The fall run has officially begun, but with pogies no longer part of the equation. Striper prospects can be separated into two categories – upstream for schoolie feeds and in the wash/rollers for larger, albeit fewer fish.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
From Captain Jon Tregea of Sea Run Charters comes news that the striper fishing has remained strong throughout the Piscataqua and along the Maine and New Hampshire coast. He’s been catching plenty of fish on live mackerel with his charters and the evening schoolie bite in the river has been fun on small paddle tails and flies. He remarked that it almost felt like early spring with fish busting well upstream in skinny water and fortunately for Jon, practically in his backyard on the Piscatagua.
Offshore the sharks have really moved in heavily and are giving a lot of the tuna guy’s trouble. However, he’s been making the most of it by targeting those toothy critters with 16wt fly rods and heavy spin gear. Threshers, porbeagles and makos have been finding their way into the mix and when the seas cooperate these have been some of the most exciting trips of the season.
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Southern Maine Fishng Report
According to Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Charters there are still plenty of fish to be found in the rivers. However, out front is where you’ll find the bigger bass. Fishing the foam/whitewater/rough stuff is producing best. Metal lip swimmers like those from Two Lights Tackle Co. are fooling fish that are looking for a more substantial meal. He is also been doing well with the Hogy Pro Tail 7” eels, to mimic the slender herring that are dropping out. Fish are still happy to take a fly as well from river mouths, flats, back bays and beaches. Current forage is composed of sand eels, small juvenile baitfish (herring or peanut bunker) mackerel and pollock. That variety avails itself to a menagerie of flies, so experimenting is often the key to see what the bass are preferring on that day. Fingers are crossed that Dorian will not push most of the bass southward.
Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard delivered sad news when we spoke – the pogies for the most part are gone! However, as long as a tube-and-worm is in your arsenal you should still be able to catch plenty of stripers in rivers such as the Saco and Webhannet. For a shot at a bigger bass, it’s hard to beat chunking the surf right now with many feeling that pre-storm the bite will be memorable! For groundfish, flounder have been caught near Goosefare Brook and Perkin’s Cove. Deeper will deliver haddock and beginning on September 15th for a glorious two weeks anglers will be able to keep one cod per day, per person with a 21” minimum size!
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Fishing Forecast
True to form, September’s showcasing the rebirth of a Great Bay/upper Piscatagua River schoolie feed. For a crack at a cow consider a chunk of pogy or mackerel off the oceanfront from Wallis Sands to Webhannet. Groundfishing remains great but if you value your prized haddock you had better crank with purpose – there are toothies on the prowl out there.
Anyone catching baby bonito in NH?
Haven’t been able to go out at all..
STOPPED AND HAD BRANDY AT WEBHANNET BAIT AND TACKLE SPOOL UP 2 REELS, SHE IS VERY KNOWLEDEABLE AND POLITE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU VISIT HER STORE NEXT DAY CAUGHT LOT OF HADDOCK AND POLLOK