Thankfully the incessant storms of a week ago have given way to relative tranquility. With “green”, cooler oceanic water reclaiming rivers they may be worth another look. For diversity however it’s hard to top GOM groundfish.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tim Moore of Tim Moore Outdoors took his deepwater laker jigging technique on the road to Lake Champlain and found willing lakers in 90’of water! The bite was best while deploying Daddy Mack vertical jigs. Now that the salt has returned to the Piscatagua River, he will be targeting the ubiquitous 25/26” stripers which hold behind structure in the current of the watershed. Rips are most productive with 4” shads the ticket.
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters has been spending time over a fish-filled grab bag on “The Narrows” of Jeffrey’s Ledge and during any given trip his crew is catching pollock and cod up to 36”, near limits of haddock and most surprisingly a lot of wolffish, in fact he caught 4 in 2 days! Water temperatures in the 212 to 230 foot range he’s fishing in are cooler than usual for this time of the year which explains the higher volume of pollock. On the way out of port by the Cape Ann Marina Andy’s seeing surface feeding stripers on most days!
• 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 told me that the biggest bass in the Wells area are being taken by night jockeys off the shoreline before light. GT Eels, blurple Mag Darters and yellow SP Minnows are all working. Rocky shorelines are holding the most fish. Pepperell Cove has squid and stripers are actively feeding on them. Those trolling live mackerel in the Kennebunk area are catching well as are anglers fishing harbor pollock in tight to islands. Jeffrey’s Ledge has been good in 200’ plus depths with both cod and haddock hitting well on pink and green teasers.
From Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters came word of big bass in the Casco Bay area on bunker. Bigger artificials such as 7” Zoom Flukes and 9” GT Eels are catching larger stripers as well. Early morning and night seems to be the most productive as of right now. Fishin’ Magician Skid Sticks have resulted in 46” fish in Saco Bay!
• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Maine!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
It’s time to revisit your favorite river now that the freshwater has been flushed out and the ocean has reclaimed estuaries! The area by the Great Bay Marina has featured surface feeds while the rips of the Piscataqua are also prime. The Saco River is giving up big bass on topwaters while at night slinging big soft plastics has been the key off rocky outcroppings in the Wells area. Groundfishing remains great with Jeffrey’s Ledge wolffish adding to the medley.
Thank you for a freshwater report on the great lakes, its very helpful for me when it comes to fishing in NH
Looking to take my grandson to Hamden beach New Hampshire. Was wondering if any strippers are hitting and if so will say week of aug 16 ?
As long as water temperatures stay cool coming out of the river then shore fishing should be great mid August, however if you want to make sure your son and yourself get on some decent fish, look into hopping on a private 6 pack charter, or a bigger striper charter with eastmans or gaurons, they will set you up right
every time i go fishing were you say ther biting i catch shit! i think you guys work with tackle shops