While the salt still has game, increasingly anglers are turning to freshwater pursuits. That’s not to suggest that striped bass, groundfish and tuna are not still tempting but the pull of black bass and trout is getting hard to resist.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
After talking to Joe from Granite State Rod and Reel Repair in Nashua, it looks as if he had an awesome outing in Lake Ossipee recently. Z Man TRDs accounted for everything from smallmouth bass to white perch to fallfish. I couldn’t help but think what great bait those fallfish would make for pike in the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. Regarding those toothies, dropping water temperatures have made pike much more aggressive and willing to take down spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and X Raps.
Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing is officially done for the season but he passed along promise for those still seeking salty fun. Ideal water temperatures and plenty of bait are doubtless keeping striped bass in check in the Piscatqua River as well as off beaches such as Rye, Wallis Sands, Hampton and Salisbury. Mackerel are in close and recreational as well as giant tuna are feeding heavily on Scantum and Jeffrey’s Ledge.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Captain Paul Hood of Touch of Gray Fishing Charters said that in spite of the powerful tides brought on by the recent full moon he still put patrons into a neat mixture of groundfish. He’s using bucktails and unique gummies, both of which have been effective for pollock, cod, haddock and cusk. There have also been big blue dogs prowling around the boat making for fine sport should a charter desire duking it out with a shark! Fortunately those apex predators have not been relieving charters of their catch. While Jeffrey’s Ledge has been the go-to spot, he’s not adverse to steaming out to Platt’s Ledge if he learns of a better bite.
As for Downeast bass, Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that anglers are still crushing it in the Casco Bay area! The weather has not only been feeling like early fall, but Southern Maine is fishing like it especially near rivers harboring river herring and alewives. The fry of those species will be steadily and gradually making their way to the sea and they make for a neat striper snack. Right now good sleep and good fishing are not mutually exclusive as anglers are reporting a solid bite mid-morning. Mackerel are available and make for deadly bait with old standby artificials – Jumpin’ Minnows, Albie Snax and 4” hollow flies all working well.
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New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
A sure sign that change is in the air is the ongoing stocking of water bodies by the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game. Soon their counterparts in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will be stocking also. While freshwater is around the corner, you might as well take advantage of what is in all probability the last hurrah for striped bass! Look for those late inning linesiders in Little Bay, off Wallis Sands Beach, Biddeford Pool, Scarborough Marsh and Casco Bay. When found the fish are feeding aggressively making dawn to dusk marathons unnecessary. Groundfishing remains good with a nice mixture of species all cooperating at Jeffrey’s Ledge.