Thanks to numbers of mackerel few can recall, New Hampshire just might have the best big bass aggregate in New England! Rivers remain a strong option with the tube-and-worm among the more successful methods. Offshore should not be discounted with tuna and haddock among the highlights.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
For the second year in a row, a school of very big bass has moved onto the Isles of Shoals area. According to Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing an almost unprecedented level of mackerel just might be the reason. Anglers are reporting numerous fish to 52 inches with few if any under 38 inches! If you can find better big bass fishing in New England I’d really like to know where you’re fishing!
Mackerel plus menhaden often equals tuna and yes indeed Charlie has been sniffing around the bait balls. Tuna in both “rec” size and gear-wrecking size are around but tend to be fussy which is usually the case when inshore. There are also tuna apparent in the Scantum area where you’ll find less persnickety pelagics. Also offshore is good haddock fishing although numbers aren’t what they were, the fish are smaller and mixed in with cusk and pollock.
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters corroborated the previous report and added that Duck Island and Anderson Ledge have been productive for big bass. There are also good reports coming from Little Bay and Salisbury Beach. As for offshore, pogies are making a difference when targeting tuna. Whaleback has been holding pogies with tuna present between Southern Jeffrey’s Ledge and Stellwagen Bank where there are also haddock which probably explains why those apex predators are there! Andy has a different tact when looking to procure pogies. Instead of a snag-treble he employs an especially heavy sabiki rig. His logic is that the smaller hooks gain purchase in the baitfish even easier than the treble and they do far less damage to the bait. Andy believes that lively bait makes the difference for both bass and tuna. If you’re interested in sharks then Pigeon Hill is the place!
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Bryce from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard told me that quality bass on Tuesday had mackerel all balled up on Moody Beach. Drakes Island has been giving up fish to over 40 inches for anglers fishing sand eel colored Savage Sand Eels. Beach casters are doing well with sandworms, chunk bait and clams. The tube-and-worm is catching well in the Webhannet River with some anglers even catching off the dock near the shop!
Captain Paul Hood of Touch of Gray Fishing Charters limits his trips to only 12 fishermen which is awfully accommodating for a 43’ X 15’ boat! Plenty of deck space aside, ultimately it’s the fishing which matters most and to that he’s finding haddock up to 26” on “top” of Jeffrey’s Ledge with 200’ of water the sweet spot. Bucktail jigs sweetened with bait have been the most effective. Paul mentioned the Fingers area as one of the more productive spots as of late. For more or a mixed bag, Platts is the spot with hake part of the catch as well.
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Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that a fresh push of fish moved into the rivers, and the fish are ranging from 23 to 35 inches.
Herring are the main course with top producing baits consisting of 7-inch zoom Shad’s, 7-inch XL Albie Snax, and Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencils. Darker colors seem to be the best with bone coming in second. They have also been getting quite a few fish on bucktail jigs. Live lining and chunking mackerel has been the bait of choice with the majority of the mackerel tinker size, in the 5 to 7-inch range. The night bite has been centered around sand bars and an outgoing tide. Gravity tackle paddle tails, super strike needles, and of course live eels are the predominant offerings. They have been seeing a good amount of surface action at first light but it dies down quickly once the sun comes up, especially if there is no cloud cover. Ledges from Saco to Cape Elizabeth have been fishing well, as are the river mouths. As July looms the wait is on for old yellow eyes!
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Mackerel schools in the Isles of Shoals area are attracting bass big enough to make most in New England envious! Pogies are plentiful also and are the bait of choice for anglers chasing tuna with fussy fish inshore and more aggressive tuna among deep water ledges. Rivers in Maine seem to have received a fresh slug of sub-slot stripers. Maine mackerel are the bait of choice from Saco to Cape Elizabeth with the ledges holding the most fish.