Massachusetts Fishing Report – August 29, 2024

Odds are that “your” striped bass of yesterday are no longer where they were. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that those bass are still around it’s just that they switched over to a more typical fall pattern. If you’re modus operandi is to find the fleet/pogy schools without a backup plan then you had better come up with one.

While not intending to throw shade on anyone, the two best big bass fishermen that I know of are not preoccupied with pogy schools and prefer steering completely clear of other boats. If you’re wondering what standard I use to arrive at such an opinion how does dozens of 50-pounders along with a few 60-pounders sound? One guy is very comfortable three-waying eels, the other trolling metal lips or working them in a rip-line while on anchor. Both are keenly aware that current and structure are two of the calling cards of their success. Familiarize yourself with rip lines, the down current side of ledge, boulders and even shadow lines of bridges. Big bass certainly are familiar with such conditions.
 
For over 20 years I was an avowed North Shore rockhopper and learned that the biggest bass would be lurking among the whitewash and suds just behind exposed and hidden structure. A blind random cast would fall into what seemed like a dead sea but weaving a Magic Swimmer or Danny just aft of a big boulder would draw strikes.

Learn to read the water and as for you guys with side scan – learn how to use it!

The pogy schools are beginning to depart but the bass are still here. If your Plan A is resulting in little more than a boat ride it’s time to embrace a Plan B which when executed properly could stand for – big bass. One more thing regarding those two big bass sharpies I referred to, they both understood the value of working/snapping a bucktail jig under bait, behind structure or over a pile of marked fish.

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate referenced the need to look beyond the obvious to consistently catch stripers now when we spoke. His best bet for linesider luck is to drop some macks in the livewell and pitch them in tight among the plethora of rocks and ledge which dot the South Shore. The caveat with that is that you’ll have to head out a bit farther now for macks thanks to the recent gator attack. Fifteen pound class blues recently invaded Mann Hill Beach and Peggotty Beach giving small craft boaters, kayakers and surfcasters stellar fishing in tight. Of course the problem was that the mob of blues pushed the macks out towards deeper water but they still can be found. Pogies are among the missing at the moment but their bite-sized prodigy have been the trigger to exhilarating surface feeds from the Three Bays through Scituate Harbor. The North River has also been the scene of impressive surface feeds as bass binge on the baby bunker. Are you watching (with envy) from afar at the fantastic false albacore/bomito fishing that your counterparts in Buzzards Bay/Vineyard Sound are enjoying? While not in the category of a 14-pound “fat Albert”, 2 to 3 pound bonito have been beating the bass to the punch around the peanut schools throughout the South Shore. As for the cod “season” opening up September 1st, Pete is pointing patrons who want that quick keeper cod (minimum 23”) to Flatt Ledge before they head out to Stellwagen to add a few haddock to the cooler. Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish is still zoned in to plenty of haddock between Stone Ledge and Stellwagen with the fish moving out a little deeper now – 215’ to 220’ – now that water temperatures are peaking. With the groundfish gorging on shrimp, pink teasers of any kind are killing it. In the not-for-the-faint-of-heart category, Charlie in nearly every size can be seen belting bait on the surface. There have also been really large bluefish finning up top and with ideal water temperatures they’ll hit darn near everything.

I have a hunch that when Captain Colby saw the news that one cod could be kept in the GOM, he thought, “Meh, I can do better!”. This week Jason will begin dusting off proven Coxes Ledge waypoints which have resulted in some of the most impressive coolers I’ve ever seen. In addition to cod up to 30 pounds, hake, whiting, pollock, massive black sea bass, haddock, flounder, fluke, big bonito and even mahi mahi have all been part of the Little Sister Charters catch there in the past. Of course, cod are the cornerstone of the experience and many of those trips have been reminiscent of the “good old days” of Boston Harbor.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

White caps in the harbor may have less to do with east winds and more the result of the collective nerves of anglers who suddenly cannot easily find striped bass. Experienced salts, such as Captain Dave Panorello, are still experiencing tight lines as they are shifting their focus from deeper water to shallow bays where bass are more inclined to be pushing pogies now. The Cast Right skipper has been tube-and-worming in close from the East Boston through Crystal Cove in Winthrop and having impressive results. In tight to marinas has been productive as well save the beast Captain Dave could not control that broke him off. He’s also been having luck in a spot that he and his sidekick the late Captain Carl Vining always did well for years – the mouth of the Mystic River. Dave made my day when he told me that as he motored under the Alford Street Bridge recently, he could feel Carl’s presence! The duo would often carve up the entire area from the Amelia Earhart Dam out towards Encore and as far out as the Schraffts Building.

Moreover regarding the tube-and-worm in that area Pete Santini, of Fishing FINatics in Everett, has been sending me pics of slob stripers taken there on the his Tuscano tube. After hearing incessantly of this thing from numerous shops, I finally picked up one for my yak and attacked Nantasket Beach. Man is that one distinctively colored tube! It didn’t take long for me to have success with it but my mistake was launching mid-day which resulted in nothing but short hits. That’s a sure indication that while the fish were interested, they weren’t in a feeding mood – you would think I’d know better than to launch at that time? Prior to tying on that tube I tried various “control” tubes I’m familiar with and didn’t get so much as a sniff. In spite of a spate of linesider lockjaw, the fish showed interest in that tube above all. I can’t wait for a rematch under better conditions.

