Massachusetts Fishing Report – April 24, 2025

Saltwater is serving up a nice groundfish prelude to the striper invasion which is sure to arrive on our shores by next week. Conveniently, some of the haddock hauls have been in state waters. Not everyone is ditching sweetwater in favor of the salt however, thanks to still solid bass and trout fishing.

Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report

A surefire sign that the saltwater season is upon us is when reports from Captain Jason Colby kickoff the column! Captain Colby of Little Sister Charters just splashed in his 31’ Contender and for a week will be setting sail out of Westport. Southern New England cod will be foremost on his agenda but there most likely will be a supporting cast of blackfish and black sea bass. While black sea bass are out of season until May 17th, unlike the Gulf of Maine there is a 5 fish, 23” minimum bag limit for cod in southern New England until the end of May. As for tautog the regulations are 3 fish, minimum 16” until 5-31. Beginning in May the captain will be off to terrorize Cape Cod Bay winter flounder out of Sesuit Harbor before returning to Westport for black sea bass and most everything else which swims from Buzzards Bay through Rhode Island Sound.

As for stripers I did get a report and picture from my friend Kevin Cheung who has been catching schoolies somewhere among the Assonet/Tauton River watershed. Of course that does beget the question – are they holdovers or migrants? Pete Belsan of Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate is calling this Sunday as the day that “they” arrive! He’s betting that the first tight lines will come from the Three Bays, the Green Harbor Jetties, the South River and the Spit. Shad are now in all the natal rivers such as the Connecticut, Merrimack and the North River/indian Head River.

A few South Shore sharpies such as Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters and Captain Rob Green of Elizabeth Marie Charters will be tackling ground fishing out of the South Shore area shortly and hopefully we’ll have some solid Stellwagen reports next week.

Greater Boston Fishing Report

With cod, haddock and other gadoids the talk of the town, I decided to call my friend Captain Joe D’Orsi of Boston Fish Tales for insight. This guy is a ground fishing guru and he mentioned that often this time of the year haddock will congregate in close over irregular/live bottom just offshore of Swampscott. He also said not to be miserly with the preferred bait – clams – with chumming the groundfish game changer. As for mackerel, Joe expects them to be cruising into the outer harbor within two weeks with Thieves Ledge, Harding’s Ledge and Martin’s Ledge among the first to hold them.

Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that thus far patrons of the shop have only managed to find cod between Graves Light and the Dumping Ground. Things may change at a breakneck speed as Lisa is taking a busman’s holiday and will be out on the water looking for mackerel and haddock.

The Fishing FINatics in Everett elves have been hard at work turning out Santini tubes and Zobo Rigs according to Pete Santini. As for winter flounder, the wait is on for flats water temperatures to hit 50 degrees which is the catalyst for them to feed. The wait is also on for the annual Zobo Flounder Derby which this year will take place on May 18th. Among the first flounder spots to historically become active are Governor’s Flats, Deer Island Flats, Sculpin Ledge and Finn Ledge. As for trout, Houghton’s has been hot as has Stony Brook.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

Tomo of Tomo’s Tackle in Salem told me that a few of his customers have been getting mixed bags of groundfish among prominent inshore ledges such as Saturday Night Ledge as well as Hills 47 and 101. Others just heading out for a dust off cruise are seeing marks just beyond Tinkers Island which could be cod haddock. My friend John Stanchfield and his buddy Steve kicked off the season in fine form as they tallied a mixed bag of groundfish on Tillies Ledge including keeper haddock. Top and bottom rigs baited with clams did the trick but it took 20 ounces of lead to hold bottom.

Kevin from Surfland Bait and Tackle in Newburyport said that the shad run has gathered steam, but it seems as if for yet another year, Rocks Village is a dud while the shoreline by the dance studio in North Andover remains hot. Anglers are fishing the Parker River for white perch and are catching a few. What is promising there is the volume of herring which are traveling upstream of the river which appears to be increasing. Private boaters as well as anglers jumping aboard headboats are reporting solid haddock fishing in both Northern and Southern Jeffrey’s Ledge. Regarding freshwater, anglers targeting bass at Chebacco Lake in Essex/Hamiltion are catching solid largemouth bass which pack on weight thanks to the alewife run. The fry, which begin to become apparent late summer, are fuel for impressive crappie.

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Massachusetts Freshwater Fishing Report

Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford told me that swimsuit savant Dan Southwick has been hauling hawgs up to 7.2 pounds out of ponds which hold herring runs throughout Southern New England. When not hanging with Larry, he’s having his way with Sally at Wachusett Reservoir with perch-patterned Megabass jerk baits getting it done. As for other options in Central Mass, Pratt’ Pond and the West River are two trout standouts.

As if the news of impressive bass and a plethora of salmonoids wasn’t enough, Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston just weighed in a 2 pound Chu crappie! Crappie are most prevalent from the Causeway through the Thomas Basin. One fish I didn’t expect to hear much of was pickerel but it appears that there’s a spike in numbers on the Route 140 side of the reservoir. Those toothies are also big with 3-4 pound fish reported. It’s largely prime time right now wherever you fish Wachusett with salmon, smallmouth and lakers all within casting distance and hitting well.

The first week for Quabbin kicked off in fine fashion according to Gerry from Crack of Dawn Bait in Phillipston: “The smallmouth bite has been on fire this first week. Just about every bank fisherman is having great luck with a large or medium shiner on a slip weight rig. Gate 35, while a goodly walk has been producing some nice smallies with an occassional laker as well. Rainbows have been especially aggressive by rocky shorelines with anglers reporting that they are following all manner of retrieved lures and baits.” As for other areas in the Connecticut Valley Region, Lake Dennison has been heavily stocked with browns know joining the plentiful rainbows. Gerry personally sampled the goods there and had luck with chartreuse Powerbait for the bows while the brown trout were fond of Joe’s Flies in March Brown pattern. Yet there are other anglers who have been doing just fine with the old school red/white Daredevle spoon.

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

The saltwater season is beginning to gain momentum with cooperative cod along the Southcoast the biggest news! The haddock haul has been impressive as well with reports coming from North Shore state waters and Northern and Souther Jeffrey’s. With striped bass reports soon to be the dominant take, timing couldn’t be better to get your freshwater fix in while you can. Fortunately freshwater options are almost limitless with herring-fed Larrys along with all that goes on at the Chu and the Q – Bay Sate best bets!