The fat lady is done warming up and is singing her brains out. I haven’t heard of single striper taken this past week… ugh! That’s not to say that there aren’t any to tangle with, it’s just that it does take two to tango and so few are fishing. But the tuna bite remains strong and those who are willing to cruise for cod in spite of tightened restrictions are finding fish. Smelt remain a viable alternative and there’s plenty that remains sweet in freshwater.
Russ Eastman of Monahan Marine told me that Cape Cod Bay does not lack tuna for the few that continue to pursue pelagics. Live whiting on the Whiting Grounds and Fishing Ledge are responsible for everything from footballs to giants. Ironically the biggest bluefin that Russ’ head about during the last week, a fish that topped 1000 pounds, took a sorry looking chunk of pogy!
Cod crazies are clamming-up a few for the cooler off Farnham Rock, the “21 Can”, Minot’s Ledge and Stone Ledge. Some of these fish are 8 to 10-pound specimens, reports of similar catches off the ledges of Hull and between Boston’s B-Buoy and Graves Light are also coming in. This fall has to go down as one of the more productive for inshore cod in years. Anglers are also encountering mackerel and sea herring from The Gurnet up to Gloucester, so should you find occasion to shove off on an Indian Summer Day, you should find plenty of action.
On the North Shore it might be worth your while to try jigging a spell among the jungle of kelp and “live bottom” from Nahant to Cape Ann. There should be a few rock cod foraging by inshore structure off Salem Sound such as Saturday Night Ledge and Hills 101 and 47.
Rick from Fore River just finished a multi-hour, multi-tributary odyssey to acquire grass shrimp for the faithful, but you had better head down soon or he will be completely out. Once you get that smelt candy, look for smelt among the piers in Hull from Pemberton to A-Street, Nut Island, Marina Bay, Castle Island, Deer Island the Winthrop Public Pier. You may just find some off the sea wall of Hingham Harbor and most any place you can access around the Reserve Channel in Boston. There may even be a few being taken from the “easy access” places such as the Broadway Bridge in the Chelsea Creek and the bridge at the VFW Post in Beachmont. If you seek smelt on the North Shore, check out the Public Landing in Marblehead, Salem Willows, the public pier in Beverly and nearly any of the piers and wharves off Gloucester. Across the border, the smelt fishing should be fine in Rye and Portland Harbors, with the most challenging aspect of the latter being getting your offering through the mackerel.
If you’re looking to intercept a salmon traveling upstream to spawn in Wachusett check out the causeway on Rte.12 where a firetiger Krocodile at dusk is often magic. Among Wachusett proper see if you can jig up some yellow perch fry before you wet a line, you may catch a 4- to 6-pound forkie. If you want to stick to hardware, still take along two rods. One of the more accomplished anglers in the reservoir, Carl Hewitt of Sterling, who has 36” fish to his credit, often takes two casting rods with him. He’ll launch one, let the spoon settle and leave it open-bail in a rod holder while he works the other rod. You’d be surprised how often the sedentary rod catches a fish with a spoon lying on the bottom!
And while I wouldn’t recommend “lipping” a lake trout, their choppers pale compared to pike. And make no mistake it is pike time! Odds are if you float a big baitfish in the Assabet, Sudbury or Concord Rivers you just might land yourself a prize such as the 40”, 15-pound, 11-ouncer toothie that was taken last year at this time. Toss a big white spinnerbait into the shadow line wherever you find bridges among these rivers.
And while it’s a little out of our range, a trek for tautog out of Westport might be the perfect way to extend the saltwater season. My friend, Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters, has been taking his fishy intuition, honed on stripers and flounder in Quincy Bay, down to Buzzards Bay and has had little difficulty locating white-chins. Grab a chart of Buzzards Bay, look for wrecks, ledges or rockpiles in 30 to 50 feet of water and drop a green crab to see if anyone is home. If there is tog in the house, you’ll know it; they are not shy so keep on the move until you find the fish. Green crabs are easily lured into a crab pot, but if you can’t find them then Westport Marine keeps them in stock. It might be a bit of a haul, but “haul” in a 10-pounder and I guarantee you’ll be back!
Best Bets
Pelagic pursuers are still finding a solid tuna bite in Cape Cod Bay with live whiting the bait of choice. Drop a jig or soak a clam by Flat Ledge, Farnham Rock or the “21 Can” for a couple of cod for the cooler. Farther north, check out the humps east of Graves Light or see if you can’t jig up some mackerel off Salem Sound. Smelt fishing remains good, especially off Hull and Quincy, just make sure you waste no time picking up a jill of grass shrimp from Fore River B&T. Then there’s always freshwater good fortune with ponds and lakes brimming with freshly stocked trout and lakers lurking in Wachusett.
I’m so proud. I taught him well, he catches more than me! thanks for the picture insert. Steve Schott