Schoolies are a slam dunk, but increasingly there’s the possibility of something much more interesting. The key to catching larger is to find the prey, which right now is weighted towards mackerel, river herring and sea herring.
Massachusetts South Shore Fishing Report
The challenge for Captain Mark Petitt of Fire Escape Charters had not been catching haddock, but finding a window in the wind/rain to reach them! The good news is that if the winds ever lay down than you’ll find them still in close in Cape Cod Bay. Better bass are spreading throughout the Three Bays with a possibility of a keeper much more favorable now. No word on anything measured in pounds just yet inside but I did just receive a few reports of fish up to 30 pounds off Billingsgate Shoal!
There hasn’t been much happening at The Race but with encouraging news now in CCB, it might be a simple case of a lack of reporters! The Legit Fish skipper himself, Mark Rowell, has been heading north to find feeding fish—the North River that is! Schoolies there are smacking shad baits with the same scenario happening in Scituate Harbor. For a chance at bigger, toss or drift a mackerel—which are plentiful—among the area!
Haddock have moved off Stellwagen into deeper water of 200 to 275 feet.
Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait in Scituate is advising those who want to scratch that first keeper off their list to drift a live mackerel on an outgoing tide at the mouths of the North River and South River. Focusing on the Spit and Fourth Cliff would not be a bad idea. It would also not be a bad idea to wish for a redux of the near-mythical Memorial Day Massacre which took place in the Scituate area years ago. On that day the fish were big, hungry and outlasted many anglers. Someday bring a tall cup of coffee into Pete’s shop and ask him to retell the tale, if you weren’t one of the lucky ones who experienced it!
Bill Hurley put his namesake soft plastic baits to good use from the shore in that area recently and tallied 6 keepers! His albino jerk bait out-fished all else.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
Captain Anthony of Chasin’ Tail Fisheries keeps his Contender CC at the ready out of Marina Bay in Quincy for a quick launch for fast-moving blitzes right inside of the harbor. In spite of the blow, the bite has come easy for fish averaging between 20 and 25 inches with the occasional keeper thrown in for good measure. Anthony coined the name “Birdnado” to describe the chaos surrounding the feeds. Storm Shads and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows are working with the latter resulting in bigger fish. The skipper tailors trips to clients wishes, including fast and furious two-hour assaults which are perfect for catching a few fish, experiencing a taste of the harbor and then getting back to business on dry land. Soon chasing blitzes will give way to live-lining mackerel as larger fish become available.
Captain Colby’s Little Sister crew placed 1st, 2nd and (tied for) 3rd (yours truly, thank you!) in last Saturday’s annual Zobo Flounder Derby. When the weather permits Jason is now putting folks into limits of flounder. This flounder tournament is really taking off and the fact that it’s so tailored to kids and families (not unlike the fish) is what makes it extra special.
Pete Santini and his significant other Denise really do a great job with Denise doggedly determined that every available cent from the proceeds is donated to the Children’s Hospital for those less fortunate. Of course, it is the Memorial Day weekend and that means – striped bass! Just in time for the official fish for the unofficial kick-off of summer, Pete has news of 40”-plus stripers pulverizing topwaters off Deer Island and big fish break-offs involving Santini tubes and severed lines between the Alford Street Bridge and the Amelia Earhart Dam. Captain Paul Diggins of Reel Pursuit Charters has been finding mackerel off Nahant big enough to saddle! Naturally that presents problems when trying to feed those things to schoolies, but when the larger come in that bait will be deadly. Paul said that there’s a lot of bait past the BG Buoy and he’s suspecting that’s where the first cows of the season will be encountered. Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing could use a clone, since he seems to be two places at once. In Buzzards Bay he’s been into a red hot black sea bass bite outside of Cleveland Ledge with the occasional big blackfish surprise! And in Boston, he’s been limiting out on flounder up to 18”! Deer Island Flats, Governor’s Flats and the Lower Middle are all worth a try.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
Jack from Tomo’s said that while most are content with schoolies, a few are catching small keepers while trolling mackerel. Regardless of which size striper you target the hotter locations are all the same: Children’s Island, the Danvers River and Salem Willows.
Flounder are feeding much more vigorous now with limits even being achieved! Anglers are having luck among most of the harbors such as Swampscott, Marblehead and Beverly. Tina from Three Lantern Marine said that a few fish in the keeper size bracket have been caught on top water baits from the Little River. Tina’s targeting flounder and having great success around the turn of the tide in Lane’s Cove as well as by the Dogbar Breakwater. Haddock are hitting well in 200’ of water in Southern Jeffrey’s Ledge, Tillies Basin and the NE Section of Stellwagen.
Martha from Surfland said that this year is starting off much better than recent years because of the diversity of sizes of striped bass. Everything from 12” to 15 pounds is now in play! If she had to pick prime particulars for this weekend it would be daybreak at Parking Lot 1 at the Parker River Wildlife Reservation. Sandy Point was mentioned also. Worms are working as are the staples of SP Minnows, Savage Sand Eels and Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish.
Shad fishing is best well upstream of the Merrimack River and there are now some serious stripers pushing herring by the Lawrence Dam.
Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report
According to Patrick Barone of Charter the Berkshires, shad and striped bass aren’t the only residents of the salt to find their way upstream into the South Hadley section of the Connecticut River, there was even a seal there on the shoreline Thursday! More expected wildlife are faring well also as Patrick continues to put patrons into shad, stripers and smallmouth bass. The first two are feeding in the river while for bronzebacks, those picturesque, pristine ponds and lakes in the Berkshires are full of them. The news from Mike Didonna of the Deerfield Fly Shop is that prospects look good for the upcoming week for fishing and weather. Regarding the fishing, it has been good and should only get better. The Deerfield has been a bit high but if you target the calmer areas you’ll be successful. East Branch of the Westfield River is at a good flow. Millers and Swift are still high with minimal access. Lots of Hendricksons have been emerging, usually starting at about two in the afternoon, with the exception being cool rainy days. Some anglers are having good surface action, however nymphs and streamers are most consistent. Mike and his crew have float trips and wade trips available.
Fishing Forecast for Massachusetts
Folks get ready! With news of 30-pound stripers in Cape Cod Bay, some pretty powerful fish will be on the way soon! A live mackerel trolled off Shifting Lots Preserve in Plymouth, Warrens Cove or inside of the Three Bays could put you into that first serious striper of the season. The North River is not a place to ignore, especially on an outgoing tide at The Spit or Fourth Cliff. Some flounder are stirring in Scituate Harbor as well as Cohasset Harbor but mudflats of Boston Harbor seem best. Mackerel are plentiful from Nahant through the North Shore and as usual are one of the quickest ways to catch a nice striper. The mouth of the Merrimack on outgoing tides is one of the best bets for fast action while for a shot at bigger, try seaworms at daybreak off the Parker River Wildlife Reservation.
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Massachusetts
How come Stripers are not shown going up the Connecticut River on your Migration report map Thank You
How big were those 3 tournament winning flounder?