No Herring for You!

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has taken the extraordinary step recently of placing a three-year ban on harvesting, possessing or selling herring.

Also known as alewives, herring are a key member of the food chain along our coast and their decline has been noticed over the last several years leading up to the state's recent action. The ban will affect over 100 herring runs along the commonwealths coast, and is sure to cause complaints by recreational and commercial fishermen alike.

Herring leave the ocean each spring to lay eggs in freshwater rivers and ponds. They are a favorite food of many fish, seabirds and whales. In a debate that will clearly go on, many believe the decline in herring can be attributed to a combination of destruction of habitat, an increase in natural predators and over-fishing by both recreational and commercial anglers.

Unfortunately, another probable cause of the depletion of the herring are the offshore trawlers that use large nets and often work in pairs to trap tons of sea herring that is sold as bait or shipped overseas. The state has indicated that is studying the impact of offshore fishing on herring stocks, but as of now say they have insufficient data to make any connection between the offshore fishing fleet and the depletion of river herring.

Whatever the cause, I applaud Massachusetts for their effort to preserve this key part of our marine ecosystem. There are plenty of other baits for those of us who are anglers, and this effort at conservation will hopefully ensure that the herring population can once again regain its strong foothold from the Gulf of Maine to Buzzards Bay.

Gilmore Bridge Sunset, Newburyport, MA © 2006 Frank G. Dwyer

Wouldn't it be Nice?

Now's the time to day dream about the fishing season that was, or the fishing season that's to come, or if your like me, you start to plan how you will feed your addiction over the Winter.

If your local to Massachusetts, then there is a well-known, year-round trout fishery out by the Quabbin Reservoir, at the Swift River. If you take Exit 8 off the Mass Pike, you should be able to find it. I've fished there in January and February and caught trout. These fish are farm raised and quite smart. You can bounce flies an inch from the fish and they will snub you, but persistence will pay off. Hey, picking ice out of the guides is not the best, but it's better than nothing!

So, that's the cheap route. If you want to lay out some cash, then you have many more options within a few hours flight of the Boston area.

Let's start with the obvious, Florida. Yes its got lots of old people and somewhat of an annoying, but shrinking, Spring Break issue, but there is good fishing to be had. The Keys are the most publicized fishing area in Florida, and for good reason. You'll find good fishing from Biscayne Bay to Key West. A good place to start planning your trip is here.

Another good Florida location is Sarasota. Located on Florida's west coast, there are less annoying New Yorker's on the west coast, and good fishing to boot. (Hey, I'm a New Yorker by birth, I know!) Good fishing abounds in the Sarasota area and there are plenty of other activities to keep you or your family busy. Start your planning here.

If you'd like a Flip Pallet type adventure, why not head to the Bahamas. Many people would tell you that Abaco is the place to go, and they would be correct. You can chase Blue Marlin, Dolphin, Yellowfin Tuna, Bonefish and Wahoo. Abaco is a sure cure to the Winter blues!

High on my fishing wish list is a visit to Christmas Island. This island, located 1300 miles south of Hawaii and quite close to Australia and Borneo, is a premier destination for bonefishing. You can also fish for Giant Trevally, another real treat on Christmas Island. Non-fishing activities include world-class scuba diving, whale watching and bird watching.

So there you have it. A few ideas for you to try and make it through the Winter season and perhaps ease the pain of cabin fever....Cheers!

Leafing through the winter bookshelf

Frank G. Dwyer
December 17, 2005

Another saltwater season has come and gone for the most part, and what a great season it was! From spring stripers rolling on the flats to an abundance of bluefish carousing in our surf, 2005 was a terrific season for fishing. The late start to the season we experienced due to a brutally long winter led to some terrific fall fishing this year.

As you prepare your gear to be banished to the garage or basement, take comfort in knowing that we will once again feel the tug of the line next spring. In addition, we can also fight may a fish vicariously through the efforts of several fine authors who have taken the time to write the following books that can help you through the upcoming winter.

Readers of this column know I have a certain interest/addiction to the annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. In Robert Post's Reading The Water, the fishing adventures of many legendary island anglers are recounted, with several of the stories concentrating on derby time. I've read this book too many times to count , and never get tired of it. It was out of print for years, but has recently come back into circulation with a new forward by Henry "Hal" Lyman.

