Massachusetts Fishing Report - October 15, 2015

Queries as to what “they” are hitting have been supplanted in some cases by “what aren’t they hitting”! Such is life in mid-October for the dwindling few who are still in the game. While all manner of artificials will dupe blitzing schoolies, bigger bass continue to follow the same script with eels and mackerel providing the magic.

Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Forecast

You would expect angling talk to turn to tautog in mid-October in Buzzards Bay, but Scituate? There’s an untapped trove of tog among ledge, wrecks, mussel beds, and other types of interesting bottom on the South Shore, but few take advantage of them. But, according to Joel from Belsans in Scituate, some have been having success off Second Cliff. You may also find a tog or two off High Pine Ledge, Blackman Point, Farnham Rock and Black Rock Beach. Seaworms work, but for obvious reasons don’t last long on a hook. You’ll fare much better with green crabs, which you should have no problem trapping near most any marina with the aid of a serviceable trap.

Bass up to 20 pounds have been taken on clams and chunk mackerel off Minot Beach and Peggotty Beach. Big bluefish are apparently migrating offshore as some have encountered them 5 miles out while trolling plugs! Scituate Harbor still has a steady, if not spectacular, smelt bite, with the epicenter being the harbormaster shack.

It’s hard to top the current Westport dynamic duo of big bass and blackfish! It seems as if one can draw a migration line between fleeing fish from the Canal to a reloading in Westport. Plugs and soft plastics are catching, but if you want large, then opt for eels and don’t skimp on their size. Look for chunky structure throughout the Westport side of Buzzards Bay where blackfish are congregating and becoming crab-crunching dynamos.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

Smelt interest is surging, according to Lisa from Fore River in Quincy! The success/demand is greater than in years, which is prompting the “girls” – Lisa and Marie – to brush off Rick Newcomb’s old grass shrimp honey holes! Hingham, Hull, Nut Island, Summer Street are all experiencing smelt success. In a bygone era, Kelly’s Landing in South Boston used to have smelt also during higher tides. Mackerel can still be found off Hull, but you’ll have to haul to Three-and-One-Half Fathom Ledge. Anglers cruising with those macks off Point Allerton and Hull Gut have been catching with them. Lisa also said that Revere Beach has been red hot with Captain Lou Abate of Good Times Charters making a killing with umbrella rigs. I’ve been getting reports of bass busting off Bob’s Bass Triangle. Most of these fish have been schoolies with the bigger fish flashing off Nahant from Bailey’s Hill to Egg Rock to Short Beach. Mackerel are most prevalent off Marblehead with anglers finding them close to the bottom in channels at 50 to 70 feet of water. Smelt success is picking up off the piers of Winthrop. Expect the estuaries to be excellent options for eels for only two weeks tops.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

There were some seriously large linesiders taken off Salem Sound within the last week, and from the shore as well. Sebile Magic Swimmers lived up to their namesake for the surf guys, while the boaters did best with mackerel. Tomo from Tomo’s in Salem said that blitzes have been commonplace between Tinkers Island out to Egg Rock. Red Rock bait casters are still picking up bass with seaworms.

While there’s no scuttlebutt on smelt for the North Shore, the banner year the South Shore is experiencing may make you curious toward giving it a try locally. In the past, the Commercial Street Pier in Marblehead, Salem Willows, the Beverly Pier and Salem Willows have all been winners.

Skip from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester said that outer Gloucester went off during the last week and still has stripers. From the outer edge of the Dogbar Breakwater to the East Point and all the way through Bass Rocks, the catching has been good with even a few 30-pounders mixing with the catch. Inside the harbor, you’re likely to find harbor pollock, tinker mackerel and schoolies.

Martha from Surfland said that the angling has been pretty good, even if participation is falling off. The Beach Buggy crowd has been chasing blitzing bass along the Parker River Wildlife Reservation. Shore fishermen shorn in waders have been getting quite the workout as they chase roaming schools near parking lots 1 through 3. There have been 24-pound bass mixed in with smaller fish. Peanut bunker are one of the striper staples; toting along long-distance casting lures that match the hatch such as 1 ½ blue/chrome Kastmasters pays dividends when the bass binge on baby bunker and a far, fast cast is a requirement.

Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

If angling participation is a barometer, then it may be time to take it to a river. Rod from Flaggs said the freshly stocked Miller River has been hot for brown trout up to 21”! He suggests the Wendell Depot section of the river. This storied water body used to have famous fans such as Bo Sox immortal and legendary angler Ted Williams. For flies, Flagg is fond of Blue-Wing Olives and streamers such as Wooly Buggers. Another blue-ribbon river worth a shot is the Swift River. Rod recommends small midge and scud patterns to fool the highly pressured salmonids in this cold running waterbody. Drop down to micro Jackass and Miller River Special patterns as tiny as size 28! If you want a selection of super small flies than frequent Flagg’s, Rod is a master of the craft! In fact patronize his shop as well as others in the area as much as possible. He sent a shiver down my spine when he admitted that both his shop and Gate 8 Bait are in serious trouble and considering closure because of the dramatic drop-off in business due to the mandatory state sponsored hull cleansing program. This program has made it impractical to use a boat both in Quabbin and other water bodies, so many aren’t bothering with Quabbin. I can’t imagine Quabbin with no local bait and tackle shops!

Eddie of B&A said that they are catching salmon and colorful rainbows below the Oakdale Pump house in the Quinapoxet River. The watch is still on for the first brown trout to migrate upstream in search of salmon spawn. The Stillwater River is running low and is in need of a deluge to spur the landlockeds to make the leap upstream to spawn. Gate 6 has been good for beautiful purplish-striped rainbows which are averaging 16-17 inches. The fish are falling for shiners and gold/neon red Kastmaters. If you upsize your Kastmasters to ¾ and even 1 ounces you’ll have the right stuff to jig up bottom-hugging lake trout from Gates 8, 22, 30 and 35.

Fishing Forecast

For a unique twist, try for tautog among “live bottom” in the Green Harbor, Scituate, and Cohasset area. Of course a more consistent bite for these crab-crunchers exists among the Westport side of Buzzards Bay. While you’re there, work some eels in the Westport River, striper numbers and size are on the rise. Topping off the livewell with macks off Hull and then live-lining then off Point Allerton should pay off. This smelt season is shaping up to be superior then the last few especially from piers of Hull and Hingham. Blitzes are the norm in Boston Harbor, with Revere Beach fishing best. Jig up some mackerel off Marblehead and send some out to find stripers in Salem Sound. The party is in full swing at the Parker River Wildlife Reservation with stripers up to 24 pounds being taken by those in buggies and those in boots!