We’re back! With news of that first striped bass being caught in the Merrimack River, it’s time folks to begin bracing for that first bass of the year. Meanwhile something can be said for a supporting cast of mackerel, haddock and flounder!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Jason of Suds ‘N Soda said the surging alewife runs have been the trigger for some to already be catching striped bass in some of the rivers such as the Oyster! Those fish are most likely Great Bay holdovers but now that fresh stripers have made it into the Merrimack River, the real McCoy is probably about a week or less away! There are a few straggler Squamscott salter perch running but that vigorous run is waning. A better bet is stirring black back flounder in Hampton Harbor, Rye Harbor and Pepperell Cove. For haddock the haul is best between 190 and 220 feet on Southern Jeffrey’s. Expect to catch quite a few redfish while you’re there as well as “catch-and-release” cod!
Southern Maine
All is well when I have the pleasure to talk with the fine folks at Webhannet Bait and Boatyard again! Salty scuttlebutt is just beginning with lobster fisherman finding mackerel in their traps outside of Wells Harbor. After hearing news of Merrimack stripers, Brandy suspects that the first wave is a week to 19 days away! A few have set sail out towards the Fingers section of Jeffrey’s Ledge and did quite well on haddock. Proof of their success was that the anglers referred to the filleting process as “a lot of work”! Anglers are checking the Saco Dam daily for signs of shad but that quest may be a little premature. There is some flatfish talk however as news trickles in on the occasional halibut being caught in the Boothbay area.
Fishing Forecast
Obviously we are just getting started in the saltwater with the best bet being haddock on Jeffrey’s Ledge. The future however looks a lot better than the present with the arrival of fresh striped bass imminent and with mackerel reports trickling in tomorrow is looking downright rosy!
Finally!!!
I fish out of York Harbor. Reliable fishing info usually stops at the Merrimack. Not any more!
Coming from Washington State, back here? I’m missing my 50 lb King Salmon on the rivers…my Dungeness crab, and 20 lb trout!
Well! Look who decided to show up for work, FINALLY! It’s about time! It’s is wonderful that the stripers are showing up, however, a lot of the spring fishing in NH, VT and MA was completely ignored BECAUSE SOMEONE WASN’T AT THEIR DESK! Even still, VT is being ignored.
No more time off for you Bucko!
Mr. Marshall,
I grew up in Washington State in the 60’s and 70’s, and I never recall a 50lb Chinook south of the 49th in those days, and I know it has degraded much since then. I also miss the fishing salmon off the coast and in the sound, and had very good success on steelhead in the Snake.