More recently, Ray Ellis and Ed Jerome put out a book entitled Fishing The Vineyard. Ellis is a wonderful artist who has painted many terrific Vineyard scenes. Jerome is a resident of Martha's Vineyard and has been intimately involved with the annual Derby as Chairman for many years. The book has wonderful stories, paintings and photographs celebrating the awesome fishing experience that awaits anglers who visit Martha's Vineyard. The book is readily available on-line and in traditional bookstores.

In Blues, John Hersey weaves a tale of a stranger and a fisherman who meet on Martha's Vineyard. The stranger accepts an offer to join the fisherman on one of his outings, which leads to a summer of discovery for both the fisherman and stranger. This is another book that can be tough to find, but its seems to be currently available .

On the Run: An Anglers journey Down the Striper Coast, by David DiBenedetto, traces the annual fall migration of the striped bass from Maine to North Carolina. The book is an entertaining read but also educational in that you will learn quite a bit about the striped bass and their history. DiBenedetto is an editor at Field and Stream magazine and writes with a style that stimulates the reader's interest and imagination.

John Waldman's compilation of stories devoted to striped bass, Stripers, An Angler's Anthology, is a collection of writings from author's who have a certain affinity to the striped bass. Stories by the likes of John Cole, Nelson Bryant, Frank Daignault and J. Kenney Abramson, to name a few, grace the pages of this book and provide a wonderful look at the often sought after moron scuttles.

For a look back at the way things used to be, pick up a copy of Frank Daignault's Twenty Years on the Cape: My Time as a Surfcaster. While the book depicts a time when it was commonplace to harvest large numbers of striped bass each and every night, it also provides the insight of a dedicated and successful fisherman like Daignault. The book provides vivid details of a family that spent many a day and night on the beaches of Cape Cod.

Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in the Age of Innocence is an account of the summer of 1916 when a Great White shark terrorized swimmers along the New Jersey shore. Michael Capuzzo does an admirable job of interweaving historical accounts of the times with the attacks that were part of the inspiration for Jaws, Peter Benchley's novel (and movie). Read this one long before summer arrives!

For a deep and explorative look at the fishermen of Gloucester, pick up a copy of Kim Bartlett's The Finest Kind: The Fishermen of Gloucester. You'll feel as though you are part of the crew on the boat as the book provides the reader with details and descriptions of this difficult profession. While The Perfect Storm was an excellent portrayal of one Gloucester crew's story, this book provides terrific insight into the Gloucester fishing industry.

(Originally Published October 31, 2003)

Another Vineyard Derby Trip In the Books

One of these days, I will hopefully relive my glory year of 1997 at the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby and win at least a daily price (2nd place daily bluefish), but 2005 proved very similar to the last few years as very few fish were landed in my foursome.

Mike, Don, Andy and I have all made the pilgrimage to the Vineyard for several years for the annual fishing event. The event is about fishing primarily, but certainly about camaraderie and goofing around with friends as well.

We arrived on the Vineyard via the MV Katama, which is a freight ship in the Steamship Authority's fleet. We happened to be on a 4pm boat, which was during a good blow left over from Hurricane Rita. We had a pretty rough forty minute ride over from Woods Hole and all of us were excited to get fishing. I'm talking waves over the bow and onto the cars on the deck "pretty rough" here.

Our first stop was at Dick's Bait and Tackle on New York Avenue in Oak Bluffs to register for the derby. We usually register at Coops Bait and Tackle, but wanted to fish Tashmoo that evening, so we decided not to ride all the way over to Edgartown.

After settling in at the Nashua House, which has been our flop house of choice for the last few years, we headed to Tashmoo for some plugging to work the kinks out. Unfortunately it was the last day of the quarter for me and I was trying to work out a last minute deal, but that didn't stop my friends from working the jetty with danny plugs, needle fish and perhaps a mr. wiggly.

We were all tired and decided to head back towards Oak Bluffs and perhaps a few night caps. It used to be that October in Oak Bluffs was quiet, but it sure felt like July as we turned up Circuit Avenue.

There was plenty of automobile and pedestrian traffic milling around the streets of Oak Bluffs as we made our way back to the hotel. A few Grey Goose's later and we hit the sack in hopes of rising early and finding False Albacore off East Beach on Chappaquiddick.

We were on the street loading the car by 4:45 AM on Friday morning. Good thing ol' Dippin' Donuts opens early!! We motored onto the sand at Norton Point and made our way to Chappaquiddick. With the beach erosion being what it is these days, over-sand vehicles are routed back onto the island and over the Dyke Bridge (Teddy K's Bridge), where you can either head to Cape Poge and the infamous Edgartown Gut or out onto East Beach and Wasque Point.

