The mix of more striped bass and plenty of bait has lit the fuse for surface feeds which are becoming par for the course from the Piscataqua River through Portland! Stick to sloughs, estuaries and rivers where temperatures are warmest for a best bet for a good bite. Shad are another attractive option with darts and flies both doing the trick.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
When Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters says he has had a good weekend, it might be wise to clear your schedule and go fishing! Both the Merrimack River and Piscataqua River are swarming with stripers from schoolies to slot fish. Surface feeds are common as the fresh-from-the-run bass have to refill their tanks. Mackerel remain largely a no-show but haddock and cusk are cooperating off Jeffrey’s Ledge. That’s the good news, but the bad and the ugly news is that dogfish are already a factor so bring along jigs with your bait supply in case you get plagued.
Jim from The Tackle Shack in Meredith said that many anglers are catching and releasing bass in both Squam Lake and Winnipesaukee. Jigs/soft craws and rattle traps are accounting for a lot of fish. If salmon are on your schedule than plan on being on the troll at first light or be prepared to troll as deeply as 25-40’ down. Streamers with orange/yellow and other bright colors are working well.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
According to Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard mackerel remain spotty with Kennebunkport the most consistent spot to catch them. Anglers using herring for bait are catching slot stripers in the Saco River. There was a surface feed in the Ogunquit River recently with the fish possibly picking off sand eels. The mouth of the Mousam River has been fishing well also. No word yet on sea run browns yet but after the excellent season of last year, anticipation is building! There is even some news on flounder, although one particular flatfish didn’t fare so well. Brandy spotted a gull having a flounder snack right off the dock in the Webhannet River.
Lou from Diamond Pass Outfitters said that there has been a nice push of bass into the Casco Bay area and when combined with a high volume of small bait in rivers and marshes, inland areas are hot. Although in the infancy of the new season, the brightly-colored 6.5” GT’s are already making a mark in the roiled river water. Topwater lures are working as well with Two Lights spooks and Jumpin’ Minnows among the hottest. Standbys such as Zoom super flukes are also catching schoolies. Shad are in the Royal River and Kennebunk River and are falling for flies and shad darts.
Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard is just getting off the ground regarding fishing with Scotty and Brandy’s takes ready to be part of the forecast most likely beginning next week!
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Inshore areas such as marshes and rivers feature the warmest water and reliable bait so expect the majority of striper action is such spots as the Hampton River, Little Bay, the Mousam River, Saco River and Kennebunk River. By the end of the month beaches will offer a better shot at a big bass especially if mackerel or pogies become a factor. The “poor man’s salmon” – AKA shad – are cruising the Saco River, the Kennebunk River and Royal River. For the real McCoy, landlocked salmon are still on top of Lake Winnipesaukee but should you hit the snooze button expect to troll as deep as 40!