Massachusetts Fishing Report – May 21, 2015

While hardly the striped bass version of Pampiona’s “Running of the Bulls”, or should it be “swimming of the cows”, there are now fish out there perfectly capable of pulling drag. Shops are reporting brisk sales of seaworms as anglers revel in being able to catch a beautiful spring day and even a few flounder to go along with it. Still some are enjoying the solitude of sweetwater as most anglers across the bay state have turned their attention to the salt.

Saltwater

South Shore

Last week when we spoke, Scotty of Green Harbor B&T was willing to bet the house that the first keeper of the area would be caught in the ensuing week and fortunately he didn’t have to give up the deed. The jetties leading to Green Harbor have been striper magnets for those soaking fresh bait. The shop has been making a concerted effort to keep in stock fresh mackerel and squid. The macks are random where some could describe them as plague-like and others wondering where they went! First light helps as does plenty of chum. Regarding squid, some patrons of the shop are loading up on Loligos in Hyannis Harbor most anywhere there’s a lit swath of the sea. As water temperatures warm, flounder are being more cooperative at Green Harbor as well as Scituate. Green Harbor B&T has had a long-standing reputation for having a hold of the pulse of tuna chasers and if anything the Intel from the shop will intensify. Likewise, the first confirmed reports of bluefin tuna in MassBay have just come in!

When I spoke to Pete from Belsan’s we did a little reminiscing of the near mythical MEMORIAL DAY MASSACRE which occurred several years ago. That was a day long striper-fest which involved what seemed like an infinite ribbon of busting big bass which has its epicenter in the Scituate area. Every year it is hope that this will the year for MDM redux! While that might be little more than a pie-in-the-sky possibility, what is probable is that there will be 15-pound plus fish taken in the Scituate area this weekend! The mackerel have been nomadic with reports one day of them by the New Inlet Buoy at the mouth of the North River and then the next nowhere closer than a steam out to Stone Ledge. But Mr. Belsan got news fresher than a still wiggling mackerel that there was a bass bust-out in The Canal of bass bingeing on mackerel and they could be heading the south shore way! A friend of mine even heard of a report of a 37 pounder! Flounder have gone from infrequent catches in Scituate Harbor to limits, almost overnight! Increasingly lobsterman are finding tautog in their traps in close!

Greater Boston

Lisa from Fore River sent me a picture of a 40” striper that slammed a pencil popper at Great Esker Park on the Weymouth Back River. They are there because they dig the herring! Mackerel are present from Martin’s Ledge out to Graves Light and toward the BG Buoy. The predators have not been with the prey, yet! But those macks shouldn’t last long by World’s End, Hingham Harbor, the Weymouth Fore River Bridge or by the Neponset River estuary. Lisa said that a few flounder have been found off the Nut Island Pier as well as some squid. Lisa’s squid source is and old salt who lives within view of the pier. In the past 8 pound tautog have been taken from that pier in May. They like seaworms but love green crabs. If you’re willing to forego the multi-species attraction of worms for crabs you’ll stand a better chance at catching a tog.

Boston’s fishing ambassador Pete Santini put on his 7th Annual Zobo Flounder Fishing Tournament this past Saturday and from all indications the event was a smashing success. One beneficiary was the Children’s Hospital which received a generous check on behalf of the event. There were 65 participants, which is an event high, and first place went to Patrick Dickerson. Team Little Sister’s Al Sharif and yours truly came in fourth and fifth place. What was bizarre about this year’s event is that the fish were all cookie cutter fish and the smallest of the 7 year run. Captain Colby, however, is still smarting for dropping a “balloon” that was far bigger than anything weighed in. Regardless, it was a celebration of Boston’s unofficial fish and appreciation that “we” are the last ones left who have them! By the way, if you’re still not on board with the Zobo Rig you had better start – the thing’s a killer!

