Massachusetts Fishing Report – March 30, 2023

The weeks of “forecast light” are over and we can thank opening day for that! While meaning no disrespect to the Fenway Faithful, the opening days I’m referring to have nothing to do with base-running or fly balls but rather lake trout, landlocked salmon, haddock and cod!

Massachusetts South Shore/South Coast Fishing Report

It’s not unusual to feature Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters in the South Shore report but this time I found him in Florida which is a little more southerly than this column usually covers. Once he got through tormenting me with tales of snook, sea trout, redfish and permit, we got to “real fish”, namely cod and haddock. The GOM cod season begins April 1st and for now ends April 14th with a one fish per person bag limit at 22” minimum. Also at least for the month of April is a 20 fish bag limit for haddock at a minimum of 17”. Moving into May regulations are to be decided. Soon the skipper will be shoving off from his slip in Scituate for those two species and when asked how far out he said, “You could reach them with your kayak!”. Just outside of Duxbury in about 70’ of water both bottom dwellers were swimming for much of the spring last year! He also passed along a tip on tautog as numbers seem to be on the uptick around Minot Ledge.

When I asked Pete Belsan of Belsan’s Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate to weigh in on that he agreed and emphasized the east side of that ledge by the “Breakers” as a place divers often encounter them. Tog are also increasingly found at Flatt Ledge along with a number of no-name bits of structure off of Green Harbor, Scituate and Cohasset. With warmer water temperatures we might be the beneficiary of a northward shift in tautog. Before those blackfish stage in deeper water they’ll move into local estuaries to spawn primarily in May. On an incoming tide I have to think that the jetties at the gateway of Green Harbor, Scituate Harbor, the North River and Cohasset Harbor are all good places to start. While crabs are a given, seaworms will work perfectly well.

Elsewhere many continue to target trout with solid brookies coming from Norris Reservation Pond, Tack Factory Pond, Skeeter Pond and Second Herring Brook. Not everyone is on hunt for hatchery fish with hawg Larrys the focus of some selecting big shiners and hitting the plethora of ponds which dot Pembroke as well as Old Oaken Bucket and Cohasset Reservoir. Another option is ponds which dot golf courses which are often ignored save shanking specialists.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

According to Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett, those wondering how to get at those groundfish should leave the worrying to Walsh. Jim Walsh of the American Classic out of Lynn that is! A surer way to load up on haddock, catch that precious cod, and tangle with a gaggle of gadoids probably does not exist in these parts, aside from jumping in a headboat and letting the captain and crew do the work for you. Historically, this time of the year cod were often caught off Castle Island and Deer Island. President Roads would often hold a fleet of flat bottom skiffs and other assorted small craft as cod would come cruising in close to the shore. Those fish would often hang around through May when the Deer Island Rip would get interesting as plugs at troll and at anchor would get clobbered by both bass and cod.

Jamaica Pond is jammed with rainbows, the flagpole section of Horn Pond has been hot and the feeling is that the twin dynamos of Concord – Walden and White – are due to be stocked any day now!

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy has been moving squid jigs already. Unfortunately you’ll have to follow the ink trail all the way to Rhode Island to find the calamari with Nut Island among the earliest spots around here to luck into Loligos! In addition to all kinds of trout action far and near, some are buying up small to medium shiners and finding willing crappie in Whitman Pond, Pope’s Pond and the Muddy River lagoon.
I ran into Captain Brian Coombs at our friend Carl Vinning’s wake the other day and he told me he’s ready to launch his re-powered Jones Brothers Get Tight Sportfishing Center Console most likely within a week! While many are counting the days until the spring striper run begins in May, he told me he’s not going to wait to get that first linesider on board. It looks as if Brian has a bead on some harbor holdovers! He also intends on hitting the haddock and cod grounds soon.

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Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Some of our shop friends on the North Shore are expanding their ventures to include freshwater as well as the salt. Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle told me that trout have been the top ticket with Sluice Pond in Lynn among the better bets for bows. The killer lure has been the 1/4 ounce gold Kastmaster. While most reach for the 1/8th version for stockies, some – myself included `- prefer the heavier size. Since the Salem shop is steeped in salt, not surprisingly, talk turned to the cod/haddock opening day this Saturday, April 1st. Tomo felt anglers should be able to get their groundfish fillet-fix not far out with Saturday Night Ledge and the Middle Ground among the top choices, especially for cod. Historically Hills 47 and 101 have also been good early season producers.

