With striped bass still in migration mode, expect the omnipresent slots to be joined by bigger bass over the next three weeks. Rivers remain hot as herring continue to tumble back to the sea spent from spawning and an easy snack. Those bemoaning a long trip for haddock to Platt’s take heart, some are reporting a reinvigorated southern Jeffrey’s Ledge.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing said that striper fishing along the coast is steady with over-slot fish seemingly the norm. Tiny bait tucked into Rye Harbor has drawn the attention of cart-wheeling stripers frenzied to feed as close as the boat ramp. Mackerel are pretty reliable inshore, historical hot spots have been Hampton Shoal Ledge, the 2KR Can and of course the Isles of Shoals! Tuna are beginning to move onto Jeffrey’s Ledge but beware porbeagles are on the prowl with dogfish an issue deeper.
Captain Andy from Adventure and Catch Charters told that striper fishing throughout Great Bay through Portsmouth is “stupid easy”! That’s nice to hear from the perspective of an angler who has been outsmarted by them time after time! Mackerel are the magic bullet with herring a close second. Macks can be found near ledges just outside of the Piscatagua River with tuna grade foot long specimens in deep water by the Isles of Shoals. There’s good news on the groundfish front, Andy found keeper haddock, along with nice-sized pollock and whiting at lower Jeffrey’s Ledge. For many that’s a much more convenient haul than Platt’s.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard had so much to report that she had to take notes! Anglers fishing clams in Wells Harbor and Drakes Island have been enjoying a steady pick of 22-29” stripers! The top of the tide has been fishing well for anglers trolling a tube-and-worm in the Webhannet River. Scott Lee has been having his way with decent stripers in the Saco River with paddletails which imitate the ubiquitous sand eels. A fly fisher picked up a shad on a clouser. Flounder can be found off Drakes Island in 30’ of water with some so aggressive they’ve even hit jigs! Offshore expect haddock on Platt’s while Jeffrey’s is more of a cusk/cod bite.
According to Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters, the fishing is popping up like dandelions in your neighbors lawn. They are getting some healthy fish above the slot limits on live herring (when permitted), on soft plastics, flies, and while throwing plugs in the surf! The fish are definitely still in the rivers and mouths as they are just starting to see the herring/alewives starting to drop down. Saco Bay, and the Scarborough shorelines have been fishing strong as has Casco Bay and Portland Harbor up to Freeport. Morning blitzes are the norm, and fishing through the mid day is surprisingly consistent. The night bite is going well too there are numerous reports from fishers who are getting fish in the 20-30 pound range on GT eels, live eels, and needlefish. The Zoom super fluke 7” has been the best in the rivers, and pencils and metal lips out front. If you have a live well, catching bait has been easy and catching bass has been a cinch!
Captain Paul Hood of Touch of Gray Fishing Charters has justifiably been a busy charter captain! He had a hat trick over the weekend and covered the northern end of Jeffrey’s towards the shoal bottom and out to the Fingers. He sniffed out a pattern which should pay dividends soon as he feels that the fish are transitioning from spawning areas to resident spots. Among his charters were ladies from the Maine Women Hunters group and the bite included catch/release cod up to 30”, 8-10 quality haddock on each trip, big cusk, whiting and pollock! As for stripers they seem to have moved off the smaller bait in inshore areas and are focused on mackerel in deeper water off Casco and Portland.
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
As river herring tumble out of their natal watersheds in Great Bay, as well as a plethora of Downeast water bodies, the mouths of those rivers as well as embayments are hot. Mackerel and herring when permitted are the best of baits. Artificial alternatives are Zoom flukes as well as GT Eels. The previously quiet southern section of Jeffrey’s Ledge has been infused with haddock and pollock! For a tasty inshore groundfish consider winter flounder off Drakes Island with some of those flounder hungry enough to hit a jig!