Haddock fishing has slowed down considerably, but fortunately, pollock have filled the void. Mackerel continue to be the gift that keeps giving as they are inshore, plentiful and striped bass love them!
New Hampshire Fishing Report
Captain Andy of Adventure and Catch Charters said that his honey hole of haddock on Old Scantum has gone dry. There’s no mystery as to why, as the stealthy captain watched in horror as a huge herring trawler twice dragged the place, and now it’s basically devoid of life! Andy is nothing if not a passionate steward of our fisheries and provided state and federal fishery authorities with the name of the vessel and the times it swept into the area. We can only hope something will be done. Pollock and whiting can be found on ledges around Old Scantum as well as Jeffrey’s Ledge. The bite is best between 180-200’ of water, and there is a dearth of dogfish – maybe the trawler got to them too! Mackerel remain in abundance just outside of the Piscataqua River and make for can’t miss striper bait!
Captain Bob Weathersby of Seacoast NH Sportfishing has found haddock but they are far smaller now and deeper – typically off of the ledges that held them on top a few weeks ago. Pollock have become a people pleaser and a panacea for those frustrated from not finding haddock. As for tuna, the recreational bluefin bite between the Shoals and Boone Island had been good but not so much in recent days. This is in large part due to the juvenile pogies, which sparked those feeds, scattering. Giants have laid claim to Jeffrey’s Ledge, and it has really come into its own from the northern edge down to Pigeon Hill. Captain Bob’s crew did hook but did not land one on Outer Pigeon Hill on Tuesday. Mackerel close to the coast continue to be fuel for solid striper action from Salisbury to Portsmouth.
Coastal Maine Fishing Report
A sand eel surge is eliciting some interesting bass behavior, according to Ben from Webhannet Bait and Tackle/Boatyard. Anglers have observed the bass groveling on the bottom in what to the uninitiated looks as if the fish are standing on their heads! Of course, the reality is that stripers are nosing around for sand eels. It’s no wonder that some of the hottest lures mimic the size and profile of a sand eel. Some anglers continue to catch mackerel off jetties and beachfronts and then use the bait for bass. A few of the better bets for a bass bite are Moody Beach, Long Sands Beach, Lobster Cove, and Marginal Way on the southern side of Moody. In addition to sand eel imitators, Cotton Cordell Pencil Poppers are proving effective. Squid are common off lit piers, wharves, and bridges after dark.
Levy from Saco Bay Tackle Company said that occasional bite-offs are proof that there is a bluefish presence around. Best area bets for stripers are Camp Ellis, Biddeford Pool, and Pine Point. As to what’s working, white paddle tails, eel imitations, and Albie Snax are killing it. According to Captain Lou Tirado of Diamond Pass Charters, the beachfront bite has dropped off with fewer feeds to tip off where the bass are. Some feel that the full moon is to blame, the heat wave, or both! Rocky ledges provide redemption as to estuaries/rivers at night. The better anglers are still catching with glide baits, poppers, needlefish, as well as the trusty eel. Bluefish remain a sporadic bycatch.
New Hampshire And Southern Maine Fishing Forecast
A live mackerel or drifted chunk throughout the Piscatqua River remains highly effective for Granite State bass. Salisbury Beach has also been solid for trolling plugs with the occasional blue crashing the striper party. Farther up the coast, rocky outposts fished with white paddletails are getting it done for Downeasterners. Of course, it’s hard to top a lively eel fishing on a nighttime tide in a marsh or estuary.