The Piscataqua River remains the place for everything from squid to the stripers which pursue them. Other rivers in Maine are worth a consideration however as the catching has improved in the Mousam, Kennebunk and the mouth of the Nonesuch.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Ordinarily this time of the year Chad from Dover has made a complete conversion to salt, but he’s can’t break away from the bass fishing in local sweetwater thanks to the Koppers Livetarget Hollow Body Sunfish. If you’ve been disappointed because the shop was out, don’t fret they are back in. For black bass a small sunfish is usually on the dinner menu and apparently this thing dupes them into thinking it’s the real thing. Try working pockets in pads as well as weedlines in Willand, Pawtuckaway, Bellamy as well as rivers such as the Lamprey.
For some of course, come July the brine beckons. Squid are surging throughout the Piscataqua from most any it platform from the mouth of the river up to Newington. If you prefer your squid for dinner as opposed to bait you had better crank them in quickly since the “squid hounds” are out in force. Fishing for bass is as easy as casting out a live squid under a float or letting one settle into the depths, especially where there’s a shadow line. Mackerel remain a viable bait source and anglers continue to catch among structure which creates eddies for staging mackerel. Pigeon Hill has been hot for haddock with the “problem” being all the 30” plus cod anglers have to cull through to have at the haddock.
Van from Suds N’ Soda is still finding mackerel and bass between the mouth of the Piscataqua to the mouth of the Merrimack River. There have been big blues prowling between Joppa Flats and the mouth of the Merrimack River. A few have been trolled up on deep diving plugs off Salisbury. Tim Moore just finished shooting a segment for his informative TV series when we spoke and the subject was how to cull out the larger fish form the shorts. What was working for Tim was to pound 20’ humps surrounded by 40’ drop-offs while the current was cooking. White-ish shads with a jig head heavy enough to quickly cut through the current and into the bigger bass strike zone was the key. Vertical jigging proved deadly and it also pays to watch out for blitzing bass which are chasing squid.
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Southern Maine Fishing Report
Peter from Saco Bay said that increasingly anglers are targeting flounder! This is a fishery that didn’t seem to exist a few short years ago and now appears to be on the upswing. Current over structure is best, not unlike stripers for that matter. Scarborough Marsh, Wells Harbor as well as the mouths of the Spurwink River, Mousam River and Kennebunk River are all now possibilities. They have even been finding a few black sea bass in Saco Bay over rockpiles in the face of the current. Mackerel can be found by Monument Island as well as Stratton Island. Chunk mackerel, clams and olive poppers have been the ticket to keepers off Pine Point and the mouth of the Nonesuch River. Groundfishing is good on Jeffrey’s Ledge and there has been an increase in sharks prowling about Platts and Tantas.
Dick from Webhannet Marine said that those matching the ubiquitous sand eels are doing best! Slug-Gos and other soft plastic jerk baits are catching bass throughout the Webhannet and Mousam Rivers. The bait brigade is catching off area beaches especially during low light with worms, clams as well as mackerel chunks. The tube and worm has been working well by Kennebunkport with news of 30” plus fish figuring in the mix. Groundfishing on high spots of Jeffrey’s Ledge has been good but use bait at your own peril since packs of dogfish are around. A better bet may be jigs and teasers.
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Fishing Forecast
For fast-paced action, squid throughout the Piscatagua River is a best bet. A nice striper is as easy as turning the tables on the squid and live-lining them among lit bridges and piers. Look for humps, current and nearby deeper water and vertically jig bigger fish out of the schoolies with shads Jigs and teasers are the way to go on Jeffrey’s Ledge, while Platt’s is a best bet for blue sharks and maybe even a porbeagle.