Pictured above: Nine-year-old Luke Watson (right) with his dad Tom and the unofficial new New Hampshire black sea bass state record!
The only factor missing with all the squid scuttlebutt throughout the Piscataqua River has been the “predators,” namely black sea bass! Considering that there is now an unofficial new black sea bass state record just waiting for approval, it’s obvious that the black sea bass have been found. The “other” saltwater bass has been most cooperative off Southern Maine beaches, with chunks doing the catching by day and eels the go-to offering from dusk to dawn.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Black sea bass are a relatively new addition to the New Hampshire/Southern Maine seascape. In fact, until recently the Granite State did not regulate them at all. Call it warming seas or what you’d like, but they appear to be a player for good in these parts and many anglers couldn’t be happier. Registered guide Tim Moore is one such advocate, not the least of which had to do with Tim being the recent and now dethroned keeper of the state record for black sea bass. Influenced by writings by Tim of black sea bass and techniques, Tom Watson and his son Luke have taken up the hunt. And they’ve become proficient enough to have recently caught “humpheads” to almost 3 pounds somewhere in the Piscataqua River watershed. That “almost” 3-pound mark was verified in Suds ‘N Soda the other day by none other than Tim Moore, who just happened to be covering the shop! What are the odds of that? The “pupil” brings in a fish which bounces the “teacher’s” record into also-ran irrelevancy? When asked, Tim replied that he couldn’t be happier for 9-year-old Luke! And if you know Tim, he means it! Look for humps and lumps in the Piscataqua River and drift over said structure bouncing a jig/dropper loop combination along the way. Black sea bass love pink, squid and for something artificial and sweet opt for Gulp Swimming Mullet. Tim is hoping he gets his just desert over the coming week since it was about a year ago when he achieved his personal best bass on an eel – 46”, 33 pounds.
Chad of Dover Marine said that angling effort has dropped off, while for most luck has improved! If that’s not an invitation to get out there than what is! The best bass are being caught by drifting mackerel through the deeper sections of the Piscataqua River bank in 40 to 60 feet of water. Mackerel are plentiful but sizes are mixed and you may have to scout around to find the ideal size. Anglers are claiming that some of the macks are too big to use for bass! Help yourself to a gadoid grab bag in 250-300 feet of water in The Prong section of Jeffreys Ledge. It’s fishing like a real whodunit mystery with a variety of species coming out to play. Best of all, the dogs are not a factor.
Rick from Suds ‘N Soda said that patrons are catching black sea bass and even blackfish (tautog) among bridges throughout the Piscataqua River. Rick suggests squid for the black sea bass and seaworms for the tautog. Of course tog are nothing if not crab-crunching hellions so if you have a crab stash handy, send a few into likely looking tautog lairs.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Mack from Webhannet referred to all things striper in southern Maine as good! They’re catching plenty in Wells Harbor, Parson’s Beach and Moody Point. There’s even been a marauding school of 5- to 7-pound blues, possibly lured in by pogies, and they are making for fun topwater action. The key to catching a cow is still mackerel and you should have no problem finding them once you clear the entrance buoy beyond Wells Harbor. However, Mack is most jacked up about the groundfishing, which has been awesome. Probe the deeper sections around Jeffreys for the most action. Mack found furious feeding in 350’ of water with 20-ounce jigs and pink teasers/cod flies. The gang caught pollock, cod, cusk and haddock.
Kenny from Saco Bay said that with river/estuarial water temperatures too warm the beaches and breachways on incoming tides, which bring in cooler water, are fishing best. By day florescent orange and sand eel-colored tubes are working well. At night they’re catching on eels, especially from Old Orchard Beach. Other beaches he’s hearing good reports from are Higgins, Camp Ellis and Pine Point. Poke around the Saco Bay islands for mackerel you should have no problem finding all you want. Pogies are less prevalent in Saco Bay then they were, but there are plenty in York and Wells. If you plan on groundfishing get ready for a deepwater affair with the best bite taking place in 250-300 feet of water. The Scantums, The Curl and The Cove have all been good recently.
New Hampshire, Maine & Vermont Fishing Forecast
Simply put, there’s less angling participation for striped bass and slightly cooler temperatures are making for better bass fishing! Eeling from and near the bridges at night in the Piscataqua River has been productive as has drifting mackerel throughout the deeper sections of the river bank. In Maine, the bass are most active off the beaches such as Pine Point and Old Orchard, the latter especially hot at night. Groundfishing is nothing short of great, but you had better prepare with a hearty breakfast, it takes a drop from 250 – 300 feet to find the sweet zone of Jeffreys Ledge.