Striped bass throughout Massbay must be very content critters as they just don’t seem to want to move. Aggregates from weeks ago along the South Shore through Boston and into the North Shore are still hanging in there. About the only thing that could trigger a movement in those fish is a sustained showing of bluefish, which will scatter the bait. With shops starting to move steel leaders, more trolling plugs, and heavier fluorocarbon, that just might be in the works. Should variety be to your liking, then set your sights on the South Coast, where the biggest worry just might be what to fish for!
Massachusetts South Shore and South Coast Fishing Report
About the worst thing that can happen to a content Greater Boston fisher is to sample what goes in Buzzards Bay. For generations, those who called the Hub home could push back by retorting, “well we have cod” but we all know what happened to them. Along with friends Gary and Kyle, I experienced just such a disparity of riches while aboard the Little Sister Thursday morning. In the middle of a blistering big black sea bass bite, I decided to shake it up by targeting tautog with green crabs, and mid-trip, I came tight to a drag-pulling white chin. As we embarked, I asked Captain Colby if bonito were in play yet, to which he replied in the negative. Neptune had our backs on this day, as on the way in, we found them and ended the day with screaming drags and high fives among the crew. Suffice to say, we left with overflowing bags of an exceptionally eclectic mix of fish. The bright spot for Bostonians is that the trip to the Westport River, which is one of the gateways to this multi-species Mecca, is little more than an hour away.
Big bass along the South Shore don’t seem to be in a rush to leave. As to why those stripers seem so sedentary, it might be because of all the bait! In addition to bite-sized bunker and mackerel, there are scads of sand eels and even reports of adult-size bunker moving in from offshore. According to Pete from Belsan Bait and Tackle in Scituate, anglers rousing early enough have been treated to good old-fashioned blitzes in the Three Bays and from Sunken Ledge to Cowen Rocks. Other surface feeds favorites have been Egypt Beach and the mouth of the North River. As much fun as catching a cow on a live bait is, most would agree that a topwater takedown from the same fish is a hoot. If the striper whereabouts are predictable, then figuring out a bluefish pattern is anything but. While most are catching blues while trolling mackerel or an X Rap off The Gurnet, High Pine Ledge, or maybe Minot Ledge, other anglers are reporting them tearing through bait balls within the shadows of the shoreline.
Captain Mark Rowell of Legit Fish Charters continues to mix it up for charters by finding a quick slot bite at the mouth of the North River, followed by cows farther out. The river fish continue to feed on sand eels and herring fry, while the bigger fish are just outside of Scituate Harbor, with some fish approaching 50 pounds! Bluefish continue to be more of a factor with some desired less for their sporting attributes and more for a tuna entree. In fact, a chum of the captain caught a 118” behemoth recently in Cape Cod Bay on a bluefish. The haddock fishing from the bank through Stone Ledge continues to be outstanding, with many keepers among the catch.
Greater Boston Fishing Report
The formula has been pretty simple – bait, bass, and boats have made Boston Harbor one busy place! In spite of the madness, anglers are still plucking solid stripers from schools of pogies in the Anchorage area. Fortunately, a herd of more menhaden has moved into the Quincy Bay side of the harbor, spreading out the bass and the boats.
Lisa from Fore River Fishing Tackle in Quincy told me that larger pogies are now part of the bait bouillabaisse. For proof, you need look no further than what item is now in demand – snag trebles. In addition to boats, anglers from shore are even snagging pogies and catching bass in such spots as the Weymouth Back River. Topwaters such as large spooks are also in demand as first light feeds are something not to miss. Haddock have moved onto the shallower sections of Stellwagen Bank with Captain Roger Brousseau and his buddy Bob Aiello recently catching a cooler full on the shallow edge of middle bank in water as shallow as 80’!
