This past week found most striper fishing remaining much the same as the last as the wait is on for bigger. If you’d rather not wait for the next wave than target upstream structure where there are herring runs.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tristan of Suds ‘N Soda described the striper scene as a “standstill”. Schoolies are still plentiful but anglers are getting antsy awaiting something bigger! Massachusetts just received a slug of bigger bass so odds are you folks are next! Meanwhile, there is no shortage of schoolies throughout the Piscatagua River/Great Bay area.
Mackerel remain plentiful and no problem to jig up by the 2KR Can and Hampton Shoal Ledge. Jon Tregea of Sea Run Charters said that now that we are into June stripers are starting to behave like – stripers, in that the bite is significantly better at dawn and dusk and on cloudy days. There are plenty of schoolies around along with a few small keepers but the wait is on for real corkers to appear. To improve your chances of catching that first significant striper of the year consider tossing a big spook among structure in rivers which contain herring runs. The runs are waning and the spent breeder alewives and bluebacks are easy pickings for a hungry striper. Look for ledge, riprap or other structure that would impede the movements of herring making them easy pickings for bass. Jon also suggests that anglers begin targeting rips throughout the Piscatagua River where resident stripers will soon stage. These will be great places to drift mackerel by day and eels by night.
Anglers are beginning to see small schools of squid darting around under lights throughout the river and bays.
Southern Maine Fishng Report
According to Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters, the fishing in Maine remains strong as they have finally seen steady numbers of mackerel. Prevalent bait for those looking to match the hatch, is alewives and sand eels in addition to the mackerel. There are still good sized fish in the rivers as well – fish in the 30-40” range – but now they are catching fish off of the beaches as well. There has been some nice surface activity with fish feeding on brit herring. Flies, particularly hollows, dragon tails, and deceivers have been the most productive. Slug-gos and Hogys’ in the 7-10” range fished weightless have been effective as has spooks and pencils. There are also seeing fish in the flats with Clousers and Hogy sand eels a best bet.
Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Noatyard said that this past week brought schoolies and small keepers into Southern Maine. Good reports are trickling in from the York, Mousam, Saco and Kennebunk Rivers. Some are just enjoying soaking sandworms in the surf while they are soaking in the afternoon sun after work! There have even been a few flounder caught from the Ogunquit River, including a 15” specimen that was observed following a tube-and-worm before it was hooked! York River is noted for flounder also. There should also be some in Wells Harbor. Mackerel remain spotty and it’s hoped that as water temperatures improve so will the presence of mackerel. The biggest reported bass are upstream of the Saco River pushing alewives up against the dam. She also heard of a few nice fish taken from Scarborough Marsh. Haddock fishing remains good with some scoring fish among more inshore locations than Jeffrey’s such as the Peaks, Flagpole and Tantas.
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Fishing Forecast
The biggest bass in New Hampshire and Maine can now be found at the base of structure of herring runs where they are looking to pounce on emaciated alewives. The other better bass option is to begin looking for larger among rips of the Piscatagua River, York River and Saco River. The bait is already in place at the mouth of the river the only thing missing is bigger bass – for now!