Are stripers getting “sick” of pogies? Some are tossing that theory out there. The remedy for overfed bass might be to offer them something different: in this case, mackerel.
Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Report
Captain Mark Petitt of Fire Escape Charters has been finding a pile of good bass just outside of The Gurnet and High Pine Ledge, but rather than offer them the ubiquitous pogy, he’s tossing them a mack-snack that they can’t pass on. When asked how easy the acquisition of mackerel was, he said that there are plenty throughout Cape Cod Bay! He’s also doing well offshore with both groundfish and sharks.
Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters and his patrons can’t shake an almost unprecedented shallow-water Stellwagen haddock bite. Ordinarily during the peak of summer, a haddock score takes place in depths that could be referred to in fathoms as opposed to feet but not this August. Haddock, some big ones at that, are gorging on shrimp in shoal water as skinny as 80 feet. Gear has been downsized to Shimano Torium 20s, lightweight Trevala rods and corresponding Butterfly Jigs. It’s right now the best of both worlds, light on gear and heavy on fun. For a shot at a shark, there are plenty of porbeagles prowling just east of the bank. As for stripers, Captan Mark found a recent school of big bass by Fourth and Third Cliff.
Captain Rich Antonio of Black Rose Charters echoed what the others are saying, haddock are swarming the shallows of Stellwagen. In fact, Rich experimented recently looking for bigger in 260’ of water but was “pestered” by big cod! Once he hauled back to the bank he was back on top (literally) of the haddock.
The scorching water temperatures continue to bring in unexpected visitors to the South Shore. Just ask Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait, who has seen a spate of blue runner catches, including a 4 pounder which took a fly wielded by a young angler off Minot. It’s wild to see southern “jacks” caught on the South Shore. Those same rocks among Minot and the Glades are holding good numbers of 20-30” stripers! Bigger bass are more likely to be encountered by Fourth Cliff with pogies working by day and eels at night. There are some peanut bunker around leading to Scituate Harbor surface feeds.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing has been finding that the “rockfish” nickname given to striped bass is proving accurate in Boston Harbor as the shallow, rocky shorelines of the inner islands is where he’s finding good fish. The bait continues to be pogies, but he’s continually switching between live and chunk to see what the fussy fish want on that day. The recent fog, however, shook things up considerably as bass left the sanctuary of the rockpiles to feed on open-water pogies. Seasoned commercial anglers seized that opportunity and found very aggressive fish and a lot of them by the Anchorage.
Mike from Bob’s Bait Shack in Winthrop told me that patrons are finding plenty of action right in tight to the docks/wharves of the Winthrop yacht clubs. Nighttime pursuits can be very effective throughout lit sections of marinas and clubs. Those lights are a spark which ignites a multi-layered food chain which often ends with striped bass! Shore sharpies are using chunk pogies and mackerel off Coughlin Park and Deer Island and catching 30” plus fish as well as the occasional cow. Deer Island is fishing best on an outgoing tide.
North Shore Fishing Report
Squid is a big deal to many on the North Shore, and according to Jack from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem, finally, there is good news on the calamari front. Squid activity has increased throughout the North Shore, especially from Nahant through Swampscott. This is not surprising since offshore reports have been rife with mackerel-munching squid making the use of bait complicated for Charlie chasers. There have been recent pogy “beachings” off Nahant Beach and The Fisherman’s Beach with shore fishermen getting in on the act. The bass and the bite have been impressive right in the wash, allowing surf fishermen the rare opportunity to snag-and-drop. Lynn Harbor has also been the scene of some big-bass-on-bunker outings.
When the shop sells a lot of heavy fluorocarbon leaders, it means one thing – tuna! Several customers of Tomo’s have reported hooked/landed giants by the Double LL section of Stellwagen Bank. Bait acquisition has been easy thanks to all the pogies.
Skip from Three Lantern Marine said that there is now a new leader in the shop’s year-long striper tournament. Captain Russ Burgess hauled a 50.3-pounder into the shop recently to take over the top spot. Ordinarily, there are no shortcuts to catching a cow of this magnitude and this achievement was no exception. Russ fished an entire nighttime tide in the fog and clammy slop with little to show for his efforts when that bass hit just as the current was waning. If you are wondering what he caught it on it was on a Big Water Lures troller. While that plug is indeed special, every bit as important are nighttime tides and tenacity!
Among the suds where patrons of Surfland go about their business, the wrap remains the same – hit or miss by day but better at night. If you’re wondering what is the key to nighttime success, here’s a hint: you’ll need a grippy rag to hold them. Eels!
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
A much-appreciated break from the South Shore striper hunt awaits those among the shallows of Stellwagen thanks to a rare August haddock bite! Just off the edge the bite shifts to one of catch-and-release cod and even porbeagles. Inshore/South Shore bass action has been good among the Third/Fourth Cliffs. Boston bass are living up to their rockfish moniker making a menhaden tossed among the rubble a good bet. Should it fog up, open water pogy schools may come under siege again. If you are craving fresh squid than it looks as if the North Shore is for you as offshore loligos have moved in from Nahant through Swampscott. While daytime off Newburyport remains hit or miss, Surfland is selling pails full of serpents for good reason – nighttime remains the right time for bigger bass.
Where are all the blue fish with this enormous amount of bait running around