Striped bass are beginning to trickle across the Mass border into the Piscataqua River watershed. While hardly an invasion, it’s a promising start. Groundfish is good providing that you’re spending your time on Southern Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s.
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters always delivers a promising groundfishing report but this week his anecdotes had more to do with stripers than haddock! At his slip in Great Bay Marina, while he’s been working on his boat in the evening, he’s becoming hopelessly distracted by feeding striped bass which are swirling and popping bait fish! While he’s been tempted to sample the new arrivals, duty has overrode impulse as he has had work to do on the boat. When he’s been able to set sail, he’s finding willing haddock at The Prong section of Jeffrey’s Ledge at the edge in 220-230’ of water. Clams, mackerel and white cod flies/teasers have been the go-to offerings. Northern Jeffrey’s is more likely to give up whiting and red hake.
Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing said ground fishing is still solid, with mixed sized haddock and increasing numbers of cusk in the mix. There are still some large reds mixed in with The Cove producing for the Captain and his cohorts. Some however are doing equally well on Jeffrey’s by steering clear of the fleet and finding similar bottom and less pressure. Incessant swells have been a problem since when lumpy it makes it hard to hold a bait on the bottom which is what haddock prefer while a moving bait attracts cusk! While the dogs remain at bay, stick to bait such as squid and clams. While Bob can’t confirm other reports of fresh striped bass, he expects them to arrive in the Newmarket herring run any tide. There’s been no word on tuna as of yet with most under the opinion that they’re stuck down south for the moment gorging on all the bait there.
Maine Fishing Report
Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Outfitters did not have a report this week but it wasn’t from a lack of trying as striped bass have not quite made it to Casco Bay just yet. The same can be said for the Webhannet/Saco area as well according to Brandy from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard. Shad and alewives in the Saco River will provide ample forage to keep the bass in check when they arrive. Sea run brown trout are making a splash in the Kennebunk River with several reports of fish up to 22” landed on streamers and blue/chrome Kastmasters. For groundifsh success, Jeffrey’s Ledge and Platt’s are the places to be.
Zach from Saco Bay Tackle Company told me that a few small stripers in the Scarborough Marsh area have made news. When hearing of stripers the default for many is to ask if there were any sea lice on them, which some feel is an indicator that the fish are migrants. As of now there has been no answer one way or another regarding sea lice. Regarding flounder, Zach recommends Pepperell Cove, the Spurwink River and Higgins Beach. Platt’s is the shop pick for haddock and other assorted groundfish.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
The first striper wave, albeit a small one, is just starting to sweep into Northern New England. Tributaries of Great Bay which hold herring runs as well as York River, the Mousam River and the Saco River will be among the first to get fish. A novel river option to consider is the sea run brown trout fishery taking place in the Kennebunk River. Groundfishing remains strong with haddock more likely to be found over soft substrate in Southern Jeffrey’s while redfish and cusk are hanging tough over hard bottom.