Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report 5-24-2012

One way to have a memorable Memorial Day weekend is to duke it out with a big fish or two. Ordinarily the beginning of June signals the start of the striper season, where the hubbub of inches turns to pounds, but considering how early everything has occurred this year, I’d be very surprised if there aren’t some cows culled out of the catch this weekend. While the theme for this forecast has shifted to almost exclusively saltwater, the Bay State’s big freshwater gems are yielding scant crowds and fine fishing.  And then there’s those that can’t help but focus on flounder; longterm fans are reveling in the historically great fishing that we are enjoying while those new to the game are enjoying every minute of it.

Last Saturday was the third annual Boston Harbor flounder tournament, which was hatched from the fertile mind of Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics. It is my second year participating and the second year in a row I came in first. The point is not to boast but to hopefully instruct. Unquestionably the key component to my catching is the spots that my friend Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters has gleaned from what to the naked eye looks like a non-descript ocean. Irregular bottom with patches of mud or sand from 10 to 20 feet will hold the biggest blackbacks. If you’re meddling with a menagerie of different species such as cunner, black sea bass (yes, we’re catching them already) and the occasional tautog, then you are in the right place. It’s not all that different from fluke fans that are looking for doormats as opposed to just numbers of fish. Places where the fleet steers clear of because of the fear of snags is where you’ll find the biggest flounder of either species.

And above all, you have to go large on bait. Every big blackback I catch hits a big wad of clam on a 1/0 Mustad Ultra Point Wide Gap Croaker hook. Not only will the large hook hold substantial bait, but the Ultra Point is sharper and remains sharper than lesser hooks. The last thing you want is to pull a hook on that 21-inch flounder just as it’s ready to be netted. Most fishermen leave both hooks on the bottom; that’s fine for the smaller fish, which will settle for what’s in the mud, but the bigger flounder that are higher on the pecking order will respond to bait that is dangled a few inches above the bottom. I’m convinced that the larger fish will travel a significant distance if they observe a potential meal from afar. And lastly, if you’re serious about fat flatties, you have to rig an ESCA on the line; I’ve had the best luck with green. That bioluminescent wonder makes a big difference.

South Shore Fishing Report

It sounds as if Plymouth is probably the hottest location for stripers right now, according to Dave from The Fisherman’s Outfitter. There have been 30-pound striped bass taken in the mix and they are primarily hitting live mackerel. It’s been the same formula as last week, jig the macks up and live line or troll them along structure near the shoreline. It’s no exaggeration that the next week may prove to be some of the most successful of the season! Surf fisherman are doing well from the beaches on chunk mackerel as well as mackerel colored pencil poppers and swimming plugs. They are picking up a few tautog from Maryann Rocks to Manomet Point.

At the end of last week I had the pleasure of fishing on the South River with Bill Hurley who in addition to making some of the finer soft-plastic baits is one heck of a fisherman. Stripers in the mid-30-inch range cold not pass up his squid-colored Rat Tails, the effective retrieve was a snapping motion, which caused the lure to shoot forward quickly like a squid.  The first few hours on the flood were best and I’m convinced there are far bigger fish in there now.

Pete from Belsan’s told me that the Scituate area is like a tinder box ready to go off, thanks to all the mackerel around. In the past there have been 50-pound class cows taken on live mackerel by Minot’s Ledge, this might be the week it happens again. Other likely hot spots to troll or live line a mackerel are at the mouth of the North River or at the Glades, Smith Rocks and Cowan Rocks. The epochal fishing of Memorial Day several years ago looms large in Scituate, when miles of mayhem ensued as big bass gorged on mackerel. Could it happen again? Many are hoping so.  Flounder is the other option for pre-summer fun and you’ll find flatties off Peggotty Beach and in the harbors of Scituate and Cohasset.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

The focus for many is shifting from the rivers toward the bays as herring runs wane and mackerel abound. The hot spot to jig up a mess of mackerel was the BG Buoy, but there might be good news for small boaters. Captain Rob Savino of CJ Victoria Charters has been finding tinkers in close! I’d look for the smaller macks by Long Island and out among the inner islands and toward Winthrop. Toss a tinker into the wash by Thompson Island or Lion’s Rock off Spectacle Island. The Deer Island Rip is always a good alternative on an outgoing tide.

Captain Jason Colby continues to find plenty of flounder, including the occasional 18” to 20” “phonebook” blackback. But he’s chumming and moving consistently between Peddock’s, George’s Island and Rainsford Island. Some of the better news is the tallying of 3-pound black sea bass already! Last year was a noteworthy black sea bass year and the fact that we’re seeing them already in May is a good sign. Another win in the unusual catch category is squid. On Thursday I saw a boat pull up on the Quincy public ramp that had a tote topped with squid! These guys had just finished the “night shift” and they had loaded up on the calamari. Their craft was decked out with more lights than a cruise ship so this was no accident. This year could also be a banner year for cephalopods as well. Nut Island is a solid shore alternative.

And then there are those that prefer the night shift. Captain Russ Burgess had a 20-20-20 night. He tallied over 20 fish up to 20 pounds while trolling deep-diving Danny plugs in 20 feet of water. Sun down is not for everyone, but bigger bass are nocturnal predators and you’ll score bigger fish if you spend some time trolling big-profiled plugs at night over structure where there’s significant current – and there are a lot of places in the harbor that fit this description.

