Massachusetts Fishing Report – October 17, 2019

The weather is not the only forecast that could be better as fishing effort has dropped dramatically. The highly anticipated fall-run for our beloved striper has been more of a stumble, as resident fish have not been replaced by northern migrants in anywhere near appreciable numbers. Still there are striped bass to be caught but with the risk/reward ratio not all that favorable, it might be time to ask, “Freshwater anyone?”
 

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

It’s simply a better-than-usual year for tautog according to Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters. Limits of fish are a cinch this year and he’s finding fish within a half mile of the Westport River mouth. For salty pursuits, those Buzzards Bay blackfish are the Bay State’s best bet right now. Obviously you’ll need crabs and if you have access to a marina you may already have a private stash.

Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing, who is ready to make the jump to tog told me of a friend who caught 45 pounds of green and Asian crabs near his slip in Winthrop! Incidentally, Brian did make an ill-fated attempt to tempt a tog in the harbor and had nothing but bergalls to show for his efforts.

Pete from Belsan Bait in Scituate was waiting for ferry service from Martha’s Vineyard when we spoke, having just spent a week casting and kibitzing with like-minded fishing fanatics during the derby. He did say that prior to the blow that fast-moving schools of schoolies were pounding peanut bunker off Peggotty Beach. The “Cliffs” also had some action. The weather/seas are expected to lay down this weekend and it will be very interesting to see what is left!

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Greater Boston Fishing Report

Captain Carl Vinning and Captain Dave Panarello are wailing on a number of freshwater species among Greater Boston rivers. In fact the fishing has been so good that Captain P, dusted off the Bite Me II from it’s fall hibernation to get closer to inflict yet more damage on such “dirty water” denizens such as smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, perch and crappie. Rivers such as the Indian Head, the Charles and Mystic all have thriving herring runs which are fuel for a myriad of freshwater fish. Shiners are a slam dunk as are small swimmers and soft plastics which resemble the 2” to 4” fry which are plentiful right now.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle said that some anglers are targeting trout in Houghton’s Pond. Regarding freshwater places which benefit from a booming herring run, Lisa said that Whitman’s Pond in Weymouth is just such a place being the tail water to the very prolific Weymouth Back River.

In the salt, anglers soaking clams in Hull Gut are catching schoolies along with the occasional keeper. Mackerel can still be found among the leges of Hull but they have thinned out significantly. Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing has been finding challenging conditions to say the least regarding stripers in the harbor so he’s sticking to trolling a tube-and-worm at the mouths of rivers. Not all these fish are schoolies either as recently he had a fish scrub him off on a piling. The next prospect is Buzzards Bay blackfish.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Congrats to my friend Captain Tom Ciulla of T Sea Charters who pulled out a clutch Charlie catch on Sunday as the quota was set to close. He and crew put 110” of tuna (estimated 700 pounds) on the deck of his McKee Center Console. There’s a lot of tricks that go into duping a wily fish such as this, such as camouflage-coloring the sinkers, wiping the leader of detritus and then having the fortitude to stick with a critter far, more powerful than the angler. The beast belted a mackerel in 98’ of water and was a fitting end to a great season!

The strangest catch in the Surfland area according to Martha was a bluefish – all 12” of it! Just this morning in the middle of the roller, wind maelstrom, Martha’s husband saw some smallish fish swimming in the first wave which just might be more of those snappers! Meanwhile there was an angler who shook off the surf today and had luck on seaworms with schoolie to keeper-sized fish off Parking Lot 2.

Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle told me of a painful good news/bad news combo. Salem Willows recently was stacked with mackerel with everyone filling up – and then disaster struck in the form of season-ending structural damage to the pier! Odds are that those macks are still there but you’ll need a kayak or boat to get at them!

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Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

Captain Patrick Barone of Charter The Berkshires said that weed dieback has been opening up opportunity for pike out west. Shiners and other types of forage are siting ducks now and out in the open causing toothies in the Housatonic and Connecticut Rivers to feed voraciously. This is also opening up opportunities for walleye in the same areas at night. Some of the higher elevation trout ponds are offering prime fishing as well with little pressure. Rainfall can be the ally of the Chu’ contingent as current is often the trigger to better fishing for all manner of salmonoids. For lakers in Wachusett target the Thomas Basin right now which will stack up those forktails thanks to the flow. The Stillwater Basin should be ripe also for salmon with the Quinapoxet a better bet for brown trout and rainbows.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

For the waning moments of the fall run, chasing stripers will often be a lonely, fruitless pursuit albeit ultimately satisfying when that unexpected tail-slap on your plug wakes you out of you’re lethargy. Regarding reliable action a better bet is blackfish in Buzzards Bay which as water temperatures continue to drop will only get better. It was a cruel twist on the North Shore that just as the mackerel mob invaded Salem Willows the pier was put off limits. Of course, should you have water craft at the ready there are no worries. And then there’s the freshwater option with rainfall triggering terrific fishing for lakers in Wachusett and toothies in the Housatonic River.