Massachusetts Fishing Report – April 3, 2025

April is a month of fishy firsts. In rapid succession the haddock season – and by default the groundfish season – kicks off, Wachusett Reservoir is about to open followed by Quabbin Reservoir. As if that was not enough the first wave of striped bass will hit the Bay State by the end of the month. Yes indeed, there’s a lot to love about April!

While the charter captains are readying an imminent splash-in of their rides, headboats throughout our region have either hit their haddock honey holes or are getting ready to. Eastman’s Fleet out of Seabrook N.H. has already been out and both Jim Walsh’s American Classic out of Lynn and the Yankee Fleet out of Gloucester will be shipping out this weekend. Across the border, you’ll find that the Yellowbird in Hampton is preparing for its first trip on Friday. There’s just something quintessentially New England about “deep sea” fishing which is equal parts adventure, camaraderie, sport, mystery and freezer fodder. With haddock regulations set at 18”, 15 fish for the GOM, the primary focus will be on those silvery gadoids but odds are that redfish, cusk and maybe hake and pollock will be part of the catch. For many, nothing puts a dagger into the offseason than a trip aboard a headboat. If your gear is not in order and your tackle could use a refresh then patronize the shops to which this column would not be possible.

Massachusetts South Shore Through Greater Boston Fishing Report

Peter from Belsan’s Bait and Tackle told me that holdover stripers in the North River have woken up thanks to warming water temperatures as well as the appearance of herring, The first shad cruising upstream should be but a few weeks away. Meanwhile trout remain the top target for most with brookies now joining the browns and rainbows in freshly stocked water bodies from Marshfield through the Cape. The cranberry bogs of Norwell have been giving up solid Larrys as has Aaron Reservoir. The lookout is on off the coast for breaching whales which is an indicator that sea herring are moving in with cod, mackerel and maybe haddock to follow. Lisa from Fore River Bait and Tackle said that herring watchers in the Weymouth Back River are pumped that alewives are now in the river. With the decommissioning of dams In the Weymouth Fore River it’ll be interesting to see how herring are responding to the improvements in that river. The shop will be stocking seaworms soon in anticipation of stirring winter flounder as well as the first wave of striped bass. Lisa already has a busman’s holiday planned and first on her rod will be the venerable Cape Cod Spinner. Long before the tube-and-worm became in vogue, anglers were catching all kinds of stripers with those killer rigs. Bass enthusiasts have been doing well for both Larrys and Sallys in Wompatuck State Park. Other largemouth options are Sunset Lake, Whitman’s Pond and Tack Factory Pond.

Boston Metrowest Through Central Machusetts Fishing Report

Rod from Arlington Bait & Tackle told me that water temperatures are no ally of the bass angler as the mercury needle seems to be stuck in the mid-40s. Should that temperature ever crest 50 degrees expect Larry and Sally to begin feeding in earnest at Spy Pond, the Charles River, Mystic River as well as Walden and White Ponds. Meanwhile the latter two are delivering a solid rainbow trout bite as is Horn Pond. Rod’s pick for the bows is a combo of marshmallow/fluorescent orange Power Eggs.

Rick from Jerry’s Bait and Tackle in Milford told me of shop sharpie Tony Ferrera who has been finding willing trout most everywhere he wets a line. Recent rainbow success has been courtesy of Comet Pond, Hopkinton Reservoir and Pratt Pond. Thomas Buoyants have been doing the trick for Tony. Slowly worked stick baits have been catching bass from Webster Lake and Flint Pond.

While not a guy who craves the spotlight, Eddie of B&A Bait and Tackle Co. in West Boylston is on center state with Wachusett open for business this Saturday, April 5th. The pegs on the walls are filled with all sorts of Kastmaters, Deadly Dicks and other reservoir must-haves. You’ll find no shortage of bait there either. The tricky part is that water levels are still very high, making for challenging conditions for the time being. Fortunately Mother Nature has our backs as the inclement weather/high water levels will make most anywhere the “right” spot. Personally I’m not aspiring to hit high-profile locations at all as I have my eye on a shallow, gravelly section of shoreline which would ordinarily be dead on a sunny day but will hold fish when conditions are overcast and especially raining. An added bonus this season are 3-4 pound rainbows which were just recently stocked near the mouth of the Stillwater River and should be roaming the reservoir.

Gerry of Crack of Dawn Bait in Phillipston told me that many of his customers are entertaining thoughts of Quabbin Reservoir and opening day on April 18th. While most will be hatching plans to launch their own boat or rent one at one of three designated gates – Gate 8, 31 and 43 – there is plenty of good fishing right from the shore. In addition to the easy access afforded by the boat launch areas other gates such as 16, 22 and 35 offer prime shore opportunities. Meanwhile anglers are contenting themselves with trout from Lake Mattawa and Moore’s Pond as well as rivers such as the Swift, Deerfield and Miller. Other river options are the Turner Falls area of the Connecticut River where you’re likely to hook channel cats, walleye, pike and smallmouth bass.

Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report

While the Merrimack River gets short shrift regarding holdover stripers in the Bay State, Shawn from Merrimac Sports tells me it does have its own population. Solid specimens were iced this year by anglers fishing hardwater for pike in the Haverhill stretch. The section near the Reworld Plant is one of those stretches which will occasionally give up such a striper as well as a pike or black bass. The shop is now carrying seaworms in order to meet the demand of those targeting white perch in the Exeter River. Other options are trout in Plugs Pond, Round Pond, Forest Lake and Stiles Pond.

TJ from Three Lantern Marine and Fishing said that the shop will be carrying seaworms by this weekend for those looking for an early season flounder. A few spots to consider are off Stage Fort Park, Ten Pound Island, the beach by the Beauport Hotel and Niles Beach. The Dogbar Breakwater is another option. As for groundfish, the word from Jeffrey’s Ledge is that redfish are gathering off the edge of the ledge. Owing to the infancy of the season, there’s no word on where the haddock are just yet.

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for Massachusetts

Massachusetts Fishing Forecast

Thanks to waves of river herring, those on the South Shore looking to get an early jump on the striper season are already doing so thanks to the arrival of alewives in the North River. Solid Larrys in the cranberry bogs of Norwell as well as the Sciutate and Cohasset Reservoirs are an interesting freshwater option. In Greater Boston through Metrowest Boston trout are the top target with Jamaica Pond, Walden Pond and Horn Pond among the standouts. With opening day for Wachusett Reservoir slated for this Saturday, look for high water and rainy conditions to spread roaming lake trout throughout the 37 miles of shoreline. On the north shore, seaworms are starting to move as winter flounder and white perch begin to stir.