We spilled our 40 year-old bodies out of the truck and began rigging up our rods in the pre-dawn light. As the sun rose out of Nantucket Sound, we began to see distant splashes breaking the calm surface of the water, and we all knew there were Albies (False Albacore) in the area.

Now, being in the area and actually catching fish are two completely different things and the distant splashes stayed out of casting range for most of the morning. Andy did land a small striper just before dawn on Friday morning and also a 3-pound bluefish, but out of 30 or so fishermen on the beach that morning, we saw 3 Albies landed in four hours.

At 11 AM, after a breakfast of Barley and Hops, we headed down towards Cape Poge, hugging the shoreline in search of the tell-tale splashes that Albies make. Several times we stopped to cast to pods of fish, but had no luck. Luckily it was not raining like it has done in the past, and getting skunked in the sun certainly beats getting shut out in the rain!

After heading back to Oak Bluffs for some downtime and dinner, we once again headed out in the Vineyard darkness. This time decided to give it a go off the South Beach / Norton Point area, specifically a location known as Metcalf's Hole. We spent a solid three hours making assorted offerings of eels, squid and butterfish, and only had a few bluefish and a small striper to show for it. For the record, I did not catch anything and left that to Don, Andy and Mike!

We arrived back at the hotel for another round of Goose and hit the hay after a long day of casting. Once again Andy awoke us at around 4:30 AM and we were once again headed to Dippin' Donuts and then onto the beach, only this time on a Saturday morning. The beach on Chappy was more crowded--even at 5:15AM--since it was a Saturday, but unfortunately the fishing was much the same as the day before.

We were scheduled on a Noon ferry and considering the conditions, we figured we'd have no problems tearing ourselves away from the beach, but our lack of fish was certainly not from lack of effort. We did see a few more Albies landed on Saturday morning--maybe five--however they still seemed to stay mostly our of casting range. It's a maddening fish to chase, but the excitement of one on the line makes the frustration that comes with fishing for them worth it.

The lack of fish certainly did not temper our enthusiasm to head back to the Vineyard again next year. While landing a few more fish and getting some fish to the weigh station would be nice, the trip is certainly more about the good time had with good friends!

Reprint: Canoe on the Flats

This is an Oldie but a goodie!
Tight Lines!

And the beat goes on

Frank Dwyer
September 22, 2005

The Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Tournament and is in full swing and will run through October 15th. If you’ve never participated in this annual event, you don’t know what you’re missing! Have a look at http://www.mvderby.com/ and consider making the trip!

The North Shore continues to please anglers as bluefish, striped bass and tuna catches have all increased over the last week. Several bluefin tuna over 500 pounds have been landed by anglers off the North Shore and school bluefin tuna continue to please anglers searching for these prolific fighters.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Anglers fishing the rocky coastline of Marblehead Neck have landed keeper-size bass on both bait and lures. Cut bait has worked quite well for bait fishermen, while spin anglers using large popping plugs like Skitter Pops and Danny Plugs.

Salem: (4 hooks) The Danvers River continues to produce good sized bass as they continue to feed for their migration south. Anglers trolling tube-n-worm rigs as well as casting soft baits have had good success. Anglers fishing off Bakers and Childrens Islands have found good numbers of bass and blues.

Beverly: (4 hooks) West Beach and the Islands just off shore have seen terrific bluefish and bass action and lot’s of topwater activity this past week. Popping plugs offered by both fly and spin fishermen have been working quite well, as are metal lures. Bait anglers report decent action for keeper bass at night from the beach and fishing pier.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Surface feeds off Kettle Island and just outside Magnolia Harbor have kept anglers smiling. Larger bluefish have made their way to the waters around the Cape and 15 pound choppers are not uncommon at this time of year. Good bass action from most of the area beaches, especially at night for bait fishermen. Tuna dreams continue to captivate anglers in search of these speedy fish. Anglers continue to find schools of tuna off Thachers Island as well as off Halibut Point. If the fish are not evident, trolling is the best bet, but nothing gets the heart pumping like casting to a pod of tuna on top. The Annisquam and Essex Rivers are also fishing quite nicely as fish have been chasing bait into the river systems. Party boats have had good action for cod, haddock, cusk and wolf fish.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Ipswich Bay has been alive with bait and stripers and bass in pursuit. Surface feeds have been seen off Great Neck and off both Crane and Pavilion Beaches. Fly fishermen and spin casters alike have had good luck as the fish chase bait within easy casting distance from shore.

