Massachusetts Fishing Report – August 15, 2024

We who march to the beat of bass and bluefish look at the calendar differently. The others may view the transition from summer to fall as occurring somewhere around September but we know it really happens in mid-August. Indicators are everywhere from dew on the lawn to our birdy friends flocking and ratcheting up their activity level. However, from our fishing-obsessed perspective what most symbolizes the change is – the blitz – and it is at hand!

By most accounts it has been an awesome year for big striped bass! If you put your time in and fished among the ubiquitous pogy schools odds are you’ve had a banner season. There is a qualifier which has dampened the outing for many and it has to do with an uptick in rude angling with some appearing to have no regards for others. While bad behavior is nothing new, this year the level of it has taken on horrendous proportions.

I’m not just referring to anglers who power into a feed, scattering prey and predator and putting down the bite, but those who edge so close to another boat they are practically bumping up against their brightwork. Prop-cutoffs from getting too close to trollers, snag hooks being cast over other anglers’ lines, or nearly into their cockpits, are complaints that I’m hearing of at a heretofore unprecedented level.

Sadly Boston has been the epicenter of this bad behavior with your counterparts on the South Shore/North Shore and north of the border not exhibiting anything close to that.

Come on guys, knock it off – it’s embarrassing! The reason you got into fishing is that undoubtedly you were lucky enough to realize that this thing of ours is something special. While certainly catching fish is a large part of the equation, I think we can all agree that the ancillary stuff is pretty cool too. Having a feel for wind direction, tidal movements, pressure fronts as well as respecting and appreciating our feathery friends and sea mammals is all part of the gift. And there are no sunrises and sunsets compared to those experienced while on the water.

What also has historically separated outdoor sportsmen from the rest is our unique camaraderie and memories we share with others which become stores that last a lifetime. If you’re new to the game, welcome aboard to a life-long thrill ride. Meanwhile be patient if you’re not getting it yet: watching, observing and asking questions of seasoned salts will short-circuit your learning curve. Fishing is a lot more fun when heavy on respect and void of rage.

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

I’ve heard many an adjective used to describe tuna but never until now the word – rude! That was just the description used by Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters to portray pelagics which have been engulfing haddock at boat side. When those tanks have not dispatched his catch, the catching has been quite good with 10 fish per person outings common. The bite remains impressive halfway between Scituate Harbor and Stellwagen. File this one away for the open season of September 1st- white-bellied cod are gathering around rocks and wrecks within 3 miles of the shoreline. Blitzes in the Three Bays, Scituate Harbor and numerous other locations have become a reality as peanut bunker have arrived. Three-inch white/pearl paddletials will catch what can be fussy feeds for those not matching the hatch.

Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate said that those who can pause the all-things-striper button should find willing tautog on the South Shore. Emblematic of that was a 26” 11-4 white chin Pete saw taken with a speargun in the Minot area. A snorkeler diving among Cowen Rocks reported impressive numbers of tautog also, South Entry Rock as well as Smith Rocks are also known to hold tautog. Blues and bass have been pounding peanuts throughout the South Shore with anglers relaying the same sweet word – blitz. The bonito season throughout the Bay State has been nothing short of epic with the South Shore – and even the North Shore – not immune. The 3-4 pound bones have fallen for Yo-Zuri swimmers.

Regarding bonito, Captain Jason Colby of Little Sister Charters continues to wreak havoc on Westport tiny tuna between the river and the bay. Incoming tide is bringing in mixed sizes of stripers from schoolies to “too-big” status. The mixed bag for charters is also including black sea bass limits and tautog. The skipper however is not done there as he’s planning on September cruises for cod to Coxes Ledge. I’ve been fortunate to be on a number of those trips and they are often memorable with huge black sea bass, trophy bonito, big fluke, flounder and a hodgepodge of other species part of the catch along with cod.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

Lately patrons aboard Get Tight Sportfishing have been flashing photos of gape-jawed gator blues to go along with the cow shots! It is the beginning stages of the “fall” run with Captain Brian Coombs finding that fish are now feeding more ravenously and are on the move. On board there is always a pogy procurement in the livewell but the default for the crew is more often artificials from Al Gag’s Whip-it-Fish to Docs. Lately I’ve been hearing of an impressive bass on bunker bite between Dorchester Bay and Marina Bay. While peddling along in my kayak and focusing on fluke in the Lynn area – it’s been an off year – I was surrounded by tail-slapping and popping schoolies. Of course I was ill-prepared with my lightweight conventional combos and cooler full of killies but recognized it as a sign that the game has changed.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that anglers trolling the tube-and-worm as well as Mojo Rigs near the Coast Guard Station in Hull have been doing well. She’s also been hearing of solid reports coming from the North Channel. There have been bluefish bite-offs among pogy schools in Quincy Bay. Mackerel can be found off Martin Ledge, Boston Ledge and the BG Buoy. Anglers are still encountering Charlie in the harbor with usually predictable results but mot always! One prepared pelagic pursuer with the proper permit set out for a selling fish, caught it and was at the tuna broker within two hours!

