Massachusetts Fishing Report – April 14, 2016

Those who prefer their fishing with a goodly dose of salt have found the pickings kind of slim, to say the least. No one knows this better than the tackle shop folks who are fielding call after call from increasingly desperate anglers searching for any sign of life in the brine. In this week’s forecast, there are two photos that are proof that salty salvation is not only on the way, but in some cases may already be here!

Like many, my friend Joe Holey had been grappling with woeful withdrawal pangs from way too many days without connecting with a saltwater gamester. Relief recently came in two waves after visiting Tomo’s Tackle in Salem. The first dose was the result of ogling the premium gear and the mesmerizing fish prints from store-partner Joe. The second came a few hours after leaving the shop toting a few dozen seaworms and some good advice where flounder may be foraging from Tomo. Joe said that the first hour passed without fanfare and then came the tell-tale tap-tap which signals an interested flounder. A brief struggle later and Joe plopped into his pail 15 inches of flounder; suddenly all was right in the heavens! Additionally, the increasing presence of river herring is awakening holdover stripers in rivers and estuaries. Shops have seaworms in stock; now it’s time for you to find your own salty fortune.

Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate told me that largemouth bass have been shaking free of their early spring lethargy and are even starting to hit top water lures. Scituate Reservoir has been solid with some good fish hitting Heddon Tiny Torpedoes as well as Berkley Power Worms.

The third stocking has resulted in some impressive trout swimming throughout the South Shore. At least one 20” rainbow trout was taken on a spinner from the Indian Head River. The wait is on for those trout to have some company as the first scout shad are most likely a week or so away from coursing the North River into the Indian Head River.

Pete hopes to have reports of the first Scituate Harbor flounder by this weekend. Other potential early season flounder spots are Green Harbor and Cohasset Harbor.

Lisa from Fore River in Quincy told me that the surge in river herring has sharpies who are familiar with the Weymouth Back River and the Neponset River on the lookout for holdover stripers. An angling acquaintance of mine who lived on the Weir River told me that he longed for the tax deadline each year and it had nothing to do with a hefty refund. Rather it was because by April 15th each year, he would catch his first bass of the year out of the Weir River. Other perennial holdover striper favorites are the Charles, Mystic, Pines and Saugus Rivers. With water temperature nearing the mid-40s look for flounder to be feeding off Hull, Peddock Island, the Hummock side of Wollaston Beach and Deer Island Flats. You can’t discount South Boston’s Sugar Bowl, Point of Pines or Lynn Harbor.

Russ Eastman of Monahan Marine in Weymouth told me that lobstermen he knows are reporting a lot of cod inside their traps in state waters! While there is a moratorium on GOM cod until August 1st, in state waters the current recreational bag limit north of Cape Cod is 1 fish at 19” minimum. You could spend a day poking around for flounder and then top it off by seeing if your crew can catch a cod or two off Toddy’s Rock, Ultonia Ledge, Harding’s Ledge, Strawberry Ledge or Thieves Ledge. Tomo is topping off patrons with seaworms and pointing them towards the white perch runs in the Squamscott and Exeter Rivers off Great Bay in New Hampshire. Those looking for something a little closer to the North Shore are finding flounder in increasing numbers off Lynn and Swampscott. Flounder are probably also foraging in Marblehead, Manchester and Gloucester Harbors.

Eric from Lunkers in Ashland said that customers are appreciating the recent stocking of brown trout in such spots as Ashland and Hopkinton Reservoirs. Even fresh from the hatchery, these fish have more attitude than rainbows and they are walloping gold/red Panther Martin spinners and gold Thomas Buoyant spoons. Customers who crave crappie are catching among the coves of the Charles River as well as Fairhaven Bay. You may catch during the day but your odds increase dramatically from dusk to dawn.

Eddie from B&A in West Boylston said that Wachusett delivered another fine week with reports of two four-pound-plus brown trout coming from the Gate 13 side of the reservoir. A 5-1 smallmouth was taken on a pond shiner from the Gate 35 section of the Chu and it is fishing like the salmon sweepstakes around the causeway with a lot of landlocked luck. Everything which swims in Wachusett grows to great size and although crappie are not generally targeted they can be found throughout the Thomas Basin, in fact a few 2-pounders were already taken there! Toss around a Beetle Spin, Road Runner or Crappie Thunder and see if you can come up with a few of those slabs. Eddie Parmeter has the top laker so far this year – a fish a smidge under 7 pounds – but you can bet on that being topped real soon.

Quabbin Reservoir opens for the season this Saturday, the 16th, at 5:00 a.m. For an insider’s peek as to what can be expected, I spoke to Bill Martell of Gate 8 Bait and Swift River Candle Shop. He said that the water level is about normal, smelt are still numerous and because of that he expects a sterling salmon bite right off the bat and right on top! Slowly troll as shiner, spoon or streamer to test your luck. Many of the Quabbin’s best salmon fishermen, such as Bobby May, dab their streamers with BioEdge Smelt Wand and boy does it make a difference. You may even catch some of the handsome rainbows that are thriving in Quabbin. Drop your offering at least 10 feet down for a chance at a lake trout.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

While hardly a contagion, the fever for the salt is beginning to spread. Soak seaworms for flounder in the harbors of Green Harbor, Scituate Harbor and Cohasett Harbor on the South Shore. Peddock and Hull should soon be hot closer to the Hub. There’s nothing like the scent and sight of river herring to wake up Boston Harbor holdover stripers, which are feeding in most every river system that harbors herring. Trout stockings have gotten far more interesting with the addition of more aggressive brown trout which will tackle all manner of metal from Ashland Reservoir and Hopkinton Reservoir. For a chance at a bigger “trout” a new season unfolds at Quabbin Reservoir this Saturday and thanks to superb smelt sightings hopes are high!