Massachusetts Fishing Report – July 21, 2022

In spite of the heat wave knowing where the “warmer” water is, is paying dividends. In addition to the big stuff, schoolie-to-slot stripers have arrived which are just the ticket for the run-and-gun blitz chaser as well as fly fishers.

Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report

Recalling previous sizzling summers I asked Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters if he thought Cape Cod Bay would get a peanut mahi mahi appearance as has been the case in the past. I was surprised when he told me that in some cases water temperatures have actually cooled! When the heat is on it often takes an east wind to blow in warmer surface temperatures and we have had little to none of that. Hopefully you’ve had a shot at an inshore school tuna or two since it’s looking as if they have moved offshore between Stellwagen Bank and Wildcat Knoll. Pogy schools are still holding the majority of big South Shore stripers but rocky inshore areas which feature forage and comfortable water temperatures have become effective options. If you’re looking for mackerel for bait and not doing well, stick to ledge/rocky areas where harbor pollock are ubiquitous and a good substitute.

Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate said that big blues have arrived with a hot report recently coming from Humarock. Not all blue schools are living up to their rapacious reputation as finding a school in warmer pockets of water matters. There is a unique squid surge in harbors and off beaches which have resulted in some interesting surface feeds as those cephalopods take flight to escape their pursuers.

As for blues, Captain Jason Colby’s Little Sister has found a lode of gators just outside of the Westport River in Buzzards Bay. The good news is the charters are having intense action on double-digit choppers, the bad news is that the unpredictable bite often takes place as the crew is drifting pricey SPRO Jigs for black sea bass; the skipper is calling out first dibs on anyone who catches a 15 pound blue with a mouth full of his jigs! All is not lost when seas are unforgiving as the skipper has choice striper spots right in the river with cooperative schoolie-to-cow size fish in abundance.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

One anecdote as told to me from Jason Colby is an indicator of how hot the harbor striper scene has been. He recently had a charter in Westport from Boston and as customary of a competent captain he asked the crew what species they wanted to target. Among the rest of the Buzzards Bay bouillabaisse of possibilities was black sea bass and striped bass. When asked, the crew laughed and said, “Stripers?”!, “We’re from Boston we have all the stripers we can handle – we want black sea bass!”. In addition to the lock-and-load large linesider fishing which has been all the rage, schoolies though slot fish are available throughout the inner harbor as they chase down sea herring and squid. Finally it looks like we have some diversity in Year classes.

Regarding squid, this is an exceptional year for them from all accounts. That is not always a good thing according to Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing who has found schools of double-digit choppers sated on squid, tailing on the surface and content to ignore all offerings. Incidentally regarding that “tailing” behavior that blues are known for, I thought that tendency begat the “tailor” name given to blues in other parts of the world. It turns out that that’s an Aussie description of what those sharp teeth do to nets – those blues “tailor” down the nets to shreds, hence the name! Water temperatures have something to do with the blues languor as area beaches are showing in some cases upper 50 degree and low 60 degree water which is the lower rung for bluefish. In the past what has worked for me, when blues are tailing and exhibit lock jaw, is to rapidly work a bucktail jig below the school. There’s just something about snapping along a jig which triggers an impulse strike from reluctant fish. As for stripers, the skipper is still having no problem putting anglers into their PB bass! Squid numbers in the harbor are attracting other critters which crave a taste of calamari such as black sea bass and fluke. For the former, locate deep harbor holes near ledge while the latter can be found off sandy beaches and estuaries. As for stripers the urban patrons of Fishing FINatics in Everett are taking advantage of burgeoning Boston access in Chelsea, East Boston, the Seaport and beyond and catching plenty of mixed sizes of stripers. The shops hand-tied Vella Rigs have been the go-to terminal tackle for these folks! There have even been a few tautog taken too!

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that those seeking mackerel are best served heading out to Hull ledges such as Thieves. A few fluke and black sea bass have been caught off Rainsford and Long Islands.

If you’re interested in learning how to use your boat’s electronics to catch jumbo stripers, West Marine in Braintree will be hosting a Tackle Tuesday seminar with Boston’s own Captain Tim Egenrieder on July 26 from 6- 9 p.m.

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Massachusetts

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle in Salem said that there have been blues from Broad Sound through Nahant Bay but the bite has been a slim one taking place just before dusk when water temperatures are warmest. There are no shortage of pogies from Swampscott through Cape Ann and as is usually the case, big bass are there in abundance. Some anglers are eschewing snagging and instead trolling umbrella rigs and tubes and doing quite well. The nighttime serpent slingers are accounting for some of the nicest fish around. Squid remain big news with reports of full pales coming from Lynn, Swampscott, Marblehead, Salem, Beverly and Cape Ann. A few blues have been caught off Manchester-by-the-Sea while anglers were trolling big swimmers. Pogy schools with bass have been present in Gloucester Harbor as well as just outside the breakwater.

Regarding groundfish, everyone tells the same woeful tale. If you hunt around you can find the targeted haddock, pollock, cusk and redfish on Jeffrey’s Ledge and Tillies Ledge but the problem is the dogfish which are a blight! Some who have spent decades probing the offshore bottom point to an uneven balance of species which is the culprit. Dogfish “pups” are slow and easy pickings for a number of groundfish predators such as cod and wolffish; when those predators are removed from the environment, the prey prospers and in the case of dogfish that is precisely what has happened. I’m worried that it will only be a mater of time before they move inshore and become a scourge for striper fishers.

Liz from Surfland Bait and Tackle said that there have been 5/6 pound bluefish in Ipswich Bay which are a tuna fisherman’s dream while a nightmare for those working soft plastics for bass. Beaches have been good at night with some doing well with needlefish, Danny plugs and eels. Daytime fishers need to seek out the pogy schools for a shot at a decent striper. There will always be those who obsess about mackerel with the Speckled Apron, Breaking Rocks and Hampton Shoal Ledge all producing fish, albeit at an inconsistent rate! Bass can occasionally be seen pushing squid onto the surface of the water. In the unusual category, anglers have been catching shad off the ocean front with regularity!

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

With water temperatures running inverse of air temperatures, seeking pockets of warmer water is paying off for pelagic hunters who are finding football tuna and larger east of Stellwagen and beyond. Bluefish from the South Shore through the North Shore are present but are often in teaser-and-tailor-mode and seem to hit best at around dusk. Pogy schools just outside of Boston Harbor continue to attract big bass along with boats from far and wide. A less stressful alternative would be to seek smaller pods of pogies inside the harbor and chunk or drop down a fresh dead towards the bottom; chances are that bait won’t settle long before a bass comes calling. Squid are present in numbers which haven’t been seen in years and along with them are some more “southern” predators such as black sea bass and fluke. Salem Sound stripers are shadowing pogy schools but will fall for a tube or an umbrella rig. Farther north, night stalkers are catching cows off the Plum Island surf with needlefish, Danny plugs and eels all having their fans!