After the previous report on Mojo Rigs I had to consult Captain Paul Diggins of Reel Pursuit Charters who is a master of the Mojo. He said that it is essential to go with stout conventional gear, at least 65 pound braid and a drop-shot of 15’ 80 pound monofilament. His sweet spot is 40-60’ of water at about 3 1/2 knots of trolling speed. On the troll the rod is ensconced in a rod holder while the rig does its job without any angler input. Another tip is to check the rig after a swing and a miss because usually the lure will be fouled.

With all the buzz about Boston big bass, Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett reminded me of a trusty technique which has probably accounted for more 50 pound harbor stripers than any other method. In his place you’ll find Gibbs’ Deep Diving Dannys, including a signature color exclusive to the shop, which when trolled or allowed to free-swim In a rip line while under anchor is a cow killer! Find a rip at night, of which there are noteworthy ones off Long Island, Deer Island, Faun Bar, Bob’s Bass Triangle and Devils Back, set up on anchor and let this thing wobble, roll and send out stress signals and odds are you’ll attract the biggest bass in the harbor. Years ago I frequently fished with a guy who was really dialed into that technique and it accounted for dozens of 50-pound beasts! Have a feel for the movement of the lure and be leery of weed, which will kill the action.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

My buddy Dave Flaherty who has enviable site lines from his hometown of Nahant told me that he’s been seeing baby bonito working bait on the bay side of the island. Not every day are those tiny tuna harassed by bass but often enough to make the area worth watching. He’s also been seeing Lynn Harbor going off – possibly on peanut bunker. Tomo, of Tomo’s Tackle in Salem, is out most mornings and anecdotally he also old me that Lynn Harbor has been good. He’s been pounding the sound where pogies and pogy boats have been present. While he’s all in on trolling plugs others have been doing well while live-lining pogies and mackerel, the latter of which can be found in Misery channel. Bass and occasionally blues have been pushing pogies between Eagle Island and the Beverly coast making a big topwater such as a Doc – deadly.

Gloucester continues to be the go-to for squid. In the middle of striper insanity some are cooling their jets and finding flounder off Wingaersheek Beach, Niles Beach, Cripple Cove and Manchester Harbor according to TJ from Three Lantern Marine and Fishing. Blitzes are now the norm with frequent occurrences in the Cape Ann Harbors as well as the ocean front. There seem to be two main year classes of fish causing the havoc – 12-15” micros and 20-24” schoolies. Mackerel are occasionally pushed into Gloucester Harbor but more often found beyond the Eastern Point Lighthouse. Your best bet for finding a pogy school under siege is Ipswich Bay.

Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle in Newburyport said that some blues have been taken from the north and south jetties. The most consistent pattern to find them has been during the cusp of dead low and the early stages of the flood. Boaters trolling the venerable Rapala CD18s have been tallying the toothies as well. Joppa Flats is holding fish again with time of the day usually determining the size. One angler came in after a sunlight shot and talked of 12-15” fish, while another using the same rig – tube-and-worm did well on 30” fish – who knew? A trifecta of flatfish have been found at the mouth of the Merrimack with windowpane flounder, winter flounder and fluke all reported! Not surprisingly some of the bigger bass are falling for eel slingers at night off the ocean front and in Plum Island Sound.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Peanut bunker have arrived right on time to signal that sweetest of fishing situations – the blitz! Look for those frenzied feeds to be occurring most anywhere but on the South Shore, especially among the Three Bays, Green Harbor and Scituate Harbor. Bonito, black sea bass and blackfish bedlam is a Westport phenomenon and not to be missed. Some of the hottest haddock fishing anywhere in New England continues to be the case about 7 – 8 miles off the coast in Cape Cod Bay. Just be prepared to donate the occasional gadoid to a glutinous tuna. The departed Debbie seems to have blown bluefish in on the pogy schools of Boston Harbor, with Dorchester Bay/Hull a solid bet for bass. Anglers fishing Lynn have had luck as have those trolling mackerel and pogies of the Beverly coast. The catching off Cape Ann continues to be good with the added bonus of schoolie blitzes a regular occurrence in harbors and embayments. Inshore action in the Plum Island area has improved with a better surf bite as well as blues off the jetties and Joppa producing for the tube-and-worm troller. For something different try drifting a seaworm next to the jetties – the flounder bite there has been a real whodunit!