TJ of Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester told me that their shop is also catering to the freshwater angler as well as the salty set. He and Matt are now carrying sweetwater offerings such as trout worms, crawlers and tackle. The shop also is already stocking seaworms as there has been a bit of blackback buzz! Right behind the shop anglers are beginning to fish for flounder. Habitually this spot has been a solid early season producer for flatties as has Cripple Cove behind Zeke’s Place. In fact I’d venture to say that Cape Ann is a bight spot among an otherwise sullen picture for most of the Bay State winter flounder stock. While shops elsewhere report less effort from anglers because of poor results, the picture from Manchester, Gloucester and Rockport is much rosier! Next week we should have a handle on how far out the haddock and cod are aggregating as anglers shove off for groundfish.

Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

It’s kind of a big deal in the world of Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston beginning this Saturday. The greatly anticipated opening day of Wachusett Reservoir takes place on April 1st. It looks as if conditions are going to be rainy – perfect! That means that the playing field to encounter lakers will widen significantly. Under the cover of clouds, rain and high water, lakers will move into shoal water and ledges where they wouldn’t be if it were sunny. Several years ago I took a buddy who had never been to the Chu’ on the Route 70 side of the reservoir and found the parking lot jammed. The preferred spot which is at the cusp of shallow water/deep water was not surprisingly taken. The day was overcast and misty which gave me hope. We veered off to the shallow side where no one else was and found the forktails stacked there and very hungry! Again, had it been bluebird conditions I never would have even considered the shallows. Lakers are thugs and will hit anything, even dead shiners and motionless spoons left on the bottom. Smallies are fussier and prefer their prey lively. For some, salmon are the standout species of Wachusett Resevoir. They are nomadic seeking out schools of smelt and for the next few weeks will be within the top 10’ of the water column. Two of the top techniques for lucking into a landlocked are courtesy of a bobber. One is to slip-rig a shiner under a float and pick a spot with the wind to your back and let it carry a small to medium shiner out into the distance. The other is to use a spinning bubble/streamer combination and cast and crank as you would a spoon for lakers or a jerk bait for bass. Gaudy streamers with a splash of orange such as a Canopache, Fire Smelt or Quabbin Sunrise will get their attention.

Regarding Quabbin sunrises, Rod from Flagg’s Fly and Tackle in Orange was busy trying to fill orders on those very same streamers! The Quabbin Reservoir season opens two weeks from this Saturday and anticipation is high. Should you not desire renting a boat at the three designated launching areas then consider casting from shore at those same locations! In addition to those Gates – 8, 31 and 43 – there is good access at Gates 16, 22 and 35.

Spencer of Berkshire Bass is enjoying his own sort of opening day on the Housatonic River. Game is on right now for smallies and pike and if you’d like to plan a guided trip with him now is the time to do it while there are still openings. Smallies are prone to fall right now for Ned Rigs, Megabass Vision 110n Jerk Baits and Strike King KVD square bills. Pike are preferring double-willow leaf spinnerbaits.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Across the board there are a host of angling open days with cod and haddock looming large for saltwater anglers while Wachusett sticks out for sweetwater fans. One similarity that they both share is that the intended species should be close in and as accessible as they will be all year. Check out the Duxbury area not far from The Gurnet and High Pine Ledge for a crack at a cod or a few haddock. Farther north Toddy Rocks might be worth a peak as is President Roads as well as the Triangle. Saturday Night Ledge as well as Middle Ground are North Shore best bets. While you are up there pick up a few dozen seaworms from Three Lantern Marine and see if you can coax a flounder or two from one of the inner coves in Gloucester Harbor. As for the mighty Chu’, look for lakers to be in tight to shore especially when conditions are inclement. Kastmasters and Krocodiles are the twin kings for lakers but for a salmon skip out on bottom bouncing and work your wares closer to the surface, that’s only fitting for a fish that fights as if it had wings!