Massachusetts Fishing Report – September 23, 2021

If you’re one of the fortunate few who could actually count on cows during the summer than you’re probably longing for yesterday. While the disappearance of “your” fish may feel like a gut punch, now is not the time to give up as new recruitments are on the way!

Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report

There is no reasonable debate that the environment is changing but in some cases it’s not all bad. On Wednesday I sent out a photo to Andy Nabresk and a few chums, of a shore-caught, North Shore keeper fluke I had just caught. It didn’t take long for him to reply with a remarkable catch of his own, namely brown shrimp from Westport. It looks as if there just might be a heretofore unheard of recreational shrimp fishery taking hold along the South Coast. That prompted Captain Jason Colby to perk up his antenna and he is now craving those crustaceans and is on the hunt from them out of Westport. Regarding crustaceans, crabs continue to be the key to limits of tautog among wrecks and rocks just outside of the river in Buzzards Bay. The skipper continues to offer charters aboard the Little Sister impressive striped bass fishing in the river with terrific tog fishing just outside.
 
According to Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate, Boston’s loss may just be the South Shore’s gain. For much of the summer, anglers there have watched with a bit of envy how consistent the big bass fishing had been in Greater Boston but it’s looking now that they have what was once Boston’s bass! Big bass and blues are busting up peanut bunker schools from the Three Bays up through Cohasset! With fish on the move, it’s hard to gauge where the bedlam will take place next: anglers who aren’t shy about searching are finding fantastic fishing but they’re keeping on the move. Recent hot spots have been Black Rock Beach, Egypt Beach, Minot Beach and Fourth Cliff. Regarding the latter, I viewed a video recently which had me wishing I was fishing there. The fish are not fussy but baits which approximate the size and shape of peanuts have been most effective.

Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters told me that those looking for cod should have no problem finding fish within 3 miles of the shoreline so long as they probe rockpiles and ledge. Football tuna continue to be no problem on Stellwagen but because of the appearance of halfbeaks, trolled ballyhoo are proving most effective.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

For most of the summer, “we” had a pile of big bass which were unrivaled in the Bay State but those fish appear to have moved southward. There’s no need to fret however since reports from up north indicate that big bass up there are on the way! While bedlam could be a tide away, fishing where the bait is surely helps while waiting. Pogy numbers from the Tobin Bridge through the Amelia Earhart Dam are reminding some of the pogy heyday of a generation ago. The bait part is good, the stench from the rotting carcasses not so much. Stick to the edges of the pogy schools where slot stripers are staging for a higher degree of success.

While some are expressing frustration at trying to pick off a striper among all that bait, Captain Dave Panarello and first mate Carl Vinning may have the remedy – the tube and worm! There’s just something about that perennial favorite which striped bass – even those stuffed with pogies – can’t resist!

Regarding the tube and worm, Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett, who has been known to turn out a pretty impressive tube of his own, recommended red tubes when the sun is up and orange when the water is discolored. Those looking for a big girl at night report black as deadly. But just when he thinks he has a bead on the color, someone comes into the shop boasting about bubblegum pink or honey mustard!

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that with lessening numbers of bluefish, mackerel have reappeared. Boston Light, Martins Ledge and Thieves Ledge all are holding macks. While obtaining macks try taking a swipe at Point Allerton, Brewster Spit or Toddy Rocks. Shore anglers are catching well them up off Nantasket Beach as well as Wollaston Beach.

Captain Paul Diggins of Reel Pursuit Charters gave me a timely report just as I was wrapping up the report! He said that Deer Island through the airport was going off in a major way with slot stripers and big blues busting bunker schools! His account gave me typing tremors which leaves me feeling bad for the editor!

While Captain Sam of Boston Saltwater has been preoccupied with putting a big Charlie on the deck before the quota closes, he did comment on solid stripers taking mackerel off Nantasket Beach as well as inshore haunts such as Hangman Island, Moonhead Island and Long Island. For numbers or to “keep the kids busy” 9er Rigs are the way to go! For macks, the skipper is cruising out to the B Buoy for consistency.

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Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

While there are no reports of eel-slurping flounder this week, there is a report of pogy-eating flounder! While catching schoolies among a school of peanut bunker on the North Shore on Wednesday, I came tight to a nice keeper fluke! It was a surprise on many fronts, not the least of which is that I caught it from the shore on the North Shore and – in late September! For more on that, I heard something interesting from Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle. She said that squid are in demand as anglers are targeting fluke in the Merrimack River and most are keepers! She’s also hearing of fluke trapped in lobster pots as well. I have to think that fluke may also be found in Plum Island Sound. These are truly strange days indeed. Intermittently stripers are pushing peanut bunker onto the ocean front shoreline from Sandy Point through the jetties. Blues are still a factor but you have to troll at least 35’ deep to find them as numbers wane. Less blues usually means more mackerel and anglers are increasingly finding them not far from the shore.

Sam from Tomo’s Tackle continues to stalk stripers from dusk to dawn from Marblehead to Magnolia and while it often takes some searching, he’s more often than not finding them. While beaches are best, it’s the transition areas of the bottom where sand abuts rock/ledge where the bigger fish can be found. Eels are always a slam dunk but Sam’s also catching with Dannys, SPs, MSs and the always-reliable bucktail jig.

I learned with great sadness of the recent passing of Walter “Skip” Sheppard who owned Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester. Having had the good fortune of being able to talk to Skip for years, he was one of my friends I most enjoyed talking to on a weekly basis. In spite of his ongoing health battle, he was always chipper and in good spirits and a pleasure to talk to. For me personally, the fishing community and for the many who frequent Three Lantern Marine he will be sorely missed.

John from Three Lantern Marine said that peanuts are drawing fire from schoolie to slot stripers in Gloucester Harbor. Similar surface feeds can also be found off Manchester and Magnolia. The “rocks” are also holding some of the bigger bass both by day and night. Regarding those rocks, my buddy Steve Pappows from Gloucester told me that the Cape Ann crags have been hot for him as well as a few rock-hopping pals! Red Fins have been among the baits of choice and the stripers are beauties.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

For a shot at a South Shore cod, drop a jig or clam on ledge/rockpiles as soon as you find said bottom once you clear port. Beaches from the Three Bays up through Hull are holding peanut bunker as well as blitzing bass and blues. Mackerel have reappeared between the Hull Ledges and beyond Graves Light. Those areas also harbor cod. Live mackerel should get clobbered by Toddy Rocks but definitely will between Deer Island and the airport which is on fire. Marblehead through Beverly Beaches are among the North Shore best bets for a big bass after dark. Of course, something can be said for catching sleep and stripers and for that the Cape Ann shoreline beckons!