It’s only fitting that during the quintessential American holiday, big striped bass are in a cooperative mood by the isles of Shoals. The rivers such as the Piscataqua and Saco are still holding stripers with Winnipesaukee giving anglers a sweetwater alternative.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters told me that pogy schools are present from the Piscatqua River through Salisbury and usually with the bait there will be bass, bluefin and whales! Mackerel are available but it takes a keen eye to locate them as they push krill up top! The Isles of Shoals area is still holding some huge stripers which are feeding on herring, pogies and mackerel. Andy also mentioned White Island and Cedar Ledge as striper spots to consider. Charlie has been chewing by Boone Island. Deeper in the river, Captain Andy is finding slot stripers right off his dock in Great Bay Marine. Scantum is giving up a solid haddock bite with most fish hovering around 19”; a bonus is cooperative silver hake!
According to Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing while the word is out on the slug of super-sized stripers by the Isles of Shoals, the catching is still good with even fly fishers catching 50-inch fish! To make it easy on yourself jig up some mackerel first and use them for bait. A wave of bluefish moved through the area, braving the 54 degree temperatures, but fortunately for those seeking mackerel the fish did not take up residence. Offshore the haddock bite remains strong, but size has dropped from the earlier monsters. Cod are being caught and released on most trips, good pollock are also a factor with dogfish the only downer. Bluefin are of two tales: school fish are blitzing a mile in front of Rye Harbor, but other than early mornings/evenings not a daily thing. The same can be said for Andersons Ledge. General category fish continue to move in, but the porbeagle shark population surge is causing a lot of frustration.
Of course not all is saltwater or bust with Tim Moore of Tim Moore Outdoors weighing in that he’s been caching some dandy rainbows and salmon in Winnipesaukee! The fish are 40’ down and falling for orange and pink spoons and streamers. The salmon are two year old fish which are showing a promising growth rate and are averaging 16-18”!
Southern Maine Fishing Report
According to Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard, fishing is looking as if it has transitioned to a typical summer pattern with anglers doing best between dusk and dawn! Drake’s Island has been hot with mackerel the preferred offering for fish up to 40”. Some of the rivers are featuring sand eels and silversides making the conditions challenging for all but fly fishers or spinning anglers casting small, slim-profiled offerings. Those matching the hatch are reporting good action in the Saco River and Webhannet River. Anglers have also had action at the mouth of Biddeford Pool.
Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that they are still seeing surface feeds as bass push herring and they are also finding fish in deeper water. Top baits are the Doc, Albi Snax XL, GT eels and Mag Darters. The fish are still happy to be in the rivers, and are also hanging around the islands that have rocky ledge and transition zones to either sand, or eel grass beds.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
In spite of the spotlight, the Isles of Shoals is still a northern New England best bet for a big bass. Pogy schools off Salisbury area are also holding big fish with rivers another viable option. Just make sure you have slim-profiled, smaller lures in case the fish are fussy. For a cool alternative consider Winnipesuakee rainbows and landlocked which are feeding furiously in 40’ of water. The other option is the ground fishing on Scantum and Tantas where haddock, silver hake and pollock make for a whodunnit bite!