As befitting the quintessential American Holiday, there will be fireworks this week but thanks to the arrival of big bass they may not be reserved for just the skies!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Jon Tregea of Sea Run Charters had a dizzying fishing schedule during the past week which speaks highly about the local fishing opportunities and his competency as a guide. He’s been double booked and hooking 40” fish daily, many of which have been taken on flies! With squid apparent throughout the Piscataqua, try patterns which resemble this prey. Soft plastic stick baits in pink are a spinning alternative. Jon has seen tuna busting in close to shore at sunrise and is planning on putting patrons into these pelagics! Mackerel are tough to find but the plentiful pollock are a nice bait alternative and are accounting for big bass in the Piscataqua. Wallis Sands Beach as well as Rye Beach are now featuring a chunk bait-from-shore bite. Shops in the area are selling a lot of eels to anglers fishing the night shift in Hampton River and the Piscataqua River. A deep-water option is to troll pogies, mackerel or pollock over humps towards the Isle of Shoals. If there’s a fifty pounder or two out there, that is probably where they will be found!
Southern Maine Fishing Report
During this time of the year drop-back shad and river herring must pass through the mouths of rivers as they return to the sea making those spots perfect places for stripers to ambush the spent herring. Pogies are plentiful but not every school has striped bass lurking nearby. It may seem counterintuitive but don’t be afraid of leaving this bait if they don’t appear to be rushed. Chances are that a short distance away you will find bass with the bait. Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard is now reporting bass up to 48” now! Not surprisingly many of those big fish will fall for not only pogies but an eel worked at nigh among structure such as Fortunes Rocks. Macks are a tough find but with pogies around many aren’t concerned in the least. Look for pogies and shadowing bass off a number of beaches such as Parson’s Beach. For flounder try Camp Ellis, York, Ogunquit and Kennebunk. which was slung off Fortunes Rocks. Haddock have moved off from the closer-to-shore Tantas Ledge, however there are limits to be had at Jeffrey’s Ledge. Try drop offs but instead of fishing down the slope try fishing up it, see if that doesn’t improve your catching!
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Fishing Forecast
Pogies have been a game changer and wherever you find them there is the potential to catch a big bass. For the graveyard gang target lit piers and bridges throughout the Piscataqua River with either eels or “calamari”! Maine options run the gamut from pogies for big bass off Parson’s Beach to flounder off York. Sloping drop-offs on Jeffreys Ledge make a nice deep-water option for haddock. Above all have a super July 4th and I’m hoping that you’ll experience a few “fireworks” at the end of your rod!