New Hampshire and Maine Fishing Report – October 4, 2018

Usually at this time of the year as resident striped bass depart, anglers from more southern parts look toward the north for refreshments. But this time there just might be a nugget of hope from the Bay State that will keep you casting for a while still!

My friend and Boston/Westport charter captain Jason Colby on Thursday morning had a tautog charter on board from Maine who told him of his recent spate of success for big bass up to 40 pounds. He and a couple of friends are launching their kayaks at dusk and catching anywhere between 6 and 12 solid stripers up to 40 pounds. In fact, one of the guys a short while ago hooked a 50-pound-plus fish! The battles are taking place among estuaries, marshes and rivers with the bait being eels. Inevitably the hours spent fishing verses catching tilts more toward the skunk than the striper this time of the year, but lest you believe it’s over, think again.

New Hampshire Fishing Report

While reports in October regarding striped bass in New Hampshire are hard to come by since so few are fishing, I decided to enlist the help of my contacts who work the shops as to their best hunches for that season-ending cow.

Zach from Suds ‘N Soda gave me the bad news first – the shop is done carrying eels for the season. The good news is he shared what he has learned from the long-term shop proprietor, Jason, about where the big fish feed this month. Some late inning big bass spots are Little Bay, the Piscataqua River, and the harbors of Hampton, Rye and Wentworth. Personally I’ve done really well in the Bay State in similar environments in very late October and nearly November. I’ll soon be focusing my energy among bridges spanning rivers and estuaries. It’s all about nights and the best time I’ve found is just as the tide begins to turn after high.

What might surprise you is that I target the upcurrent side of bridges. What makes certain bridges special is having a light source that casts a shadow on the upcurrent side. Bass will stick their noses into the edge of that shadow line and look to pounce on unsuspecting prey swept along with the flow. While that shadow edge is not structure in the conventional sense, stripers view it at least as favorable as hard structure with the advantage ultimately being that they can “see” through this structure for prey. As for the dearth of eels at this time of the year, don’t worry. There are times when I’ve done even better with a jighead/soft plastic, worked into that shadow line. The fishing is often so good with the artificial, I’ve skipped on the serpents entirely. The caveat is that you have to be prepared to win the war with a big bass by toting heavy gear. My bridge stick is similar to what you may use on a groundfishing head boat; it’s a stout conventional combo loaded with 50 pound monofilament. As much as I appreciate braid, mono holds up better when rubbed against structure and the sponginess of the mono helps tire fish in close quarters out a lot quicker.

Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing has had a devil of a time ducking the incessant killer swells and has had to cancel striped bass charters because of that. However, during breaks from the rollers, the crew has found Charlie very cooperative as they give chase to halfbeaks. Mackerel and squid have been the best baits, with the former often leading to catching the latter. A live bait will not last long before getting striped to the bones by the aggressive squid. Fortunately the tuna love squid!

Southern Maine Fishing Report

Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle said that for the few who are still at it, it’s the best of all worlds with less angling competition and big bass! A number of 36” to 44” bass have been caught recently by the dogged who are frequenting the York, Saco, Webhannet, Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers. Mackerel remain numerous and the best bait with boaters getting their fill just outside of Wells Harbor. There have been some mackerel taken right from the jetties, chunked and fished successfully for stripers on site.

Josh Thelin of All Points Fly Fishing + Outfitters told me of a few “cheating” customers who have veered over to the dark (and slippery) side to cull out that last cow of the season. Josh felt pretty sure he knew the folks I alluded to earlier who were still catching large and he was leaning towards the Saco, Webhannet and Mousam Rivers as likely lairs for those large linesiders. Beach best bets are Old Orchard and Higgins. Of course, All Points is a fly fishing first shop and he does have a few still stripping in streamers for the rapidly dwindling schools of fish but the ratio of time verses catching is not very favorable. At All Points, all doesn’t end when the final striper leaves town as patrons simply switch interests to upstate New York for steelhead/salmon, winter fly tying instruction and even some snow bird interests which involve bonefish and redfish. You may be losing the bass but you’re not losing fishy endeavors as long as you frequent All Points Fly Shop and Outfitters in Portland.

New Hampshire And Maine Fishing Forecast

Sadly folks, unless something unexpected kicks up, this will most likely be the last forecast until the ice forms. Chances are that the stripers will outlast most intel regarding them. Chances also are good that there’s that one last drag-puller with your name on it and odds are that it’s filling up on forage during a nightime tide not far from you!