From Wentworth Harbor to Webhannet, the better bass are being caught off beaches and the mouths of rivers, and not surprisingly the bait of choice is pogies. Fresh bait rules, and with the preponderance of pogies and the reappearance of mackerel, that box is checked. If you’d like to shake things up and try something different, haddock and their cousins are calling you to Jeffreys Ledge.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
From Dover Marine came word that Charlie and his companions have been very cooperative, especially on top of Jeffreys Ledge. Headboats are reporting plenty of haddock with a smattering of cod among depth breaks on Jeffreys Ledge. Mackerel and pogies can be found at the mouth of Rye Harbor and the Piscataqua with beaches and ocean front areas of the river fishing best. Eels are money at night, and increasingly squid are becoming a viable option. There have been a pile of schoolies to keeper-sized fish throughout the Piscataqua River and Little Bay, and the best bait has been soft-plastic shads.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced diversion from all things salty, consider the lake trout right now in Winnipesaukee. The proper jig dropped on top of marked fish this time of the year can result in 100 fish per day outings. Look deep for those lakers, down to 100 feet.
The Suds ‘N Soda gang is telling patrons to seek out cooler water for a shot at a cow rather than just a schoolie. The ocean side of harbors, bays, and rivers runs cooler and there’s where the potential is. Throw in a flooding tide at dark and you’ve really improved your chances. Squid are numerous with more in the mix closer to the mouth of the Piscataqua than upstream.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
From Webhannet comes word that what separates the sharpies from the wannabes is often small details. Morning tides have been money at beaches and river mouths and pogies remain the preferred offering. Set up with a chunk of fresh pogy or mackerel at the mouth of the Mousam, Webhannet, and Little River to give yourself a shot at a solid striper. Haddock fishing on Jeffreys remains hot with most fish at least keeper-size. Just stay off the top sections of Jeffreys Ledge where the dogfish are swarming. The word from Saco Bay is that the best bass fishing is courtesy of bait from the beaches. Some of the beaches where good reports are coming in are Camp Ellis, Pine Point and Old Orchard, the latter of which has been best at night. It’s been a bait game with sand worms and pogy chunks working best. Eels get the nod come dark. For groundfish the shop recommends the northern end of Jeffreys Ledge. The dogs are on the prowl, so use bait sparingly. A good substitute for bait are glow teasers. Give them a shot of your phone flashlight before you send them down and just see if you don’t catch more!
Fishing Forecast
If you’re putting in the effort you might as well give yourself an edge. If you can get eels, Little Bay and Little Harbor at night are a good option with squid a serviceable alternative. Plentiful pogies and occasionally mackerel in Maine are indicators that big bass will be nearby. Toss out a “crunchy” chunk at the mouths of the Mousam, Ogunquit, Webhannet and Saco Rivers and see if you don’t catch far better than a mere keeper. Groundfishing on Jeffreys is great so long as you steer clear of shallows where the dogs are rowdy.