North Shore Fishing Report

Noel from Bridge Street Bait and Tackle said that anglers are jigging up mackerel from Salem Willows out into Salem Sound and trolling or casting them among the islands and wherever there is white water and finding willing stripers. Live macks in the Danvers River are as close to a sure thing for a striper as you can get now. Night owls could quite possibly pick up some squid from Salem Willows Pier or the Beverly Pier.

Nat from First Light Anglers told me that the best action along the craggy coast up north has shifted from the rivers to the rocks. You can still pick away at fish wherever you find river herring but mackerel in deeper water have attracted the bigger bass. There is no shortage of harbor pollock and they make good bait also but when numerous are not as effective as mackerel. If left to their own devices pollock will bury into the nearest kelp forest or bubbleweed patch; boaters should keep up a steady troll and shore slingers should keep them off the bottom with a float.

Good striper fishing can be had off the beaches of Rockport: check out Long, Cape Hedge and Pebble Beach as well as Halibut Point. The Little River in Gloucester is a tranquil, sheltered alternative to the pounding surf and tautog are not out of the question as they spawn here. Liz from Surfland told me that the beach front of Plum Island fishes best on an incoming tide, while you’ll fare better at the mouth of the Merrimack during the last few hours of the ebb. Sand eels and mackerel are the preferred forage so Slug-Gos, RonZs, Bill Hurley’s and needlefish plugs rule. The shops favorite mackerel imitator is the Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow. Joppa Flats has finally woken up and an eel at night is a solid choice.

Freshwater Fishing Report

Bait shops in the Quabbin and Wachusett areas are reporting good fishing and sparse crowds. Eddie of B&A in West Boylston said that the smallie action has gotten hot as the fish are taking top water lures as well as soft crawfish imitations by Gates 6, 8 and 35. Laker activity has fallen off but you can still get them if you punch a 1-ounce Acme Trophy Spoon into the deeper holes by Gate 8 and 35. Try an XL Kastmaster for one of the landlocked salmon that are averaging between 3 and 4 pounds this year. Rod from Flagg’s in Orange told me of a 6 ¼-pound bronzeback that took a tube lure from Gate 31 recently. Salmon have dropped down to 20 feet and will take a trolled shiner or dodger/streamer combination. You never know when a wayward laker will crash the party here.

New Hampshire and Southern Maine Fishing Report

I spoke to Fred of Suds ‘N Soda who weighed in the 9-pound-plus new state record tautog last week, and he said that the angler had actually targeted them and had other fish in his cooler. Fred recommends impaling a green crab or even a seaworm in Hampton Harbor if you’d like to tangle with this fine-eating, tough-fighting fish that is considered a southern species. More true to form, stripers are still busting blueback herring among the tributaries of Great Bay with the Newcastle and Newmarket areas fishing the best. Shore fishermen are taking fish from the jetties at the gateway of Hampton Harbor. Jamie of Dover Marine said that the groundfishing for haddock is good in 185’ of water at The Curl. Downsizing your hooks, line and bait is the key to busting stealthy bottom feeders. Jamie has dropped down to hooks as small as size 6 and found out that he’s handily out-fishing anglers with big jigs and heavy hooks. Cod are deeper still, in about 300 feet of water.

Peter from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that anglers are finding plenty of mackerel in the Biddeford area and there’s no shortage of stripers willing to gobble them up in the Saco River, especially by the dam, as well as Scarborough Marsh. Circle hooks rule now according to Peter with Gamakatsu and Eagle Claw Lazer versions shop favorites. Mackerel alternatives are sandworms and for artificials go with Lonely Angler Zipsters and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows.

Best Fishing Bets for the Week

Plymouth should be productive for those live-lining or trolling live mackerel by The Gurnet, Saquish Rip and by High Pine Ledge off Duxbury Beach. At first light try shooting a mackerel colored swimmer on higher tides by Maryann Rocks and Manomet Point. Surfcasters should stick to Long Beach (Plymouth Beach), White Horse Beach and Priscilla Beach. Scituate is loaded with mackerel and should sizzle with big fish at any moment. Spend some time in the South River, North River or run-and-gun the beaches. If you top off your livewell with mackerel, give Minot’s Ledge a go. Closer to the hub, the flounder fishing in Quincy Bay and Boston Harbor remains fine, but be prepared to chum and hop around between multiple stops such as Peddocks Island, Hospital Shoals and Deer Island Flats. Don’t be surprised if you hook into a black sea bass. Tinker mackerel are moving in among the inner islands. If there are no game fish under the forage, try tossing the bait into shoreline structure among Deer Island, Long Island, Thompson or Spectacle Island. The North Shore has become best among the rocky shorelines where stripers pounce on pollock and the errant mackerel. Halibut Point has been particularly hot. Great Bay remains good as stripers chase blueback herring among the tributaries and the jetties of Hampton Bay are a nice shore alternative. Macks should make for a memorable Memorial Day in Southern Maine if you live line some by Saco Bay and Scarborough Marsh.