Massachusetts Fishing Report – October 17, 2024

In baseball vernacular it could be called the bottom of the ninth, but there are plenty of anglers still swinging for the fences. As bass and blue numbers wane the bite is improving for inshore cod, tog and a panoply of freshwater species.

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

“Impressive”, Jason thought when eyeing the tuna-grade combo brought aboard the Little Sister on Wednesday morning. The rod/reel and heft of line must have looked like overkill for most any tautog likely swimming on the Westport side of Buzzards Bay. The angler’s choice to take it along proved prophetic. According to Captain Colby the angler came tight to a monster tautog that pulled drag at will and briefly showed itself on the surface before making another tackle testing run. Victory would not be at hand however as the hook pulled free of what Jason estimated to be a 20 pound whitechin. That’s the novelty of tautog fishing: it is equal parts frustration, exhilaration and occasionally – heartbreak.

When Captain Brain Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing joins the tautog troupe you know that that is the best game in town. His current “town” however is south of Route 95 a bit in Narragansett Bay. While the skipper has only been targeting tautog for a few years he’s a fast learner. During a 6 minute conversation I had with him on Wednesday morning his crew wrenched in 3 keeper tautog! The fish he’s been finding are in shallow water as well which makes for more enjoyable tog fishing.

While Jason will be keeping his Contender at the ready until December, Brian’s calling it in early November. Both of these competent captains have openings but you had better book fast as spots are filling rapidly. This week the report is bereft of a Belsan Bait and Tackle blurb because he’s participating in Martha’s Vineyard mania as he does every year at about this time. Thankfully Walter Walgreen, who often contributes invaluably to this column, has been posting that feeds, blowups and action of all sorts are still par for the course in the Three Bays! There are also mackerel, albeit in diminishing numbers, off The Gurnet.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

Laurel from Hull Bait and Tackle told me that while angling effort has slowed, the ones who are still participating are putting up good numbers. One of those numbers was 51” of striper taken from a “river”. I’m leaning towards the section from the Weir River through Wold’s End for that late season cow. I’ll never forget an ill-fated attempt of mine to coax a sizable striper off the high-ledge of that reserve. It was early November and at first I thought I was looking at a bulky strand of kelp until the flora started moving and I realized it was 40+” of fish! I did not connect with that striper but it was exciting nevertheless.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that anglers are still picking up cod with the closest spot from Quincy Bay being the Boston Light area. If nothing’s doing there, try Harding’s Ledge, Strawberry Ledge or Ultonia Ledge. While Lisa had no word on it one way or another, I’d be curious whether Toddy Rocks would give up a few brown bombers especially now that water temperatures are dipping. By the end of the month cod should be cruising in along Nantasket Roads as well as President Roads putting in play many inshore areas. As for stripers, one of the more consistent spots is the section from Point Allerton through Sandy Beach. Live mackerel remain the candy stripers crave and can be found as close as Hull Bay. Kids continue to jig up mackerel off Pemberton Pier and live-line them along Hull Gut for stripers. Dorchester Bay has been sporting lower 60 degree water temperatures as well as blues and bass. Many are transitioning from salty to sweet making trout in Houghton’s Pond as well as a plethora of Plymouth ponds nice options.

Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett is back from a New Hampshire respite that was heavy on relaxation with family and friends as well partridge and wild brook trout. Locally there have been blow-ups on Revere and Winthrop Beaches with both blues and bass bringing on the bedlam. The Santini tube will continue to be effective in estuaries throughout Greater Boston until the last striper departs. Tog, and cunner nearly as big as their cousins, can be found in tight to pier fillings and bridge abutments throughout South Boston and Charlestown. Freshwater trout action has been really good especially for rainbows from Jamaica Pond, Horn Pond and Walden Pond.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem had just returned from a pilgrimage to the land of the peacock bass when we spoke. He had a blast in Brazil catching those colorful Cichlids up to 28” and 12 1/2 pounds. Broad Sound has been the scene of bass and blue action still as they chase down peanut bunker as well as mackerel chasing down the baby bunker as well. Anglers trolling macks near Chandler Hovey Park, Castle Rock, Pig Rocks as well as Phillips Beach have been catching solid stripers. Macks can be found occasionally in Marblehead Harbor but more consistently from Misery Channel through Bakers Island. Cod can be caught from nondescript ledge off Swampscott and Marblehead. While it’s been years since I did it, I use to fish those same ares under drift with a 6-9 ounce Cod Bomb and we did a bang up job on all kinds of cod.

TJ from Three Lantern Marine and Fishing in Gloucester said that anglers working the night shift are still picking up big bass among inshore areas of Cape Ann. A few of the spots which have stuck out are by Ram Island, the Gloucester High School, the “basketball court” and off the beach abutting the Beauport Hotel. A few feeds are still taking place off Thatcher Island as well as Gloucester Harbor and Manchester Harbor. As water temperature drop expect cod to continue to cruise into water as shallow as 50’ off Halibut Point and Magnolia.
“The Sound!”, was the answer from Martha of Surfland when I enquired where the current bite has been best. Eels at night as well as the tube-and-worm have been working. There’s also been consistent action off the Sandbar, which is close to the shop, with guys pitching Super Strike Bullets as well as Charlie Graves Tin Squids into the horizon doing best. Chunkers are still picking up stripers off the refuge with clams, worms and mackerel. As for the Merrimack, the effluence where Blackwater Creek (Salisbury side) meets up with the main river has been fishing well. A few blues are still being picked off by trollers in Ipswich Bay.

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Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

The mighty Merrimack is also home to a diversity of freshwater fish which defies listing with pike the heavyweight of the watershed. From now through ice-in, expect the bite to get progressively better especially where there is a tributary, inlet or island changing the course of the current. A few spots to keep in mind are where the Shawsheen and Spicket Rivers join up as well as near Kimball Island and Stanley Island. Erratically worked paddle tails and jerk baits will work as will swimbaits and spinnerbaits. Should you have a bead on river dace, golden shiners or small perch – even better.

Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston said that with the Stillwater River so stony, salmon are finding their way upstream of the Quinapoxet River. There’s ongoing construction going on in the area as the removal of the dam is in full swing. When finished this will be a huge boon to breeding efforts for all matter of salmonoids which swim in Wachusett Reservoir. The Rezy itself is still giving up its signature slab Sallys with swimbaits making the most noise. Laker action will get better the nearer we come to November as they will be coming closer to spawn.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

The litmus test as to where we are in the migration is that bluefish are still present as far north as Ipswich Bay. While pogies have departed their prodigy is still present and fueling feeds from The Three Bays through Plum Island Sound. Most striped bass have moved southward making trolling beachfronts as well as offshore ledge a best bet to connect with a late season cow. The other option which could result in a quality fish is eels in estuaries at night. Cod continue to be one of the reason boaters are keeping their rides at the ready and will get closer to shore with each drop in water temperatures. While that fishery will close at the end of the month, tautog in Buzzards Bay as well as the jungle of pilings dotting inner Boston Harbor and nearby bridges will only get better. Freshwater fishing increasingly is becoming the best bang for time invested with Quinapoxet salmon and Merrimack pike two standouts.