Pete Santini of Fishing FINatics in Everett has all kinds of options for patrons who want no part of the Boston boat show. An abundance of pogies from the Tobin Bridge all the way into Encore has brought in a lot of stripers. Anglers are catching them with live bait as well as the Santini tube-and-worm. Large paddletails, similar in size to the bait, are working well, as are topwater lures at low light. Pete is also prodding his patrons into fishing in tight, with his namesake tube, to Thompson Island, Spectacle Island, Long Island, Gallups Island, and Lovells Island. With water temperatures up, look for an incoming tide and the resulting cooler water to be more effective than the ebb. The bluefish bite has been reliable from Seal Harbor through Cherry Bar. The epic squid season of 2025 continues as numerous lit piers, wharves, bridges, and marinas throughout the harbor are all holding squid. Anglers looking for macks should check out Flipp Rock and the 2 Can. Captain Paul Diggins of Reel Pursuit Charters can be forgiven if he seems a little distracted at port in the Charlestown Marina. Pogies are plentiful just off the marina, as are squid under the lights. Swarms of blueback herring can be seen swimming around as well. It may be tempting to stick locally, but the skipper knows that a more consistent bite has been taking place by the Coast Guard Station, the Anchorage, and off Revere Beach, where blues are the rage.
Laurel from Hull Bait and Tackle said that blitzes can be observed just off Nantucket Beach. A bigger school of bunker has just moved in, which may explain the shoreline feeding frenzy. Hingham through World’s End has been hot with shore anglers, kayakers, and those with smaller craft taking advantage of the sheltered waters.
Captain Brian Coombs of Get Tight Sportfishing is mixing it up with football tuna as well as stripers of nearly that size. Always a captain who goes his own way, he’s found a huge pod of pogies at the outer edge of the harbor with big bass and bluefin with the bait.
Massachusetts North Shore Fishing Report
Tomo from Tomo’s Tackle in Salem told me that he’s moving steel leaders as well as snag trebles, which is a surefire indication of what’s working for anglers in the Salem/Beverly area. Pogies, mackerel, blueback herring, squid, and sand eels are resulting in well fed blues and bass. Early risers have been treated by a surface/topwater bite. All is not lost for the snoozers, as trolling the ubiquitous mackerel as well as X Raps, have been effective. Furthering the trend observed elsewhere, haddock have moved closer in with some finding them around the 180’ contour line, which is about a 12-mile sail from Salem Harbor. According to TJ from Three Lantern Marine in Gloucester, anglers ripping plugs from Magnolia through Halibut Point are encountering big bluefish. First light surface feeds have been a common occurrence in Gloucester Harbor. The season of the squid continues with folks even finding them off the dockage behind the shop. Flounder have been taken in Manchester Harbor, Cripple Cove, Niles Beach, and off Wingaersheek.
There’s great news for those who live to fish the surf off the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, according to Martha from Surfland Bait and Tackle. As of Friday, August 15th, the reservation in its entirety is open, and nighttime beach permits are now available. Should you give this a go, try tossing out a diamond jig or something a mackerel would be interested in, as reports put them still close to shore, and fresh bait is hard to beat. Joppa Flats and Plum Island Sound are either a boom or a bust, depending on who you talk to, with successful anglers searching out pockets of cool water to find fish. There’s a bit of a Plum Island flounder phenomenon taking place off the surf and by boat. Far from a bycatch, these blackbacks are actually targeted successfully!
Massachusetts Fishing Forecast
South Coast variety is always fun, but especially now that “funny fish” have arrived. The Westport side of Buzzards Bay is fishing like a grand slam of Bs, with black sea bass, blackfish, bass, and bonito all in play! And that doesn’t even take into account another B – bluefish. The South Shore biomass of big bass is still present, with Cowen Rocks, Egypt Beach, and the mouth of the North River all holding a lot of fish. Hull has been hot as well, with some feeds off Nantasket occurring just off the beach. A slug of pogies has moved into the outer harbor, with big bass and tuna taking notice. All that life may be moving in as you read this, and when combined with all the bait with is already in residence, could make the harbor a tinder box ready to go off. Striper fishing in Salem Sound continues to sizzle with an impressive first light topwater bite. Johnny come lately anglers are not out of luck as Misery Channel mackerel are easy to find and when sounded over, marked fish are proving too easy for the bass to ignore. Gloucester Harbor has been hit or miss for bass, as has Plum Island Sound and Joppa Flats with sharpies seeking the coolest water available.
Trickles of larger bass out front, slots in the three bays with flyrod worthy fat schoolies, Fall run around “da korna!” Tight lines.