Boston’s bass can breath a collective sigh of relief because as of Friday Captain Brian Coombs will be exclusively setting his Get Tight Sportfishing clients on tiny tuna between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. Although at 10-15 pounds the false albacore have hardly been tiny. A wildcard that came into play last year was big weakfish – 10-13 pound tiderunners – which will surely be on Brian’s agenda at some point.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that bass have been pushing pogies up against moored ships at the Fore River much to the amazement and pleasure of Brian, one of the shop’s more experienced kayakers. Tube-and-wormers continue to have success trolling by Sunken Ledge, Hangman Island and Black Creek. Mackerel jigged up along the outer harbor as well as Hull have worked well for quality stripers off Harding’s Ledge as well as Strawberry Ledge. As for opening day cod, Lisa suggests about 5 miles northeast of the B Buoy where there’s also a probability of hooking haddock.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Peanuts are providing fuel for surface feeds throughout the North Shore according to Tomo’s Tackle in Salem. Some of those blitzes have been off Swampscott, Tinker’s Gong as well as Salem Sound. With stripers now on the move expect more hit or miss fishing than a few weeks ago. Pogy schools are still hanging in there in Salem Sound with bass more often than not pounding them. Mackerel remain a fixture around Misery Channel. Surf fishers, who have had a tough go this season, seem to be getting their due with several good reports from Revere Beach, Nahant and Marblehead. Eels, Fish Snax Xls, GT Eels as well as needlefish plugs have been effective. Among those needles, the Super Strike and 247 Lures versions have been among the shop favorites. Blues appear randomly now with little predictability. What should be more predictable is cod! Tomo’s tip is to try as close as Dread Ledge with Saturday Night Ledge a more reliable option. The shop is moving shad baits now with peanut bunker so ubiquitous.

There is far less angling pressure in the Cape Ann area than a few short weeks ago according to TJ from Three Lantern Marine and Fishing. The anglers still enjoying blitzes in the harbors, off Thatcher Island and area beaches are not complaining about the lack of crowds. Mackerel acquisition has not been a problem with many finding their fill just as soon as they clear the Groaner. Anglers anchoring down their sabiki rigs with diamond jigs have been finding plenty of cod off Magnolia. Trollers working Rapala Magnums as well as X Raps are still pulling nice stripers out of Ipswich Bay. The most popular colors in the shop are green and blue mackerel.

Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle in Newburyport told me that trollers are still finding big bluefish! Anglers setting out a green/gold Rapala CD18 on one rod and a “hothead” CD18 on the other are able to predict with reasonable certainty which rod will come tight to a toothy and which will bend over from a bass: bass tend to favor the mackerel finish while the gaudy stuff works for the bluefish. Eels at night off the surf of the wildlife refuge are accounting for some of the most consistent fishing on the island. Seaworm soakers from Parking Lot 1 through Sandy Point are doing well also. With peaking water temperatures nearing the time when they migrate offshore, fluke in the Plum Island Sound as well as the Merrimack River should be feeding more aggressively than they have all season. If you’re looking to break out of your comfort zone, pick up a few fluke rigs and give it a go. As for bait, while not the first choice for many, seaworms are actually excellent fluke bait. Regardless of what you fish for now, the cooler more oxygenated water ushered in by the incoming tide is working best now.

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Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Those craving cod on the South Shore should have no problem picking up a few off Stone Ledge, Stellwagen Ledge and Flatt Ledge. To add a few haddock to the cooler head out a bit deeper to about 220’ of water and make sure you bring along some pink teasers. Should you be able to reach the Southern New England area you’ll find less haddock on Coxes Ledge but a lot more cod and other critters. Peanut bunker in the Plymouth area as well as in the North River are holding a steady stream of stripers. The harbor remains hot for those who know enough to look beyond the boat show and deep water pogy schools as stripers staging for the fall run move in closer to shore. Regarding shore sharpies farther north, the beaches of Revere, Lynn and Marblehead have been productive with everything from eels to needlefish plugs working well. Many who have spent time jigging up mackerel off Magnolia know where the Cape Ann cod are. As for Plum Island, incoming tide has been serving the surf contingent well with eels at night, and seaworms at low light being two of the more reliable options. While we have a way to go before requiring options outside of the brine, it never hurts to consider sweetwater alternatives. Wednesday I hit Wachusett for the first time since April and it was if the Chu rolled out the welcome mat for me. I found the lakers stacked and aggressive all along the Sterling side of the reservoir. I fished two lures – the 1 ounce gold Hopkins Shorty as well as a 1 ounce blue/chrome Kastmaster = from which I landed 11 lakers from 16-20”! I left them biting late morning and I felt as if I had lingered I would have caught them all day. I was left with one inescapable conclusion: how many places in this great country can an angler from shore in the summer have that kind of action for such a cold water specie? Yes indeed that Wachusett is something special.