Newbury: (4 hooks) The Beach Buggy crowd has been out in force along the beaches of the Parker River NWR, and for good reason. Early morning has seen good numbers of bluefish and bass in close to shore and taken an assortment of baits and lures. Plum Island Sound has been quite lively with bass and blues as it has been at the mouth of the Rowley River as well.


Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) If personal experience is any indication, the fishing in Newburyport has been great this week. Sunday had only a few boats in the mouth and large bluefish and stripers carousing in the choppy waters. We landed several large blues and bass with the largest going to my friend Don, coming in at 46” and just shy of 40 pounds.

All fish were taken on green and silver Skitter Pops. Bait anglers continue to have success from Plum Island Point and I saw many keepers landed there this past week. Joppa Flats has been somewhat spotty as the water was quite murky for much of the week. Party boats report good ground fishing with good numbers of cod and haddock being taken.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) As the sun has come up this week each morning, bass and blues have been feeding on bait quite close to shore on Salisbury Beach. The State Reservation crowd has also had good action for bass and a few bluefish on the end of the outgoing tide and the beginning of the incoming tide.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) No shortage of fish or bait along the Seacoast as anglers from Hampton to Portsmouth have had good luck in pursuit of bass and bluefish. The entrance to Hampton Harbor has been alive with fish as bait funneling through is easy picking for the blues and bass. Fishermen working the beaches and shoreline around Rye report good bass action close to shore, especially at night. The Great Bay area and Piscataqua have also been fishing well as has the area around the Isle of Shoals.

‘tis the Season

Frank Dwyer
September 15, 2005

The fishing has been great over the past week as most of the North Shore has been alive with bluefish and stripers furiously feeding along the coast. Hopefully this earlier than usual action will not signal an earlier Fall migration than usual.

This weekend, the Plum Island Surfcasters, Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge welcome distance-casting champion Ron Arra for a fun morning of fishing for beginners and veterans alike. The event, called the “Beach Blast” will include instruction and demonstrations by Mr. Arra and their will be fishing rods for usage by those that don’t have their own. The event runs from sunrise to 1pm on Saturday, September 17 at Parking Lot 1 of the NWR.

Marblehead: (4 hooks) Fishing in Marblehead has been good as stripers and blues have been feeding in the harbor as well as around area beaches. Fly and spin anglers have found feeding schools of blues and bass off Devereuax Beach as well as from the Neck. Larger profile flies and popping plugs have worked best on these hungry fish.

Salem: (4 hooks) Bluefish and bass have been in Salem Harbor and anglers have had good luck getting both on the line. The Danvers River has been fishing quite well for shore anglers using chunk bait or clam strips, as well as boat anglers trolling tune-n-worm rigs.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Fly anglers have been catching a mix of blues and stripers at sunrise from West Beach. When the bluefish are biting in numbers, long-rodders do well using a piano wire leader to their fly allowing them to catch these toothy critters without sacrificing numerous flies. The Beverly Fishing Pier has yielded some big stripers to bait fishermen at night.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) Manchester-by-the-Sea beaches have been hot for surfcasters as White Beach and Singing Beach have been providing good action for bluefish and striped bass. Bait anglers as well as those tossing plugs have done well. In Gloucester, the Annisquam has been alive with bass most mornings at sun up, while bluefish have been just outside the harbor, with some in the mid-teens being landed. Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Beaches have also been good destinations for fishermen. Tuna fever continues as many “footballs” from 30-100 pounds have been seen and landed by anglers off Halibut Point, Thachers Island and out on the Banks. The Essex River has also been providing steady action for bass and some blues closer to the mouth. Cod and Haddock fishing continues to please those in search of ground fish.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Night fishing from Crane Beach has been quite good with fly anglers using large black flies and spin casters using pencil poppers or other popping plugs landing good sized bass. Bluefish have been at the mouth of the Ipswich River most mornings and have been taking most offerings.

