Merrimack and beyond. Surfland reports that boat fishermen are outfishing shore fishermen by a healthy margin, as fish seem to be staying farther from shore this year. If you are shore bound, best bets are night fishing from the reservation with bait down by Emerson Rocks or near the mouth of the river. Bluefish have been spotty from the front beaches, but thick less than a mile off shore. Tuna fishing has been good out at Tillies and Stellwagen while party boats are finding good bluefish, cod, haddock and pollock action.

Salisbury, MA: (4 hooks) Boat fishermen have found plenty of bluefish less than a mile off the Salisbury Beaches and the fish are willing to take most any offering. Bass fishing has been slow off the beach but there have been some decent bass taken by shore fishermen from the State Reservation.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Bluefish remain in large numbers from Seabrook to Portsmouth. The fish have been feeding and it’s not unusual to hook into a 10+ pounder. Striped bass remain fairly consistent for anglers fishing from Great Bay to the mouth of the Piscataqua. Filet baits trailing off drifted hooks are working well. Large bass have been around the Isle of Shoals and ground fishing has been good.

Tip of the Week:

Change Color First: Changing the color of your lure/bait before switching up your lure altogether can sometimes be the difference between a skunking and a good day. Next time, before giving up on your lure of choice, try a different color in the same lure type.