Arguably trophy trout/salmon opportunities are even more intriguing than the steady flood of migrating striped bass. Flounder fishing already seems better than the previous few. years and finally pollock can be added to the offshore haddock haul.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tim Moore from TimMooreOutdoors told me that biologists and fishery managers have been shifting priorities in Winnipesaukee to where less salmon are being reared but they are now bigger! That’s not to say that waiting for acton requires extreme patience, willing rainbows many of which are 3 to 5 pound specimens are filling the void. It’s a case of find the bait and find the feed. Right now the forage is still smelt but later in the season some of that will switch to what will be ubiquitous white perch fry. Tim expects the catching to get easier once the thermocline sets up. Salty options are schoolies which are swarming throughout the Piscatagua River and flounder. Knowing that striped bass aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon Tim’s been emphasizing the blackback bite which is on in Hampton Harbor, Wentworth Harbor and especially Pepperell Cove.
While limits of haddock in only a few hours of fishing is not grounds for complaints, Captain Andy from Adventure and Catch Charters has been wondering where the pollock are? Boom – he found them! What haddock are to the taste buds, their pollock cousins are to your sporting Jones as those fish pull like heck! Andy has been dividing his time between Platt’s and Scantum.
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for New Hampshire
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle said that a spike in sand eel numbers seems to be resulting in better fishing sea-run brown trout including a beautiful hook-jawed 5 1/2 pounder taken by Tim who works in the shop! Across the board there has been real buzz this year regarding these unique salmonoids in the Mousam, Ogunquit and Kennebunk Rivers. Pogies have made an appearance, earlier than usual. Schoolies up to 22” have been hitting all manner of soft plastic baits in the Mousam and Saco Rivers. A few are fishing for flounder at Perkins Cove.
Trevor from Saco Bay Tackle Company told me that both squid and “squid hounds” (stripers) are being caught off the Camp Ellis Jetty. While most are micros, there has been at least one report of a 26” fish. Other early season favorites have been Scarborough Marsh, the Spurwink River and Ferry Beach. Areas with “darker bottom” which warm up more quickly are fishing better than lighter, sandy bottom. Al Gag’s paddletails as well as the venerable Slug-Go are all catching well. Bait anglers are doing best with sandworms. Striper reports have come from as far north as the Damariscotta River!
Moving forward expect the reports to have a bump in content now that Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters is getting fishy again. According to Lou, fresh stripers are being caught in all southern Maine rivers and marshes. As far as lures or bait it’s pretty much baker’s choice. The predominant bait is alewives and herring, but they are also seeing small sand eels as well along the grass banks. Mackerel have even returned a little on the early side. Sabiki rigs are catching them by the “tree-full”. A long wand specialist, small dragon tail flies have been Lou’s go-to offering so far. What’s unique about that streamer is that when stripped in they have a noticeable tail wiggle and “push” more water. The topwater bite is especially strong at first light with bone Two Lights Tackle Spooks and Jumpin’ Minnows drawing explosive strikes!
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Best options are fresh schoolies in Little Bay, the Mousam River, Saco River and all the way into the Damariscotta River! However with a sand eel spike resulting in some serious sea run brown trout catching those fisheries in the Mousam, Ogunquit and Kennebunk Rivers are tempting in their own right. The other trout/salmon option is Winnipesaukee where trolling shiners just above the thermocline will be in the offing soon. The haddock groundfish haul has been embellished with the appearance of pollock off Scantum. With plentiful pogies and the appearance of mackerel the stage is set for schoolies to take a back seat to cows!
I have caught a 27 in ptld shocking but true