Roiled seas have made effort chasing everything from striped bass to groundfish challenging. Drooping water temperatures have had the opposite effect on the Winnipesaukee salmon bite which has been fantastic.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Tim Moore from Timmooreoutdoors is dividing his time between deep-dropping for lake trout and trolling for salmon in Lake Winnipesaukee. The former has been better in past seasons quite possibly because of an infestation of spiny water fleas which are having a negative impact on the food chain. However, the salmon fishing is more than making up for it as Tim’s been putting patrons into some real beauties on pink DB and Top Gun spoons. The sweet spot has been 30-40’ down.
The opening word from Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing said it all – argh! Unless you’ve been traveling far, far away you’re fully aware of the coastwise storm surge which has gripped New England for most of the week. Suffice to say, that has withered the report grape vine to nil. Until seas settle there are only guesstimates to work with, with the skipper suggesting anglers check out the Rye and Hampton Harbors where 4” pogies will still be in abundance and with them striped bass. The Lower Piscatqua, owing to the panoply of bait consisting of herring fry, peanut bunker as well as mackerel, should be on your list as well. Regarding mackerel Bob feels that you may be able to obtain them by the harbor mouth making drifting near Odione Point a good option. Offshore has been so gnarly it’s anyone’s guess what’s going on there but in between the swells Party Boats have been increasingly catching pollock with less of a haddock haul. Cod and cusk can be expected to flesh out the catch. As for tuna, jumpers have been observed by the groundfish fleet but the combination of a closed quota along with sloppy conditions have made for little effort.
Southern Maine Fishing Report
Captain Lou of Diamond Pass Outfitters said that they are still getting plenty of fish on the beaches and around the islands. Most of the fish have been using the islands as staging and ambush areas, with some productive areas being Mackworth Island, The Brothers, and the Cape Shoreline. Mackerel imitation plugs and soft plastics have been ideal as well as live lined mackerel. They are also seeing plenty of fish up on the flats foraging on green crabs, shrimp and juvenile flounder. The fishing is still productive off the beaches: Old Orchard, and Higgins Beach have been among the better with action both day and night.
Zach from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that slot-size and up stripers have been gorging on sand eels and juvenile herring with the Saco River, Scarborough Marsh and Pine Point among the hotter spots. Because of the size/shape of the bait, RonZs and Albie Snax have been among the better baits. For a quick cod, as well as other groundfish, Zach suggests Platt’s Ledge.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
Once the seas simmer down, expect stripers to be feeding regularly along area beaches but in the meantime, more sheltered harbors such as Hampton, Rye and Little Bay are good options as the bait will keep the bass in check. Farther north anglers who have been getting out are doing well in the Saco River, Pine Point area as well as Old Orchard Beach and Higgins Beach. Regarding groundifsh, as typical of this time of the year the quarry is shifting from haddock to “Boston bluefish” – aka pollock!