With stripers on the move, anglers are feeling the angst from too many trips without tight lines. The upside for those still at it is that previously harried water is free from crowds yet still holding fish. Thankfully the movements of tuna are opposite of striped bass as the further we get into the fall the better the bite often gets!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
According to Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH SportfishingInshore striped bass fishing is in a seasonal slump. Some fish are in the lower Piscataqua, but numbers are down considerably from a few weeks back. Coastwise anglers are fighting a plague of storm-driven brown weed, and wildly fluctuating water temps based on wind direction. Rye Harbor has large numbers of young-of-the-year pogies (peanut bunker) and should offer some fun kayak fishing. Mackerel can be still easily jigged at the Isles of Shoals but are less consistent on the coastal ledges, with chum helping a lot.
On the bluefin front, giants have been pretty steady at Boone Island off York and again out on northern and central Jeffreys. The crew saw the season’s first herring schools last weekend, which portends a good early fall. If you’re looking for less crowds you’ll experience nice fishing right now as no commercial boats are allowed until Sept 2nd.
Captain Bob said that they experienced the best recreational tuna fishing of the season last weekend on central Jeffreys. Spike mackerel brought 60″ fish to the surface for brief feeds. They did best with unweighted mackerel on long fluorocarbon leaders. Their retained fish were plugged with small mackerel yet still wanted one more! Folks need to stand guard on surface baits as large numbers of blue sharks are cruising around. Porbeagles are down deeper but less of them as the surface temps break 70’.
As for bottom fishing it seems concentrated on Jeffreys. There are still lots of haddock, but moving around sometimes is required to find legal sized bunches. Cusk and pollock are in the mix.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Brian from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard told me that there are far less anglers in the game than a few weeks ago which is just fine for those looking for solitude. The pattern for those catching them up is to jig up mackerel within a mile from Wells Harbor and then free-line or troll them tight to islands, the mouth of rivers or anywhere there is prominent ledge. Peanut bunker are prevalent in Southern Maine with surface feeds apparent. Long Beach off York was mentioned as one of the more reliable locations. As for rivers check out the Mousam, Kennebunk and Saco Rivers. Moody Beach has been good for those chunking mackerel and deploying clams. Many are anticipating the cod season beginning on September 1st with bets on Bibb Rock and the Cape Porpoise area delivering some quality cod. For more of a mixed bag of groundfish consider Platt’s or, of course, Jeffrey’s Ledge.
From Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters came word of schoolies still present among flats in the Casco Bay Area. Rivers are filling with herring fry resulting in impressive feeds/action. Lou suggests anglers focus on the shoreline points and edges which are fishing best. Small white soft baits have been hot such as Albie Snax as well as Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish, Gravity Tackle paddle tails, and Hogy’s. Small spook style plugs have been effective as well. Off beaches they are still seeing pods of better fish with these bass feeding on mackerel: matching the profile of the bait is proving most effective. And they are even seeing some sporadic bluefish action but nothing reliable. Yes indeed the fall run is in the early stages.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
With less reliable striped bass fishing many are giving up the game but there are still plenty of Piscataqua River bass as well as those off York Beach. Mackerel remain the most reliable offering with the Isles of Shoals still holding bait as is the case just off Wells Harbor. Tuna options are better, especially for those looking for less crowds as the commercial season doesn’t open until September 2nd. Timing is good for that with herring moving in and spike mackerel proving too much for 60” tuna to avoid.