Paul from Bob’s Bait Shack said that a lot is going in the Winthrop area. Shore guys are catching from the Belle Isle Bridge and off Court Road. Other high percentage spots are Fisherman’s Bend, Corinha Beach and Pico Beach. Boaters are loading up on mackerel between Graves Light and the BG Buoy and finding mixed sizes of stripers with a few keepers in the mix off the Five Sisters and Seal Harbor. An inshore option is Snake Island; I suggest you float a mackerel under a balloon and toss it as close as you can get to the ledge and boulder field on the southern side of the island. Bigger bass tend to stage there.
North Shore

Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle said that Red Rock, while not as red-hot as last week is still giving up some keepers. A better bet is where the Forest River meets up with Salem Harbor where they are getting schoolies with the occasional Keeper crashing the party. The park there makes for easy access. White Jumpin’ Minnows and Waxwings are working well. Outside of Misery Island they are catching mackerel and finding feeding stripers by Halfway Rock as well as Children’s Island. A few flounder are found off the Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott, the Beverly Pier as well as Salem Willows. Those same piers are giving up a few squid for the faithful who are putting in the time. It’s hardly top-off the cooler stuff yet, but it’s a start. Some shop regulars are soaking seaworms off Devereux Beach and catching stripers.

Joey from The Fisherman’s Outfitter in Gloucester said that schoolies, interspersed with the occasional bigger bass are being caught off the Dogbar Breakwater, as well as the Little and Annisquam Rivers. For lures Joey suggests the venerable SP Minnow as well as smaller sized Slug-Gos. Mackerel are present in good numbers from The Groaner eastward. The going has been awful good in the Plum Island area according to the folks from Surfland. The last stages of the outgoing tide from the Captains Fishing Charters dock out to the jetty have had plenty of feeding fish and frenzied anglers hooking up! Most have been small but fish up to 32” have been taken. The beachfront is the place for the run-and-gun crowd that wants to toe the surf and catch stripers on the move. Jigs with curly tails, Charlie Graves Tin Squids, Arkansas Shiner Fin-S-Fish and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows are among the more effective artificials there. Flounder fishing so far is a no-show, but a few mackerel are being picked up by the Speckled Apron.

Freshwater

In freshwater circles, Wachusett Reservoir has gone quite as for fishing pressure but the fishing remains productive. Eddie of B&A’s best bets are Gate 6 and the Quinapoxet River for rainbow trout that are averaging 3 pounds or better! Gate 35 is winner if you’d like to catch some quality smallmouth bass. Gate 30 and the deep water it leads to is ideal for lake trout. For salmon, find a stretch with the wind to your back and float a shiner into the horizon for as far as you can see it. It seems random but those streaking salmon have excellent eyesight and in this crystal clear water will spot that shiner. Rod from Flagg’s said that the smallmouth bass are busy on their beds. The action is good at Gates 31 and 35. The mouths of Hop Brook and Fever Brook are solid bets for a salmon and you’ll have to get deep by such spots as Curtis Pond to find the lakers. Other options are the Deerfield and Miller Rivers which are teeming with freshly stocked brown, brook and tiger trout.

Fishing Forecast

If you’d prefer soaking fresh bait, try the Green Harbor jetties or nearby Burke’s Beach for bass. Flounder are fair game in Green Harbor and Scituate Harbor. For a top water thrill check out the myriad of parks of the Weir River, Weymouth Back of Neponset Rivers. Salem Harbor has busting schoolies with mackerel farther out in the sound. Squid are starting to show off the Beverly Pier and Salem Willows. Schoolies are present in good numbers in the Little River and Annisquam and Gloucester and I would not be surprised if bigger still is roaming off the Backshore of Gloucester. Toss an Arkansas Shiner Fin-S-Fish off Plum Island this weekend and you’ll find no shortage of stripers or other fishermen! If I had to pick one place at PI, it would be Parking Lot 1 on the Parker River Wildlife Reservation.