Newbury: (4 hooks) The Plum Island Sound has also been very busy with fish and anglers in pursuit of both bass and blues. The Parker River has also been delivering more consistent action for fishermen in search of bass. The beaches on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge have seen consistent bluefish action close to shore early in the morning and good bass fishing at night.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Bass have been feeding on top most mornings over the past week as the sun comes up. In the Back River as well as in Town Creek, schoolie bass—and some bigger ones too—have been taken on small popping plugs as well as sluggos. Drifting on Joppa Flats has been good on the outgoing tide as bass have been actively hitting flies, lures and bait. Anglers fishing from Plum Island Point have also had good bass action with some blues in the mix. The Plum Island beachfront has also had several near shore feeding frenzy’s from Plum Island Boulevard to the South Jetty. Party Boats have had great cod and haddock fishing over the past week.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) Much like the beaches of Newburyport, Salisbury Beach has also had some in-shore surface feeds allowing surfcasters to land blues and stripers. The State Reservation has also been attracting anglers who have been catching a mix of stripers and blues from the Merrimack on bait and lures.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) The mouth of Hampton Harbor has had some decent surface feeds over the last week as blues and bass have been actively feeding on bunker. Rye Harbor and just outside has also seen surface feeds this week as the waters have been filled with bait. Further north, the waters around Newcastle have been full of bait and birds and good numbers of mostly school sized bass. In the Piscataqua, surface feeds have been seen near the Navy Yard as well as at the mouth of the River. Anglers taking the ride to the Isle of Shoals report large bluefish and some bass around the rocks.

Fishing Remains Strong

Frank Dwyer
September 9, 2005

Labor Day has come and gone and apparently the fish know it too. With plenty of bait in the water—especially peanut bunker—fish are on the move and beefing up for the migration south to come.

Striped bass and bluefish have come back in force over the last few weeks and most of the North Shore has been experiencing fantastic fishing action. Cod and Haddock catches have also been plentiful and tuna fever continues to persist.


Marblehead: (4 hooks) Good bass action for boat anglers around Tinker’s and Ram Island. Big bass have been slurping up large chunks of cut bait offered on the bottom. Surfcasters working from Devereux Beach have also reported good action for bass, again mostly on bait. Bluefish have also been taken all around Marblehead, especially off the Neck.

Salem: (4 hooks) Plenty of bait around Salem Harbor and there are big bluefish after them. Many hookups have been had around the Salem Harbor Islands and just outside the harbor. Bass have also been more active around Winter Island and for bait fishermen casting from Salem Willows Pier.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Early morning surface feeds have been happening off West Beach as stripers and blue corralled bait up against the beach. Large popping plugs, kastmasters or swimming plugs have all been landing fish. Fly anglers have been getting in on the action as well as the fish chase bunker closer to shore. Beverly Fishing Pier and the Danvers River continue to produce consistent bass action.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) A few flounder have been taken around Manchester and Magnolia, but bluefish and bass have been much more cooperative with anglers around Cape Ann. Good Harbor in Gloucester has been home to several heart pounding blitzes this past week as bluefish and stripers boiled on top of the water devouring peanut bunker. The mouth of the Annisquam has been alive with bass and blues and anglers report many keeper-sized bass in the mix. Tuna continue to attract anglers like a Siren’s song and have been found off Thachers Island, Halibut Point and Jeffrey’s Ledge. The Essex River has also heated up, especially towards the mouth as bluefish and stripers wait for an easy meal. Cod and Haddock fishing remains very good for the Party Boat fleet.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Crane Beach on the Trustees of Reservation property has been quite productive for fly and spin anglers. Near the mouth of the Ipswich River has seen an influx of bait and with that, stripers and bass in pursuit. Pavilion and Steep Hill Beaches are also yielding their fair amount of fish.

Newbury: (4 hooks) With full access available to walk-on and drive-on anglers, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge beaches have been a popular destination over the last week. Bluefish have been taken close to shore quite consistently at first light and night anglers have been doing quite well for striped bass. Chunk baits, clams and eels have all landed keeper bass.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass are readily available around the Port and anglers are feeling renewed after a somewhat slow August. Joppa Flats has been good for striped bass on moving tides from the American Yacht Club to Woodbridge Island. Bass have been feeding on the surface in the early morning hours from Newburyport Harbor out to Badgers Rocks. Bluefish continue to be available for anglers from the mouth of the river and all along the Plum Island beachfront. Several surface feeds with birds overhead were seen over the last week, with boat and beach anglers reporting success. Anglers heading out in search of Tuna report good action off Cape Ann while the party boats continue to deliver good cod and haddock action to their patrons.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) Bluefish and Bass blitzes have been within reach of early morning anglers fishing from Salisbury Beach. Those anglers fishing the Merrimack from the shores of the State Reservation are still landing good numbers of bass and bluefish.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Fishing from Hampton to Portsmouth continues to impress anglers of all methods. Surfcasters working the shore line from Hampton to Rye report decent action from shore for bass and blues, especially around Odiorne Point. Pogies continue to reside around Portsmouth and Great Bay, and with that good amounts of striped bass and blues are available to boat and shore fishermen.

