Massachusetts Fishing Report – May 5, 2016

In spite of the dismal weather, saltwater fishing opportunities are trending in the right direction. The “march of the micros” has been joined by better bass now with news of keepers up to 36 inches. A signpost of things to come is the appearance of mackerel by the B Buoy! The flounder fishing is steadily improving and is augmented in the groundfish category by haddock off Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge.

Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Report

Scotty from Green Harbor Bait & Tackle in Marshfield said that the haddock haul on the Southwest Corner of Stellwagen has been impressive with anglers achieving limits – 15 fish, minimum 17” – easily. The eastern edge of Stellwagen has been good also with the sweet spot being 240-260 feet. Ironically, anglers are finding plenty of cod out there, which due to the GOM moratorium have to immediately be released. There’s even been a few small halibut at the SW corner. Stripers up to 26” are swarming from Plymouth out through Green Harbor. Hit the “three bays” on a rising tide with a 3/8- to ¾-ounce yellow or white bucktail jig or jighead/plastic. Follow the fish inshore as they push bait up against structure on the incoming tide.

Pete from Belsan’s in Scituate said that keeper striped bass have now arrived on the South Shore. Anglers have been catching better by the bend on the South River behind Rexhame Beach, at the North River/Herring River confluence and off Bridge Street in the North River. Pete’s picks are Daddy Mac Baby Vipers, Fin-S-Fish/jigheads and Bill Hurley Jerk Baits. Fly fishermen are hitting them too with alewife streamer patterns. He has heard solid haddock reports from a number of charter captains most notably Captain Rob Green aboard his Elisabeth Marie right on top of Stellwagen in only 120’ of water! There are plenty of cod being released also. Shad are surging in the North River/Indian Head River and increasing number of flounder have been caught in Green Harbor and Scituate Harbor.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

The mantra aboard Captain Jason Colby’s Little Sister this week could be, “weather be damned”! Despite the incessant rain and raw east wind, Captain Colby’s rolling crew has not skipped a beat, which is a good thing because the flounder are biting! He’s finding feeding fish off Portuguese Cove, Deer Island and Rainsford Island. These folks are easily spotted, they look like Team StormR as anglers are donning extreme foul weather gear in the hopes of staying dry. What is remarkable is that the fishing is this good in spite of sub-50 degree water temperatures. Next week should be incredible!

Maria from Fore River in Quincy said that Nut Island has been a good flounder shore spot. Schoolies through keeper-sized stripers are in all the rivers including the Town River.

Darlene from Bob’s Bait Shack in Winthrop said that surfcasters are getting in on the flounder fun as well. Deer Island, Yirrell Beach, Revere Beach and Point of Pines have all produced flounder for the shore sector. One of Boston’s better skippers has been poking around the harbor’s outer edge and has struck mackerel at the B Buoy! Nothing calls in the cows like a mob of mackerel; look for those macks to cruise in closer to the coast soon with bigger bass not far behind. Those teeny stripers of the last two weeks have now been joined by 23” to 31” fish. I’ve even heard of an estimated 36” fish taken from the Rutherford Ave Bridge as bass pound river herring making their way into the Charles River. Schoolies have been trolled up with umbrella rigs by the ILS Pier at the airport and caught while flounder fishing off Yirrell Beach and Point of Pines. For a best bet, the rivers remain your first choice.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem told me that the flounder are cooperating behind the Walmart in the Lynnway and off Lynn Heritage State Park. Noel from Bridge Street Sports in Salem said that a long-term customer of the shop has been catching 4 to 5 flounder per outing from The Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott including a 21” doormat! They’re also catching harbor pollock and schoolies up to 24”! Sea herring as well as flounder are hitting at Salem Willows and there have been flounder also at the Beverly Pier. Big, breeder squid have been spotted but not caught yet by the Salem Ferry. One customer of the shop was planning on fishing for haddock just outside of Thacher’s Island in Gloucester. This guy said that last year he slammed haddock and their codfish cousins and now with more liberal regulations he’s amped up to capitalize on this spot!

Skip from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester is seeing fly-fishermen catching schoolies most every day in the Little River by the Nichols Candy Shop. Flounder are the primary quarry in Gloucester Harbor from the State Fish Pier as well as inside of the Dogbar Jetty. Skip’s convinced that most anywhere you can find access from a pier you will catch flatties. Patrons are enjoying a good haddock haul out at Jeffreys Ledge.

Just in from Surfland in Newburyport is news of schoolies in big numbers off the “front beach” of Plum Island. The feeling is that these fish will soon head into the Merrimack making for exciting fishing between the Captains Fishing Charters dock and the jetties at the mouth of the Merrimack. Outgoing tide is best and for my mind you cannot beat a ¾-ounce jighead/Queen Cochahoe combination.

Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

Just because things are stirring in the salt doesn’t mean it’s time to abandon freshwater. Russ Eastman from Monahan Marine in Weymouth hit the Hoosac Tunnel section of the Deerfield River and along with buddy Bob Williams got into some superb trout fishing. The multi-species catching was topped by Bob’s beautiful mid-20” brown trout which slammed an articulated swim bait of all things. Just goes to show you have to sometimes shake things up to get those wily old fish.

Eddie of B&A in West Boylston said that the hot fishery on the ‘Chu remains the salmon fishing around the causeway near the shop. Jim Innocent has the top laker so far weighed into the shop – a 7-11 – but odds are good that bigger have been caught by young bucks who simply catch, snap a picture and let them go!

Rod from Flagg’s in Orange told me of a husband and wife team who had a banner day for both fish and fowl! These two sports each bagged a turkey by 6:00 a.m. and then trolled two fat salmon of 4 ½ and 3 ½ pounds! The catching was on shiners behind 2 to 3 colors of leadcore off Gate 31. Rod recommends anglers target the Power Lines as well as mouth of Hop Brook. Shore guys are catching lakes up to 6 pounds off Gate 35. Smallies are “everywhere”!

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Look for bigger bass to be binging on herring in the South and North Rivers, as well as the mouth of the Town River in Plymouth. The mob of herring balled up by the Rutherford Street Bridge by the Charles River locks has attracted a lot of striper attention including at least one 36” fish! Flounder can be found off Quincy Bay, Deer Island, Lynn Harbor and off Swampscott. If you have a yearning for an offshore ordeal, “wiggle” a clam on the bottom of Stellwagen Bank for haddock. Farther north, a few squid have appeared in Salem and bass look as if they are poised to make a river run into the Merrimack.