Massachusetts Fishing Report - May 3, 2018

The expected sustained southwesterly winds will be a significant game changer for those looking for that first fresh schoolie in Massachusetts as well as more cooperative flounder. There are also now interesting reports regarding haddock throughout the Gulf Of Maine and not just from Stellwagen Bank.

Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Report

I was hoping to hear the call of “they are here” from Pete of Belsan’s Bait in Scituate, but that wasn’t quite the case, although he did hear of schoolies caught in Cohasset Harbor. It all comes down to a matter of degrees and when that mercury climbs to 50 degrees – which is days away – there will be more willing winter flounder, the first shot of non-holdover schoolies and hopefully mackerel.

For something more substantial than speculation, give the shad in the North River/Indian Head Rivers a shot, they are running now. To hedge your bets in smallish rivers, stick to fishing from dusk to dawn. With bigger rivers such as the Connecticut and Merrimack, there are no such concerns.

Captain Rich Antonio of Black Rose Charters continues to put patrons into limits of haddock with no problem on Stellwagen Bank. In fact, the fish have even migrated to shallower water with 105 feet the strike zone! The skipper offers charters an interesting alternative to the offshore when winds are up – scup! Rich is as tuned into the movements/methods associated with scup as he is haddock, so a wind-blown trip, and resultant cooler of fillets, doesn’t necessarily have to be canceled! There’s no word on mackerel yet but the appearance of dive-bobbing gannets in Cape Cod Bay may be an indicator that they have appeared.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

The flounder fishing at the moment can best be described as a “slow pick”. Captain Jason Colby and crew aboard the Little Sister are finding a few at Deer Island Flats, Rainsford Island and Quincy Bay but with water temperatures still below 50 degrees they’ve yet to really turn on. On Thursday Jason recorded 48.5, so with moderating temperatures next week will doubtless be a period of big change! What is being marked is a ton of river herring moving upstream to spawn in local rivers. This bodes well for future freshwater fishing in these rivers as well as the volume of holdover stripers that the harbor supports.

Lisa from Fore River said that she is getting increasing reports of stripers. The line between holdovers and fresh fish is getting to be a fuzzy one but by next week will be academic since we will no doubt have plenty of 17-inch on-average fresh striped bass and shortly thereafter a lot of 29-inch on-average fish. I am basing this speculation on previous very healthy year classes from the Chesapeake Bay. Some are catching squid off Nut Island, but the size is small. I did hear of better squid just offshore, however.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

The most consistent catching on the North Shore is shad from the Merrimack River. My buddy Dave Panarello is so smitten by them after landing a 22-inch five-pounder that he’s making a daily pilgrimage to Rocks Village in West Newbury from his home in Greater Boston! For him, wobblers fished close to the bottom are working best. Farther upstream the veritable aquarium that exists just downstream of the Lawrence Dam continues to offer pike, white perch, black bass and there are even reports of schoolies now, but odds are that they are holdovers.

Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem felt that swarms of schoolies were due soon on the North Shore. First fish are usually caught in the Danvers River by Obear Park, Pope’s Landing and the Kernwood Bridge. Well into Salem Harbor on an outgoing tide as Forest River ebbs can be good early on as well.

Finally, a flounder report or two regarding Gloucester Harbor. Skip from Three Lantern Marine is hardly getting out the blow horn to signal all that the blackback bite is on, but he’s selling seaworms to a few who are picking up a couple in the Lanesville section of Gloucester. Skips suggested spots are by the Paint Factory, the inner side of the Dogbar Breakwater and by Stage Fort Park. The wait is on for the first fresh stripers to invade the Parker River and Merrimack River! Probably, there will be good news by next week’s report.

Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

Largemouth bass don’t ordinarily figure into very many outings on Wachusett Reservoir, but like most everything which swims there, there is the probability of trophies. A bumper crop of yellow perch fry is attracting pre-spawn 5- and 6-pound hawgs in close to the causeway. And best of all, anglers are pre-catching the bait on site. I would also suspect they can be found off Gate 35 by the sweeping, shallow cove as well as the far side of the peninsula. The latter has historically been known to harbor some incredibly large largemouth bass. I would also consider the shallow, relatively weedy cove behind the Tahanto School off Route 70 which can be reached from Gate 8. Perch-colored stick baits and jerk baits should be in your arsenal. Still, most of the catching is taking place courtesy of 2- to 4-pound lake trout. There has been no reports of a sizeable salmon yet. White perch have not made much of an appearance in the Thomas Basin or for that matter in the Quabbin Reservoir yet. Salmon and laker chasers are still killing it in the Quabbin and reports continue to point to a much healthier smelt population as the reason! Those targeting smallies in shoal water, points and near islands are catching them on tubes, soft-craw imitators, and Senko-type lures. Regarding white perch, the legend has been that for salter white perch, when the blooms are on in apple trees the perch are running!

Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires is finding fishing a bit distracting since so many options are opening at once. But, when the shad game is on, as it is now, then you have to heed that call. The shad run in the Holyoke section of the Connecticut River is now in full swing! Compound those arrivals with river herring and it is just the tonic to wake up the bigger holdover striped bass. Meanwhile rising water temperatures are just the ticket to get those Berkshire pike feeding big time.

Mike Didonna of the Deerfield Fly Shop said that with river levels still high, now is the time to take advantage of tributaries and smaller streams which will dry up during summer months. The Deerfield River itself is still flowing strong and obviously is not going anywhere. Swing in the shop to get the goods from Mike; some of that smaller water holds wild trout as well.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Next week, it should be fresh fish and photo time as the striped bass game begins anew! If you’re looking for flounder, seek out the warmest water temperatures you can find among shallow, muddy flats. Outgoing tide at the mouth of rivers is another warm-pot option. Once water temperatures hit the mid-50s universally that won’t matter but for now the difference between 48 degrees and 51 can be the difference between catching and wishing. The bass arrival should be taking place promptly by the Eel River in Plymouth, by Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury, the South River and Green Harbor. Nearer to the Harbor, look for them off Point Allerton, Webb Park, and the mouth/marshy area at the mouth of the Neponset River. The other alternative is to indulge in cold-water species options, which you’ll find no shortage of among rivers and reservoirs in the western part of the state.