Labor Day Should be Fun for Anglers

Frank Dwyer
September 2, 2005

Labor Day Weekend is here and it certainly feels like it on the water. Even with the heat and humidity earlier in the week, there has been plenty of bait in the waters around the North Shore and no shortage of fish feeding on that bait.

Fishing from Marblehead to Portsmouth will only get better from here on out as we approach the dreaded fall migration which signals the beginning of the end of our saltwater fishing season. That said; get out there now as the best fishing of the season is yet to come!


Marblehead: (4 hooks) Striped bass fishing has improved over the last week as anglers report good action from the beaches and on the Neck near the lighthouse. Spin anglers using mid-sized plugs like Skitter Pops have done well, as have fly fishermen with poppers and sliders. Devereaux Beach has been home to several surface feeds as stripers chase peanut bunker.

Salem: (4 hooks) Salem Sound has been full of bait and with that has been home to several surface feeds over the past week with a mix of blues and striped bass foraging on peanut bunker. When the fish are feeding like this, you can’t go wrong with most poppers, metals or swimming plugs while fly anglers will have most offerings devoured. Fishing from Winter Island and Salem Willows Pier continues to produce good numbers of bass.

Beverly: (4 hooks) Fishing for bass in the Danvers River has been good for anglers from both boat and shore. Bait casters using chunks, clams and worms near the Salem/Beverly Bridge have been landing good numbers of bass. Anglers fishing just off West Beach have seen a number of surface feeds over the last week.

Cape Ann: (4 hooks) While flounder fishing has declined as of late, bass fishing has picked up nicely as peanut bunker have invaded the Cape. Manchester Harbor and the beaches of Manchester have seen several bass and blue surface feeds this week as both fly and spin anglers reported good catches. In Gloucester, the fishing has been quite good for bass, blues and school bluefin tuna. Bass have been more active in the Annisquam this past week and surface feeds have been reported off Brace Cove, Cape Hedge and Milk Island. Tuna fever continues as anglers have found tuna in the 30-100 pound range off Thachers Island and Halibut Point. Fishing off Rockport has also been quite consistent with bass and blues being taken from Pebble Beach, while the Essex River has been heating up with several surface feeds at the mouth this past week. Inshore cod action has slowed, but Party Boats have been returning with good numbers of cod and haddock.

Ipswich: (4 hooks) Crane Beach has been good for shore bound anglers as bass and blues have been corralling peanut bunker just off the beach. Anglers hovering near the mouth of the Ipswich River have seen many surface feeds this past week and many have said it certainly feels later in the season than the calendar says. Pavilion Beach has also had its fair share of fish taken from its shores.

Newbury: (4 hooks) Good news for the beach buggy crowd as September 1 was opening day for drive-on access to the beaches of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Permits can be purchased at the gate house or at the Reservations headquarters and all the typical gear is required to gain drive-on privileges. All beaches at the reservation are now open and reports have good fishing from the shore for bluefish and bass.

Newburyport / Plum Island: (4 hooks) Newburyport anglers have been pleasantly surprised with an up-tick in action over the past week. Surface feeds have been seen from just off Cashman’s Park to the mouth of the river. Joppa Flats has been quite active with many sub-legal fish being taken by spin and fly anglers alike. Bluefish have ventured onto the flats a bit more this week, so don’t be surprised if you get cut off. Fishing from Plum Island Point and the front beach on Plum Island has been quite good as bluefish and striped bass activity has increased this past week. Fishermen trolling for bluefish from just outside the mouth all the way down to Emerson Rocks have seen plenty of hook ups. Anglers leaving from Newburyport in search of tuna have found them off Cape Ann, specifically off Thachers Island and around Halibut Point. Cod and Haddock catches remain plentiful for the Party Boats.

Salisbury: (4 hooks) Surfcasters will be happy that Labor Day Weekend is typically the last big beach weekend, thereby freeing up Salisbury Beach just in time for autumn. Bass and Bluefish have been taken by anglers working the beachfront just before dawn, with bluefish and stripers venturing into the wash in search of bait. The State Reservation continues to produce good numbers of bass and blues for those who like to fish with plenty of company.

Seacoast, NH: (4 hooks) Fishing around the mouth of Hampton Harbor has seen an increase in bass and bluefish activity as both spin and fly anglers have reported good action. Further north, fishing the beaches from North Hampton to Rye has also proven productive for anglers casting for bass and blues. The Piscataqua has been fishing somewhat slowly, however there have been a few surface blitzes at the mouth. Further offshore, cod and haddock fishing around the Isle of Shoals has been very good.

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.