Massachusetts Fishing Report - October 1, 2015

Season-long salts such as Carl Vining relish the rains in October. And it has nothing to do with replenishing water supplies or reinvigorating dormant lawns – rather, torrents are the trigger to great fishing for self-described river rats. Stranded river herring well upstream in their natal watersheds are whisked away by uncontrollable currents, and the stripers are waiting!

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

Prior to the blow, things were explosive in the Scituate area according to Pete from Belsans Bait in Scituate. It was as if the stripers had a holiday weekend as Saturday, Sunday and Monday were all terrific as mixed sizes crashed Minot, Egypt, The Glades and the mouth of the North River. Most were talking in terms of a four-hour window of insanity. The usual offerings were effective, such as eels and the tube-and-worm. Tackle-busting blues occasionally interrupted the striper party resulting in chafed leaders, lost plugs and colorful commentary among the ill-prepared.

But that was then, so what can we expect going forward with the maelstrom of weather predicted over the foreseeable future? How about for once, giving the shore fisherman the edge? Rivers that harbor herring runs will be lightning rods for striped bass action. River herring numbers are up significantly in most rivers over a few short years ago and the rain will continue to be a conveyor belt for the reluctant fry to tumble toward the hungry sea – and one of the first predators they will meet will be striped bass.

Target the Plymouth Town River, the South River, the North River and Herring River and focus on structure that thwarts the easy passage of herring downstream and there’s a good chance stripers will be there. Skinny water is usually best fished after dark. Soft-plastics that imitate the 3” to 4” forage are usually best here.

Captain Jason Colby is finding plenty of striped company for the eels he is throwing in Westport Harbor. As the migration comes into full swing, look for more linesiders to be crossing through the Canal, into Buzzards Bay and on to Westport. Increasingly, green crabs are appearing inside the skipper’s traps next to the Little Sister. Once water temperatures drop south of 60 degrees, the tog will be on a tear!

Greater Boston Harbor Fishing Report

Lisa from Fore River in Quincy said that the inclement conditions are favoring the shore fishermen. Recent rains have been drawing bass into marshes, estuaries and rivers, where the stripers have a huge advantage over their prey. Anyone who has observed feeding stripers in a river can attest to this. Generally the prey will ease along a shoreline, eddy edge, or current seam until they must enter swifter current. It is at that transition where stripers will lie in ambush.

There’s a lot going on right now in the Weir River, especially by World’s End, the Weymouth Fore River, The Weymouth Back River and the Neponset. Bridges funnel and speed up the current making those perfect spots for stripers to lie in wait. Pogies are totally unpredictable, with reports running the gamut from “loaded” to “still looking”! They recently have been spotted well into the inner harbor by the Aquarium and the Spalding Rehab Center. Other locations worth a look-see are Wollaston Beach, Spectacle Island and the Lower Middle.

The biggest news at the tail end of last week was the monstrous blues that reined havoc from Deer Island out through Graves Light. These ‘gators were averaging 15 pounds and haven’t been fussy! Hopefully they will continue to call the harbor their home after the weather calms down. The smelt fishing continues to be relatively remarkable with anglers reporting limits off the Hull Public Pier, Hewitts Cove, Nut Island and Marina Bay. Before the blow there were mackerel between Flip Rock and the BG Buoy; odds are that if anything the east wind will blow even more in from Stellwagen.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Tomo from Tomos Tackle in Salem said that “squidding” has slowed but a patron of his has 51 reasons why he was glad he stuck to it. The “51” was how many inches his striper was that swallowed a squid off the Beverly Pier! The Forest, Danvers, North and South rivers have all been flowing hard since the rains, making their mouths good spots for shore casters to try. Nahant through Lynn and out to Marblehead have been effective for tube-and-worm trollers as well as for those with live mackerel. Peaches Point, Castle Rock, Tinkers Island and Phillips Beach have all been promising. Flatfish fans are finding them at Fishermans Beach as well as Beverly Harbor.

Matt from Capefish Outfitters said that the best bet for a big bass is to jig up mackerel, which can be found in Salem Sound, and live-line them among the rocky shorelines from Nahant through Swampscott and through Cape Ann.

Neil from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester said that the going is good for tuna fishermen between southern Jeffreys Ledge and Stellwagen. A number of giants have fallen recently with most taken on live mackerel, whiting, or bluefish. Recent mackerel catches have occurred just outside of Thatcher Island and the Speckled Apron. Neil suggests that anglers troll or live-line those mackerel inside of the Dogbar Breakwater, Loblolly Cove or (once the rollers subside) the backshore of Gloucester. With solid smelt reports trickling in from the South Shore, it might be time to patronize the piers in Gloucester Harbor for the tasty little native New Englanders; it just might be a good year for them on the North Shore as well.

Martha from Surfland said that typically of the fall, it is hit or miss! The “hitters” are scoring best while 4-wheeling through the Parker River Wildlife Reservation and chasing surface feeds. With all parking lots open, those who don’t have a buggy at the ready can hoof it to the shore. Blues and bass have been regurgitating sand eels, making needlefish and slim-profiled soft plastics effective options. Mackerel are still around with Martha suggesting Breaking Rocks, the Speckled Apron and Hampton Shoal Ledge as possibilities. Boaters have been trolling up nice fish with mackerel off Plum Island Sound and Cranes Beach.

Fishing Forecast

Rip-roaring rivers such as the North River and Herring River are great surf-fishing playgrounds as herring fry wash down-tide with the flow. Be on guard for bass blitzes at the entrance of Scituate Harbor and Egypt Beach. In the harbor, pogies have been placed inshore of Castle Island with stripers shadowing the school. When seas subside mackerel should still be present off Nahant out to the BG Buoy. If you’re live-lining the macks without steel leaders, do so at your own peril since the blues have been colossal. Up north, Marblehead has been hot for the tube-and-worm with Gloucester given the green light as long as a mackerel is on the line.